You ignored everything after the first sentence in my post. But whatever, let's assume that, yes, in Red China everyone dressed the same. And then let's forget about that because it has nothing to do with how the men in Blofeld's office were dressed, whether they were Red Chinese or not. I've since decided it's unlikely that they were (see below), but I feel it's important to explain why, if they were, they wouldn't dress the same in Japan as they would in China.
People who traditionally dress one way in their native country don't always dress that way when traveling abroad. Red China's representatives to SPECTRE probably wouldn't want to call attention to themselves while in Japan.
Admittedly, showing up in traditional Chinese Mao-style clothing doesn't automatically mean the Japanese authorities would assume they were up to no good, but wearing clothing associated with the Mao regime would've definitely raised a few eyebrows nevertheless, and considering the nature of their business, it makes sense that they'd opt for less conspicuous business suits, which, as I said, is accepted as men's fashion the world over not connected to any creed or culture.
So now we come to the all-important question: disregarding all mention of them being Chinese, were they? I thought Soviet Russia was Red China's ally. Why would they want to get them involved in a war with the US? And if they weren't Chinese, then who were they? Rogue Japanese nationalists (as gregforttmags rather interestingly suggested)? North Koreans? You've discounted them as being Chinese (for what I feel is a silly reason), but I'm not hearing any alternative suggestions.
I mean, really, how many times will you look under Jabba's manboobs?
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jack-upland
9 years ago
The Mao suits weren't traditional; they were a symbol of the revolution. The two men just don't seem to be representative of Mao's China in during the Cultural Revolution.
As well as this, the PRC was economically and diplomatically isolated at that time, with most countries (and the UN) recognising Taiwan as China, so it seems difficult to envisage Mao's government delivering gold bullion to a Buenos Aires account as a matter of urgency. Also, it appears from the conversation that the mystery government has been giving Blofeld "technology". The PRC had only tested its first atomic bomb in 1964, and did not launch a satellite till 1970. Its space program was still in its infancy.
The men are clearly representing a government. One of them says, "My government is quite satisfied." That seems to rule out rogue Japanese nationalists.
They could be from Mao, and the plot could be part of the Sino-Soviet split. (If the real politics is at all relevant, North Korea remained closer to the USSR than China was.)
It is possible that they were Asian agents of a non-Asian government.
The film deliberately doesn't specify who they are. We are supposed to see them as representatives of some power, and the politics doesn't matter. I just don't see why it is presumed that they are from the PRC. If they were intended to be Chinese, I don't see why this couldn't be made clear, as the USSR is frequently identified in Bond films, and the PRC was more diplomatically isolated.
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