[George83728]

These countries defaulting is precisely what China intended from the start. The loans are backed by mineral rights, and refusal to honor those agreements would give China all the excuse it needs to back coups, or even resort to military intervention (particularly if the RBIO falls apart, probably due to domestic political strife in America.)

[nradov]

China still doesn't have an expeditionary military. They have very little capability for direct military intervention in any country farther away than Vietnam or India. Even sustaining a small naval flotilla in the Persian Gulf was a major stretch for them.

They are working on building up such a capability and the situation may be different in 10 years. But as of today, they really can't.

[George83728]

> They are working on building up such a capability and the situation may be different in 10 years.

Yeah, that's what we're discussing.. these 'loans' are in pursuit of their strategic objectives.