Posted on 09/05/2003 6:42:27 PM PDT by maui_hawaii
INSANA: Talked about free trade today, two recent agreements. But the area that seems of most concern in that regard happens to be China.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yeah.
INSANA: At the moment. You yourself have talked about the manufacturing jobs being lost overseas. China does not appear interested in letting its currency float freely. They seem to manipulate it lower right now to make their exports more attractive overseas.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Right.
INSANA: Did Secretary Snow get an agreement on that or not?
PRESIDENT BUSH: No, doesn't look like it. I haven't talked to him. The one thing I know for certain is Secretary Snow did deliver a strong message from the administration, that we expect our trading partners to treat our people fairly, our producers and workers, and farmers, and manufacturers, and we don't think we're being treated fairly when a currency is, is controlled by the government. We believe the currency ought to be controlled by market and ought to reflect the true values of the respective economies.
And so John Snow delivered the message, and I'm waiting for him to return, and I look forward to hearing their response to him, and then we'll deal with it accordingly.
INSANA: Given the complexities of the relationship, needing China to work on North Korea, what, what levers do you have to pull with respect to the currency should China not want to revalue upwards or--
PRESIDENT BUSH: Or let the market revalue.
INSANA: Yeah.
PRESIDENT BUSH: You know, the relationships are complicated. I mean there's a lot of issues in any relationship, and therefore we'll have to assess all the issues.
But the other thing that's important to know is that China doesn't move very quickly. It's going to take a while for our point of view to sink in, and therefore it's going to require a certain degree of patience on our part to make it clear to China that this is in their interest, not just because of bilateral issues, but because the international world will be interested in their currency being valued properly.
INSANA: Japan used to do that though. They would just nod and smile and then--
PRESIDENT BUSH: (Inaudible)--tell you, (inaudible) a good negotiator. And they're friends, and they still, they still play with their currency some, and we, we, we're talking to them as well.
The best thing to do with these countries, however, is not to, is not to scream and shout and thump the table here at home. It's to send a clear message to them so that they know our position so they can digest what we've told them and that we can work together as friends to resolve any problems we have.
We however have let all kinds of other philosophies and false ideals rule the roost. They are good intentions run wild.
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I was contacted by the Chinese government to go there and work as a R&D engineer/scientist some years ago at any reasonable salary I wanted. I declined because of unalterable difference with the socialist system. I continue, however, to follow activities over there. Don't kid yourself about the progress they are making. Forget the cliches and slogans. That stuff is for kids. Given the deterioration and decadence in this nation, and the progress and strategy in chine, China will surpass us in the next 15-20 years, or sooner. In fact, I look for economic collapse here before 15 years.
Talk softly and be very eloquent. Smile and show that you know their culture. Use chopsticks and if possible speak fluent Chinese to them. (as an American I know this works very well). Make a fair offer.
If they don't comply, go somewhere else. Afterwards quietly spread the word about how much money you made with your new partner...
If that doesn't work grab them by the b@lls. Put them on their knees and ask them quietly if they want trouble.
If they don't comply, make an example of them.
In either case the next guy will listen when you talk to him.
We should be willing, no questions asked and without hesiation.
No bluffing.
Well geez, of course not. Table thumpin' could get someone upset. Or worse, it might give them a good laugh.
Like I said though, we were thumping at D.C., not so much Beijing.
IE: I want them to stand up in a presidential debate and tell the unemployed that they are now obsolete. That they are spoiled. That they don't know how good they have it and should stop complaining. (This sounds especially good coming from a CEO with $150 million bucks in the bank). That China is the wave of the future and is superior to our workforce. Then they should tell everyone to get a real education.
Its a perverted way to play the moral high ground but that is what MOST think they are doing.
If that is what they want to represent, say it. Do it in front of an audience.
And not to mention "not everyone works the same way America does" (meaning that free markets don't work for others but they do for us)...
"Business is in business for business... we are not required to change some place like China. We are just taking advantage of the global landscape..."
I'd love to take you up on that... and I don't know what you mean by "forget the cliches and slogans".
Remember, the Chicoms have BOUGHT every technology they have. They have no free-thinkers.
I'd love to take you up on that... and I don't know what you mean by "forget the cliches and slogans".
Remember, the Chicoms have BOUGHT every technology they have. They have no free-thinkers.
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