NOW I’m quite worried re CHINA (no politics!)

[Tvflguy]

China has been a considerable threat to the West and USA for decades now. Of course we have totally lost so much manufacturing power in our country and much of our allies. I recall history of early WWll when our auto/truck mfg plants had to retool in order to make airplanes, tanks, ships, army vehicles, guns, ammo etc etc. but we had much of the plants and fabrication -and willing citizens to engineer and make all this.

Of course over these past decades most was transferred to Asia for their low cost labor et al.

This said China has gained much of this within their country. And they have dramatically built their military power esp the last ten years.

Now, the very serious threats from top China gvt re the Speaker and other diplomats expected to visit Taiwan.

But the main reason for my post is how China could just about strangle the West with electronics. Taiwan makes 70% of the world’s Chips. China 10%. We are woefully behind in that capability and others. and much of the worlds raw materials for making solar panels, batteries etc. comes from them.

If China’s threats become reality and they take over Taiwan as they desire, and WILL, are we ready? Nope. Are we ready to push back and take the consequences. Nope.

I’m very frightened…

Again NO politics.

[Kenswing]

This problem is 100% political. No way this thread lasts long.

[Keefelane66]

There is currently a “CHIPS” Bill in Congress that’s stalled. Seems that the same Semiconductor Companis that left the USA for cheaper labor/PROFIT now wants the US Government to bail them out to rebuild factories here. One party is stalling the process!

[TSO/ISPF]

China has been a considerable threat to the West and USA for decades now. Of course we have totally lost so much manufacturing power in our country and much of our allies. I recall history of early WWll when our auto/truck mfg plants had to retool in order to make airplanes, tanks, ships, army vehicles, guns, ammo etc etc. but we had much of the plants and fabrication -and willing citizens to engineer and make all this.

Of course over these past decades most was transferred to Asia for their low cost labor et al.

This said China has gained much of this within their country. And they have dramatically built their military power esp the last ten years.

Now, the very serious threats from top China gvt re the Speaker and other diplomats expected to visit Taiwan.

But the main reason for my post is how China could just about strangle the West with electronics. Taiwan makes 70% of the world’s Chips. China 10%. We are woefully behind in that capability and others. and much of the worlds raw materials for making solar panels, batteries etc. comes from them.

If China’s threats become reality and they take over Taiwan as they desire, and WILL, are we ready? Nope. Are we ready to push back and take the consequences. Nope.

I’m very frightened…

Again NO politics.

Are we willing to go to war with China over a lifestyle we enjoy buying everything they make enslaving their population. We will be paying a lot
more for everything if we want to make it all here.

[Bogie Shooter]

:popcorn::popcorn:

[MandoMan]

Are we willing to go to war with China over a lifestyle we enjoy buying everything they make enslaving their population. We will be paying a lot
more for everything if we want to make it all here.

I worked in Beijing forty years ago, as a professor, and I’m nearly done writing a book about that. I never want to go back. However, the population of China is not “enslaved,” though some do forced labor for various reasons, and the government is authoritarian and the people much less free than we are. But China is a nation of hardworking capitalists working hard to get rich, by their standards, or at least improve their standard of living. They are ruled by malign and corrupt but pragmatic Communist authoritarians who are torn between helping their country conquer the world and become wealthy while still pretending that they treasure Marx and Mao, though they don’t. Are there lots of human rights abuses? Yes. Is that our business? Not really. If we don’t like it, we shouldn’t buy things from there. But we do. So we are responsible for the abuses, too. Meanwhile, the problems the Chinese government faces in trying to rule 1.4 billion unruly people are much worse than what our government faces. But the people aren’t “enslaved.”

One sure thing: in business negotiations, the Chinese play hardball. I’ve never heard of a western company or country getting the better of China in a trade negotiation. You think you have a deal and may make a profit, and the Chinese call you back to the table and demand more concessions. Countries like Sri Lanka and countries In Africa are discovering that what they thought were good deals offered by Chinese “friends” are actually ways of “establishing Chinese hegemony,” as the Chinese government says.

