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by hungryforcodes 1500 days ago
They have already denied the US the South China Sea -- just by expanding their economy. The US is a joke here. China -- for example -- in the last 20 years has started more than 400 companies in the Philipenes at least and where else? Structural changes to the economy, basically. While Europe and the US persist in this 1970s: "we will give the primitives subsidies and cash prizes" -- demonstrating that they are totally out of touch with the region. Colonialism is over. These countries have money. China is actually installing economic zones and other structures which give them direct control over the region. Aircraft Carrier Groups are no match for this.

I'm not saying I like or dislike it. But its incrediably evident if you live in the region.
1 comments
LunaSea 1499 days ago
Chinese fishing vessels are also invading Philippines' territorial waters and depleting the available fish resources.

Is that not colonialism?

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hungryforcodes 1498 days ago
Its a good point -- but I guess when I mean "colonialism" I mean western countries trying to exploit old power structures and values to their advantage. Which is a loosing game really -- these things fade over time.

In your example China is creating new -- however sinister -- power structures on both sides. Physically with the contested islands and fishing vessels and also economically through investment and government agreements.

So it's true it's a kind of colonizing -- but it's a very different version from the past.

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LunaSea 1498 days ago
> Its a good point -- but I guess when I mean "colonialism" I mean western countries trying to exploit old power structures and values to their advantage. Which is a loosing game really -- these things fade over time.

Language doesn't however and large parts of Africa for example speak a European language as native language.

> In your example China is creating new -- however sinister -- power structures on both sides. Physically with the contested islands and fishing vessels and also economically through investment and government agreements.

Projects which are often debt traps and which usually hire non-local work forces.

> So it's true it's a kind of colonizing -- but it's a very different version from the past.

Not sure if that's very reassuring.

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hungryforcodes 1498 days ago
> Language doesn't however and large parts of Africa for example speak a European language as native language.

Not just Africa -- look at Latin America as an example. But that is indeed colonial structure from before.

> Projects which are often debt traps and which usually hire non-local work forces.

Though surely this proves my point -- debt is one of the best power structures in the world if you can get countries or people into it.

> Not sure if that's very reassuring.

No, it's not. True.

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