The Chinese Shadowboxing Show at Sea

Written By: - Date published: 4:42 pm, March 1st, 2025 - 21 comments
Categories: class war, coalition of chaos, making shit up, Media - Tags: , , ,

The Chinese armada in the Tasman Sea is causing colonial angst that feels worse than losing the America’s Cup to the Ozzies. Many NZ colonists fear that they might be colonised by the tribe of Uncle Wong instead of Uncle Don. However, it was a beautiful show with fireworks that cost more than the Lantern Festival in Auckland and was equally family-friendly, fun, and free.

The other main reoccurring show is that house party in the White House. House DJs such as Electric Elo play loud music that’s reminiscent of the Sex Pistols laced with heavy techno-beat and pogo dancing. If you’ve never been to a pogo party you have no idea what kind of profound mind-altering experience this is and no drugs are required, just music (loud noise), lights & visuals, crowd smells, and other crowd members violently invading and bursting your personal bubble – it’s life-changing and when you come out you feel happy to be alive.

While all eyes are directed at these shows, watching them in mesmerising and morbid amazement, the World is at war. But few seem to be aware of this and even fewer seem to care.

The Coalition Government is one of the warmongers, against its own people who funnily enough also finance this war and their generals – it will be tug of war between ferries and frigates. It was clear during the General Election in 2023 that they had no plan for the economy and the good people of Aotearoa other than to win the battle and rage a war on its own people. And so it became history, hopefully only of 2023-2026.

They have been flying blind from the outset, led by a former airline manager, and they’re insisting that we turn a blind eye as well. In its ideological frenzy, the Coalition has all but eliminated data collectors and curators, and data analysts and IT support. We might even see similar shambles here in 2026 as in the US election.

The Coalition doesn’t want experts but data massagers who produce the evidence that suits the Coalition’s agenda – or Ministers will do their own research. Who needs good data anyway when the general vibe is more important and information is hidden behind the OIA wall, for safe-keeping?

The Coalition has no idea of the state of the books but they don’t care and will gloss it over in Budget-2025 with double-speak, political rhetoric, and pseudo-economic lingo to suggest that they’re on track on getting the country on a different and more efficient & productive track, the track to serfdom and servitude to the elitist ruling class of mega-rich foreigners with their corrupt and nepotistic networks.

How do they do it?

They take over your device. They take over the media – the Coalition even has its own Pravda. They take over the internet. They feed you with fake data and false information. They flood the zone with shit. They frame it into compelling conspiracy stories that feel plausible and more believable and reliable than wedding vows or the fine print on your sales purchase and warranty (in multiple languages) that you paid for electronically, most likely, whilst showing off your face to in-store and in-mall cameras with facial-recognition software.

In short, they take over your mind, all while you’re watching and responding to their shows, and they are watching and manipulating you and trying to control you.

You don’t believe me?

Fair enough. Just pay a little attention to what you pay attention to, including ads and algorithm-ranking of hits of your search results in your internet browser, what you think about it, and, most importantly, how does it make you feel, in and on an average day and then get back to me.

21 comments on “The Chinese Shadowboxing Show at Sea ”

  1. mickysavage 1
    1 March 2025 at 8:11 pm

    Thanks Incog. Very deep and very relevant.

    We need a new media.

    Reply
  2. Patricia Bremner 2
    1 March 2025 at 9:17 pm

    We need a new Government.

    Reply
    • Incognito 2.1
      1 March 2025 at 9:41 pm

      Yes, perhaps, but it’s likely to be plus ça change, i.e., variations on a theme.

      We need different rather than new Government. But how to change a culture mindset in and with one general election? Of course, this is where media play a major role, but they’re increasingly owned and controlled by vested interests.

      I’m increasingly thinking that real meaningful change comes from within, from grassroots level, rather than from above and/or externally, by political parties, politicians (who, at best, are capable generic managers (cf. my link to Brian Easton’s article), and rarely good visionary leaders) and policies.

      Therefore, I agree with MickySavage that we need new media and new means & ways to engage [with] the people directly, include them and encourage them to participate, and give them a sense of ownership and responsibility for our own democracy.

      Perhaps more marae and less traditional media, ideally in-person but also online versions in some hybrid model.

      Reply
      • Populuxe 2.1.1
        2 March 2025 at 8:32 am

        Oe we just admit that most New Zealanders are thoroughly ignorant about our system of government beyond voting along partisan lines every three years and we should include civics in the curriculum.
        And vested media interests mean very little to anyone under the age of 50 who grew up with the internet. It's not the availability of information that's the problem, it's that not enough people are engaged with it.

