The Coming War on China (2016) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
46 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
8/10
The other side of the story
lvkuang26 December 2016
The movie started with the Bikini islands, which is a foreign island FAR from the US mainland annexed by the States for military and human laboratory purposes. China is indeed making a move on the disputed area of the South China Sea. While I am not defending the absurdity of this action, it is hypocritical of the US to criticize China while itself is spreading its military influence all over the world for it's economical and political purposes. The movie is rather unbiased because it also exposes the social inequality of China as a result of the economic reforms. Both countries have their problems, but this movie gives an insight to the viewers for the reasons we wouldn't see from the western media: Being demonized by the western mainstream propaganda, China has no choice but to react to the suppression of the States or it will meet the same fate as the Bikini islands or the Okinawa island.
61 out of 86 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
War criminals goring free
rolfhu2 April 2021
Another documentary that shows how bad the united states are. The Nazis were bad and after they were beaten, the US started exactly the same. Starting wars include illegal wars, killing people by using them as test material for their nuclear weapons tests. But the world did nothing. Japan is today a Colonie of the US and South Korea is not better. An eye opener that should be at all schools in the world to see facts of the real America.
13 out of 18 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Not bad, just disappointing by John Pilger's regular standards
Jeremy_Urquhart27 July 2020
I've really enjoyed Pilger's other documentaries but this one disappointed me. It's mostly technically competent (some inconsistent sound with Pilger's narration occasionally), and I'll give it props for its good intentions.

It covers issues that aren't talked about much, the same as many of Pilger's works, but the issue is the execution rather than the content. Things don't build and progress in a satisfying way, and the different subjects weren't linked together as coherently as I feel different (but related) subjects were in his other documentaries that I've watched.

So overall it's definitely not terrible, especially because of what it's trying to do- it's just disappointing when judged by how engaging it is.
8 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
En Ami
tieman649 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Pilger has taken on the great theme of justice and injustice. He documents the official lies that we are told and that most people accept or don't bother to think about. He belongs to an old and unending worldwide company: the men and women of conscience." - Martha Gellhorn

An interesting documentary by renowned journalist John Pilger, "The Coming War on China" details growing attempts by the United States to exert economic, political and military pressure on China.

Unlike previous films by Pilger, "Coming's" tone is one of ridicule and contempt; his film ends with a nod to Stanley Kubrick (Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again") and is largely told via a condescending narrator. Such a tone is appropriate: "The Coming War on China" details the greatest American-led build up of forces since the Second World War, an insane bit of posturing in which Russia and China are encircled by a nearly unbroken necklace of warheads, fleets and military bases, all capable of strangling trade, cutting off oil networks and instigating outright Armageddon.

"The Coming War on China" largely preaches to the choir. It does contain, however, some revelations, like scenes which show contemporary life on the Marshall Islands. Pilger describes the "American apartheid" on these islands, in which displaced and exploited locals are shipped to American bases to do menial work, and then shipped out back to their island slums. Sometimes they're unwittingly used as test subjects for nuclear weapons.

Other segments detail Nobel peace laureate Barack Obama's massive increase in nuclear spending (after promising to limit the construction of nuclear weapons), as well as the West's "Asian Pivot", which sees 2/3rds of the US Naval fleet deployed around Asia. Other scenes detail past attempts by the United States to covertly and overtly dominate, subjugate and invade, as well as Franklin Roosevelt's (32nd US President) family's connection to drug runners. Elsewhere Pilger, a cynic, doesn't shy away from China's own abuses, its massacres, its historical relationship with Western powers, and the massive levels of poverty and exploitation bed-rocking the glitz and glamour of 21st century Chinese state-capitalism.

Where "The Coming War on China" fails is in its ability to offer an economic reading of the situation it sketches. The role of money, private arms businesses who exploit lucrative markets, debt, banks, the US economy's own need for war, for market expansion and control, as well as whole financial systems which remain held together by magic, lies and faith, are issues too complex and interlinked for Pilger to coherently chart. And so the US-China rivalry, a revival of the Great Game of the late 19th century, goes on, largely mysterious and unmapped.