We essentially gave China our steel industry, our textile industry, our electronics industry, our pharmaceutical industry, and more—all in the name of increasing profits for investors at the expense of the wellbeing of American workers. We threw away American jobs in order to get better prices at WalMart. Bringing those back means much higher prices, which sounds a lot like inflation, doesn’t it? People now are complaining about the entirely predictable inflation that stems from the pandemic and the need to pay welfare to most of the country for a year. (Did you get a check from the government? Nearly everyone did. And many got salary support, rent reductions, free medical care for Covid, unusually cheap gas that led to thousands of oil wells beIng closed. Well, those payments were welfare. So you’ve been on welfare, many of you who proudly claim that you haven’t, and maybe you liked it. Now the bill is coming due, and we don’t like it. Meanwhile, China is angry because we (rightly) put tariffs on steel and other things.

[Worldseries27]

china has been a considerable threat to the west and usa for decades now. Of course we have totally lost so much manufacturing power in our country and much of our allies. I recall history of early wwll when our auto/truck mfg plants had to retool in order to make airplanes, tanks, ships, army vehicles, guns, ammo etc etc. But we had much of the plants and fabrication -and willing citizens to engineer and make all this.

Of course over these past decades most was transferred to asia for their low cost labor et al.

This said china has gained much of this within their country. And they have dramatically built their military power esp the last ten years.

Now, the very serious threats from top china gvt re the speaker and other diplomats expected to visit taiwan.

But the main reason for my post is how china could just about strangle the west with electronics. Taiwan makes 70% of the world’s chips. China 10%. We are woefully behind in that capability and others. And much of the worlds raw materials for making solar panels, batteries etc. Comes from them.

If china’s threats become reality and they take over taiwan as they desire, and will, are we ready? Nope. Are we ready to push back and take the consequences. Nope.

I’m very frightened…

again no politics.
china and the usa have been saber rattling over the taiwan question for decades.
Militarily we can sink any invasion fleet with the usn classes of submarines like virginia, seawolf and columbia employing thousands of conventional cruise missiles, captor mines and submarine launched undersea drones designed to destroy ships propellors. China has developed a missile which will prevent our aircraft carriers from approaching china's coast line. So what's the point. Obviously a political solution must be found but both sides have been preparing for a military conflict that may come first.

[Sandy and Ed]

Are we willing to go to war with China over a lifestyle we enjoy buying everything they make enslaving their population. We will be paying a lot
more for everything if we want to make it all here.
Well I guess we will have to pay a lot more then. Carefully consider the alternative. Are we too selfish to consider and care what we are leaving for the next generation??

[Retwarrior]

It’s called operation mockingbird. Nothing we see in the media is true. The point is to live in fear. Now get back to being terrified y the boogie man!!!! And I’m running out of popcorn������������

[Bay Kid]

They are buying our land all over the country. Probably won't blow us up. But there is a fox in the chicken house.

[B-flat]

They are buying our land all over the country. Probably won't blow us up. But there is a fox in the chicken house.

That's a fact!

[srswans]

China is aging rapidly (i.e., few young people) so they will fail as a country in a few years. USA is already pulling back manufacturing (except Apple) but it will take a decade to complete. Nothing to worry about - it will all work out soon.

[George Page]

Rosetta Stone is offering free trials on learning Chinese.
We should all sign up, sounds like we’ll need it.

[jbrown132]

I worked in Beijing forty years ago, as a professor, and I’m nearly done writing a book about that. I never want to go back. However, the population of China is not “enslaved,” though some do forced labor for various reasons, and the government is authoritarian and the people much less free than we are. But China is a nation of hardworking capitalists working hard to get rich, by their standards, or at least improve their standard of living. They are ruled by malign and corrupt but pragmatic Communist authoritarians who are torn between helping their country conquer the world and become wealthy while still pretending that they treasure Marx and Mao, though they don’t. Are there lots of human rights abuses? Yes. Is that our business? Not really. If we don’t like it, we shouldn’t buy things from there. But we do. So we are responsible for the abuses, too. Meanwhile, the problems the Chinese government faces in trying to rule 1.4 billion unruly people are much worse than what our government faces. But the people aren’t “enslaved.”

One sure thing: in business negotiations, the Chinese play hardball. I’ve never heard of a western company or country getting the better of China in a trade negotiation. You think you have a deal and may make a profit, and the Chinese call you back to the table and demand more concessions. Countries like Sri Lanka and countries In Africa are discovering that what they thought were good deals offered by Chinese “friends” are actually ways of “establishing Chinese hegemony,” as the Chinese government says.

