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Arbitrary sanctions against Chinese companies (e.g. the war against Huawei) and seizures of Chinese assets (e.g. TikTok) are driven by a sizable faction in Wash

Arbitrary sanctions against Chinese companies (e.g. the war against Huawei) and seizures of Chinese assets (e.g. TikTok) are driven by a sizable faction in Washington DC that feels entitled to rule the planet uncontested. They would like to unwind the past 75 years of Chinese economic development, and push most of the Chinese population back into poverty, to make sure that an independent global power can never develop.

xenadu02 6y ago
Chinese state-sponsored actors and corporate espionage have also been stealing technology from US companies so it's not like their hands are clean here. Why is a Chinese citizen allowed to come to the US to buy property or start a company - but if I want to do the same thing I am forced by Chinese law to give half of it away to a Chinese "partner"? China wants to have it both ways: concessions for 3rd world developing economies yet to be treated as a world power with its own technology and innovations. China wants the benefits of trade, yet manipulates the hell out of its currency. The current US administration is certainly hamfisted and inept, no argument there. But even a broken clock is right twice a day. People are right to be upset about some aspects of China's policies. That doesn't mean punishing Chinese companies is a good solution, but the US is also under no obligation to just sit here and let China do as it pleases while talking out of both sides of its mouth.
- gumby 6y ago
  The same activities, lack of copyright, harboring fugitives etc were how the US got its start, to the consternation of the then dominant superpower. From Lowell’s theft of the spinning mills to Dickens’ (and Tolkien‘s) complaints about lack of copyright, the US didn’t care until it was on top. Not to defend the British whose IP was being pilfered, they’d done the same in their turn. It was ever thus.
ardy42 6y ago
> are driven by a sizable faction in Washington DC that feels entitled to rule the planet uncontested. They would like to unwind the past 75 years of Chinese economic development, and push most of the Chinese population back into poverty, to make sure that an independent global power can never develop. Cite for that? Especially that bit about the goal of pushing the Chinese population back into poverty. My impression is the situation would be quite different if China was not run by authoritarian communists.
yyyk 6y ago
> They would like to unwind the past 75 years of Chinese economic development... The entire reason that development existed in the first place is that the US allowed it despite completely unfair market access and more than a few provocations. Maybe if the CCP equalized market access relations would be better - but that's incompatible with their iron grip over society.

xenadu02 6y ago

Chinese state-sponsored actors and corporate espionage have also been stealing technology from US companies so it's not like their hands are clean here. Why is a Chinese citizen allowed to come to the US to buy property or start a company - but if I want to do the same thing I am forced by Chinese law to give half of it away to a Chinese "partner"? China wants to have it both ways: concessions for 3rd world developing economies yet to be treated as a world power with its own technology and innovations. China wants the benefits of trade, yet manipulates the hell out of its currency. The current US administration is certainly hamfisted and inept, no argument there. But even a broken clock is right twice a day. People are right to be upset about some aspects of China's policies. That doesn't mean punishing Chinese companies is a good solution, but the US is also under no obligation to just sit here and let China do as it pleases while talking out of both sides of its mouth.

gumby 6y ago
The same activities, lack of copyright, harboring fugitives etc were how the US got its start, to the consternation of the then dominant superpower. From Lowell’s theft of the spinning mills to Dickens’ (and Tolkien‘s) complaints about lack of copyright, the US didn’t care until it was on top. Not to defend the British whose IP was being pilfered, they’d done the same in their turn. It was ever thus.

ardy42 6y ago

> are driven by a sizable faction in Washington DC that feels entitled to rule the planet uncontested. They would like to unwind the past 75 years of Chinese economic development, and push most of the Chinese population back into poverty, to make sure that an independent global power can never develop. Cite for that? Especially that bit about the goal of pushing the Chinese population back into poverty. My impression is the situation would be quite different if China was not run by authoritarian communists.

yyyk 6y ago

> They would like to unwind the past 75 years of Chinese economic development... The entire reason that development existed in the first place is that the US allowed it despite completely unfair market access and more than a few provocations. Maybe if the CCP equalized market access relations would be better - but that's incompatible with their iron grip over society.