China’s giving it the ol’ college try, but the bloom may be already coming off the rose in a few of these places. I recently read an article about grumbling in some 3rd world country (I forget which, in Africa, I think) because the Chinese were bringing in their own Chinese workers to do the work instead of hiring local.
America made the big play for the big oil resources in the Gulf area, while China nibbles around the edges for the oil in Sudan, etc. No argument that the US has funbled the Gulf play. I predict the “Great Game” will eventually turn to China attempting to get a foothold in the Gulf region; perhaps cozying up to Iran. Neither Russia nor the US would like that… much ugliness ensues.
The fact that our economies are so webbed together makes it tougher. You can’t just haul off and blast your rival any more, you wind up cratering your own economy if you do.
