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Chinese, European Space Agencies In Talks To Build a Moon Base (techcrunch.com)
ESA's Pal Hvistendahl has confirmed via Bloomberg that Chinese and European space agencies are talking with one another about plans to build a base on the moon. The discussions "involve working together to build a human-occupied 'moon village' from which both agencies can potentially launch Mars missions, conduct research, and possibly explore commercial mining and tourism projects," reports TechCrunch. From the report: China's upcoming projects in space include a mission to collect samples from the moon via an uncrewed craft by the end of this year, and to also launch an exploratory mission to the far side of the moon next year, with the similar aim of returning samples for study. The ESA's collaboration with China thus far include participating in the study of those returned samples, and potentially sending a European astronaut to the Chinese space station (which is currently unoccupied) at some future date.
the outright theft of IP, to humanitarian concerns regarding political prisoners, religious persecution, Tibet, freedom of navigation in the Global Commons that is the South China Sea, and including their tolerance for the North Korean situation
I think, in so many ways, that it is more than a little sanctimonious, when the US points the finger at others for doing or having done what the US themselves have done or continue to do. IP theft was common practice in the US until the day when it turned out to be more profitable to protect US companies' own IP rights. The LOTR books were (in-)famously printed and sold in the US without Tolkien's permission, until he somehow managed to put a stop to it. And of course, with the widespread opposition to DRM amongst /. readers, IP rights is perhaps a slightly uncomfortable subject any way?
Political prisoners, religious persecution: no doubt there are cases, where China could be much more tolerant of political opposition without endangering the stability of the country, but I think it is wrong to think that every person called "political prisoner" by hostile agancies are not in fact criminals that ought to be locked up. As for religious persecution: apart from Falun Gong and the Tibetan feudal lords, who is being persecuted for their religion now? If we're talking about American evangelicals not being allowed in to preach about how "communism is against God", then I can't see the problem, to be honest; they are nothing more than political agitators tryng to stir up trouble. And again, can we in the West truly accuse China of any of these things without being hypocrites, in the light of things like Muslim-bans etc?
As for Xizang and the South China Sea, I think it is a well-established principle that whatever you can hold on to, belongs to you; it has certainly worked for the US, I think. And Israel, come to think of it. Do I think the world should be as uncivilised as this? No, not really, but it is.
Finally, North Korea is a growing problem and embarrasment for China, as I am sure they are acutely aware. I can't see how anybody can quickly solve that problem without massive loss of life. Sanctions and withdrawal of Chinese support is only likely to make the situation worse, at least for the country's own people - and their leaders apparently don't care much about that. I think China only tolerates the North Korean leadership's madness, because the alternatives would be worse - for now.