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That might make some consumers feel a bit better but in the end it won't change anything. It's a political problem which can only be solved at the state level.

mikece 6y ago
And the state will only have the motivation to address the problem if they are facing a popular uprising -- either in fact or it's feared likely -- that could threaten the CCP as a the ruling order in China. There is a very long history in China of popular uprisings forcing political change which is why the reaction in Tienanmen Square in 1989 was so harsh and so swift (it's also why the unrest in Hong Kong is being put down the way it is). If any unrest doesn't end quickly and stay localized the CCP fears it will become nationwide before countermeasures are taken. And if we, as consumers, make it clear that we will be buying Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Indian -- ANYTHING that isn't Chinese -- it will cause a reaction in the CCP (I just hope that reaction isn't a military first-strike).
- whimsicalism 6y ago
  China is not going to engage in a military first-strike because some consumers stop buying products that are made there. Somewhat surprised it needs to be said, but I guess as tensions are getting higher, people just say more and more ridiculous things.
- Jtsummers 6y ago
  > (I just hope that reaction isn't a military first-strike) Whenever I read statements like this I wonder who people think China might attack militarily. The only one I can think of that wouldn't either cost them more than they'd gain (and even then it still probably would) or turn into a suicidal act would be Taiwan. Any other neighboring nation offers them little value with respect to the cost of war, and nations like the US and Russia could create such an expansive war that China would lose all the political and economic ground it's gained this century, and probably more.
  - mikece 6y ago
    If an economic boycott of China were successful enough to cause a nationwide popular uprising in China that threatened to remove the CCP, do you think the CCP would go quietly?
    - whimsicalism 6y ago
      Western strategy needs to pivot to pushing for CCP democratization a la reformism from monarchy to democracy in the UK, rather than "removing the CCP." IMO, anyone who has spent extensive time in China can see what a pipe dream overthrowing the 100 million strong CCP is. Think about the likelihood of overthrowing the United States government.
      - whythre 6y ago
        Why the heck would Xi have any interest in that? What leverage could other countries employ that would incentivize him playing nice?
- 99_Woodcutting 6y ago
  You realize Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and India trade extensively with China? Okay, you buy their products instead of China. They grow richer and trade more with China. Until we pressure our fellow Asian "allies" to stop trading with China, that money will just be recycled towards China anyways. Buy American. Buy European.

mikece 6y ago

And the state will only have the motivation to address the problem if they are facing a popular uprising -- either in fact or it's feared likely -- that could threaten the CCP as a the ruling order in China. There is a very long history in China of popular uprisings forcing political change which is why the reaction in Tienanmen Square in 1989 was so harsh and so swift (it's also why the unrest in Hong Kong is being put down the way it is). If any unrest doesn't end quickly and stay localized the CCP fears it will become nationwide before countermeasures are taken. And if we, as consumers, make it clear that we will be buying Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Indian -- ANYTHING that isn't Chinese -- it will cause a reaction in the CCP (I just hope that reaction isn't a military first-strike).

whimsicalism 6y ago
China is not going to engage in a military first-strike because some consumers stop buying products that are made there. Somewhat surprised it needs to be said, but I guess as tensions are getting higher, people just say more and more ridiculous things.
Jtsummers 6y ago
> (I just hope that reaction isn't a military first-strike) Whenever I read statements like this I wonder who people think China might attack militarily. The only one I can think of that wouldn't either cost them more than they'd gain (and even then it still probably would) or turn into a suicidal act would be Taiwan. Any other neighboring nation offers them little value with respect to the cost of war, and nations like the US and Russia could create such an expansive war that China would lose all the political and economic ground it's gained this century, and probably more.
- mikece 6y ago
  If an economic boycott of China were successful enough to cause a nationwide popular uprising in China that threatened to remove the CCP, do you think the CCP would go quietly?
  - whimsicalism 6y ago
    Western strategy needs to pivot to pushing for CCP democratization a la reformism from monarchy to democracy in the UK, rather than "removing the CCP." IMO, anyone who has spent extensive time in China can see what a pipe dream overthrowing the 100 million strong CCP is. Think about the likelihood of overthrowing the United States government.
    - whythre 6y ago
      Why the heck would Xi have any interest in that? What leverage could other countries employ that would incentivize him playing nice?
99_Woodcutting 6y ago
You realize Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and India trade extensively with China? Okay, you buy their products instead of China. They grow richer and trade more with China. Until we pressure our fellow Asian "allies" to stop trading with China, that money will just be recycled towards China anyways. Buy American. Buy European.