at 3:25 PM EDT
Mitt Romney, a Republican, represents Utah in the U.S. Senate.

America is awakening to China. The covid-19 pandemic has revealed that, to a great degree, our very health is in Chinese hands; from medicines to masks, we are at Beijing’s mercy. Embarrassed by the revelation of this vulnerability, politicians in Washington will certainly act to remedy our medical dependence — with the usual fanfare and self-congratulation. But China’s stranglehold on pharmaceuticals is only a small sliver of its grand strategy for economic, military and geopolitical domination. The West’s response must extend much further — it will require a unified strategy among free nations to counter China’s trade predation and its corruption of our mutual security.

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In recent years, China has succeeded in disproportionately positioning its citizens and proxies with loyalties to the Chinese Communist Party in key international governing bodies, allowing it to expand its geopolitical influence. China relentlessly badgers and bribes nations to avert their leaders’ eyes from its egregious abuses of Tibetans, Uighurs and other minorities — as well as its targeting of pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong. The same methods result in the geopolitical isolation of Taiwan. All the while, China spreads pacifying propaganda throughout the world; even right under our noses, so-called Confucius Institutes peddle pro-China messages in America’s colleges and high schools.

China’s alarming military build-up is not widely discussed outside classified settings, but Americans should not take comfort in our disproportionately large military budget. The government of President Xi Jinping doesn’t report its actual defense spending. An apples-to-apples analysis demonstrates that China’s annual procurement of military hardware is nearly identical to ours; but because our military has missions around the world, this means that in the Pacific, where China concentrates its firepower, it will have military superiority. No wonder the Philippines and other Pacific nations have cozied up to their powerful neighbor.

Today, however, Beijing’s weapon of choice is economic: The tip of its spear is global industrial predation. China not only steals technology from other nations, it massively subsidizes industries it determines to have strategic importance. Further, it employs competitive practices that have long been forbidden by developed nations, including bribery, monopoly, currency manipulation and predatory pricing.

As China ascended in the global marketplace, the West indulged its aberrant industrial policies, hoping it would move toward freedom and adherence to the international rules of commerce. That indulgence exacted a heavy toll. For example, China achieved a breathtaking capture of the global steel market through means that are illegal or impossible elsewhere: pricing far below cost, artificially depressing currency, massive government subsidies and, to be sure, a measure of bribes. Between 2000 and 2009, China more than tripled its global share of steel production, and now it controls more than half of the world’s output — resulting in steel plants shuttered around the globe and the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of jobs.

China employs its predatory tools across the economy, from high-tech and national security sectors of nanotechnology, telecommunications and artificial intelligence to basic mining and manufacturing. A Chinese conglomerate recently acquired a dominant Indonesian stainless steel company. Indonesia just happens to be the largest producer of the world’s nickel, an essential ingredient in the production of stainless steel. Suddenly, Indonesia has agreed to shut off nickel exports to any of China’s foreign competitors. Another near-monopoly is born, thanks to anti-competitive tactics.

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When a predator, unbound by the rules followed by its competitors, is allowed to operate in a free market, that market is no longer truly free.

As a first step, President Trump was right to blow the whistle on Xi and apply tariffs. But we must go a good deal further. We must align our negotiating strategy and policies with other nations that adhere to the global rules of trade. This means narrowing trade disputes with our friends and uniting against China’s untethered abuse. China must understand that it will not have free, unfettered access to any of our economies unless it ceases to employ anti-competitive and predatory practices. It will face a simple choice: Play by the global rules, or face steep economic penalties.

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Further action should be applied in national security sectors such as artificial intelligence, telecommunication and, as we now know, pharmaceuticals. The free nations must collectively agree that we will buy these products only from other free nations. In addition to protecting our security, such an agreement would incentivize our research and industrial institutions to invest in these areas, knowing that they will not be undercut by Chinese predatory practices.

China has done what we have allowed it to do; to save a few dollars, we have looked the other way. Covid-19 has exposed China’s dishonesty for all to see. And it is a clarion call for America to seize the moment. When the immediate health crisis has passed, the United States should convene like-minded nations to develop a common strategy aimed at dissuading China from pursuing its predatory path.

Mitt Romney doesn't have sense

All world leaders are crooked. Same USA budgeted almost $800bn for defence with $67bn for war funding

This is one of the reasons why I said that we should not rush into signing a bilateral agreements with China without first having a deep understanding of the contents.