8/10 – Worth one viewing.
60 out of 75 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
A plain and thorough conducted researched documentary
onetree-280-29144112 December 2016
The US government has been conducting covert operations since WW I. And probably many other nations do that same thing. The world is sadly so indoctrinated with false information and the media and the school systems are so controlled that the truth does not reach the people. Therefor I am glad John Pilger made this film and showed not only evidence of those covert actions by the US government but also the heroic and relentless effort that other so called ordinary people make to expose and oppose these actions. This movie is made in deep honor of all those who have been railroaded And even killed by these actions of a nation that has grown to have become the largest psychotic, delusional, megalomaniacal force in this world. Sadly again many of its inhabitants as well as people from other nations are indoctrinated because of false information and lack of true information and will hold on to that this film as well as many other proof belongs in the category of conspiracy theories. The only thing someone has to do to get to the truth is rid oneself of all prejudices and look at the information with an open mind. Take that challenge and watch this movie and see for yourself. Only the truth will set you free.
64 out of 101 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Not a bad documentary but a little too one sided.
trevor-646523 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
As a Canadian and one who wrote a paper back in college about American hegemony and how the CIA infiltrated labour unions in Latin America and overthrew many democratically elected governments and replaced them with Juntas that were easily controlled and allowed the siphoning off of resources to American corporations, I'm not averse to strong criticism of American foreign policy. I did feel that it soft pedalled Chinese foreign policy and took the word of a few domestic champions of Chinese foreign policy that China had very modest goals compared to the US. If you follow the non mainstream news, you'll read many pieces about the Chinese takeover of many strategic and economic assets around the world from Venezuela and especially Africa through their rather clever and insidious loans that allow China to take over ports, airports and resources like natural gas to pay for delinquent loans. China is also in the midst of a massive naval buildup and is claiming gas and oil fields as her own with her artificial islands and screwing countries in Southeast Asia and the Philipines. I also had first hand experience while visiting Cambodia when the locals told me Chinese money is flooding in buying up everything but the only locals who benefit are corrupt politicians; also the idyllic island of Koh Rong was leased for 99 years to a Chinese consortium which is going to build 25 casinos, an international airport and a ring road on the tiny island which will destroy it. At the current pace China will own Africa in the not too distant future and there's even talk of as many as 200 to 300 millions Chinese colonists going to Africa in the coming decades, presumably to secure Africa's resources and ensure a loyal and steady supply.

America has done much harm to many nations and is responsible for 100s of thousands of dead, so bravo for criticizing her policy in Asia since WWII. I just felt that it could have been a little more balanced. Still a good watch though.
16 out of 29 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Enlightening, thorough documentary with strong food for thought
wellthatswhatithinkanyway8 February 2017
STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Seasoned journalist John Pilger casts a light on the amount of US Naval Bases situated around China and the amount of warships pointing in their direction, and the globally catastrophic consequences this hostility could create. He charts the shameful, untold history of the US army's activities on the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific, where they were lied to about chemical testing and the terrible consequences it's had years later, as well as revealing how General Mao may not have been the monster the imperialist west made him out to be.

China is certainly the main contender looking to take it's shot at being top boy on the world stage, from trade to military might, but it seems the almighty US of A doesn't want to go down without a fight, and, knowing its enemy, is aggressively trying to keep it in its place. At least that's the picture that director John Pilger is trying to portray, and although he offers alternative viewpoints to speak their mind, it's clear throughout which country he thinks is most to blame for this feud. At any rate, he's certainly produced something that is a contrary assault on the western media's presentation of Chinese life under a 'communist' regime.

Pilger highlights what could only be described as one of the US's dirty little secrets, questionable testing on minuscule little islands tucked out of sight off the coast of China, where untold damage was inflicted in pursuit of a rich, powerful countries aggressive expansion. Not being familiar with any of his work before, it's hard to know if any political affiliation is swaying his views, but he's certainly created a well researched and eye opening documentary that just about manages to excuse the just under two hour running time.

An absorbing and, ultimately, chilling account of what may be to come. ****
34 out of 54 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Very informative, but extremely biased as well, taking away from the experience
siderite12 June 2022
As many reviewers noted, the film has a fantastic start. It explores the inhumane and criminal behavior of the U. S. in the Marshall Islands. If you didn't hate America before, you will now. The documentary portrays a country built upon savagely abusing and dominating other people which they don't even consider human enough. That's the truth, it's history, no argument there, and most of it is propaganda-ed away and slowly washed to protect the image America wants to project. One can get behind that.

However, the rest of the film continues in the same sensationalist way to attack American exceptionalism and disregard for other nations, portrays China as an innocent victim and the U. S. as an imperialist aggressor, filling the Earth with military bases that can only lead to a devastating war. That part is pure propaganda, too, and the quality of the content drops immediately and stays down.

