Gweiloman

Are you sure you’re not Gordon Chang in disguise? You sure sound like him. And you are as equally wrong. As for “China crawling to the negotiation table”, don’t hold your breath. China is slowly but surely tightening the screws on Trump. They have been anticipating such a trade war for years. Trump is starting to panic, it’s obvious from his demeanour and most recent answer to a journalist about whether China has been in touch. You know nothing about China is you think they are going to cave in to an idiot like Trump.

What I know is that you’re the top poster in this thread and seem to be obsessed with this topic. Maybe get out a bit more? Lol.

Let’s see what is the evidence that he claims to have. Don’t forget, he also once claimed 40,000 casualties. Maybe he missed out a zero somewhere.

+1. Trumps’ “reciprocal tariffs” are nonsense, just using jargon to fool the gullible and not too smart American public. There is nothing reciprocal about it (unlike what China did which was to match America’s tariffs by exactly the same amount). Instead, it was merely a measure of the trade deficit. There is nothing inherently wrong or unfair about trade deficits or surpluses. Professors of Economics from top institutions have confirmed as much. However, it is possible that too great a deficit might not be healthy. In that case, the deficit country, such as America should professionally negotiate with the surplus country, such as Japan, to try to reach an acceptable compromise. This would be the win win approach that is generally favoured by most countries. However, Trump, in his ignorance, hubris and American exceptionalism (arrogance), decided to take the hard line approach. First the stick and then maybe followed by the carrot. Anyone who’s ever participated in successful negotiations or relationships knows that such an approach will instil bad feelings regardless of the outcome. Japan, being weak minded people, will almost certainly bend the knee and kiss the ass but will harbour bad feelings and will exact their revenge one day if they can, as will many other countries. This is only natural human nature. Many countries in the global south were already edging towards organisations like BRICS and China in particular. Trumps’ actions will just push them along further. Long live Trump! Go for a 3rd term. You have my full support.

The US maybe China’s largest single trading country but China trades more with ASEAN than with the US. No expert, and I don’t mean guys like you on a forum, thinks that the US is going to win this trade war. As it is, Trump has already blinked thrice, the last time, exempting 40% of goods traded (smartphones, computers etc) with China. It’s rather sad that guys like you are so blinded to the realities due to your anti-China stance. Whatever has China done to you to make you hate it so much, I wonder. You are like that Gordon character that Fox trots out regularly, who has been predicting the economic collapse of China since over a decade. He will be right one day of course, same as I will be, predicting the end of humanity on earth, in about 4 billion years time.

The vast number of Chinese tourists in Thailand indicate that the Chinese middle class has plenty of money to travel and that they are free to travel anywhere they want. The fact that the Chinese are opening businesses here and all over Asia indicates their entrepreneurial spirit and belief that they should work for what they want rather than depending on govt handouts.

Wow. You know more than everyone else? Lol. The only part of your post that’s accurate is that the Chinese people are pissed off. At Trump…

Don’t worry, China is not like America and it won’t start a war over Taiwan. Even if it does, unless you’re Taiwanese, it’s none of your business. As for market dynamics, you’ve gotten it all wrong. China is stronger than people (especially Americans) have been programmed to believe. The US will fold first, if either side folds. This is very obvious from the desperate messaging coming out of the US, pleading for Xi to call, saying that the ball is in China’s court, that China needs the US more etc etc. China has confidently just kept quiet and mature, saying only that talks can begin when America learns some respect (a tall order, I must admit). Militarily, the US has no chance against China in China’s backyard. America is foolishly trying to provoke China to take the first action and then use the fake moral high ground to try and turn the world against China. Kindergarten checkers against the likes of a civilisation that has perfected the Art of War hundreds of years before the genocide of the native Americans.

Really? And what is this propaganda that has been fed to the Chinese citizens? That there are many homeless people in the States? That there is a drug problem? That there are many mass shootings? That America has been in over 70 wars since WWII? That many Americans live paycheck to paycheck and that some have to take out loans to pay for their groceries? That America has the highest number of prisoners per capita in the world? On the other hand, the recent exodus of TikTok refugees to the Little Red Book has many Americans admitting that they have been fed falsehoods about China and life in China. Open your eyes. China does not want war with America but America is trying to contain China in order to hang on desperately to its hegemony.

What are you on about? Don’t you understand what monthly expenditure means? Good thing you aren’t teaching there anymore. Her monthly expenditure means she spends RMB 3,000 per month on food, clothing, utilities, transportation etc etc. If she had to rent her apartment, that would cost another 3,000 but that’s a 3 bedroom apartment. Smaller apartments go for less so a 6,000 monthly income is a very comfortable income for lots of people. And no, most people don’t work 2 jobs.

Excellent post, I fully agree except for the highlighted section. Regardless of whether it’s a dictatorship or not, the government cares about its own people, probably more than most western economies. Another point is that most Chinese citizens can see exactly what the US is trying to do so they are willing to endure as much hardship as necessary to ensure that China will not lose this trade war. However, I don’t think the Chinese people will suffer much hardship. As mentioned many times before, only 15% of China’s exports go to the US. Complete loss of this market (which won’t happen anyway) will inevitably cause some job losses but nobody will be starving or homeless. All that is required is some belt tightening and dipping into some savings if really necessary.

You are really talking nonsense in spite of your claim of having worked in China previously. Most graduates are unable to find work and yet most people have to work 2 full time jobs? You obviously don’t realise how ridiculous that statement is. In response to your earlier post about costs, I just checked with a friend of mine. She lives in a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with her mother in a 2nd tier city. She lives well, eats well, dresses well. Her monthly expenditure? 3,000 RMB. No rent as she owns her apartment. In any case, rental would only be another RMB 3,000. Contrary to what you hope, China is not facing any serious crisis. 5.4% GDP in the first quarter. These are figures that the west would die for.

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…