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China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

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Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While your analysis is true, it only describes the effects which have lead to today's situation. Here are a few causes: * In late 80's US empire has definitely thrown international law above the board by organizing color revolutions, destabilizing other countries and waging wars * US empire and its vassals (other NATO members) leave a trail of blood where ever they show up * Officially, US military - despite its huge…

> America’s overall image around the world remains largely positive. Across the nations surveyed (excluding the U.S.), a median of 69% hold a favorable opinion of the U.S., while just 24% express an unfavorable view. However, there is significant variation among regions and countries.[0] I think we can agree the US often acts like a douchebag and that it has a lot of passionate haters, but the fact is that there are…

NO! I am NOT talking here (and elsewhere) about US citizens!

I am talking about US oligarchy.

US people (on a personal level) are just like other people of the world: Most of them are good, some less that. And they themselves suffer from many problems the US oligarchy (through imperial means) causes outside of the US.

Daughters and sons who go to US military, they are patriots who want to serve their country and its people. But then they are sent to wars for resources, pipeline routes, geostrategic interests. And they come back in body bags, maimed, or suffer some physical or psychical ailment. Only to find out that their father has lost his job, or that their mother's insurance won't cover the costs for her treatment, or that no one cares for her/him (the former soldier).

Where ever I go in the world, I remind people that we all are in the same boat.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While your analysis is true, it only describes the effects which have lead to today's situation. Here are a few causes: * In late 80's US empire has definitely thrown international law above the board by organizing color revolutions, destabilizing other countries and waging wars * US empire and its vassals (other NATO members) leave a trail of blood where ever they show up * Officially, US military - despite its huge…

I didn't know that Noam Chomsky posted on HN.

Whoever downvoted you, it's their right. I upvoted you.

I actually find your comment funny.

But, please, don't compare me with Chomsky.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While your analysis is true, it only describes the effects which have lead to today's situation. Here are a few causes: * In late 80's US empire has definitely thrown international law above the board by organizing color revolutions, destabilizing other countries and waging wars * US empire and its vassals (other NATO members) leave a trail of blood where ever they show up * Officially, US military - despite its huge…

I didn't know that Noam Chomsky posted on HN.

https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=nchomsky

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#55
post #17

Another traditional US ally re-aligning itself between the two major spheres of influence. The balance will tip further in China's favor as the USA recedes further from global development. What's interesting is if you look at the parallel international institutions that China are developing that will compete with the IMF et al, many of the partners are traditional and very close allies of the United States. For ex. w…

"Another traditional US ally re-aligning itself between the two major spheres of influence. The balance will tip further in China's favor as the USA recedes further from global development."

China wants just an ally in the back of India. This is understandable from a Chinese perspective. But Pakistan is a moslems country and China has enough problems with its own moslems. If you have been in Xinjiang province: The level of security is astonishing. I wonder about the costs of maintaining this and long term stability.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#57
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> America’s overall image around the world remains largely positive. Across the nations surveyed (excluding the U.S.), a median of 69% hold a favorable opinion of the U.S., while just 24% express an unfavorable view. However, there is significant variation among regions and countries.[0] I think we can agree the US often acts like a douchebag and that it has a lot of passionate haters, but the fact is that there are…

The US is probably the nicest and most responsible super power ever. A super power like the Roman empire would have won the Afghanistan war for sure. But in a different way.

Even the nicest mass murderer is still a mass murderer.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't know that Noam Chomsky posted on HN.

Whoever downvoted you, it's their right. I upvoted you. I actually find your comment funny. But, please, don't compare me with Chomsky.

No, that would be quite insulting to Chomsky.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#59
post #22
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where in the world has the US brought stability with its international politics?

Europe for a couple of decades following WW2.

That is a bit of an overstatement.

If we look at casualties, the US 400k pales in comparison to the to the 26 million of the Soviet Union[1].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties#Human_...

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#60
post #9
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a great article - it'd be interesting to know if the KKH has changed much in the intervening 17 years.

Apparently there are still bad sections, but more of the highway has been upgraded.[1] China is providing most of the money. In 2010, a major earthquake caused landslides which created a new lake, taking out part of the highway. It took until 2015 to build a new route with 5Km of tunnels. Here's a partial list of projects being funded in Pakistan by China.[2] China's government seems determined to get a land linkup t…

China is also extremely interested in economically developing its inner regions, as they've lagged economic development which has come to coastal regions due to high cost of logistics. Anything bought in Islamabad that's 'made in China' was likely manufactured on China's east cost, and arrived via ship.

If it would be economically viable to have the same thing manufactured in Xinjiang or Qinghai, and shipped by road, it would be a huge boost for those areas. Especially if linked through Pakistan's road network to sea ports, bringing easy access to Middle East, Europe, Africa as ships would no longer have to navigate via Singapore.

An in reverse, it would be a huge diversification of import routes for commodities could come in via another route. Not oil specifically, but all kinds of bulk. Bulk carries of commodities are far less efficient than oil ships, the largest with a capacity of 100,000 tons but 30-60k capacity more common (far less than the capacity of a supertanker). So commodities needed to develop the west of China now have a simpler, more efficient route.

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