It is fair to say that World Trade is not. It's balance is manipulated to be tipped in favour of the Western powers, often at the exploitation of the third world. Except in China's case. It constantly pursues it's own path, not willing to follow the "guidelines" of the US or the World Trade Organization. This can be seen in it's rare earth program, which they control with an iron fist. Today, the US, Europe and Japan have formally complained to the WTO about Chinese restrictions on rare earth exports.
Rare earth is an combination of elements that when found together, are very useful in the production of electronics. China's restrictions on rare earth exports is simply a move to boost high tech manufacturing at home (which are the core of upper middle class jobs), instead of exporting their valuable resources to other nations. In the past they have undercut rare earth prices to keep their large position in the world production market. Of course other superpowers will be critical of these moves, as it undermines their national manufacturing jobs, as corporations move their offices to China to secure cheaper resource contracts and wages. China doesn't care about this, and can you blame them? They're not interested in Imperialism. This is simply about looking after the interests of Chinese citizens, and it's working. Criticize their human rights record all you want, but I've been to China, and what I've seen there is everyone is well taken care of; in my two months there I saw two homeless people. Contrast this with the standard of living distribution in the United States and you really have no argument about who's doing a better job for it's citizens.
These policies are going to quickly elevate China's world status even further, bringing it into even more direct challenge with the United States over resources. World opinion will only swing into favour with China, as China uses diplomatic negotiation to secure resources, while the US continues to use bombs.
Rare earth is an combination of elements that when found together, are very useful in the production of electronics. China's restrictions on rare earth exports is simply a move to boost high tech manufacturing at home (which are the core of upper middle class jobs), instead of exporting their valuable resources to other nations. In the past they have undercut rare earth prices to keep their large position in the world production market. Of course other superpowers will be critical of these moves, as it undermines their national manufacturing jobs, as corporations move their offices to China to secure cheaper resource contracts and wages. China doesn't care about this, and can you blame them? They're not interested in Imperialism. This is simply about looking after the interests of Chinese citizens, and it's working. Criticize their human rights record all you want, but I've been to China, and what I've seen there is everyone is well taken care of; in my two months there I saw two homeless people. Contrast this with the standard of living distribution in the United States and you really have no argument about who's doing a better job for it's citizens.
These policies are going to quickly elevate China's world status even further, bringing it into even more direct challenge with the United States over resources. World opinion will only swing into favour with China, as China uses diplomatic negotiation to secure resources, while the US continues to use bombs.
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