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In China, Fears That Pokemon Go May Aid Locating Military Bases (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the diary-of-conspiracy-theorist dept.

The sleeper hit success title Pokemon Go is preventing many people in China from sleeping properly. Although the game isn't officially available in the world's largest smartphone market, some people fear it could become a Trojan horse for "offensive action by the United States and Japan," according to a report by Reuters. "Don't play Pokemon GO!!!" said user Pitaorenzhe on Chinese microblogging site Weibo. "It's so the U.S. and Japan can explore China's secret bases!" From the article: The conspiracy theory is that Japan's Nintendo, which part owns the Pokemon franchise, and America's Google can work out where Chinese military bases are by seeing where users can't go to capture Pokemon characters. The game relies on Google services such as Maps. The theory is that if Nintendo places rare Pokemon in areas where they see players aren't going, and nobody attempts to capture the creature, it can be deduced that the location has restricted access and could be a military zone. "Then, when war breaks out, Japan and the U.S. can easily target their guided missiles, and China will have been destroyed by the invasion of a Japanese-American game," said a social media post circulated on Weibo. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was unaware of reports that the game could be a security risk and that he didn't have time to play with such things. He gave no further details.

13 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. When? by irrational_design · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When war breaks out?! Is this a common belief in China? Or are these just the Chinese equivalent of the American-survivalist sub culture?

    1. Re:When? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      ok, I'll tell you my view, even though it's a big country, with each person having their own viewpoint, so this is partial at best.

      When I was in China, I mentioned to my Chinese teacher, "I don't like war." The teacher was confused, and responded, "Well, that doesn't matter. War is something that happens." Remember that unlike Europe or Japan, in China they never had the hippy anti-war protest movement. Think of how we in the west came to the conclusion that war is bad, and you'll see that China doesn't really have that experience. How they viewed WW2 is completely different: it was an invasion from foreigners.

      Second thing: although China is ostensibly communist, their worldview is more imperialist: they call themselves the "middle country", maps in China have China right in the center. On TV they have all these dramas and movies that take place in the old imperial times, when war was something that happened and even a way to win glory. The government is composed of hereditary "princelings" with rivalries who depose each other and fight, much like royalty. If you want to understand China today, the ancient imperial system of Legalism (fa jia) is the best way to understand it.

      Third point: in the west, we've completely moved on from colonialism. We decided it was a bad idea, and frankly it doesn't provide economic benefit anymore. China doesn't realize that. From 1850 to 1900, they were embarrassingly dominated by western powers, who came in, and sold them opium in exchange for silver. Then Japan came in, and started colonizing them, killing many people. During the Korean war (which is within living memory), the US army entered China. Finally, Mao+communism defeated the westerners, pushed America back, and gave China something to be proud of with their country. But it was a hard fight, and the Chinese view the west as someone who wants to colonize them if they can.

      Fourth point: Building on that, when westerners protect Taiwan, try to install democracy in Hong Kong (which was still colonized 20 years ago), or protest about Tibet, the Chinese see that as attempts from western colonizers to control, and humiliate China. Again, they don't realize we've moved on from colonization, and we're happy to be partners with them. The idea of "protecting the democratic freedoms of the Taiwanese people" makes no sense to them. Why would we do that?

      Fifth point: we've had constant military struggles against China. Bill Clinton sent a battleship to patrol the ocean between Taiwan and China, for example, and Bush had some spy plane issues, and Obama has sent patrols into the south China sea. These are low grade, and even cool displays of power, but they are militaristic nonetheless. Frankly, it is unethical for China to claim the South China sea at the expense of all its neighbors, and it's foolish for China to try to force Taiwan to join them (the Taiwanese don't trust China, because China treated Hong Kong really badly: taking away their freedoms).

      Sixth point: Freedom is only something you recognize when you don't have it. Most Chinese people are free to say anything they want, because they don't want to say forbidden things. But we recognize that their lack of freedom is going to hurt them in the future, and hope that they learn to respect their freedoms.

  2. Wait, let me get this straight... by halivar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    One single Chinese microblogger with a tin foil hat advances crackpot theory and actual Chinese official can't be bothered to even talk about, and it makes front page of Slashdot?

    Shit, guys, lemme tell you 'bout some CHEMTRAILS!

    1. Re:Wait, let me get this straight... by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The sad part is that this was reported by Reuters.

    2. Re:Wait, let me get this straight... by Solandri · · Score: 5, Interesting

      To be fair, I think Google now knows how they're going to get "street view" pictures of all the streets and pathways where they weren't able to send Google Cars to photograph.

  3. Lu Kang doesn't play Pokemon by Kargan · · Score: 5, Funny

    > Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was unaware of reports that the game could be a security risk and that he didn't have time to play with such things.

    Of course he doesn't, too busy trying to fight his way through the tournament and take out Shao Khan.

    --
    Palaces, barricades, threats, meet promises
  4. Unless you are Hillary Clinton... by HBI · · Score: 5, Funny

    She can play all the Pokemon Go she wants.

    --
    HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
  5. Re:China needs to get out of 1939. by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Informative

    That wasn't said by a leader. That was said by some random loser who posts things on the Internet. You know what THOSE people are like!

  6. Re: Umm, satellites? by halivar · · Score: 4, Informative

    The US doesn't get its satellite surveillance from Google Earth.

  7. Up next... by JustNiz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Chinese government creates new arm of military tasked with collecting all Pokemon Go characters located in military bases.

  8. Clarification by HBI · · Score: 4, Informative

    This is a misconception. Military bases permit cell phones. When passing into SCIFs or classified briefing rooms, you are required to get rid of your cellphones into lock boxes. If you like your battery, you turn it off or put it in airplane mode before doing so.

    There are some buildings that are all-classified that require you to not have a phone along, but this would be a "building", not a whole base.

    In the field, most people have a cell phone on them for basic communications, and they are rarely collected - only when someone has a bug up their ass about it.

    --
    HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    1. Re:Clarification by subanark · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yes, but what about "Secret" "Chinese" bases, that might have a different policy. On the other hand, knowing China, they will have strict rules that prohibit this, but no one will follow them.

  9. Sort of true by mu51c10rd · · Score: 4, Funny

    If my morning commute is any indication, most of the Pokemon Go players would have no idea they are on a secret military base...