Evening.
Thanks for the reply, and for outlining the threats that you saw regarding China.
1. Were these perceived threats specific to just China alone, or could some of these threats also be applicable to some of our allies (economic competitors) as well ?
2. Do you see any benefit from NZ continuing to maintain both political and economic ties with China ? Short term ? Long term ?
Cheers
This is an exceptionally interesting question.
The first answer is that trading and discussing is preferable to fighting and sanctioning.
If you removed the CCP from the equation and asked if it would Benefit NZ to have Economic ties with China - in both Short and Long Term the answer would be a resounding Yes.
But the CCP exists.
In terms of Short-Term benefit, there's plenty to be had here - they buy our stuff and pay a premium for it - that's money coming in, Economy does well yadda yadda yadda.
Long term however is where it gets interesting - One might posit that it's akin to Selling your Soul. There's the IP theft for starters, then there is the oversight by the CCP, then there is the Moral implications - is the CCP the type of Government that we want to be dealing with? They are certainly dictatorial, heavily censor their citizens, Have a country-wide Firewall to restrict inbound traffic that they don't like, yet curiously allow a myriad of Hacking, Cyber-Crime and other such activity to go outbound.
If we trade with China for long enough, I fear we shall end up in a Gilded Cage - too used to the pleasures it brings to bring ourselves to do what we know to be right.
Physics; Thou art a cruel, heartless Bitch-of-a-Mistress
No. Mainland China hasn't yet invaded (ie troops on the ground, bombed the infrastructure, etc) Taiwan, although it keeps saying it will.
Hong Kong reverted to the original owners after the 99 year lease by Britain ended.
Meanwhile, the US had invaded :
1. Grenada (1983-1984)
2. Bolivia (1986)
3. Virgin Islands (1989)
4. Liberia (1990; 1997; 2003)
5. Saudi Arabia (1990-1991)
6. Kuwait (1991)
7. Somalia (1992-1994; 2006)
8. Bosnia (1993-)
9. Zaire/Congo (1996-1997)
10. Albania (1997)
11. Sudan (1998)
12. Afghanistan (1998; 2001-)
13. Yemen (2000; 2002-)
14. Macedonia (2001)
15. Colombia (2002-)
16 Pakistan (2005-)
17. Syria (2008; 2011-)
18. Uganda (2011)
19. Mali (2013)
20. Niger (2013)
21. Yugoslavia (1919; 1946; 1992-1994; 1999)
22. Iraq (1958; 1963; 1990-1991; 1990-2003; 1998; 2003-2011)
23. Angola (1976-1992)
it's not a bad thing till you throw a KLR into the mix.
those cheap ass bitches can do anything with ductape.
(PostalDave on ADVrider)
TDL, you didn't mention the golden Kiwifruit they stole. Well, actually our government gave them away really. Whichever govt it was, they let a Chinese national buy a Kiwifruit farm and register with Zespri. Only a politician could possibly be surprised that supposedly super secure seedlings are now established in Sechuan.*
Then there was the Chinese national aprehended at the airport with a suitcase full of Pacific Rose apple seedlings.
* Eat yer heart out Rudyard.
There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one. - Joey Dunlop
i recall china invading south korea, Tibet, Burma, and oddly india.
Not to mention their involvement with troups in Vietnam.
half that above list hasn't been invaded anymore by the US than they were by the USSR.
edit no Cuba for the USA?............
plus the KUwait and Sudia is a bit on the nose as is Pakistan and Bosnia and Uganda.
A lot were as UN peace keeping missions.
One could make a fairly convincing argument that China has invaded, but as you rightly point out, without Troops on the ground.
After all, the Hong Kong people wish for their rights as guaranteed by the lease agreement to be preserved...
Now, this is not a defence of US foreign policy - however if you filter out those that were either due to the UN or due to it being a failed state, The list isn't quite so impressive.
