> it needs to find allies No shortage of Chinese allies - 70+ countries supported China's recent change to Hong Kong's laws (https://www.globaltimes.cn/content

> it needs to find allies No shortage of Chinese allies - 70+ countries supported China's recent change to Hong Kong's laws (https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1193422.shtml https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1193422.shtml). Certainly none of these countries are bastions of freedom - North Korea, Venezuela, Chad, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan. But all of them support China to the hilt. Tanzania didn't even stop with an endorsement of the HK law, they also felt it necessary to mention that Taiwan is a part of China. Turns out Chinese loans go a long way in creating a sense of gratitude. All countries barring the US need China more than China needs them. And China only needs the US until it has semiconductors of it's own. The US and EU were asleep at the wheel these last 30 years - allowing China to grow powerful without also creating a counterweight like India. Now the world's dependence on Chinese manufacturing and Chinese consumption means that no one dares to criticise China, and there's no shortage of countries lining up to praise every action of Comrade Xi's. That's why China can screw over every neighbour, taking what they please. Who's going to stop them? Is Vietnam or Malaysia suddenly going to stand up to China? No, they will merely grumble. Is India willing to provoke an actual war? No, they will merely ban TikTok and call it a day.