We essentially gave China our steel industry, our textile industry, our electronics industry, our pharmaceutical industry, and more—all in the name of increasing profits for investors at the expense of the wellbeing of American workers. We threw away American jobs in order to get better prices at WalMart. Bringing those back means much higher prices, which sounds a lot like inflation, doesn’t it? People now are complaining about the entirely predictable inflation that stems from the pandemic and the need to pay welfare to most of the country for a year. (Did you get a check from the government? Nearly everyone did. And many got salary support, rent reductions, free medical care for Covid, unusually cheap gas that led to thousands of oil wells beIng closed. Well, those payments were welfare. So you’ve been on welfare, many of you who proudly claim that you haven’t, and maybe you liked it. Now the bill is coming due, and we don’t like it. Meanwhile, China is angry because we (rightly) put tariffs on steel and other things.
I’d rather pay more than have to learn Chinese at this age.

[sail33or]

Capitalism was based on good people trying to get food, shelter, clothing and better lifestyle through competition, initiative, hard work, etc.

But Humans are ultimately/basically greedy.

Look at History.

Capitalism eventually becomes the method of downfall as China simply figured out that all they need to do is BUY the USA with their own money. Greedy Politicians and Corporate Leaders sell their soul and Country for a few dollars more.

The Chinese are thousands of years old with customs, patience, etc. and work together as one. The USA only 250 years old and each succeeding generation more dependent on their cell phone and social media apps to instruct them on what do think and do.

So, a betting Space Alien probably has the Chinese coming out on top.

[Worldseries27]

capitalism was based on good people trying to get food, shelter, clothing and better lifestyle through competition, initiative, hard work, etc.

But humans are ultimately/basically greedy.

Look at history.

Capitalism eventually becomes the method of downfall as china simply figured out that all they need to do is buy the usa with their own money. Greedy politicians and corporate leaders sell their soul and country for a few dollars more.

The chinese are thousands of years old with customs, patience, etc. And work together as one. The usa only 250 years old and each succeeding generation more dependent on their cell phone and social media apps to instruct them on what do think and do.

So, a betting space alien probably has the chinese coming out on top.
guess you missed the memo about
1969 landing on the moon.
Defeat of the axis ww2
detonation of 1st nuclear weapons
destruction of iraq by smart bomb technology
do i have to go on?
Don't underestimate uncle sam
bejing today gone tomorrow.

[kbace6]

China has been a considerable threat to the West and USA for decades now. Of course we have totally lost so much manufacturing power in our country and much of our allies. I recall history of early WWll when our auto/truck mfg plants had to retool in order to make airplanes, tanks, ships, army vehicles, guns, ammo etc etc. but we had much of the plants and fabrication -and willing citizens to engineer and make all this.

Of course over these past decades most was transferred to Asia for their low cost labor et al.

This said China has gained much of this within their country. And they have dramatically built their military power esp the last ten years.

Now, the very serious threats from top China gvt re the Speaker and other diplomats expected to visit Taiwan.

But the main reason for my post is how China could just about strangle the West with electronics. Taiwan makes 70% of the world’s Chips. China 10%. We are woefully behind in that capability and others. and much of the worlds raw materials for making solar panels, batteries etc. comes from them.

If China’s threats become reality and they take over Taiwan as they desire, and WILL, are we ready? Nope. Are we ready to push back and take the consequences. Nope.

I’m very frightened…

Again NO politics.

I used to feel the same way. But after hearing a few things about the issues going on inside of China and after watching an interview with Peter Zeihan - Author of "The World as we know it is ending, But what comes next?" It has become very clear to me that the demographics issue in China is so serious that they will have too many problems to solve to be worried about on the world stage for quite some time. Their "One Child" policy decades ago is starting to come home to roost.

It is just about an hour long, but I highly recommend all who want to know more about what is going on watch this interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeFwD1d7V7I&t=2526s).

See, NOT political at all. It wasn't really that hard either especially given that this is regarding a geopolitical subject. Hmmm, go figure...

Have a good day TV people. I sleep better at night now with the information I have learned about China. I hope you do too.

