Gweiloman

I know so from my various contacts in various ASEAN governments. You are obviously ignorant about statecraft whereby what politicians say don’t always reflect what they think. Not surprising, given your number of inaccurate posts over multiple subjects. As for Japan, I don’t care as I don’t consider them as being in the South China Sea and they have no say.

Eloquent, you might think you are. Intelligent and knowledgeable, not so as exhibited many times before on multiple subjects.

The Philippines especially under anyone named Marcos is a US vassal state and are only acting out Washington’s directions. India and China has a border dispute in Kashmir but Xi and Modi are working this out. Also, if you know Indians like I do (I spent a large part of my life around them, both business and personal), you will know they play both sides. Vietnam has just welcomed Xi with open arms as is Malaysia and Cambodia. All ASEAN countries know full well the real reasons behind China’s nine dash line claim and quietly accepts it. The Chinese characteristics are the X factors that no other country can emulate, thus the spectacular rise of China in just a few decades. Debt trap diplomacy has been well and truly debunked and only believed by those who wants to believe it. Much like the Xinjiang genocide and child labour.

IMO, the China problem is that the white man cannot accept that a non-white can be intellectually or technologically superior to him. Something to do with prejudice, bigotry and racism.

Lol. Nonsense. Just because you know someone that wants to leave doesn’t mean everyone is wanting the same. Plenty of videos on YouTube recently from Americans learning the truth from the average Chinese on Little Red Book. If you want to know what expensive is, go live in Hkg or Singapore.

Some expats live here in Thailand on 20,000 baht a month. Some spend that on just electricity alone. How much it costs you bear very little relevance. Were you living in a first tier city? Do you eat local or western food? Do you own a car or take the subway? I went as a tourist but stayed some time in a friend’s apartment in Chongsan. He lives in Melbourne but couldn’t tell me how his utilities bill (water, electricity, internet) costs him as the amount is too insignificant. What I do know is that good high quality Chinese food such as roast quail, Peking Duck, fresh fish, oysters etc costs less than it does in Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

What is the China Problem? And who has this problem?

China’s system is that of socialism with Chinese characteristics. A lot of “experts” are analysing the Chinese economy based on western capitalistic norms. Even if China never truly becomes No. 1, I think that’s fine with them as that’s not their intention. The Chinese have a saying, “above the sky, there is the sky” which means that you can never truly be No. 1. What’s important is that they have raised millions upon millions out of absolute poverty, they have been the greatest economic miracle the world has ever seen and instead of bullying others, they are very willing to share their knowledge and expertise and help other poorer countries elevate themselves. In so doing, many people around the world now have a better standard of living, unlike those poor citizens of Cuba and various other countries who are being suppressed due to unilateral sanctions by the great Satan.

Why don’t you enlighten us then? Unless you know little about anything? I recently returned from a 2 week holiday in China over Christmas and New Year. I couldn’t believe how cheap most things were, from 5 star hotel accommodation to excellent food to transportation by Didi or high speed rail. A fraction of the cost compared to my last trips to Europe and Japan.

Last I checked, I still have two. But back on topic, seems like the consensus is that it was Trump that was stupid to put tariffs on China. You might want to request the mods to close this topic…

That’s what he does when he realises he has lost the argument. Don’t be surprised if he him responds with a “you lose”.

Surely you mean to say “ if the US finds other places to export import what the US needs”. What were you teaching the Chinese kids in China? The problem for the US is that there is no alternative for them. China dominates manufacturing at an affordable price. Shutting down trade with China is going to be catastrophic for America’s economy. Xi knows that, the whole world knows that, except for those idiots in the States.

I sure as hell hope you weren’t teaching them economics or accounting. Taking a figure of USD1,000/mth means absolutely nothing by itself. In econs (and in real life too actually), there is something known as “cost of living”. In simple layman terms, if things in country A costs half as much as in country B, then a worker in country A will enjoy the same standard of living as a worker in country B even earning half the salary. I hope this is clear for you…

Don’t be so hard on him. He gets his economic lessons from Jesse Watters of Fox News.

Oh dear. I hope the Chinese peasants won’t starve nt that the price of soybeans from the US has become so expensive…

I own a Haval H6 PHEV. Have put on over 40k km including multiple trips to Malaysia, round trip of over 5,000 km. Would I buy it again? Absolutely! Glad to answer any specific queries you might have.

China is the 2nd biggest economy in the world and soon to be number 1. They are the manufacturing capital of the world. Thanks to the above, I am able to own many things that makes my life extremely comfortable at a very affordable price. Electric vehicles, automated toilet seats with sensors, temperature control and foot flush, all kinds of household appliances, great food, amazing holiday destinations (visa free I might add) at incredibly low prices… the list goes on. Fact that they don’t invade other countries or attempt regime change and don’t impose unilateral sanctions makes the world a better and safer place. Fact also that they invest heavily in infrastructure in poorer, developing countries thus raising the standard of living of those citizens is also a rather Christian thing in spite of the fact that there isn’t an official religion in China. Asia on the whole has generally been a very peaceful corner of the world since the colonisers left over half a century ago. China will continue to try and maintain peace and prosperity in this region for all its people which is a good thing in my book. Peace…

I would if I could. Problem is that nobody dares to bet against China. Maybe you would? Every video that’s coming up on my YouTube feed is saying that America is headed for a recession if not already in one. No one thinks the US is winning. Other than you of course…

No no no. You got me all wrong. I love him. I think it’s wonderful that Trump is POTUS. He’s the best thing that ever happened to China. I hope he gets 3rd and maybe even 4th term.

What’s even dumber is thinking that China can be contained. Dumb and dumber comes to mind.

You shouldn’t spend all your time living under your rock.

Most of your claims have been debunked by experts. Since you obviously don’t believe them, you’re unlikely to believe me and I have better things to do with my time than to engage with you. I remember doing it once on the topic of EVs which you didn’t reply to as you were proven conclusively wrong.

I haven’t heard any independent news on what you said Vietnam has offered so I will refrain from contradicting you on that. I have no doubt that Japan and other nations have or will be setting up taskforces to negotiate, this is only natural. Some nations will also submit, purely out of economic necessity. I agree also that China cannot easily substitute a 400 billion USD market but to think that they will submit to US’s demands is naive. US has opened the door for quicker de-dollarisation and multipolarity and loss of hegemony and China will most assuredly be thinking very hard on how to exploit this wonderful opportunity. The loss of one eye might be worth it if it causes your opponent to lose both eyes.

I beg to differ. Trump has no lever. All the expert commentary is that America will be on the losing end. The only commentators that I know of who thinks differently are Bessent, Lutnick, Ron Vara and that idiot Watters. Trump walking away from trade with China will spell his immediate doom and most likely another impeachment. I hope it doesn’t happen as Trump beiand staying on as President is the biggest gift China can ever have.

Only the reciprocal tariffs have been paused, for 90 days, for all countries except China. The universal 10% tariffs are still in place as are the 25% tariffs on steel, aluminium, cars etc. Tariffs for smartphones, laptops etc from China has also been paused. Whatever you think has transpired between Trump and Apple, I think it is clear to most observers that Trump is walking back a lot of his actions as he realises that very few countries and especially China are not going to be bullied or bluffed by him. Keeping the tariffs in place will do significant and possibly irreversible damage to the US. I doubt very much whether we will hear about any of these sector tariffs on smartphones and electronic equipment anymore. Just another bluff. From China’s perspective, placing tariffs on US products hardly causes any pain as,pretty much all those imports can be obtained from other countries.Trump is really playing kindergarten checkers and not very well at that.