If this would have been a 45 minute documentary about the rape of the Marshall Islands by the U. S., it would have probably won awards. As it is, it feels like a CGTN news item, created by a person who is clearly biased against America. A man can hope, but how wonderful it would have been to make a miniseries in which each episode was so viscerally against the military jingoism of a specific country? Start with the U. S., continue with China, go to the U. K., move to Russia and then down the list. Or to at least make an analysis that views all countries from the same lens. Alas, this documentary is not it.

Bottom line: the first 45 minutes is a must watch. The rest is a waste of time, even if some of the content continues to be highly informative.

I liked the way Japanese and Korean people protest against the military bases that mar their islands. In Romania we can't even protest against log cutting without protesters getting seriously injured and their families threatened. I cannot imagine us protesting against American bases.
13 out of 23 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
A powerful and convincing film
seethroughthebs4 August 2020
Exposes the truth of the phony narrative that "America is the hero, China is the bad guy." In reality, America is the bad guy. Any American taxpayer should be outraged that our money is being spent on warmongering and manufacturing a war with China instead of domestic institutions like healthcare and affordable housing.
15 out of 25 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
A great watch, with fresh perspective but not without some bias
marog-5516221 June 2022
I'll leave to others to point out the many good parts in this which are not often heard about.

On Mao though, although the great famine was briefly mentioned, it conveniently missed out that his regime was also directly responsible for 55 MILLION deaths and was, by quite some margin, the largest mass murderer in history. Let that sink in. God forbid we ever let history repeat itself, by the actions of either side. Bad stuff has happened in the past, acknowledge it, learn from it and most of all support open discussion without bias.
3 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Argumentum Ad Hominem
sentientsight9 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This film is either incorrectly named, or it missed the point entirely.

It starts with human rights abuses committed by the US in the Marshall Islands arguably still continuing to this day. In fact if it ended there I would've rated it a 9 out of 10.

There is a little history thrown in about the Opium Wars and Pilger does a good job of surmising that this is where the US's foreign policy regarding China comes from, however he failed to discuss the impact these events had on China's opinions of the US.

He shows US military bases in Japan and Japanese protests against them. Whilst the argument is made that these bases are a threat to China, he spends more time portraying US military personnel in a very poor light, "they would be more liked if they weren't molesting Japanese school girls".

This film lacks an unbiased look at China, Pilger briefly mentions the Tienanmen Square Massacre and social inequality in China, but that's it, whilst the damning facts about the US flow like a tsunami. I have no reason to believe his claims are false, it's just that they do nothing to illustrate a coming war. "If War is Coming to China the US is the Aggressor" would be a more appropriate title, maybe even "I don't like the US and Here's Why".

Despite it's flaws this documentary is worth watching, mainly for the great piece about the Marshall Islands, but there are some other interesting tidbits throughout.
36 out of 67 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Amazing film maker
jamesdy-3723031 May 2019
John pilfer one of the best film makers please dont stop your grate work not many former BBC journalists would have the courage or knowledge to take their feed from under that cozy table of the elite. We need more media like this to combat the neo liberal properganda merchants put out in the mainstream or a mainstream TV Chanel that promotes content like this
17 out of 30 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
80s style documentary with even more outdated material
DocJD16 April 2017
Don't be fooled by the title. There's no light shed on what might play out between a rising China and US military conflict. This is a walk down memory lane with material from the post war US nuclear testing in the Pacific followed by some current affairs about the South China Sea Chinese installations. There wasn't enough content left so a major portion of the program focused on the objections of some local Okinawan groups concerning US airbases on the island. Most of the material worthy of any merit is from incidents in the early 60s. We get to hear about Pine Gap in Australia which was note worthy in the 80s. Overall the documentary seeks to portray the USA in as negative a light as possible. While this may have worked in the 80s this style detracts from the credibility of the film. Unfortunately no mention is made of North Korea which is the elephant in the room given the current state of affairs which would have made for good television...but alas I can't see the producers heading there to get a scoop on the facts.
38 out of 78 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An absolute must-watch
hanaahbraan25 January 2020
As a current 'victim' of the US-UK-backed proxy war in Hong Kong, I found solace in Pilger's documentation of the foul and sinister intents of the US government. Something I always knew was coming from the early years of China's development in the early 1990s. It presents a simple truth - that the US is the modern world's school yard bully. This is a must-watch.
17 out of 27 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Much needed counter balance
fordanielhughes10 June 2020
I really enjoyed the accounts of the people who have been affected by the atrocities carried out by the U.S government. Sad to see what these people are going through.