[Stu from NYC]

I used to feel the same way. But after hearing a few things about the issues going on inside of China and after watching an interview with Peter Zeihan - Author of "The World as we know it is ending, But what comes next?" It has become very clear to me that the demographics issue in China is so serious that they will have too many problems to solve to be worried about on the world stage for quite some time. Their "One Child" policy decades ago is starting to come home to roost.

It is just about an hour long, but I highly recommend all who want to know more about what is going on watch this interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeFwD1d7V7I&t=2526s).

See, NOT political at all. It wasn't really that hard either especially given that this is regarding a geopolitical subject. Hmmm, go figure...

Have a good day TV people. I sleep better at night now with the information I have learned about China. I hope you do too.

Very true. They have huge problems in the coming year. Population aging rapidly with very few people entering the job market and no idea how they will pay for their version of social security.

Country is horribly polluted. Cannot drink the water other than filtered and bottled and the air is horribly polluted.

Huge public debts.

[mkjelenbaas]

China has been a considerable threat to the West and USA for decades now. Of course we have totally lost so much manufacturing power in our country and much of our allies. I recall history of early WWll when our auto/truck mfg plants had to retool in order to make airplanes, tanks, ships, army vehicles, guns, ammo etc etc. but we had much of the plants and fabrication -and willing citizens to engineer and make all this.

Of course over these past decades most was transferred to Asia for their low cost labor et al.

This said China has gained much of this within their country. And they have dramatically built their military power esp the last ten years.

Now, the very serious threats from top China gvt re the Speaker and other diplomats expected to visit Taiwan.

But the main reason for my post is how China could just about strangle the West with electronics. Taiwan makes 70% of the world’s Chips. China 10%. We are woefully behind in that capability and others. and much of the worlds raw materials for making solar panels, batteries etc. comes from them.

If China’s threats become reality and they take over Taiwan as they desire, and WILL, are we ready? Nope. Are we ready to push back and take the consequences. Nope.

I’m very frightened…

Again NO politics.
Why are you frightened over something you as one person have no control - let our current politicians deal and worry about it - move on and enjoy life

[OhioBuckeye]

All I can do is smile & think does this surprise you!😮

[mkjelenbaas]

I worked in Beijing forty years ago, as a professor, and I’m nearly done writing a book about that. I never want to go back. However, the population of China is not “enslaved,” though some do forced labor for various reasons, and the government is authoritarian and the people much less free than we are. But China is a nation of hardworking capitalists working hard to get rich, by their standards, or at least improve their standard of living. They are ruled by malign and corrupt but pragmatic Communist authoritarians who are torn between helping their country conquer the world and become wealthy while still pretending that they treasure Marx and Mao, though they don’t. Are there lots of human rights abuses? Yes. Is that our business? Not really. If we don’t like it, we shouldn’t buy things from there. But we do. So we are responsible for the abuses, too. Meanwhile, the problems the Chinese government faces in trying to rule 1.4 billion unruly people are much worse than what our government faces. But the people aren’t “enslaved.”

One sure thing: in business negotiations, the Chinese play hardball. I’ve never heard of a western company or country getting the better of China in a trade negotiation. You think you have a deal and may make a profit, and the Chinese call you back to the table and demand more concessions. Countries like Sri Lanka and countries In Africa are discovering that what they thought were good deals offered by Chinese “friends” are actually ways of “establishing Chinese hegemony,” as the Chinese government says.

We essentially gave China our steel industry, our textile industry, our electronics industry, our pharmaceutical industry, and more—all in the name of increasing profits for investors at the expense of the wellbeing of American workers. We threw away American jobs in order to get better prices at WalMart. Bringing those back means much higher prices, which sounds a lot like inflation, doesn’t it? People now are complaining about the entirely predictable inflation that stems from the pandemic and the need to pay welfare to most of the country for a year. (Did you get a check from the government? Nearly everyone did. And many got salary support, rent reductions, free medical care for Covid, unusually cheap gas that led to thousands of oil wells beIng closed. Well, those payments were welfare. So you’ve been on welfare, many of you who proudly claim that you haven’t, and maybe you liked it. Now the bill is coming due, and we don’t like it. Meanwhile, China is angry because we (rightly) put tariffs on steel and other things.
You spent a lot of time typing about an experience of forty years ago?? Is your message timely - I think not- just saying.

