For several weeks, The 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 The 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.
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
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