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They are bad. That fact also has to be weighted against the completely one-sided nature of social networks between the PRC and United States where American soci
by SllX 4y ago
They are bad. That fact also has to be weighted against the completely one-sided nature of social networks between the PRC and United States where American social networks are firewalled from PRC subjects in the mainland but still made use of by the Party and Government there if it assists them in propaganda abroad.
This is not an equal exchange founded on principles of free trade and respect for any kind of free speech. So it is not simple either.
This (probable) technology transfer shouldn’t be happening but not because this shouldn’t now happen; we should never have been in this position to begin with but we are.
- yamtaddle 4y agoExactly. That kind of unequal ruleset isn't free trade, and it's not a good idea to permit it unless you're trying to subsidize the development of a foreign state (or, if you simply have no leverage to stop it without harming yourself way more than it's worth). Responding in kind is absolutely appropriate, depending on what you're trying to accomplish. It's ridiculous (and unpopular, in a pretty bipartisan fashion, among actual voters) that we've allowed China to "defect" on trade matters this long, without pushing back hard.
- DiogenesKynikos 4y agoOverall, China is not "defecting" on trade. American companies have a very large presence in the Chinese market - moreso than Chinese companies in the American market. Apple is the largest smartphone brand in China. GM is a major car brand in China. China has bought huge numbers of Boeing airplanes. I could go down the list, but you get the point. Social media is a special case, because China has political censorship, which Facebook and Google were unwilling to go along with.