[PugMom]

It’s called operation mockingbird. Nothing we see in the media is true. The point is to live in fear. Now get back to being terrified y the boogie man!!!! And I’m running out of popcorn������������

operation mockingbird was an arm of mkultra that controlled the media & info we seek. not sure it's in use here, but i see why you would suspect that. on another note, i read somewhere they (China)are buying up large amounts of farmland. not sure if it's true, but what do you think they would want it for>?

[Caymus]

She arrived. The Chicoms didn't shoot her plane down.:angel:

[PugMom]

she has yet to come home, they fight dirty

[Chi-Town]

It will be interesting how the Taiwan visit plays out. It's obvious the threatening tone was ignored. Perhaps the U.S. doesn't take kindly to that sort of intimidation.

[Rainger99]

This is from today's NY Post. It would be interesting to hear what the military people think of the article.

Here’s what a US war with China would look like

As tensions rise over Pelosi's Taiwan visit, here's what a US war with China would look like (https://nypost.com/2022/08/01/pelosis-visit-could-accidentally-start-a-war-with-china-and-america-would-lose/)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Are we willing to go to war with China over a lifestyle we enjoy buying everything they make enslaving their population. We will be paying a lot
more for everything if we want to make it all here.

Yup. If you think car prices are insane now, just wait til the electronics in the cars are made in the USA, with employees who are paid decent wages, with benefits, paid time off, mandatory overtime pay.

That $1000 iPhone? Better call your bank to see if you can get a loan. That puppy's doubling next year.

Made in the USA with regards to electronics and computer chip technology is only useful for people who can afford it. For everyone else, there's China and Taiwan.

[coralway]

I am also worried - about the NY Yankees starting pitching headed into September.

[Tvflguy]

IMO A war with China would not end well for the USA. China has built it’s military with our $$$$ over the last couple decades. They have complete control over how their regime spends, as they do not need to please their people. They have little pressure from internal groups demanding policy as we do. And they have the critical manufacturing infrastructure to make any weapons they choose, many from our own designs.

And of course the ‘distance thing’. As mentioned earlier they absolutely have the highest tech weapons and many more than us. Primarily defensive weapons to take our very best OUT.

What would be OUR alternative. Nuclear??? Really would we go there? I say no. As mentioned here, our leaders (either party) would need to give in and goodbye Asia. That’s China’s long term plan.

Hate to say this but I’m afraid that the USAs world power is behind us. And we did it to ourselves. Sad.

[sail33or]

Guess you missed the memo on:

USA could not beat barefoot Taliban wearing sheets and turbans driving Toyota trucks

USA lost to Vietnam (VIETNAM)

USA has General that reports everything we do to CHINA

CHINA makes everything we need

USA Military kicked out all vaccine refusers

Russia is on China's side

USA is in a Recession and it's going to get much worse

USA owes more than it can ever pay back (A lot to the Chinese)

USA's current generation never heard of George Washington.

USA building solar and wind farms while China is building more Manufacturing Plants.

Hope our electric tanks with troops wearing gender neutral uniforms waving the Pride Flag can keep up with their big bad diesels.

[MartinSE]

[QUOTE=sail33or;2121753USA owes more than it can ever pay back (A lot to the Chinese)

USA's current generation never heard of George Washington.

USA building solar and wind farms while China is building more Manufacturing Plants.

Hope our electric tanks with troops wearing gender neutral uniforms waving the Pride Flag can keep up with their big bad diesels.[/QUOTE]

Well, you were doing a pretty good job summarizing things until the last four.

I know personally all my grandkids know all about George Washington.

China is actually a long way ahead of us in Solar and Wind, and are moving forward with carbon reduction policies, while building more cities and factories. The US doesn't build factories because the companies don't want to. Pretty simply economics, pay and taxes is less there than here.

And the last electric tanks, I hope so, but not soon. And troops wearing gender neutral uniforms. As a Marine I take offense at the slight against our military. I don't care if the Marines go out in nothing but pink underwear we are still the best fighting force in the world, despite you hate of some sectors of our society.

[Chi-Town]

This is from today's NY Post. It would be interesting to hear what the military people think of the article.

Here’s what a US war with China would look like

As tensions rise over Pelosi's Taiwan visit, here's what a US war with China would look like (https://nypost.com/2022/08/01/pelosis-visit-could-accidentally-start-a-war-with-china-and-america-would-lose/)

Doubt that military people pay much attention to the NY Post. Well, maybe page 6.

