Book Interview: Return of the Middle Kingdom

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Thank you for joining me today Dr. Lammbrau.”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Thank you for having me.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “So you have a new book coming out?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “That’s right.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Any reasons for writing this novel, Return of the Middle Kingdom?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Publish or perish? Well right now, as you know, South Korea is in the midst of great turmoil and uncertainty. Some experts might point out that this is their traditional place in East Asia power politics; the shrimp (middle power country) caught between the whales (China and United States). But I think it is exceptionally more so right now. Right now, South Korea is stuck: their number one trade partner is China and their long-term security/economic partner, the United States. The novel addresses this changing dynamic.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “That is why you went with the title, Return of the Middle Kingdom?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Correct. The impeachment of President Park lays out, in plain sight, the growing economic and political influence of Communist China in South Korea.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “How so? Are you arguing the Chinese government maneuvered to have President Park removed?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Yes and no. The novel details out how economic levers applied by Communist China in the form of Chinese tourists, Chinese exchanges students, economic punishment of South Korean firms (Lotte and Samsung), coupled with a stagnating South Korean economy created the conditions to remove her through democratic means.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Why would China want Park removed? She even went to President Xi’s parade, did she not?

Dr. Lammbrau: “She tried. She did really try to placate Communist China, but the issue of “THAAD” was a bridge too far.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “THAAD?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Right. The installation of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) on the Korean peninsula greatly upset Communist China. So they amped up the economic and political pressure: they cut off these very important streams of income to the South Korean economy. They want a symbolic victory, a wedge in the US-ROK alliance - and hopefully an end to it.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “This is similar to the pressure Communist China is currently putting on the NBA, South Park, and any media outlets that dare not toe the party line?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Correct. I am not surprised at all by the audaciousness of Communist China’s demands. It is in their nature to demand obedience and supplication. I was more shocked by the response from US institutions: “kowtowing” to Communist China for the entire world to see, is just unacceptable.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Follow the money?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Right. This is all about dollars. During this current slow in the global economy, South Korean businesses are ill-positioned to disobey Communist China. So in the novel, I hint that the South Korean business/political establishment conspires to impeach President Park.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Interesting. Just so I have this straight: “The impeachment of President Park was orchestrated by South Korean political and economic establishment under pressure from China?””

Dr. Lammbrau: “Well it’s not too far fetched if you look at the evidence. Let’s not spoil everything for the readers. But yes, that is just one of the narratives driving the story.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “You mentioned a demand for obedience and Kowtowing?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Yes and this is really the heart of the novel; the stark difference in cultural values between the United States and China. Authority over reason, order over innovation (disruption), and the collective over the individual.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Could you explain a bit more what you mean? I know in the novel, Return of the Middle Kingdom, you reference cultural reasons for Korean Airlines’ atrocious flight record.”

Dr. Lammbrau: “That’s right. That is just one, well-known, documented example.”

Dr. Lammbrau: “This is exactly what I ran into living and working in Korea and what I really wanted to address with the book. When Americans see Communist China demand obedience of our US institutions, economic and political, it is because authority is more important than reason in Confucian culture. They (Communist China) see themselves as an authority (Ruling Middle Kingdom), above the US, and authority is never wrong. The plane crash example just highlights how serious this principle is adhered to. The crew, knowing full well they are about to die, would rather not be ‘“disruptive individuals” to the group by pointing out the elder (authority) pilot’s error, and instead would rather die. It is both admirable and terrifying.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Authority trumps reason, even if reason will save you and the crew, and perhaps society?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Terrifying, isn’t it? Even in the tragic sinking of the Sewol Ferry we see this principle at work. During the sinking, the crew told the children to “stay on the ship and they would be rescued” - and the children stayed. Even as the water flooded into the ship, they stayed. The only children that survived are the ones that ignored the order of the crew.” Look, and I can’t emphasize this enough, China doesn’t want dialogue or compromise, culturally they don’t believe in it. They believe in hierarchy and order. Order - is knowing your place in the hierarchy and being obedient. China sees itself as the “Returned Middle Kingdom”, at the top of the hierarchy, and they will continue to demand obedience from all tributary states (which is the rest of the world).”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Well none of this is very optimistic. Is there any way for the United States and China to get off of this collision course?“

Dr. Lammbrau: “I am not sure. I do know that the internet makes things much more difficult.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “How so?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Well the internet allows for the sharing of information and ideas. In the past, social, political, and economic ideas were usually well contained to the border of their respective countries. But now international boundaries are non-existent on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. Of course, China and other totalitarian states heavily surveil and suppress freedom of expression within their borders, and on their net. But the NBA blow up is something new. Now they are demanding that we adhere to their political and cultural traditions on our net and platforms; their political and cultural traditions did not produce the information age. It’s madness. Communist China crossed a very serious line and the NBA’s response was equally as awful. They (Communist China) are currently executing a full-on ‘soft power’ attack on our industries and institutions: academia, media, big business, politics, the entertainment industry…”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Then collision between the United States and China is inevitable?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “A physical war is not inevitable. I believe there is still time and space to prevent any hot war between the United States and China. But one could argue that Communist China was at war (economic war) this entire time; we are only now just waking up.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Well thank you for your time. I should remind our audience that the novel, “Return of the Middle Kingdom,” will be published in January of 2020. Correct?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “That’s correct.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Will there be a third novel?”

Dr. Lammbrau: “Actually, I had originally planned for a three-part novel series. But now it looks like there will at least be a fourth book. This book focuses on Communist China’s influence in South Korea. In the third and fourth books, I will likely explore Communist China’s influence on global institutions, including the United States. So yes, a third book is almost done and a fourth will likely follow.”

Mr. Yun Dong-ju (윤동주): “Very exciting. Thank you Dr. Lammbrau. We look forward to speaking with you in the future.”
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