        Reply
        • Incognito 2.1.1.1
          2 March 2025 at 10:24 am

          Wilful ignorance and inability to understand (aka ‘too stupid’ or ‘slow learners’) are different things that have similar impact, i.e., maintain status quo. I touched upon this in the OP:

          […] they’re insisting that we turn a blind eye as well.

          So, I think it’s more of the former than the latter. Keeping people busy and preoccupied with other things and distracting people with side-shows are forms of deliberate manipulation and great strategic tools. Teaching civics, and critical thinking, are necessary but not sufficient – they could actually worsen bias and indoctrination, which is why I tend to be very wary of (some) self-proclaimed free speech activists and their many off-shoots.

          Reply
      • weka 2.1.2
        2 March 2025 at 8:51 am

        these are great ideas Incognito, worthy of another post.

        I'm half way through Easton's talk to the Fabians (video), I really hope he's going to offer some solutions 😬

        Reply
        • Incognito 2.1.2.1
          2 March 2025 at 10:05 am

          Yes, some of those ideas have been slowly germinating in my mind for some time now. Obviously, I pick up my input seeds from what I read and hear (mostly online), so I do feel slightly encouraged that not only change is possible but also actually happening (and needed!).

          I know there are great online tools now for group participation and discussion + feedback although the applications I know of are not tailored to participatory democracy and deliberative democracy, funnily enough because this is a different ‘market’. But a good product with a sound foundation and good (technical) support should be able to be modified and find applicability and utility in a different market through the process of intelligent product and market adaptation or product innovation [no irony or piss-take intended].

          Participation and deliberation take time, of course, but why should the democratic process be expedited (aka rushed)? Urgency is anathema to good process and due diligence.

          Reply
  3. weka 3
    1 March 2025 at 9:24 pm

    We need a new system.

    Reply
  4. Anne 4
    1 March 2025 at 10:50 pm

    Some tips to help avoid Big Brother and Co. on a desktop screen if you have one.

    1) Stop watching TV. If its a rare good programme watch a repeat online and scroll over the ads.

    2) Always watch TV news online a tad later, and scroll over the tripe – like listening to Luxon prevaricating for the umpteenth time.

    3) Avoid newspaper headlines and seek out only the stuff inside you know is worth a read. eg. Simon Wilson.

    4) When it comes to algorithms if it looks too good to be true don't go near it.

    5) Never ever listen to commercial radio stations.

    6) If you want to know more about something go to your nearest library.

    It won't give 100% protection from the crap and the lies, but it helps reduce it to a manageable level. 😉

    Reply
    • Phillip ure 4.1
      2 March 2025 at 9:36 am

      1).. haven't watched broadcast tv for about six years..I have one…but it isn't even hooked up..(I listen to music..)

      2) don't watch tv news..online or other…

      3) haven't read the herald in years…

      4) do what I can to avoid algorithms..

      5)..never do that..bfm and nat rad'll do..

      6) I would say the online libraries also provide that service…I find I now use them..

      All good..!

      Reply
      • Phillip ure 4.1.1
        2 March 2025 at 10:10 am

        Correction to 3)

        The guardian can be trusted most of the time..

        ..and isn't it interesting how so much of the print media are seemingly unaware they are hastening their own demise ..

        ..by putting up paywalls..?

        Reply
        • Anne 4.1.1.1
          2 March 2025 at 10:57 am

          "The guardian can be trusted most of the time."

          Forgot to mention them. The Guardian is the only online news outlet I subscribe to. They have some very good journalists.

          Reply
    • tWig 4.2
      2 March 2025 at 12:17 pm

      A very salient comment from a reddit thread, apologies for length, but needed to make sense.

      'WW3 isn't going to be as kinetic as the previous wars. While there will be some invasions (looking at you Taiwan, sorry) the majority of battles will be hybrid warfare, i.e. turning off the internet, crippling banking, interfering with elections, interfering with the rules based order, etc.

      On this basis, some would argue WW3 has already begun with the voter suppression in the US from Russia and China amplifying the real horrors of Gaza, pinning this to the Democrats so that their voters stayed home. No I don't think Trump is a Russian agent, but he is a useful idiot who they have supported with, or without, his knowledge.

