As the US jerks from being BDFL to bullying zero summer, it’s not surprising that the abstract fears of china seem manageable compared to the new pressing fears of the US.
Why as a European be more afraid of a country that whilst you wouldn’t want to live in and which has supported Russia is quiet and selling you cheap stuff vs a country who used to be a friend who is now wanting you to grovel for a bad deal and is also supporting Russia?
See this is almost exactly what I’m concerned about. The ignorance to think that the US is “supporting Russia” (as if China bypassing embargoes for the exact same reason is somehow… better? Because you expected it and surprises are scarier than cozying up to enemies???) is astounding. China basically didn’t have to do ANYTHING while also actively having real literal concentration camps, aggressively trying to capture an entire continent through their Debt and Road initiative, and causing global instability on the internet, and useful idiots fall for the trap.
Does anyone have any insight into how we could potentially counter China’s propaganda? This comment right here showed the danger of ignoring it.
I am a careful follower of politics and don’t think I’m ignorant. And on every point you made I could rebut with an example of America doing likewise.
On your last point abour “causing instability on the internet”, for example, I could point out we are in a discussion about America wanting to restrict LLMs into haves and have nots and if that isn’t destabilising the internet by preventing non-American companies from defending themselves or paying American companies to defend themselves against them protection racket wise then what is?
Let’s take like 30 seconds and pretend America has all the same controls China has.
All Americans are given a social credit score. Trump can decide any transgender sympathizers are unruly citizens, unworthy of a good score. They are banned from taking out loans. They are banned from buying plane or train tickets. If you call them, a warning informs you they are actively bad people. If you are spotted speaking to them, your friends are encouraged to report your behavior in an app, lowering your score as well. Going down is easy, but going up is nearly impossible. You’ve outed yourself as a problem.
In the meantime, Trump has also decided to round up and forcibly sterilize every Jew. They’re pretty destabilizing to the nation as a whole and don’t really fit in, so it’s important for the stability of the nation. They are disappeared, sent to prison colonies, and given mysterious injections. International news organizations sneak in to try and get ideas of what you’re doing to them.
Online, you never speak of this of course. Not only are your comments tracked (affecting that citizen social score I mentioned), the propaganda you need to hear is tuned to you harder than ever before. It is designed to have a perfect answer to every complaint you have. If you fight too hard, a quick reeducational visit can do wonders.
There are like ten million more things I could complain about, but let’s just keep it to the most obvious, well-known stuff for now.
All of this stuff is actively happening in China right now. So, I apologize, but I cannot accept that you are “a careful follower of politics”. I don’t hold it against you, but it’s insanely concerning.
Do… you think trust and morals are disconnected? Did those things I wrote make you trust China? Do you trust China more than the US based on those things?
The US is quite literally famous for always honoring its debts. It’s genuinely shocking Americans that Trump is being aggressive in telling them they need to honor their agreements on NATO spending.
China also creates incredibly bad deals meant to use debt to capture nations. The US traditionally is not this aggressive.
But let’s answer your question directly, Mr. “Politically aware”
1. The US-China trade deal, where China agreed to purchase $200 Billion in goods. (Inb4 we explain away how breaking this one is justified and therefore doesn’t count)
2. China randomly placed a shitload of tariffs on Australia because they’re friends with the US. They admitted this was a really foolish choice and walked it back in the following years.
3. China blocked Lithuanian imports because they had a Taiwanese office
4. China gets their ass kicked in the WTO regularly (as do many countries) for reneging on trade deals.
So, Mr. Very Politically Aware, what’s the next goalpost?
Why as a European be more afraid of a country that whilst you wouldn’t want to live in and which has supported Russia is quiet and selling you cheap stuff vs a country who used to be a friend who is now wanting you to grovel for a bad deal and is also supporting Russia?