Posted on 04/09/2025 5:32:20 AM PDT by hardspunned
Thailand is staring at a crisis caused by the rising number of factory closures in recent years, partly attributed to an influx of cheaper Chinese products.
“The Indian Express had reported Saturday that a high-level meeting had taken place at the Commerce and Industry Ministry to assess the situation with fears of a potential surge in imports in the backdrop of the reciprocal tariffs. "Necessary action will be taken. The Customs department and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are vigilant, the official said.”
(Excerpt) Read more at world.thaipbs.or.th ...
Not so many years ago, China seemed to be on a constructive path. Its necessary next step was to mature as a stable, reliable trading partner that lived by the rules and upheld its WTO obligations. China has long since reached the point at which it is too big and too prosperous to be playing stupid little mercantilist games. China is much too big for the rest of the world to tolerate continued cheating.
Ten years ago, there was a robust internal debate going on within Chinese leadership circles between those committed to China maturing and stepping into a healthy relationship with its trading partners versus the party hardliners who opposed anything that would lessen party control. Unfortunately, the hardliners won, at least for now.
Everyone outside of China — and I do mean everyone — had been hoping that China would grow up and take the constructive path. And everyone was hoping that China would find a peaceful way out of its political box. China now has a huge highly educated business, scientific, technocratic class, many of whom have traveled outside of China, and some of whom were educated outside of China. They know perfectly well that they are ruled by a closed, corrupt, ruthless party kleptocracy. They also know the consequences of open dissent. This is the real problem that China faces. The Chinese government has a cheaters’ and looters’ mentality towards the rest of the world because the gangster regime has to keep buying off its own people.
China needs regime change. Every one of those Chinese billionaires who is parking money in U.S. real estate or various European investments knows it. That’s bugout money stashed by people who hope they can get out in time if things collapse. There are hundreds of millions more in China who don’t have the cash or sophistication to do the same, but who also understand the problem. A LOT of people in China look at the regime in Beijing, then look at Japan and South Korea, and realize that the wrong side won the Chinese Civil War.
I am going to go out on a limb and predict that this is going to cost Xi his position! 🤔 China cannot win this conflict without heavy U.S. 'Swamp' agitation against Trump... AND Xi is trying that.
Interesting dilemma for U.S. pharmaceuticals. 🚽
With all the lead they have in their products that sign can be seen at a dump entrance.
This is a complete transition from a cheap goods addiction to self sufficiency like this country has never seen.
The great irony is that the Marxist Mao organized Chinese society for mass production - which ultimately serves the “capitalist” interests of free trade.
China will need to change its political outlook and economic structure.
I am going to go out on a limb and predict that this is going to cost Xi his position! China cannot
win this conflict without heavy US ‘Swamp’ agitation against Trump... ......AND Xi is trying that.
Seeing as how you’ve been right on so many issues......yeah.
China needs the world more than the world needs China
Thailand just joined BRICS+ for protection because of the US attempts to overthrow their government. Not unlike Ukraine. Brian Berletić on YT, who is an accurate Ukraine reporter lives there will fill you in. I wish Thailand well.
"1 January 2025
On 28 December 2024, Thailand was informed by Russia, Chair of BRICS for 2024, confirming that Thailand will join BRICS as a Partner Country starting from 1 January 2025."
This is also why we need a strengthened military. No one can threaten us to change course.
High tariffs against Chinese imports = cutting off funds to China’s elites, the ones who own and control China.
>>> pssst, it’s not a democracy or a republic. Their people have no voting rights
Start making those drugs where they were originally made …Puerto Rico before Clinton changed tax laws to make it more expensive.
I agree. My concern is this escalates into a fighting war.
China transships their goods to other countries and relabels as that country’s products. Or preforms minor “finishing” steps. This is to beat the old tariffs. This is why other countries need to negotiate, agree to prevent this work around.
All it takes is one ambitious colonel at the right time and place. Xi must know that.
Or it’s disinformation.
This is war.
The odds are more likely this will escalate into a fighting war within China’s own house.
There are some that believe China is already in a bad place; foreign investment plummeted 80% during Jan/Feb (since PDJT), their population is not 1.4B, it’s also now in rapid decline, high youth unemployment (also disincentivizing having kids), real estate values crashing, businesses closing, etc., this is a bad time for such disruption. Which is maybe the point here.
China manipulates currency, steals I.P., exploits workers, etc., it should not be rewarded. The whole “make China prosperous so it’ll become more friendly” idea has not worked out.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they act militarily, Taiwan is very vulnerable. Vietnam is experiencing a growth boom, they’re next door too.
The CCP is evil - maybe PDJT sees the writing on the wall and knows now is the time, they can’t last long, they’re weaker than they try to present.
IMHO....and this is also targeting the EU. It’s also an evil entity, much of what their economy offers we can live without (cars, wine, cheese, ...) - we have alternatives here. Where are they going to get their energy? Russia? They’re not producing enough themselves. So PDJT puts a $350B energy deal on the table, on top of zero-for-zero tariffs. Most likely they’ll take it.
Can anyone make a fair deal with the CCP?
I don’t think it matters what kind of agreement you get. CCP will ALWAYS lie, cheat and steal.
The idea is to realign supply chains and markets and work with free nations that believe in rule of law, contracts, fair dealings. Better to isolate the Chinese virus.
The communists have always said that they hate capitalism and will sell the rope to the capitalists to hang the them. Their goal is never free trade, it’s global domination. That’s why the globalists want to ride the Chinese Trojan Horse as their vehicle to for global control.
Of all the things they produce that we don't, pharmaceuticals is the important one and something we need to do here anyway. Much of the rest are things we can do without or get elsewhere.
Cell phones and computers are another china only option. Japan needs to step it up.
I guess they make the big transformers for electric distribution but that's another thing we should make for ourselves as it's crucial infrastructure and a matter of national security or cohesion at least.
Looking around here at home and it's electronics, small kitchen appliances. Some cookware but I know that's available Made in USA.
Thinking about the factory I recently worked at procuring parts and it's about 5% of the bearings and the mini solder in relays that were available from china only.
Shafts can be turned down and bores machined bigger to fit a different bearing or the unit the bearing goes in can be replaced. A pain but not insurmountable.
The relays went in temperature controllers but I imagine temp controllers made elsewhere are available. Would be a lot of work cutting new holes in the control panels but oh well. They had to do that when they decided to go the cheap route anyway.
We'll be alright without most china stuff. It's long past due.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.