To stretch the metaphor further, we are more "Siamese" twins - sharing vital organs. China floods American markets with cheap goods - creating a deflationary e

To stretch the metaphor further, we are more "Siamese" twins - sharing vital organs. China floods American markets with cheap goods - creating a deflationary effect which creates an illusionary perception of a "rise in our standard of living". In return, the Chinese get an "illusion" of wealth via U.S. Treasury Notes that we will probably have to "inflate" our way out of (or just plain default on). A nice "lose, lose" scenario disguised as a "win, win".