Ignatius: As U.S. steps back, China seeks lead in trade, tech

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The friendly words exchanged between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping this month softened the edge of a Chinese economic and military buildup that a recent study commissioned by the Pentagon described as “perhaps the most ambitious grand strategy undertaken by a single nation-state in modern times.”

At the Beijing summit on Nov. 9, Xi repeated his usual congenial injunction for “win-win cooperation,” and Trump responded in kind, calling Xi “a very special man.” Trump also complained about the Chinese trade surplus, but the visit was mostly a serenade to Sino-American cooperation.

What caught my ear was Xi’s hint of China’s big ambitions in his toast that night. He quoted a Chinese proverb that “no distance, not even remote mountains and vast oceans, can ever prevent people with perseverance from reaching their destination.” Xi then cited an adage from Benjamin Franklin: “He who can have patience, can have what he will.” That’s an apt summary of China’s quiet but relentless pursuit of becoming a global superpower.

China’s rise has been so rapid yet gentle in tone that it’s easy to miss how fast Beijing has expanded its ability to project power. The mesmerizing go-slow style of the pre-Xi years, summarized in the Chinese slogan “hide and bide,” has been replaced by what U.S. analysts now see as an open power play.

Trump’s “America First” strategy has facilitated China’s buildup, unintentionally. The administration’s rhetoric on fair trade has been strong, but the actual gains have been modest. Meanwhile, Trump has shredded the Trans-Pacific Partnership and stepped back from other U.S.-led alliances — opening the way for China’s new network of global institutions, including the “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) plan for Eurasian trade and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to finance Chinese-led projects.

http://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/ignatius-as-u-s-steps-back-china-seeks-lead-in-trade-tech/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=fb6ed26d1d-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-fb6ed26d1d-228635337

[Cicada]

1. Trump is making China great again

Many here opposed the proposed transpacific trade treaty which Obama supported. There were concerns about wages, the environment. But Paul Krugman whose primary expertise is in international trade argued that the treaty has only a tiny impact on our economy, that foreign trade with the countries involved is a minuscule share of our economy. He said the deal really was to forge political alliances to restrain the influence of China. We did not join that treaty and those countries are now making deals with China. As Michelle said: Barack plays the long game.

[Blue_Tires]

2. Funny how silent the "human rights" crowd is these days over global trade...

Now that the TPP is dead