[quote]I read the book. But as Parag Khanna and Martin Jacques said, we make the mistake of looking at China through our own history.
There won’t be a war unless we start it. China will not start a war they can’t win since their military cannot project to the other side of the world. In a war, China will seek to prolong it to wear American patience with sending troops to the other side of the world. The Chinese are fortifying their own territory the way a feudal lord may fortify a castle to repel invaders. The logistics to invade China are daunting.
China is building a new ecosystem built on financial and commercial engineering. They are building business relationships while we are stuck with a colonial mentality. [/quote]
The irony is that China is following the West’s 1800’s mercantilism – a 21st century version colonialism.
No one is going to invade China – too much work for too little gain. But China’s islands are extremely vulnerable as is their oil supply lines through the Straits of Malacca. Agree looking at China with Western history isn’t as useful, but at the same time neither side really understands each other. In fact the cultural difference makes compromise harder and increases the chances of conflict.
But I doubt US vs China will come to direct military conflict. More like the Cold War in Africa (US vs USSR influence) and war by proxy. Also new areas like a cyber Cold War and weaponizing space.
Leaders in either country don’t seem interested in de-escalation. We seem to be heading towards a world that will be more segregated geo-politically and technologically. Internet and web services are certainly already headed that way.
[quote]I am looking at condos in Bangkok and can’t even compete because Chinese investors are buying in all the new developments. They have relationships with Chinese-Thais so they are able to buy the best units. (Foreigners can only own 49% of the units in any development).[/quote]
Probably because rich Chinese try to take money out of China as quickly as possible as insurance vs their own government. The money certainly isn’t legally taken out per official CCP rules.
