Is China a curse or a blessing?

[mrsleeve]

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Did I say anything about ANWR??????????????

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didnt I am talking about 3 plays in the lower 48, and 1 of which is in the gulf.

yup it is limited but you and I nor or children will see and end of oil production, Grand kids prolly will.

Yeah we need a better fuel source, and until one becomes economically viable and perfected there is no reason to stifle production of our current fuel source. Also we have more coal and 1 of the largest Natural Gas reserves in the world under central PA and NY, we have more energy resources than we know what to do with, that and we can make synthetic fuels out of coal too

[Ral]

this issue is much too nuanced to be discussed in terms of "good/bad" or "blessing/curse". China, as I understand it, is eager to regain its sense of prominence it feels it should live up to, based on its heritage. Also, too, is the traditional Chinese virtue of "saving face". (If there's a part in this post I'm weakest on, it's the previous sentence. take with a grain of salt.) So, therefore, China's goal is to become a large and formidable power akin to their history. This is good in some ways, and bad in others.

Currently, China wants to be a Superpower, but is not willing to shoulder the responsibility that comes with it in the world power brokerage. That might be changing, however, as China has vested interests in stabilizing certain parts of the world. (for instance, they have started sending Navy ships to the Horn of Africa to assist in policing Pirate attacks. This necessitates bases so they can refuel and act more effectively tan if they were entirely resupplied from China- some 5000odd miles away. This forward basing scares the shit out of alarmists in the West, but really isn't that big of a deal.)

Also, keep in mind China's forces currently are not up to par with ours. This is not to underestimate them, as they have been making huge strides forward, but their homegrown fighter program is still in development and the PLAN (People's Liberation Army-Navy loosely translated) is still focused on defending their coastal waters though they have made a few tentative steps into "blue" waters.

If there is to be an issue that would bring about use of military force, it would be China attempting to retake Taiwan by force. They consider it a province of China that has errantly tried to break away, and (it appears to me) the reason they have not is because Taiwan has treaties with the United States recognizing it as an ally. This issue gets complicated as well because currently Taiwan is governed by a competing governmental organization in China. Where the mainland is governed by the People's Republic of China, Taiwan is governed by the Republic of China, and both groups claim legitimacy over the mainland as well. So, basically it's a very volatile and sticky issue.

China currently keeps the value of its currency artificially tied to a percentage of the dollar. This is shortsighted and one major contributing factor to China's exponential growth in the manufacturing and trade sector. It's also a terrible long-term policy that, as China attains status equal with other large countries, will hopefully be allowed to slide by the wayside. However, if it happens, the amount of debt owed by us to China will be worth substantially less.

Also, keep in mind that the United States is one of the largest trading partners China has.. so if they take us down they hurt nearly as much as we do. All this (and I'm leaving out a substantial amount, surprising as this long post might make it seem) sets up a very complex web of competing interests, but for now I think China is content with the Status Quo, as it's working out very well for them.

But, there are some troubling signs: Google pulled out of China due to Chinese-government backed hackers; this has huge implications for many, many issues both in China and in the States.

Also, very few Chinese, percentage wise, are directly benefiting from this newfound wealth, and China may soon have much bigger internal problems to deal with than what anyone could anticipate.



cliffs: China's earned a seat at the big boy's table but hasn't learned the manners necessary to stay there.

[Farbin Kaiber]

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_8588/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=AEurAs0l

[Ryan Stewart]

Most western countries' economy have suffered from the exodus of production moved to China. Creating a huge loss of jobs, which is not a benefit to occidental countries. Yesterday's USSR has become today's China. Is there another cold war coming up? China threatens any country that doesn't behave according to its interests. Mega frictions are being exacerbated by last week's approval of US sales of weapons to Taiwan. Countries welcoming the Dalai Lama fall onto China's black list...

So, who needs China? Can we do without that dictatorship? Was agreeing to have China host the Olympic games a huge mistake?

No, just no.

[Ray Smoodiver]

We killed heaps of their children with tainted baby formula milk and they didn't put us on any black list. Pull your head out of the sand, Lee.

[Massive Lee]

We killed heaps of their children with tainted baby formula milk and they didn't put us on any black list.

As far as I remember, they did it themself and there was no implication from any occidental player. And it were two Chinese brothers who got trialed for mixing melamine with milk, which resulted in the death of two infants (not a heap). Now time to put your head back in the sand...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapc...ula/index.html

What about China threatening to retaliate if Tibet's Dalai Lama gets welcomed in the US. Isn't that interference in US's internal affairs?

[pbr87]

Blessing for several reasons.

1) Chinese food
2) Huge investor in U.S. markets
3) Huge lender to U.S. government
4) Producer of affordable goods

Although China is quickly becoming one of our largest competitors, I see the benefits as outweighing the consequences.

[dvs909]

Here is an example

My dad ordered a workbench from miller, A company which makes the bulk of their products in america. Miller was selling the bench for an american made price However when it came in to our local welding shop, my dad looked at the packages, ( multiple boxes) all were marked "MADE IN CHINA" My dad was pissed, he was expecting it to be made in america. my dad was very disapointed, So he sent it back. Miller was charging an american made price for a chinese product.

I understand that from an economic standpoint, doing this makes sense to make more money, but it isnt right, it is deception, if they had listed it in the catalog, even is really small print as "imported" and charged a lesser price, it would be ok. Charging american prices for chinese products makes money but it isnt right.

it is this legit enough for you?

you go to public schools in that shithole they call muskegon?