[jswirs]

China has been a considerable threat to the West and USA for decades now. Of course we have totally lost so much manufacturing power in our country and much of our allies. I recall history of early WWll when our auto/truck mfg plants had to retool in order to make airplanes, tanks, ships, army vehicles, guns, ammo etc etc. but we had much of the plants and fabrication -and willing citizens to engineer and make all this.

Of course over these past decades most was transferred to Asia for their low cost labor et al.

This said China has gained much of this within their country. And they have dramatically built their military power esp the last ten years.

Now, the very serious threats from top China gvt re the Speaker and other diplomats expected to visit Taiwan.

But the main reason for my post is how China could just about strangle the West with electronics. Taiwan makes 70% of the world’s Chips. China 10%. We are woefully behind in that capability and others. and much of the worlds raw materials for making solar panels, batteries etc. comes from them.

If China’s threats become reality and they take over Taiwan as they desire, and WILL, are we ready? Nope. Are we ready to push back and take the consequences. Nope.

I’m very frightened…

Again NO politics.

Why are you so frightened? What can you do about it? I refuse to live the rest of my life in a state of fear over that which I cannot control. My advice to you: Cast your one political vote, then, just as The Beatles said many years ago, "Let it Be".

[kkingston57]

Why are you frightened over something you as one person have no control - let our current politicians deal and worry about it - move on and enjoy life

Politicians deal and worry about it? Scary! Some of them spend more time back stabbing each other.

[Tvflguy]

Why are you so frightened? What can you do about it? I refuse to live the rest of my life in a state of fear over that which I cannot control. My advice to you: Cast your one political vote, then, just as The Beatles said many years ago, "Let it Be".

Why? Why? Simply because I deeply care about our country, our allies, and our world.

And I really care for my family and friends. I have 3 grown children and six great- grandchildren. And family and friends all over our country. I care for their safety and their future. In this great country.

So friend, it’s not living in a state of fear. It’s living in a state of Hope. I hope that our leaders and the leaders of other countries have sanity. We know that some do not and only care to conquer and have more power.

That’s the worry as so many signs indicate a very troubling and very scary future. Sure, let it be…

[jswirs]

Why? Why? Simply because I deeply care about our country, our allies, and our world.

And I really care for my family and friends. I have 3 grown children and six great- grandchildren. And family and friends all over our country. I care for their safety and their future. In this great country.

So friend, it’s not living in a state of fear. It’s living in a state of Hope. I hope that our leaders and the leaders of other countries have sanity. We know that some do not and only care to conquer and have more power.

That’s the worry as so many signs indicate a very troubling and very scary future. Sure, let it be…

Well, I'm happy to hear you are hopeful. However, you did not communicate that in your original post. You summarized your post by saying, "I'm very frightened", and that, my friend, does not sound very hopeful. Yes, Faith over Fear, and "Let it Be".

[Tvflguy]

Well, I'm happy to hear you are hopeful. However, you did not communicate that in your original post. You summarized your post by saying, "I'm very frightened", and that, my friend, does not sound very hopeful. Yes, Faith over Fear, and "Let it Be".

Typically, at least for me, I do not get ALL my thoughts into one post. I do get critical of those here who post diatribes and extra long posts. I tried to limit my OP posting. And have others post their thoughts. Sometimes Threads evolve and added thoughts come to mind, as in my case. Yes I’m frightened about this entire China matter but sure hope that sanity prevails.

I would also hope that posters ADD to the topic rather than just an emoji or slam others. Unfortunately that’s how some threads in TOTV evolve.

And I’m glad that this Thread did not go down with the “P” yada. Not sure if the Mods had to delete some.

[justjim]

I worked in Beijing forty years ago, as a professor, and I’m nearly done writing a book about that. I never want to go back. However, the population of China is not “enslaved,” though some do forced labor for various reasons, and the government is authoritarian and the people much less free than we are. But China is a nation of hardworking capitalists working hard to get rich, by their standards, or at least improve their standard of living. They are ruled by malign and corrupt but pragmatic Communist authoritarians who are torn between helping their country conquer the world and become wealthy while still pretending that they treasure Marx and Mao, though they don’t. Are there lots of human rights abuses? Yes. Is that our business? Not really. If we don’t like it, we shouldn’t buy things from there. But we do. So we are responsible for the abuses, too. Meanwhile, the problems the Chinese government faces in trying to rule 1.4 billion unruly people are much worse than what our government faces. But the people aren’t “enslaved.”