I enjoyed the style of the film making. I would describe the programme as factual. A documentary rather than the appeals to emotion western media relies upon.

Excellent all round and very important work.
13 out of 23 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Very informative
pintoalk19 May 2019
The key lesson is we don't want to repeat such atrocities again.
17 out of 33 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Great Documentary and Valuable Information!
nurart8 May 2020
This documentary, more than anything else, wants us to take action by not staying silent, to prevent a possible upcoming WW. It would be beneficial for all, who live on this earth, to see this documentary. Great work!
13 out of 25 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Misnomer
scheissenbeiner3 January 2017
The title of this sloppy and suggestive documentary doesn't cover the subject at all. The 'coming war' is merely suspected but definitely NOT substantiated. I have to say I thought my distrust of the USofA was going to be confirmed by Pilger, but this wasn't the case. Pilger made some great documentaries before (Palestine is still the issue), but this one is just annoyingly cheap and shallow, and indeed, Michael Moorish. Okay, so the USA have military bases all over the place. What's new? The arguments that should underpin the screaming title are left to the last quarter of the film but are not given. What's the point of it all?
33 out of 74 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Shocking Truth
woodlandsport2 July 2020
Hidden facts, real stories And horrors of abuse of Military on innocent people. People of the west must see this documentary. If your really concerned about climate change and the rape of humanity and world resources then watch this documentary. Rate the film, spread the message and thank people like John Piliger for showing us the hidden truth.
11 out of 21 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Deceptive Title and Highly Manipulative
roger-5587210 February 2017
The title of this piece is deliberately deceptive.

There is nothing in this piece of work which leads one to believe there will be war on china. The title also alludes to the extremely biased design, content and manipulative nature of the narration. The War ON China, not with. China is an innocent baby in this doco and the big bad, salivating wolf is the good ol' US of A. I would say 80% of it is interviews with people that were inadvertently hurt by the US 50-80 years ago or about 'ancient' US history, blended with interviews with protesters against the US.

The narration drips with a morally condescending tone and feels self indulgent, a pat on their own back - throughout. The only good thing about this doco was that it a gave a sense of the domination mindset of strategic military planning, which was interesting and it ties into the historical content yet these intellectual aspects of it were 20% of the content.

The rest of the doco is like watching an hour of commercials for starving children with the narration smugly 'using' the viewers empathy for individuals to muster up anger towards the United States. That is the objective of this doco - it is not meant to inform about any actual war on China.

Ironically, it uses fear of war to sell itself - which is precisely what the doco attacks America for doing - throughout history with naval bases (using fear of war to achieve its aims). I feel a sense of disgust toward this doco but there is 20% that is worthwhile).

If you are cynical about the United States and want to poor the fertiliser of confirmation bias on your mind, this doco could be for you...which is why its promoted on RT I suppose.

There are better docos about military strategy and army bases if you're interested in that 20% of it.
39 out of 96 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Shame on you, American government and military forces, and shame on you,
MovieIQTest13 July 2018
All the reviewers who believed this film was a biased propaganda against America. Where were your humanity, your conscience, your morality, your basic logics, your ability to distinguish right and wrong? Shame on you, the reviewers with such blind patriotism to America even after watched this atrocious film about how the American government and its military forces used Bikini Island and its innocent islanders who lived on the island, used them as guinea pigs for their H bombs tests. These heartless reviewers without conscience would try their best to blame such kind of films are the tricks played by the far-left Liberals who usually mean the Democratic Party members. All the good things for human civilization were given by the conservatives, the Republican Party.

Now, American government is doing it again to demonize China and trying their best to brain wash the majority of Americans by condemning the Chinese as the ultimate threat to America and the Americans. When a nation with its only working military power to dominate the world and tries to use its military power to decide what is wrong and what is right, to use its formidable weaponry to manipulate the wind direction against China, then it just so inevitably becomes what the doomed Roman Empire to fool itself and its people with the last hurrah. Now we have blindly put a crazy man into the White House, a guy almost as similar as the crazy guy who led the Nazi Germany into oblivion and total destruction, with the same old tricks of accusations, finger-pointing insults to almost everyone who's not see eye to eye with him. A guy who administrates the government and the nation with his iPhone Twitter, while allowing his daughter to represent him as the royal princess to visit foreign countries and in the meantime, to promote her own commercial territories. Just within 2 years after this guy's inauguration, the fortune and the wealth of her and her husband have increased another $82 million dollars. While making her profit by contracting or subcontracting the Chinese factories to churn out her products, her father is claiming the trade war with China, and conspiring a war with China. There's no logic whatsoever to what he is doing now. The trade war against China would never has any impact to him, his Party, those morons in the Senate and the Congress, but would put the 99% ordinary Americans into a more difficult living condition. I am quite sure that the most popular chain store in Ameirca, the 99Cents Stores, would never survive since most of their goods from China are either @ or under $1.00 since the general goods, the must-have and the must-use products, after a 25% import tax hike, would become impossible to remain unchanged. And we, the common people are doomed.

