[hi-v-rocknroll]

China tried xenophobia and protectionism for 1000 years, and Japan also for almost that amount of time. It didn't work out well for either when Europe and American ironclads dropped by for a visit.

Market isolationism and protectionism is a clear signal of weakness.

[defrost]

> It didn't work out well for either when Europe and American ironclads dropped by for a visit.

To be clear, you're advocating for the rights of profit driven armed drug dealers to addict citizens of foreign countries?

https://asiapacificcurriculum.ca/learning-module/opium-wars-...

[hi-v-rocknroll]

SMH. Be reasonable. Colonialism was and is shitty.

[defrost]

Sure, colonialism whether direct or indirect is shitty.

Consider your argument though:

> Market isolationism and protectionism is a clear signal of weakness.

In the case of China, it was too weak to fight off unwanted trade, it would have been a clear signal of strength if it had maintained isolationalism.

Being forced into trade demonstrated weakness.

[hi-v-rocknroll]

You're missing the point and trying to substitute another point. That's called a strawman, so you're really arguing with yourself.