In the upheaval of President Donald Trump’s blanket tariffs, China is seeking common cause with jilted partners of the United States as it tries to extend its influence and take center stage in a new trade order — rebuilt without Washington.

https://archive.ph/vWW6X

  • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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    5 days ago

    Care to explain? I have a difficult time imagining Chinese military actions in Africa.

    • sensiblepuffin@lemmy.funami.tech
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      5 days ago

      Never said military actions. China has been trying to establish economic hegemony in Africa for a while via giant loans for infrastructure projects that the nations in question could never possibly repay. Of course, the terms of the loan establish that if the nation defaults, China immediately gains control over all assets built with the money.

      https://www.bu.edu/gdp/2023/09/18/a-new-state-of-lending-chinese-loans-to-africa/ This has some fun charts about the phenomenon.

      • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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        5 days ago

        Economic coercion requires the threat of military force. When I hear the phrase “boot on the neck” I’m imagining a soldier’s boot.

          • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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            4 days ago

            Maybe you forgot that they don’t send it all over the world, unlike certain other countries.

            • sensiblepuffin@lemmy.funami.tech
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              23 hours ago

              shrug The US uses their military to establish economic hegemony, China uses economics to establish economic hegemony. The result is the same. Nice goalposts you got there, by the way.

              • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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                22 hours ago

                The military is used to establish and maintain economic supremacy. See any time a country moves to nationalize US “interests”. Without the threat of military force (direct or proxy), the supremacy can’t be maintained. Maybe China will behave the same way at some point, but at this point it’s little more than projection to suggest so. Shrug all you want.

                • sensiblepuffin@lemmy.funami.tech
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                  9 minutes ago

                  You’re stuck in the 20th century, my friend. Every nation with nuclear weapons no longer has to actually deploy anyone. The threat alone is enough to make the point. You’re never going to listen, but I hope one day you figure it out.