Zerozen Ones

I have heard of this before. Very intersting. What hold do these bond really provide the Chinese on the US economy and is it realistic to think they may eventually wage them as an economical weapon? What would actually happen if they decided to cash them all at once? (or is this how it works?) Members from the US, any input here?

Are you sure? Maybe you'd like to think that through again. Go ahead... 2 interesting concepts for you: Electric prods & Ball clamps. ------ And I agree that the Chinesse case stands out as particularly horrid. I don't think that cultural relativism applies here. But go look at the investigative videos on the PETA web sites and you will realize that we are in no position to look down on them. Unfortunately...

What exactly do you find horrifying/interesting: the source or the information? ... The information. Horrifying for its ruthlessness but somewhat interesting as a process of societal structuring.

Horrifying/interesting indeed. Also thank you for this source I had not encountered before, I will make sure to explore it. Maybe I should clarify that in no way am I enthusiastic about the rise of Chinese power. I pity the billions who inhabit that land. However I do find it a fascinating, albeit cruel, political laboratory. It is a radically different way of conducting a civilization and I am quite curious to see what kind of society it will lead to in the long run. Russia is also interesting for the same reason with its strange democratic/authoritarian regime. Both systems are undergoing reconstructions as they are attempting to adjust to the new realities of the 21st century, while I see the western world as comparatively much more static. It is very likely that the coming of age of fields such as biotech, nanotechn, high performance computing and robotics (AI!?), as well as phenomenons like climate change will drastically alter not only our way of life but the world we live in. Science and modernity are bringing accelerating change, and I see few efforts in my society to adapt to this new reality. If anything, the most flagrantly observable sociological shift is a reemergence of supernatural values straight out of the middle-age and paleolithic... scary. I think it is possible that societies that are more flexible and proactive towards upcoming changes may as a whole fare better, or at least be more stable. I do not however envy the faith of the people of these countries, and in this may reside the decisive factor of history yet to be made.

Thank you for your reply. This indeed sounds like a plausible scenario. What would then be the economic repercussion in the US and the world of a giant like China going down in flame? Who would benefit and lose the most? Anybody else has a different scenario?

Greetings everybody, As this is my first post I'd like to save this line to hail your community. I come here looking for a learned opinion on a discussion I had with friends. We were discussing the rise of China as a super-power and how a conflict with the US for global influence would unfold. None of us have any academic political or economic formation. Although I do not know in which way, I have heard that China has a significant hold on US economy. I also understand that the US is a critical market for Chinese economical growth. All in all, we were forced to admit that we knew way too little of the subject for our extrapolations to be meaningful. Hence I was curious to see what would more knowledgeable people have to say on the matter. So I'll bring the question to you in the manner of a political game of "hypothetical scenario". As the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, how would you go about bringing down the USA? Your goal is the maximum possible diminution of the relevancy of the United States on the world stage with China emerging as the new leader. Ideology would be your principal driving force (if not, what else?). Your scenario would likely unfold over the course of a few years, with military power not playing a direct role, or if so not until the last phases of your plan. This is how I bring the question but you are welcomed to take all the liberties you want with it. Eager to read your replies. ... oh and don't worry, I am not a member of the CCP in disguise , just a guy from Halifax NS hehe! Also, if you know of any other forums where I would get interesting replies feel free to suggest! Thanks!