Posted on 01/03/2008 10:12:50 AM PST by 3AngelaD
China’s economic development strategy has often been called a new version of mercantilism, the philosophy of political economy that built the great nation-states and empires of Europe in the 16th-19th centuries. Mercantilist features have been most prominent in Beijing’s drive for exports and a large reserve of hard currency. The focus has usually been on China’s trade with the United States and Europe, the source of its large trade surpluses. But China’s relations with other parts of the world show different aspects of the mercantilist model.
Latin America is an example of how Chinese mercantilism is assuming a neo-colonial pattern in which the dominant country secures markets for its manufactured goods in exchange for raw materials from its weaker partners. Last November, President Hu Jintao toured Latin America and completed a number of economic deals on this basis... Both leaders predicted that China would replace the United States as Brazil’s top trading partner.
Hu’s interest was importing more Brazilian chicken, beef, soy beans and minerals. In the long term, China sees Brazil's vast territory as a potential solution for its growing need for food and raw materials. To advance this agenda, Hu offered between $5 billion and $7 billion worth of investments to improve Brazil's roads, railways and ports. Though Brazil gained a commitment from China to order at least ten Embraer aircraft, Beijing prefers to focus on Chinese production of a joint venture regional airliner, which will transfer Embraer technology to China Aviation Industry Corporation II. Ambitious mercantile powers want to keep any advanced industrial project in their own hands, relegating partners to a subordinate supplier status.
From Brazil, Hu went to Argentina where another “strategic partnership” was declared with President Nestor Kirchner...Argentina has been pursuing its own export-led growth strategy, but it is being turned in a neo-colonial direction by China...Argentina’s lead export product is soybeans to China. Indeed, soybeans, corn and oil account for nearly all of the increase in Argentina’s exports. China’s imports primary goods from Argentina, which more than doubled in 2003 from the previous year, whereas China exports manufactured goods to Argentina.
Hu next went to Chile where a “free trade” agreement was discussed. Beijing wants more of Chile’s copper. Hu finished his Latin American tour with a two day visit with Fidel Castro in Cuba....China is looking to invest heavily in the island’s nickel mines, and Castro predicted that Cuban exports of nickel would double from expanded shipments to China.
Another radical leader in Latin America with ties to both Lula and Castro is Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Visiting China on December 24, Chavez said his country would put many of its oil facilities at the disposal of Beijing...
china ping
An old Chinese myth--Contrary to pop. wisdom, China's rapid growth isn't hugely dependent on exports.
I don’t think there is one...and I know keep harping on this...but they have flourished since clintonians gave them the most favored nation status..and of course..congress backed them up.
Yes, “Chinese myth” is what got me started. One of the things I see going on in our country is that we have been so focused on the Middle East and Iraq that we have not paid enough attention to many of the alarming developments in our own hemisphere. Large chunks of South American have gone socialist.
It has no R's or L's to get mixed up. :-P
You don’t think there is one? Is one what?
Nobody! Read China for what they are. They are users. They will import all their food and export all other products using slave labor. Don’t buy Chinese products.
They are thinking about it. They have a strategic plan. We don’t. They are playing chess, while we are arguing over how to play checkers.
There is no doubt in my mind that, if we elect a Dem president, a decade down the road we’ll be asking ourselves “who lost Latin America?”
I don't think there is anyone, in authority (with the power to make change) at least.
ROR aka LOL
And for all this - you need a NAVY...
Duncan Hunter is the only candidate who sees the danger from China.
The rest are busy stuffing their pockets with Chinese money.
Red Dawn II will be made with Chinese officers instead of Russian, and troops from the whole of Latin America.
Soon.
Look again. Duncan Hunter is the only candidate who has the slightest inkling about the danger from China.
Could he and Thompson work together?
Thompson’s a member of the Council.
I'm sure they could. They're both conservatives--the last remaining in the race. I think Hunter is better, however. If either somehow wins the nomination, I hope he has the sense to pick the other for VP, rather than do this "ticket-balancing" crap. Reagan made some big mistakes, but picking G.H.W. Bush as his running mate was probably the worst. Bush and his son (with help from the GOP wimps in Congress) have undone most of the Reagan Revolution, and reduced the GOP to minority status, perhaps forever.
And it will remain that way. Are there an assasination attempts on leaders in China (i.e., Pakistan)? Are women forbidden to drive a vehicle in China or forced to cover their heads? There are women in powerful positions in China.
The reason why America is focused on the Middle East (and will remain so for many years to come) is because of the political and cultural clashes. The political and cultural clash between the US (or the West) and China is not that severe. Business deals, however lucrative they are today, will continue to expand between China and the rest of the world. And America, with her military prescene around the world, will go on dealing with the hotspots of the world. And China, will go on expanding business deals.
No kidding.
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