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Trying to keep technology from China is a qualitatively different problem from other technology sanctions. Russia, for example, has half the GDP of France. Deny

by Zigurd 7y ago

Trying to keep technology from China is a qualitatively different problem from other technology sanctions. Russia, for example, has half the GDP of France. Denying a technology to Russia is effective because the relative price to Russia to work around technology restrictions is much higher. It costs them, measurably, visibly, in resources not applied to other pressing needs. In the case of China, an import restriction amounts to an endorsement that replicating that technology is a higher priority for a country that, in general, is entering the first tier of technological powers. Picking fights with benefits that won't evaporate in a short time would be wise.

elfexec 7y ago
> Russia, for example, has half the GDP of France. Only in nominal terms. Russia's economy is 50% larger in PPP terms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP) We can argue about nominal vs PPP forever, but I think people should be aware of both. > Denying a technology to Russia is effective because the relative price to Russia to work around technology restrictions is much higher. Sanctions for countries like Russia and China are more of a nuisance than anything. It just means they have to pay a little bit more to buy/steal/access the technology. For example, China had to pay extra to get israel to give them military tech denied to them by the US. https://www.military.com/defensetech/2013/12/24/report-israel-passes-u-s-military-technology-to-china https://www.military.com/defensetech/2013/12/24/report-israe... Countries like Russia and China have money, technology or political favors ( both are permanent security council members with veto power ) that they can trade with our enemies or our allies to gain access to tech. Of course the US is unsanctionable. The US is the only country in the world where if another country placed sanctions on the US, it would hurt them and not the US.

by Zigurd 7y ago

elfexec 7y ago

> Russia, for example, has half the GDP of France. Only in nominal terms. Russia's economy is 50% larger in PPP terms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP) We can argue about nominal vs PPP forever, but I think people should be aware of both. > Denying a technology to Russia is effective because the relative price to Russia to work around technology restrictions is much higher. Sanctions for countries like Russia and China are more of a nuisance than anything. It just means they have to pay a little bit more to buy/steal/access the technology. For example, China had to pay extra to get israel to give them military tech denied to them by the US. https://www.military.com/defensetech/2013/12/24/report-israel-passes-u-s-military-technology-to-china https://www.military.com/defensetech/2013/12/24/report-israe... Countries like Russia and China have money, technology or political favors ( both are permanent security council members with veto power ) that they can trade with our enemies or our allies to gain access to tech. Of course the US is unsanctionable. The US is the only country in the world where if another country placed sanctions on the US, it would hurt them and not the US.