> “I like to think of Chicaps...... the business people. In the end, the Chicaps will exert enough pressure to persuade Xi to deal in a positive and meaningful manner. “
You give Xi too much credit as a leader open to reform, while overlooking the Chinese communist party’s long record of ruthless crushing of any dissent. They are only interested in continuing their totalitarian rule and won’t hesitate to kill their own people to achieve that end.
Not only are businesses never in a position to be able to put any pressure on Xi, now they have to worry about how the authorities will now try to squeeze more money out of their pockets, and, if their assets are substantial, even fear for their lives, given the numerous disappearances and untimely deaths of some wealthy businessmen. In fact, Jack Ma’s early retirement from Alibaba was believed by many to be a smart move to get out with his life while he still could.
From your #82:
> “China merchants pay nothing. If Americans purchase the china products at the tarrifed price, the china merchant benefits and the trade imbalance continues at the rate as before.”
So you think the many businesses contemplating and actually relocating out of China, among them Foxconn, Oracle, and Warren Buffet’s Brooks Shoes, are making irrational business decisions?
No, I was not thinking of Foxconn, I was considering much lower grade products. I was thinking of paint brushes and socket sets and colanders and cooking pans. Mundane stuff
My question is always “how ya goin to keep them down on the farm after they’ve got Daisey Mae’s? There has been tremendous change. There can be no return