Chinese & US: Strange bedfellows' impact on the world... 1

[rhodie]

See link: "China threatens nuclear option of dollar sales"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/08/07/bcnchina107a.xml

I'm trying to think out of my egocentric US mindset.

When I read the linked article, the severity of the situation as an American strikes home. I realize that my country is firmly held in the thumbscrews and does not have any leverage against what can be traditionally interpreted as "the next biggest bully on the block".

I have realized for a while that the impending "war" against the USA by China would be a bloodless, bulletless conflict and it would resemble something like the above link describes. All that aside- I present the following for your comment:

With "Global Economies" considered, is it really in China's best interest to dump US dollars and in the process destroy their biggest customer?

 

[moltenmetal]

To clarify my previous post: my estimates put the percentage of Canadian-educated engineers who end up working a significant fraction of their careers as engineers somewhere around 50%. In the US, where there are immigration controls such as the H1B visa program for which there are no analogs in Canada, the utilization of engineering grads as engineers is higher, in the 70-80% range.

 

[rhodie]

csd72: Your point is valid. I believe that the EU offically holds the "#1 spot" with China. After they can ratify an EU Constitution or some equivalent document, then perhaps they will gain the perception of being one entity. As such, it seems to be France and everyone else.

Veiled jab aside, I should reword the statement to something like "is it really in China's best interest to dump US dollars and in the process destroy their most influential customer?"

Global perception is that the US represents the world's largest "free market" economy. (I cringe at that statement.)

These times must represent to the USA what the transition period felt like to post-imperial England.

 

[KENAT]

What do you mean post-imperial, we've still got the Falklands and several other Islands in the middle of no where! Oh plus part of Ireland, Scotland, Wales etc depending how you count;-)

That said you make an interesting point, comparing the current events with historical ones.

I sometimes wonder if in the future the UK/USA split will be looked at a bit like the eastern/western Roman empire and similar events in history.



KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[csd72]

All empires must eventually come to an end.

 

[GregLocock]

Yes, 200-400 years is a good innings for an empire, few really lasted longer than that.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[KENAT]

The longest I can think of is probably Roman/Eastern Roman/Byzantine, which depending on where you count to and from was at least 1100, possible nearer 2000.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...