[bigbadfeline]

> if a robber pulls a gun on me in the street and demands my wallet,

You're jumping the gun here, and it's a bad habit, ask Putin about it. Framing consensual trade as armed robbery is exactly the self-righteous attitude that leads to preemptive wars and self-destruction.

As far as China, they provided exactly what they were asked to provide, in exchange for what they were offered to take. The problem is with the deal artists across the table who believe that lining their own pockets should automatically solve all problems, for everyone, and forever. Maybe they shouldn't have surrounded themselves with suck up economists who tell them what they want to hear.

> then in what way must I blame myself?

I didn't ask you to blame yourself but to "find out how we can do better", I can only repeat that request.

[somelamer567]

Wars and self-destruction, if they happen, will be purely the responsibility of the Chinese side, who have been caught numerous times hacking, spying, copying and stealing the hard work of Western countries. China's conduct of the last 40 years has been the greatest illicit transfer of wealth in the history of the world.

NONE of this Chinese malfeasance has been 'consensual' or about 'free trade'