Empty rhetorics.

Bring out your plans and let us see who will support you.
The US is free to move manufacturing back to the US as long as they accept 2-3 times
price increase, insane subsidy, and heavier taxes which republicans have been fighting against
for years because it is against "capitalism".


It is funny how the so-called capitalists are stylishly blaming capitalism(free pricing) for their problems.
It will be funny to watch the so-called US capitalist economy gradually adopts socialist principles to fight economic war.
The US outcompetes other countries in Agriculture by subsidizing farmers but they don't
see problems with such.

The West’s response must extend much further — it will require a unified strategy among free nations to counter China’s trade predation and its corruption of our mutual security.

The idea of the "west" is dead. Trump buried it with isolationism.

If Mitt is counting on the EU, he has missed it. The idea of the European army is being taken seriously for
the first time in history because the US showed that they can't be trusted through Trump.

The powerhouse of the EU is the liberals who are largely pacifist and won't accept a racist policy.

Is it the same west that Trumps referred to as parasites and continually bully and mock?
Trump and the UK are currently locked in an economic battle over drugs because Trump thinks
they are cheating American companies. Even Canada is not left out.
No one trusts the US leadership again, we are back to a multipolar world.

Dreal1247:
This is one of the reasons why I said that we should not rush into signing a bilateral agreements with China without first having a deep understanding of the contents.

How about the ones you have been signing with the non-Chinese for decades where are the results?

Because president xi jinping is far more intelligent than pig trump.
Pig trump is the worst president in the world

If only we had reasonable leaders, not backward rulers this time of suffering would have been beneficial to Nigeria. The Chinese economy is in problem now about 6.5% drop courtesy of Europe and America and their allies boycotting Chinese goods and services.

India economy is now growing, it now seems as an alternative option to China. Thanks to their government investing more on pharmaceutical products, investing in Automobile and more.
Trust me India will now be economic workshop of the world, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan. The likes of Japan, USA they are now more like investor nations than production nation.
But here in Nigeria we have rulers who prefer investing their life and money on election.

Guess is time for our leaders to see that investing on technologies, health etc and welfare of it citizens is the key, time of investing more on electoral systems should stop.

Why we always criticize African countries? why giving examples of India and China? We arent in same league. Both India and china has thousands of years of education system, they have their own scripts, what do we have?? Go and see the level of Mathematics & Science they teach in junior secondary schools in India and China. Chinese were doing research on explosive chemicals during Ming times, India was birthplace of Mathematics, trigonometry and Complex metallurgy since ancient times and same basic knowledge were transferred to Spain and Europe via Arab traders. Since when we have started studying mathematics? 70s. so please compare oranges to oranges. China and India they have ruled centuries and they will rule upcoming centuries (By all statistics) . we People need to be realistic. In this continent First focus should be basic schooling, Basic Healthcare, Simple manufacturing (of basic stuff).

WATCHOVER:
If only we had reasonable leaders, not backward rulers this time of suffering would have been beneficial to Nigeria. The Chinese economy is in problem now about 6.5% drop courtesy of Europe and America and their allies boycotting Chinese goods and services.

India economy is now growing, it now seems as an alternative option to China. Thanks to their government investing more on pharmaceutical products, investing in Automobile and more.
Trust me India will now be economic workshop of the world, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan. The likes of Japan, USA they are now more like investor nations than production nation.
But here in Nigeria we have rulers who prefer investing their life and money on election.

Guess is time for our leaders to see that investing on technologies, health etc and welfare of it citizens is the key, time of investing more on electoral systems should stop.

I agree with you, it pathetic we don't have a script or guidelines to follow

rationalhuman:
Why we always criticize African countries? why giving examples of India and China? We arent in same league. Both India and china has thousands of years of education system, they have their own scripts, what do we have?? Go and see the level of Mathematics & Science they teach in junior secondary schools in India and China. Chinese were doing research on explosive chemicals during Ming times, India was birthplace of Mathematics, trigonometry and Complex metallurgy since ancient times and same basic knowledge were transferred to Spain and Europe via Arab traders. Since when we have started studying mathematics? 70s. so please compare oranges to oranges. China and India they have ruled centuries and they will rule upcoming centuries (By all statistics) . we People need to be realistic. In this continent First focus should be basic schooling, Basic Healthcare, Simple manufacturing (of basic stuff).