When you use the same ideology patriotism to fool most of the naive Americans, you are no different from the Chinese Communist Party leader, and your Party is no better than your targeted enemy's Party. America, under the blind guidance of a crazy captain, has undoubtedly become a Ship of Fools.
30 out of 70 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
This is what real journalism looks like
shanayneigh27 July 2022
Take note journalists, aka. Stenographers to power, who are more interested in serving as press secretaries of the empire than challenging power. This is what real journalism looks like. Today most Western journalists are content with reporting what some spokesperson of the empire has said without any kind of critical follow up question. But not John Pilger, one of the most important journalists of my lifetime. He has done his homework, so whenever an interviewee is either obfuscating the truth or outright lying, Pilger confronts him. This is what journalism should look like. Not some well coiffed CNN/FOX/MSNBC/WaPo/NYT mannequin who is terrified of losing their White House press pass or missing out on the chance to be embedded with the armed wing of the empire in their next genocidal excursion.

Pretty much the same film could be made about Russia and the NATO expansion into Eastern Europe (not to mention US bases in Central Asia) which is drawing a noose around Russia's neck, similar to the one around China. That has already lead to war. And the useful idiots to the empire in Western media and parliaments are cheering on their own decline.

By the way, I love the b***hurt one-star reviews rage-written by American right wingers having to face the truth about their genocidal regime.
4 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Very relevant
paulak-356-43063820 August 2022
Having just watched this program in August 2022 it is even more relevant. So many atrocities under the guise of "peace and democracy" America shame on you. Watch out Russia.
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Journalism NOT Propaganda
m-ozfirat9 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I have read many of the reviews on IMDB about this documentary of accusations of being Pro- Chinese and Anti- American well its not its just information no one wants to hear and America needs a worthy critic like Pilger rather then a sickaphant.

Pilger starts by talking about the martial islands now this could off been a seperate documentary in its own right and this spoils the original thesis of the title.

When he talks finally about China he does so in a balanced manner he does not eulogise the regime but talks about its achievements and its problems such as a class system in a post Mao China and the massacre of 1989 in Beijing.

Pilger also explains the history of tension between China and the Western powers since the Opium wars in the 19th Century and how this expanded to include America in the 20th Century and the Americans general unpopularity in East Asia, more details about this would of been better at the introduction then the Marshall Islands.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Shady Film at best that attempts and fails to toss live grenades at the USA.
allzen-88-6576779 January 2017
This so-called documentary by the anti-American Austrailian journalist, John Pilger, fails to give solid evidence to historical facts and present realizations. Pilger has been a strong critic of American, Australian and British foreign policy for many years and using his available clout to undermine even his own countries role in past and present worldly skirmishes.

Even the title of this film, 'The Coming War on China,' sets against his own past rhetorical statements and incites from the start that perhaps a military 'war' is coming, rather than one of economic measures. Something that he was not successful at exposing anywhere within this film. He cites uncontested Islands in the South China Seas, whereas those Islands he cited have been contested prior to the making of this film and where several countries went to International courts over the Island chains - Philippines owns the Islands, so the International Courts say.

He cites one rape that occurred in Okinawa nearly 50 years ago by a U.S. Marine, stating that the incident caused an International scandal that is still felt to this day, but fails to present pro and con on that grievous incident.

The only valid merit I saw in the file were some excerpts of films past, i.e., the citizens of the Marshal Islands, Okinawa, etc. His discounting interviewing style 'embedded' words into the mouths of those he interviewed. He painted a picture of pure negativism from the USA towards the peaceful 'non-capitalist' country of China.

Historical fact does not prevail itself well in his film, whereas, it can be seen in any obvious form that his own ideology shows through in living color. And yet... this film has a 7.2 rating thus far - I don't get it, I don't wish to encourage his blatant attacks, and I don't recommend this film to anyone else.
35 out of 87 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed