Response to Facebook chats.
BAFFLING how many Americans misread or miscalculate Vladimir Putin or Russia and China. Traditional hate vs global (narcissism) power rivals? Sinophobia?
When Bill Clinton signed a trade pact with Jiang Zemin of China in 2000 and paved the way for Beijing to enter the WTO (as an MFN or Most Favored Nation) the following year, Washington didn't have an idea what the CCP's next move would be. China's trade expansionism actually started years ago in Deng Xiaoping's time, late 1970s to 1980s (or his “open door policy” and global expansionism blueprint got going after Mao's death in 1976).
Technically, Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative agenda was laid out in Deng's years while the U.S. was super busy and more focused in a Cold War with Russia. Joe Biden's chess moves were essentially Cold War-styled military intrigue in Eastern Europe (by way of Ukraine) and in South China Sea (by way of Taiwan). The war “dare” worked with Vladimir Putin but it didn't work with Xi.
The so-called “One China Policy” is now obsolete since the “two Chinas” are huge trade partners. President Trump battles them with tariffs as his Defense chief Pete Hegseth sells arms to Asia. (The U.S., which almost monopolizes arms manufacturing, still needs to sell arms, regardless of Mr Trump's dovish tact. Just a pragmatic Washington fact.)
Check RCEP, China gathered 14 Asia Pacific economies to forge the largest trade pact in history in November 2020, as Joe Biden was celebrating his election win. Japan, South Korea, the Philippines etcetera may smile to the U.S. but their economic lifelines rely mostly with China and India (BRICS).
Russia? While NATO was expanding after 1991 (the Warsaw Pact ended), Moscow was expanding its economic clout via its oil and natural gas until Europe super relied on those energy imports. These days, the E.U. is struggling and hasn't recovered from below 1 percent economic growth due to the so-called embargo (though Germany, Netherlands, the U.K., France et al are still buying some mostly by way of India). Etc etcetera.
So we are still saying Mr Putin has a BFF in White House? Or China is guilty of human rights shit? Both the Kremlin and the CCP are sarcastically laughing as they carry on with business. (Refer to BRICS expansion. Trade not military.) 🏛🗽🏛
