For several weeks, Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint and I had discussed doing an episode all about China – its geopolitical rise, its potential threats and, of course the fallout from COVID-19. Then Havok Journal writers Matt Trevathan and Christopher Otero got into a collegial back and forth on the private Havok Journal writers’ forum about some COVID-19 theories. After hyperventilating that they were wasting a perfectly good opportunity to monetize an argument, I decided this was the week to do the China episode and have them on to discuss all things China. Unfortunately, Charlie couldn’t make it, but even so it was a great show that captures the spirit of collegial debate and discussion that prompted me to start the Weekly Havok. One editorial note - Chris Otero makes many cogent, articulate arguments. Most of them I disagree with, some of them I agree with, and some I just didn’t have time to rebut. Since I already dedicated an entire episode to the various theories, I didn’t want to bore you all by rehashing my arguments simply to counter him. Take a listen to what he says and then you can check below for a link that explains my position. It was a pleasure having Matt and Chris on. I was on an intellectual buzz for hours after. Hopefully you will be too.

 

Have a listen here.

 

Show Alibis

I linked to it when we talked about COVID-19’s origins a few weeks ago, but this is the link to reporting done by National Review’s Jim Geraghty which is the most persuasive I’ve found so far. At one point, I mention my perception of the social contract in China whereby China controls the rights of the people in exchange for giving the people safety and wealth. The way I phrase it, it sounds like Mao and the establishment of communist China was responsible for the social contract when it really came about after post-Mao reforms in 1976. Because I didn’t want to degrade a good discussion, I resisted the urge to ask Chris Otero if that was a demographic bulge in his pants or if he was just happy to see me. That explains why I didn’t push back against his claim that China was a middle power which I would have if I wasn’t basically 13. It was unfair of me to put Matt Trevathan on a show with two Chrises. That said, Matt exploited the situation by frequently saying he agreed with “Chris” which seemed to me to be a savvy political move. Show Notes The Lab Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19’s Origins by Katherine Eban Chinese abuse against the Uighers Friends Don’t Let Friends Become Chinese Billionaires by Ray Kwong The Sad End of Jack Ma by George Calhoun The upticks in anti-Asian attacks Amazon’s use of COVID-testing kits from BGI Genomics ODNI warning about China’s DNA collection Claims by Soviet bio-weapons program chief Tianamen Square protest Middle-power trap China’s three-child policy Hope for Today Homeless Pets Foundation