[brigandish]

The last time that China's government was instituting economic policies that threatened the trade of the world's premier power (by hoarding silver and holding a monopoly in tea) it was solved by the British government and its agents diversifying tea supply via India and being far more militarily aggressive, which does seem to be mirrored somewhat by recent events.

If Facebook et al are truly addictive then I could make the stretch to that and the exportation of opium over foreign borders, but that's more of a worldwide blight.

[NotSammyHagar]

I like that metaphor that Facebook could be this time's opium export. The US exported intellectual opium, but we suffer from it too. We did it to ourselves though in the us, instead of someone making us use it (or did russia push into this along with cambridge analytica - this crazy example almost pans out).

[kamaal]

China is a lot more open this time around. Their silk/belt-road initiatives, span across continents.

What you are describing actually applies more to USA than China. Its USA which is a closed country and shutting out anyone it has a mild disagreement with(a.k.a sanctions).

[mjburgess]

Err... the remarkable thing about the US recently is that it is using sanctions at all. Not that it is "shutting out" people.

In comparison with China, the US is one of the most open countries in the world. China is horrifically closed-off to investment, imports, and so on.

[redis_mlc]

> China is a lot more open this time around. Their silk/belt-road initiatives, span across continents.

Where to start ...

You realize that BRI doesn't have grants, just debt, right?

The purpose of BRI is to build ports for the CCP navy, but have somebody else pay for them.

[ngcc_hk]

Can USA corp like Facebook, YouTube, ebay gets into china. Can china wechat, …

Fact ah. USA is a closed country. Great 50 cents or what.