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by jimclegg 2452 days ago
Not the world vs China, it has always been the West vs China, European leaders' "zero sum" mentality has made it an economic target for the better part of 2+ centuries.

Please don't include the majority of the world that is benefiting from a new benevolent economic actor on the block.

1 comments

You're considering China to be a new benevolent economic actor?

Can you explain what behavior you consider "benevolent"?

The "well planned" foreign infrastructure projects have had positive impacts on the local communities and economies.

They provide access to loans from an alternative world bank at competitive rates with less strings attached.

Adding depth/liquidity to global markets is beneficial to participants.

Which of those signifies benevolence?

What foreign infrastructure projects? Surely not the ones where they lend money to foreigners but then China owns them? That's just investment, it's not benevolent.

The same for providing loans.

Neither of these are benevolent - they are financial tools to gain traction and influence on the world stage, as well as to make money. I don't think we can attribute any positive intent (towards the rest of the world) to these behaviors.

If you think unparalleled manufacturing expertise at unparalleled prices isn't an economic gain for the entire world you need to open your biased eyes wider.

Yes the west and china are economic rivals. This does not mean China has zero economic benefit to the world. To not see this is utter blindness.

I do not question their economic activity. Whether that's been for the good of anyone but China and the world's billionaires... I'm not so sure.

Either way it wasn't done for the benefit of the world. China started manufacturing because they wanted to gain economic power and arrive in the 21st century.

Only billionaires gain from higher production of products? Makes sense. You never gained anything clearly because you've never purchased anything made in China.