China gambles on the Third World: forges ties in Africa, Latin America, at the expense of U.S.

msnbc.msn.com ^ | April 22, 2005 | Eric Baculinao

[Destro]

China gambles on the Third World
Beijing forges ties in Africa, Latin America, at the expense of U.S.

By Eric Baculinao
Producer
NBC News

Updated: 1:41 p.m. ET April 22, 2005

BEIJING - China’s venture into the Third World that began with the first Asia Africa summit in Bandung, Indonesia, 50 years ago is finally paying dividends for the lumbering economic giant.

As China goes where few others will venture — fostering diplomatic and economic ties with nation's viewed with various degrees of disdain by Washington such as Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Venezuela – its economic star is rising while undercutting the United States as well as its main Asian rival, Japan.

China’s President Hu Jintao, is in Indonesia this weekend to confer with other top leaders from Asia and Africa and commemorate the landmark conference that provided then fledgling Communist China with its first platform for breaking out of its international isolation.

The fact that Japan’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi used the international event Friday as a platform to issue an apology for his country’s aggression in Asia during World War II, in an effort to defuse rising tensions between Japan and China, demonstrates the importance of the gathering.

Adroit diplomacy

At the height of the Cold War in 1955 and faced with diplomatic and economic sanctions, China nearly did not make it to the historic first world summit of former colonized Asian and African nations, as organizers wrangled over the issue of whether to invite the U.S.-backed Taiwan, which then occupied China’s seat in the United Nations.

[cyborg]

Nothing stopping the US from doing the same. Wonder why they aren't. Years later we'll be whining about the Chinese commies still.

[Destro]

What is to be gained? Denail to America of military bases closer to China and future control of natural resources that hungry China needs for her industrial revolution.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I think the saying goes something like,

"Today Taipei, tomorrow the world!"

[Destro]

America is punk broke.

[cyborg]

True and one has to remember that America is a capitalist nation and they won't invest where there is increased risk to profit first and employees second.

[Destro]

You asked why are American dollars not doing the same? Answer: They are! They just went through China for the task....

[sasafras]

No reason to wonder the answer is simple - China can afford to do this dont forget we do it as well but via the UN and of course the UN hates us spreads the message of hate to all the countries that it gives money to...yes our money to

[Destro]

America does ot do it viat the UN because its a procedural thing - America is punk broke.

[polymuser]

Let's see: China owns both ends of the Panama Canal, is buying up all the Caribbean and South American port properties (trade gateways) it can, is building more ports in these areas, is negotiating trade agreements with these nations and Cuba to obtain their raw materials (like oil) in return for capital investment and low cost consumer goods, has military officials meeting with these nations, builds gigantic ships, and is building more nukes. And still considers America an enemy.

Caribbean. Cuba. Panama Canal. Mexico?

Knock, knock, knock...

[Bald Eagle777]

Bulls-eye.

Keep watching China CLOSELY.

[this_ol_patriot]

In America everyone is safe from evil smokers and nobody feels left out.
That must count for something, no?

[Don Corleone]

Let's see: China owns both ends of the Panama Canal, is buying up all the Caribbean and South American port properties (trade gateways) it can, is building more ports in these areas, is negotiating trade agreements with these nations and Cuba to obtain their raw materials (like oil) in return for capital investment and low cost consumer goods, has military officials meeting with these nations, builds gigantic ships, and is building more nukes. And still considers America an enemy. Caribbean. Cuba. Panama Canal. Mexico?

Thank you very much Jimmy Carter..you communist maroon!

[ponder life]

"America is punk broke."

Actually, America is significantly wealthier than China and has exerted great influence in other countries through the years. China, on the other hand, had remained isolated. However, China is now a growing economy in need of resources and is now playing catch up with the US, both diplomatically and in securing overseas supply lines to natural resources.

Their diplomatic relations drive makes perfect sense in light of the natural resources that are needed to keep the economy humming along.

What else should do if they need something another country has?

[Destro]

Correction: Americans are significantly wealthier than the Chinese people our govt though is a debtor govt. with not much money for such 3rd world investments anymore.