      Kinetic wars will be in proxy states, at the fringes of states, or in non nuclear armed nations. India and Pakistan will have some border battles for example but the nuclear deterrent will stop decisive battles. Likewise China will expand their control thru Asia largely without direct invasion. And the US? Who knows? But I think they have been effectively neutralised, for the next 4 years at least.

      If defence spending is going to be increased, I can only hope that the money isn't going to be spent on traditional conventional forces. No to new frigates or fighter jets, yes to Satellites to provide resilience to our economy and yes to drone and counter drone systems on land, sea and air.'

      Reply
      • Incognito 4.2.1
        2 March 2025 at 12:36 pm

        Interesting comment, thank you.

        Technically, we might be able to build and launch our own satellites with our in-house rocket builder.

        That said, I reiterate that we should invest (more effort) in better information streams for the public, i.e., new media, and better leadership & governance – I think there’s a causal link between these two.

        Reply
  5. tc 5
    2 March 2025 at 10:00 am

    good post. Their well funded online ad assault for the election was just an appetiser.

    YT's been serving up coalition friendly options first row on one of my devices despite me never watching any for years now. Never promotes the BHN pieces I watch on it now and then.

    Google search I bypass now, it didn't list a retailer offering the best price after pages of looking beyond the sponsored links the other day.

    We sure do need a new Media that bypasses this one that's feeding the masses.

    Less of the chinese, density and rimmers distractions more about this sell out that’s going on.

    Reply
    • tWig 5.1
      2 March 2025 at 12:34 pm

      I switched to duckduckgo as a search engine when first using my phone. It does not onsell your seach data to advertisers. Note your search results will be skimpier. Modzilla uses google as its default search, so don't rely on that.

      To reduce google’s micro-targetting by advertisers, you can also turn off your unique google id number in android or iphone systems. Search "What is Google Advertising ID (GAID)?". As I use the library pc for buying and banking, I don't know what the turn-off will do for any apps. I am only a passive observer on reddit and youtube, with no acct.

      I have disabled all except a few apps that need it to be able to alter my phone settings. As a result, I read all free press without any ad content (makes ‘stuff’ full of blanks). Thanks The Standard, for being ad-free! Do you have a koha acct?

      Reply
      • tc 5.1.1
        3 March 2025 at 9:26 am

        thanks tWig, each time I use google search I'm reminded of the 'Dead Internet theory' as generative AI is making it even worse.

        Leave it to the bots, daemons, agents etc seems the best course now.

        Reply
  6. PsyclingLeft.Always 6
    2 March 2025 at 10:48 am

    Red flag..rag. WAR GAMES…..(The Herald went full metal bold )

    Media raise alarm over Chinese ships – and the end of 'benign' times

    "Are you getting more money for this budget for defence? Are you?" ZB Drive host Ryan Bridge asked Defence Minister Judith Collins

    An interesting mental image ?!….(Judith as any kind of pixie = mind boggles : )

    I'm a happy little pixie, actually, being minister of defence at the moment," Collins told Bridge.

    And of course there were …( I like the alliteration : )

    On Newstalk ZB, the drama drew a range of armchair admirals and deckchair diplomats phoned in with advice on how to handle China.

    Some… you just gotta laugh….talkback radio. The voice of the bewildered.

    Caller Jan thought it was no coincidence the Australian Foreign Minister was Penny Wong.

    Another ZB caller.."National was all for it. The Ardern government and the fairy Green Party decided we're not going to do that," he claimed.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/mediawatch/543447/media-raise-alarm-over-chinese-ships-and-the-end-of-benign-times

    At times….(these are them) a sense of Humour, essential : )

    Reply
  7. feijoa 7
    2 March 2025 at 1:35 pm

    I think it is time we became vigilant in defending democracy, and all the institutions which make democracy work.

    And a media which focuses less on 'opinions' and 'what's popular' and more on science and evidence and analysis surely adds to that.

    It is quite scary watching democracy unravel in he US.

    Reply
  8. PsyclingLeft.Always 8
    4 March 2025 at 8:22 am

    Just for those who are hard out blowing their "Yellow Peril" (refer NZ historical shame) kazoo..

    New Zealand's part in US moves provoking China

    China has been accused of being provocative by sending warships into the Tasman Sea, but on the other hand, New Zealand plays its part in US moves that provoke Beijing.

    And this country has signed up to do even more.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/543513/new-zealand-s-part-in-us-moves-provoking-china

    and FYI…for the hard of understanding. (It seems necessary). I do not support XI, Putin, or Trump.

    NZ should be a Voice of Reason. There arent many…

    Reply

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