Some of those also seem questionable For example - the Virgin Islands in 1989 - presumable referring to the time that the US sent troops in to keep the peace after a Hurricane, but that's:
A: Not an Invasion and more importantly
B: The Virgin Islands is a Territory of the US... Can't really invade your own country (although I'm sure there's a joke about Jafas invading the rest of NZ in there somewhere)
Angola as well - I know the US supported one of the factions in the Civil war - but I don't believe they ever set American boots on the ground.
So I'd question the lists validity.
Physics; Thou art a cruel, heartless Bitch-of-a-Mistress
Of course other countries and allies even pose similar threats but chinas size and ideology make it greater threat.
Of course there’s are always benefits in maintaining any relationships that’s how business works.
China as a vision that by 2050 they will be THE world superpower economically and militarily. They are on track with there centuries proven death by a thousand cuts philosophy
Govt gives you nothing because it creates nothing - Javier Milei
Can’t have been National or it would be multi quote pepper sprayed all over the thread hehe....
That stuff is more treasonous behaviour by our own political dimwits though across all parties.
A certain high profile NZ company also helped the Italians start growing kiwifruit.
Then there’s fonterra teaching Chinese and helping them set up dairy farms in China!
Govt gives you nothing because it creates nothing - Javier Milei
Well Cindy has caved in to the terrorist actions (using violence to achieve political goals) giving them over half a billion dollars for a new walking and bike bridge....
Well rentamobs are going to kickoff everywhere now she has shown to be so soft, ihumato mkII will be happening somewhere soon I guess...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/125...itemat-harbour
Think it will prob be a magnet for anti social behaviour and the homeless after hours. And during the day it will be clogged with tourists and the semi retired on ebikes frustrating the Lycra brigradectrying to set fast lap times.
Don't get me wrong it will be a fantastic asset for community but the timing is wrong after such a lawless protest .
Perhaps the adventure touring crowd could storm across national park to tongariro summit and demand dedicated motorbike tracks in native bush, Cindy will say yes and pay for it.
Maybe the motorway stolen bike bandits will get given a racetrack....
Govt gives you nothing because it creates nothing - Javier Milei
You'd think cinderella would be a little more pro police ,seeing her father was one.... I'm waiting for it all to get so bad that she'll have to change her ways when she finally realises cops feel left out and not supported. They're leaving at a rate no new cops can fill the numbers. 1800 new cops ! yeah right!
Her father actually pulled the pin on being a member on an old copper's site ,because his daughter was being labelled a wanker.
Hugs and kisses just don't wash anymore.
You'd never go hungry with Nigella Gaz.
If it weren't for flashbacks...I'd have no memory at all..
Well it looks like this project is going to boost sales of popcorn....
Someone's having a tanty that their design isn't being used despite selling that design to nzta for 1.9$mill after intellectual property dispute....
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300...er-of-17-years
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/loc...-projects?rm=m
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111...use-of-designs
Interestingly it all started back in nationals time, note the public private partnership part....now labours boiled the pot into a bigger mess. Quite nice the rich people of the north shore will get half billion dollar bridge to cycle to work on while the poor sit in their govt funded motel rooms. Ending child poverty and bringing about "equality" has never looked so promising lol
Govt gives you nothing because it creates nothing - Javier Milei
A whole separate bridge for pedestrians and cyclists is certainly a curious development. I’m sure it will be well used if they get the design/weather protection right, there’d be commercial opportunities from it too, they might even toll it to make sure it’s only used for the intended purpose.
I guess it confirms that any future crossing is going to be a tunnel.
It does make me wonder just how bad the condition of the existing bridge has become. It certainly looks and feels its age when you travel over it, and I’ve heard some talk that they might have to introduce permanent heavy traffic restrictions in the near future.
It may be that NZTA have been told the whole structure (piers and all) will need to come down eventually.
Either way the Labour/National duopoly have been kicking the replacement harbour crossing down the road for the best part of twenty years or more, no-one should be holding their breath.
Moe: Well, I'm better than dirt. Well, most kinds of dirt. I mean not that fancy store bought dirt. That stuffs loaded with nutrients. I...I can't compete with that stuff.- The Simpsons
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