China quest for world dominance is getting pretty real. The lesson is there's consequence for every action and inaction.

Xisnin:
Empty rhetorics.

Bring out your plans and let us see who will support you.
The US is free to move manufacturing back to the US as long as they accept 2-3 times
price increase, insane subsidy, and heavier taxes which republicans have been fighting against
for years because it is against "capitalism".


It is funny how the so-called capitalists are stylishly blaming capitalism(free pricing) for their problems.
It will be funny to watch the so-called US capitalist economy gradually adopts socialist principles to fight economic war.
The US outcompetes other countries in Agriculture by subsidizing farmers but they don't
see problems with such.



The idea of the "west" is dead. Trump buried it with isolationism.

If Mitt is counting on the EU, he has missed it. The idea of the European army is being taken seriously for
the first time in history because the US showed that they can't be trusted through Trump.

The powerhouse of the EU is the liberals who are largely pacifist and won't accept a racist policy.

Is it the same west that Trumps referred to as parasites and continually bully and mock?
Trump and the UK are currently locked in an economic battle over drugs because Trump thinks
they are cheating American companies. Even Canada is not left out.
No one trusts the US leadership again, we are back to a multipolar world.

Are u Chinese...because u sound like one...
Every country should pursue what's best for it...not what's best for China....
America definitely isn't a saint but the article raise valid concerns.....

Chinese predatory n exploitative practice is hurting the rest of the world.....
Chinese wouldn't open up it's economy, yet goes around buying up assets everywhere....
Chinese keep claiming it's a developing economy (which is laughabe even to a toddler)...thereby getting special favours from WTO.....
Chinese will insist on technology transfer as a precondition to invest in china....but would write construction plan in Chinese letters, so that African engineers can't read or learn how to build infrastructures....
Trump methodology may be wrong but he's right to call out on China.....

African leaders can continue to sign away the destiny of the continent once again....
They won't open their eyes and use their brain to demand for favourable contracts....
But they should know Chinese are unforgiven and they lack conscience....
Servitude in the hand Chinese always end in gory tales....
Ask people working in Chinese factories....

SIRTee15:


Are u Chinese...because u sound like one...
Every country should pursue what's best for it...not what's best for China....
America definitely isn't a saint but the article raise valid concerns.....

Does it matter who I am?
Or do we need an ID to comment on political issues?
The bold is the reason why the country has refused to progress.
You sound just like our clueless politicians saying nice things that people
wants to hear.
What does the bold means?
Please articulate your plans for Nigeria.
It is none of my business what US aims to do, but it must stop

Chinese predatory n exploitative practice is hurting the rest of the world.....
Chinese wouldn't open up it's economy, yet goes around buying up assets everywhere....

Another emotional and empty statement. Who are the rest of the world that is hurting?
What the hell does opening up economy means, do you think you can compete with any
productive economy?
What assets is the Chinese government buying up everywhere?
Please list them.

It is up to each country to set its rule according to its preferences.

Chinese keep claiming it's a developing economy (which is laughabe even to a toddler)...thereby getting special favours from WTO.....
Chinese will insist on technology transfer as a precondition to invest in china....but would write construction plan in Chinese letters, so that African engineers can't read or learn how to build infrastructures....
Trump methodology may be wrong but he's right to call out on China.....

What special favors does it receive from WTO?
I suppose Nigeria is also enjoying those special favors from alleged father Christmas WTO
but it seems the results are invisible

For most of Nigeria and many other Africa's countries existence, the west is the major contractor for various projects.
Where are the technological blueprints written in English or French?
Where are the giant African construction companies who learned from the English?
Or are the Anglophone companies exempted from technology transfer requirements?

Our top indigenous Chinese manufacturer, Innoson learned from "Chinese manuals".
He must have been blind to not see the advantage of partnering with the English.

Many governors, especially from South East are sponsoring people to China to learn about
manufacturing, according to you, they must be stupid to not know that the Chinese will hide things from them
while the Anglophones will give them the full expo.

African leaders can continue to sign away the destiny of the continent once again....
They won't open their eyes and use their brain to demand for favourable contracts....

Can you be more specific, list the bad contracts that African governments are signing
and why they are bad.

How does this sound?
"I am broke but I want to dictate the terms of the infrastructure I want you to build for me
using a loan I will take from you. I want all the benefits(aside from the infrastructure I will get).
Better agree or I will contract the other people who will charge me 5 times of the money I don't
have at a higher interest rate."

I wonder why smart men like you are not in charge so you can give us magical deals that even nations with
real power cannot push through.

What people like you never do is give us an ideal example of a favorable contract.
I supposed it is very difficult to face real issues but talking is cheap.

But they should know Chinese are unforgiven and they lack conscience....
Servitude in the hand Chinese always end in gory tales....
Ask people working in Chinese factories....

We haven't forgotten the saints with a conscience who bought and shipped millions of people for plantation works.
It took years of war and many violent riots before they stopped being "benevolent" to their servants.
They don't even see their countrymen as equal to this day. Who else can break this record?

As to people working in Chinese factories, there is nothing unique about their situation.
They are unskilled and expendable workers who are treated badly regardless of their nationality.
Iphone is being made in China because Apple can get away with many violations in China
and Chinese workers are more "obedient" than their western counterparts.
Same with Bangladesh and Vietnam with their sweatshops.
But the westerners with a conscience don't mind using these products and pretend
to "see no evil" in the horrible conditions those workers are placed.

Those good people today are still here bribing government officials and running our oil industry.
Yet, no one seems to care to challenge the master's hold because they are "good" masters who
must be pampered.

Xisnin:

Does it matter who I am?
Or do we need an ID to comment on political issues?
The bold is the reason why the country has refused to progress.
You sound just like our clueless politicians saying nice things that people
wants to hear.
What does the bold means?
Please articulate your plans for Nigeria.
It is none of my business what US aims to do, but it must stop


Another emotional and empty statement. Who are the rest of the world that is hurting?
What the hell does opening up economy means, do you think you can compete with any
productive economy?
What assets is the Chinese government buying up everywhere?
Please list them.

It is up to each country to set its rule according to its preferences.


What special favors does it receive from WTO?
I suppose Nigeria is also enjoying those special favors from alleged father Christmas WTO
but it seems the results are invisible

For most of Nigeria and many other Africa's countries existence, the west is the major contractor for various projects.
Where are the technological blueprints written in English or French?
Where are the giant African construction companies who learned from the English?
Or are the Anglophone companies exempted from technology transfer requirements?

Our top indigenous Chinese manufacturer, Innoson learned from "Chinese manuals".
He must have been blind to not see the advantage of partnering with the English.

Many governors, especially from South East are sponsoring people to China to learn about
manufacturing, according to you, they must be stupid to not know that the Chinese will hide things from them
while the Anglophones will give them the full expo.


Can you be more specific, list the bad contracts that African governments are signing
and why they are bad.

How does this sound?
"I am broke but I want to dictate the terms of the infrastructure I want you to build for me
using a loan I will take from you. I want all the benefits(aside from the infrastructure I will get).
Better agree or I will contract the other people who will charge me 5 times of the money I don't
have at a higher interest rate."

I wonder why smart men like you are not in charge so you can give us magical deals that even nations with
real power cannot push through.

What people like you never do is give us an ideal example of a favorable contract.
I supposed it is very difficult to face real issues but talking is cheap.



We haven't forgotten the saints with a conscience who bought and shipped millions of people for plantation works.
It took years of war and many violent riots before they stopped being "benevolent" to their servants.
They don't even see their countrymen as equal to this day. Who else can break this record?

As to people working in Chinese factories, there is nothing unique about their situation.
They are unskilled and expendable workers who are treated badly regardless of their nationality.
Iphone is being made in China because Apple can get away with many violations in China
and Chinese workers are more "obedient" than their western counterparts.
Same with Bangladesh and Vietnam with their sweatshops.
But the westerners with a conscience don't mind using these products and pretend
to "see no evil" in the horrible conditions those workers are placed.

Those good people today are still here bribing government officials and running our oil industry.
Yet, no one seems to care to challenge the master's hold because they are "good" masters who
must be pampered.

Your answer is here....
https://www.nairaland.com/5813726/chinese-loan-only-drunkard-accept#88800255
A typical predatory attitude of China.....
Read it up Mr China man.....

Of course, I don't blame China for exploiting African nation or any nation whatsoever....
It's not China's responsibility to develop any other nation....

EVERY NATION SHOULD DO WHAT'S BEST FOR IT...NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR CHINA....