Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Chinese Court European Governments
This last week the Chinese premier was in Europe. As Condalesa Rice courted solidarity with Germany and made diplomatic efforts in other countries as well, the Chinese premier was courting France and Portugal, among others. It all ties into the current economic conference in Hong Kong.
Let's face it. Everybody, despite their political declarations of separation has economic ties to China. Just look at your Christmas purchases. Most of them have been funneled through China at some point. We could debate the various economic reasons, pros and cons of this, but the question of real importance as I see it is in regard to diplomatic solidarity.
The Chinese government has a horrible record when it comes to the treatment of its own citizens. Let me rephrase that. The record is horrible toward citizens who would try to peacefully or non peacefully change the regime. Partisan politics are so partisan that the ruling party only permits itself to exist. Elections are a farce.
Now, the USA is courting China for diplomatic solidarity against terrorist regimes. China is courting countries like Portugal and France, and the claim is purely economical. They want to create economic agreements on imports and exports. Why? I do not know.
I can only say what I see. It is a bit troubling. It seems that these economic alliances are going to foster a hostile and partisan world. South America is split between Bush's plan for a free market dominated by private companies and the plan of President Chavez in Venezuela, who is very sympathetic with the Chinese government and Fidel Castro. Europe seems to be spliting along the same lines. Tony Blair is pushing for a more open market within Europe and more free trade with "democratic countries," while countries like France are using similar language, but making those ties with countries like China.
At any rate, I support more liberty. I would rather be able to travel freely around the world than fill out paperwork and wait for two months for my visa. However, none of these agreements will result in liberty. A beurocracy will evolve to regulate the "free" market. The "free" market voiced by Tony Blair carries also the term "globalisation." The trade agreements forged by China have the same idea with a sypathetically communistic ideology. Could this be a new cold war on the rise? I will wait and see.
On a nearly unrelated point, I saw a debate on global warming in which the accusation was leveled that human activity has caused a global rise of a half degree over the last century. The scientific evidence given was that many scientists think it could be. "Would you concede that it could be the result of carbon emissions over the last century?" The patience of the responder was astounding. I would have answered, "Only if you concede that you may have descended from a hippo!" Could be. I really doubt it. No one has produced any sound scientific evidence that it is true. At any rate, the solutions offered are completely ill conceived: create a global governing body to prosecute all who break its almighty rules. Haven't these people learned? Problems are fixed by people not agencies and beurocracy. The same is true for the economic situation described before. Economies are fixed and sound when individual people exchange goods and services, not when governments create massive trade blocks and developmental programs.
Ask not what your country can do for you...
Let's face it. Everybody, despite their political declarations of separation has economic ties to China. Just look at your Christmas purchases. Most of them have been funneled through China at some point. We could debate the various economic reasons, pros and cons of this, but the question of real importance as I see it is in regard to diplomatic solidarity.
The Chinese government has a horrible record when it comes to the treatment of its own citizens. Let me rephrase that. The record is horrible toward citizens who would try to peacefully or non peacefully change the regime. Partisan politics are so partisan that the ruling party only permits itself to exist. Elections are a farce.
Now, the USA is courting China for diplomatic solidarity against terrorist regimes. China is courting countries like Portugal and France, and the claim is purely economical. They want to create economic agreements on imports and exports. Why? I do not know.
I can only say what I see. It is a bit troubling. It seems that these economic alliances are going to foster a hostile and partisan world. South America is split between Bush's plan for a free market dominated by private companies and the plan of President Chavez in Venezuela, who is very sympathetic with the Chinese government and Fidel Castro. Europe seems to be spliting along the same lines. Tony Blair is pushing for a more open market within Europe and more free trade with "democratic countries," while countries like France are using similar language, but making those ties with countries like China.
At any rate, I support more liberty. I would rather be able to travel freely around the world than fill out paperwork and wait for two months for my visa. However, none of these agreements will result in liberty. A beurocracy will evolve to regulate the "free" market. The "free" market voiced by Tony Blair carries also the term "globalisation." The trade agreements forged by China have the same idea with a sypathetically communistic ideology. Could this be a new cold war on the rise? I will wait and see.
On a nearly unrelated point, I saw a debate on global warming in which the accusation was leveled that human activity has caused a global rise of a half degree over the last century. The scientific evidence given was that many scientists think it could be. "Would you concede that it could be the result of carbon emissions over the last century?" The patience of the responder was astounding. I would have answered, "Only if you concede that you may have descended from a hippo!" Could be. I really doubt it. No one has produced any sound scientific evidence that it is true. At any rate, the solutions offered are completely ill conceived: create a global governing body to prosecute all who break its almighty rules. Haven't these people learned? Problems are fixed by people not agencies and beurocracy. The same is true for the economic situation described before. Economies are fixed and sound when individual people exchange goods and services, not when governments create massive trade blocks and developmental programs.
Ask not what your country can do for you...
