[hungryforcodes]

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.

[LunaSea]

> 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.

[hungryforcodes]

> 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.