• schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    7 hours ago

    I don’t know, man, building infrastructure to benefit the country you’re building it in sure sounds better than overthrowing socialists governments by arming child-raping rebels then giving them money through the IMF to enrich themselves to justify austerity measures that permanently keep the country from developing.

    • shawn1122@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      6 hours ago

      Yes the Western playbook is well known. I wouldn’t be too quick to trust the Chinese approach though. China has already reclaimed sovereignty over ports via debt trap diplomacy in regions like Sri Lanka.

      This certainly is not as bad as American actions on the global stage but China is fairly new to being a global power (in the modern era at least, not historically) so the long term strategy remains to be seen.

      • schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        6 hours ago

        Yes, I just find it’s good to have a complete picture. Talking to a lot of people about the problems with China is a lot like talking to people in 2001 about the problems with Saddam Hussein… that is to say, it’s just a pretext for war or other skulduggery.

    • sbv@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      6 hours ago

      Depends who owns the infrastructure after it is built, and how payment is structured.