141–150 of 266 posts
West African American here (Ghanaian - American). This article actually isn't true, while the Kenyan Chinese pact that led to the construction of the Nairobi - Mombasa Port does have clauses related to penalties around lack of payment, there has been no actual announcement or any signs of China declaring possession of the Mombasa Port. In fact, the big issue in Mombasa right now is actually revolving around a Kenyan…
Before we throw about the term "Imperialism", let's remember what kinds of things the European powers did that are rightly considered part of it: - Violently forcing "trade" to happen, often under an "East India Company". You can have cannon balls or opium. - Forcing the local administration to learn the language and legal system of the imperial power. Why do they speak English in Kenya? - Suppressing local rule. How…
>To compare current China with something like the British Empire is not very reasonable. This is a strawman from PRC apologists. The article doesn't do that at all. Also, the British doing bad things in the past is no excuse for governments doing things like this today.
Giving loans out for public infrastructure?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm completely against using prison labor for profit, and there are inequalities in the US system...but prisoners in the US have had due process. Despite our problems, the protections for the accused in the US are among the best in the world. To pretend that there isn't an enormous difference between labor camps in China and prison labor in the US is absolutely absurd.
Prisoners in the US have largely been screwed into pleading guilty through a horrific bail system combined with malicious plea deal bargains (over 90% of convictions did not go to trial - https://theoutline.com/post/2066/most-criminal-cases-end-in-... ). The Chinese camps are terrible in a different way, that doesn't excuse any of the inadequacies of the US prison system.
Largely implies that the majority are innocent. There is nothing to support that claim. I disagree with the way our bail system works, but keep in mind that the US has ranks very highly with respect to limits on pretrial detention in general.
>over 90% of convictions did not go to trial
That number is meaningless by itself without knowing how many of those people were actually guilty. Our ability to collect convincing evidence has drastically improved over the last century, of course guilty pleas have gone up.
I agree that there are perverse incentives, unfair treatment with respect to race and class, horrible prison conditions, too many custodial sentences for non-violent crimes, and numerous other issues that we should fix immediately.
>The Chinese camps are terrible in a different way, that doesn't excuse any of the inadequacies of the US prison system.
No it doesn’t. Are you reading the entire thread or are you just replying to my comment in a vacuum?
West African American here (Ghanaian - American). This article actually isn't true, while the Kenyan Chinese pact that led to the construction of the Nairobi - Mombasa Port does have clauses related to penalties around lack of payment, there has been no actual announcement or any signs of China declaring possession of the Mombasa Port. In fact, the big issue in Mombasa right now is actually revolving around a Kenyan…
I am an African and I live in West Africa. I think China is doing great job for the continent and it is helping Africa upgrade her infrastructure. But we Africans should know that sustainable development and transfer of technology cannot come if we fail to build our own indigenous peoples and companies. Nobody is father Christmas, everybody is there to maximize his gains. So , we Africans should wake up and take our…
And honestly, you have every reason to tell me to fuck off and more besides. And I’m not Father Christmas, if you make a deal with me, I expect something in exchange.
But what can we do for people in Africa?
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Yes, and/or confirmation bias. There have been articles on the Chinese Road and Belt Initiative and their long-term geopolitical goals for a few years now. That initiative has only became more newsworthy and pressing as the world's largest economy has turned inward.
The OP used the word frequency, I also noticed that lately we get at least 2 anti China articles on top page, maybe nothing changed on publishing side but the HN voting changed making this anti China articles stick to the top or on the first page a lot. I don't care enough about it to investigate the numbers of articles on HN with China in title so is all something I noticed and I am not from US (so I have no horse i…
Massive resources are spent manipulating media including social media. And the biggest spenders are the established political parties and governments of the west.
Maybe what you are seeing is just randomness and confirmation bias but as the saying goes just because you are paranoid it does not mean that you are not being followed.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm completely against using prison labor for profit, and there are inequalities in the US system...but prisoners in the US have had due process. Despite our problems, the protections for the accused in the US are among the best in the world. To pretend that there isn't an enormous difference between labor camps in China and prison labor in the US is absolutely absurd.
Prisoners in the US have largely been screwed into pleading guilty through a horrific bail system combined with malicious plea deal bargains (over 90% of convictions did not go to trial - https://theoutline.com/post/2066/most-criminal-cases-end-in-... ). The Chinese camps are terrible in a different way, that doesn't excuse any of the inadequacies of the US prison system.
Could the USA or an european nation offer to pay the loan in exchange for taking over the port? Itd be cool to swoop in on this deal.
Unironic exceptionalism at display right here. Colonialism is only bad if it's not Europe/US doing it. /s
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am an African and I live in West Africa. I think China is doing great job for the continent and it is helping Africa upgrade her infrastructure. But we Africans should know that sustainable development and transfer of technology cannot come if we fail to build our own indigenous peoples and companies. Nobody is father Christmas, everybody is there to maximize his gains. So , we Africans should wake up and take our…
So, I’m American. And honestly, you have every reason to tell me to fuck off and more besides. And I’m not Father Christmas, if you make a deal with me, I expect something in exchange. But what can we do for people in Africa?
Africans don't need charity. The NGO industrial complex has failed to create modern states, it can deliver great help to badly affected communities but it can't leapstart growth. We all know the US won't invest tens of billions in African countries, but change your perception of Africa as some place to be helped, and countries that want investment, this explains why China has become such a big player on the continent.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
No political strings attached? You mean, they just takeover and don't need political strings? They benefit far more, their own workers do 80% of the work and nothing is helping the local economy. The loans also have to be paid back to China ( because they lend the money). This is a very good way to create growth on the shoulder of others.
Better infrastructure doesn't help the local economy?
It's not just the roads, but everyone involved ( workers, companies, ...). But if you don't let the locals do it, you reduce the improvement a lot for the local economy.
Not to mention, that the infrastructure that is build, is mostly to guide resources away from Africa instead of improving the economy. And the strategic airports that are build with the Chinese help, are strategicly located. But there is no demand for it => It goes broke without enough income.
In the contract, the Chinese can gain the lease for 100 years. So the countries loaned money for a "prestigious project", eg. a strategic airport. It's build with Chinese people and chinese companies. The loan has to be repaid to the Chinese, but paid by the countries.
So yes, these "infrastructure" projects don't help the local economy and the countries take all the risk. China has got the money ( or infrastructure in possession), the workers employed and the influence of the Chinese companies in Africa.