One sure thing: in business negotiations, the Chinese play hardball. I’ve never heard of a western company or country getting the better of China in a trade negotiation. You think you have a deal and may make a profit, and the Chinese call you back to the table and demand more concessions. Countries like Sri Lanka and countries In Africa are discovering that what they thought were good deals offered by Chinese “friends” are actually ways of “establishing Chinese hegemony,” as the Chinese government says.

We essentially gave China our steel industry, our textile industry, our electronics industry, our pharmaceutical industry, and more—all in the name of increasing profits for investors at the expense of the wellbeing of American workers. We threw away American jobs in order to get better prices at WalMart. Bringing those back means much higher prices, which sounds a lot like inflation, doesn’t it? People now are complaining about the entirely predictable inflation that stems from the pandemic and the need to pay welfare to most of the country for a year. (Did you get a check from the government? Nearly everyone did. And many got salary support, rent reductions, free medical care for Covid, unusually cheap gas that led to thousands of oil wells beIng closed. Well, those payments were welfare. So you’ve been on welfare, many of you who proudly claim that you haven’t, and maybe you liked it. Now the bill is coming due, and we don’t like it. Meanwhile, China is angry because we (rightly) put tariffs on steel and other things.

Nice post and “right on” with what you say.

[Lindsyburnsy]

China has been a considerable threat to the West and USA for decades now. Of course we have totally lost so much manufacturing power in our country and much of our allies. I recall history of early WWll when our auto/truck mfg plants had to retool in order to make airplanes, tanks, ships, army vehicles, guns, ammo etc etc. but we had much of the plants and fabrication -and willing citizens to engineer and make all this.

Of course over these past decades most was transferred to Asia for their low cost labor et al.

This said China has gained much of this within their country. And they have dramatically built their military power esp the last ten years.

Now, the very serious threats from top China gvt re the Speaker and other diplomats expected to visit Taiwan.

But the main reason for my post is how China could just about strangle the West with electronics. Taiwan makes 70% of the world’s Chips. China 10%. We are woefully behind in that capability and others. and much of the worlds raw materials for making solar panels, batteries etc. comes from them.

If China’s threats become reality and they take over Taiwan as they desire, and WILL, are we ready? Nope. Are we ready to push back and take the consequences. Nope.

I’m very frightened…

Again NO politics.
Just what China was hoping to do, instill fear in the U.S. They have a whole lot to lose if they turn their back on the U.S.

[ThirdOfFive]

Heard yesterday evening from an Asian source that the SS Ronald Reagan is in the South China Sea enroute to the Taiwan area right now. I don't know if that has made the American news sources or not. In any case, a carrier group bobbing around in the water adjacent to Taiwan is not going to be well-received by the Chinese.

...Another round of brinkmanship coming up?

But in any case, most Americans are ignorant of China and how their system works (or doesn't work). My wife, who knows a lot about Asia and China in particular, explained it: China's system, from the top down, is authoritarian. That means if you look good in the government's eyes, you'll be rewarded. If not, well--baaaaad things might happen. So the effect is that the managers at the lowest levels, regardless of the facts, send glowing reports to their higher-ups, who in turn forward those glowing reports (even if they know it's not factual) to THEIR higher ups, and so on up the ladder. The result is what gets disseminated to media is often grossly untrue, but it forms the essence of what the world knows about China, especially if one trusts media to be factual.

[Bay Kid]

All smoke and mirrors. Always something else going on we shouldn't see.

[PugMom]

Well, you were doing a pretty good job summarizing things until the last four.

I know personally all my grandkids know all about George Washington.

China is actually a long way ahead of us in Solar and Wind, and are moving forward with carbon reduction policies, while building more cities and factories. The US doesn't build factories because the companies don't want to. Pretty simply economics, pay and taxes is less there than here.

And the last electric tanks, I hope so, but not soon. And troops wearing gender neutral uniforms. As a Marine I take offense at the slight against our military. I don't care if the Marines go out in nothing but pink underwear we are still the best fighting force in the world, despite you hate of some sectors of our society.

Semper-Fi :super: