BBC: Chinese influence in Brazil worries US

[CJCRANE]

"While the United States has been fighting its war on terror, a new political idea has begun to punch through with such weight that alarm bells have begun ringing loudly in Washington.

Under the slogan of "peaceful rising", China is selling itself to the developing world as an alternative model for ending poverty.

China: an alternative model for ending poverty?
The pitch is now winning an audience in Latin America, and Washington is despatching the assistant secretary of state responsible for the region, Thomas Shannon, to Beijing to find out what is going on."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4872522.stm

[fasttense]

1. Well considering the fact that the US trade agreements

don't even address poverty and in actuality exploit the slave wages of poor nations, why does the US care now?

[darkmaestro019]

2. This isn't new! Everybody knows there's a Brazilian Chinese....nt

[Sinti]

3. Apparently building roads gets you farther than M16s

"It's extremely important that we don't let a potential enemy of the US become a dominant force in this part of the world."

Here I thought they were our most valued trading partner. :sarcasm:

I hope the next administration does something constructive about this. I'm sure this one won't. Hopefully we don't end up with the "war of the week" a few years in the future, like in the '80s, where we can't really figure out or decide who are the good guys, so we arm both sides. Pray to god China isn't exporting their human rights policies.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Good topic and link

I hope everyone reads the entire article.

Did you ever hear such arrogance. Would serve Bushco right if the Chinese dumped a shed load of their US$ reserves and switched them into another currency just to put him in his place.

Chinese involvement with South America was inevitable - it's already happened and continues happening across Africa. They are securing resources but without the violence which was associated with Chile when Kissinger and Co helped remove their democraticly elected government in 1973 to prevent nationalisation of the copper mines.

We all know how important the bananas were in Guatemala as well. Fortunately the Dulles Bros and United Fruit are no more.

Please note that I have avoided all mention of Britain and America with respect to Persia/Iran 1953 and chickens coming home to roost.

[cliss]

5. This should be the title of a new movie,

"While you were busy in Iraq".....

Things have happened while the Bush administration has been distracted in the Middle East. As other people have pointed out, this has been going on for a long time, more in spite of us than anything else.

China is a human rights violator. But because of our past history, these people may decide to take them up on it.

The Panama Canal is almost completely owned by the Chinese. The Chinese have been buying real estate all over Central & South America.

Wolf #2 in Sheep's Clothing appears on the scene.