Obama - We do not seek to Contain China's Rise

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | November 16, 2009 at 03:54 am

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President Obama during his visit to China, tried to reassure Chinese officials that the United States in no way was trying to impede China's rise as an economic power. "We do not seek to contain China's rise", he said.

He also seemed to prod the Chinese government to loosen controls on the internet. China strongly controls internet use of about 250 Million internet users.

"I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable," Obama said Monday during a town hall meeting with students in Shanghai. "They can begin to think for themselves."

While Obama addressed some minor issues, he made no mention of Human Rights abuses in Tibet. He clearly did not want to offend the Chinese Leadership. Recently a visit by the Dalai Lama was postponed until after the China visit.

Obama also addressed and audience of Chinese students. According to reports, the students were carefully selected and were members of China's Communist Party. The students were briefed and told to be polite.

U.S. President Barack Obama, on his first state visit to China, on Monday urged the country to loosen up its control of the internet.

"I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable," Obama said Monday during a town hall meeting with students in Shanghai. "They can begin to think for themselves."

Obama's remark was seen as a prodding of the Chinese government, which tightly controls the access of the country's estimated 250 million internet users.

"I'm a big supporter of non-censorship," Obama said. "I recognize that different countries have different traditions. I can tell you that in the United States, the fact that we have free internet — or unrestricted internet access — is a source of strength, and I think should be encouraged."

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aurealeus

at 06:05 on November 16th, 2009

I think this headline should read:

OBAMA - BOWS TO CHINA INTERESTS

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:06 on November 16th, 2009

Thanks for you comments aurealeus, there was a story last night with bowing in Japan. Thanks for your recommendation though:)

aurealeus

at 06:19 on November 16th, 2009

YW...... I read and commented on that story also.

It appears that "bowing" is on the "rise" these days where America is concerned. My take is that bowing is not necessarily in deference towards the individual nation or leader being bowed to, but the gestures of bowing to the Sudi King and Japan's Emporor and now a passive stance on competition for world markets in regards to his recent statement "We do not seek to contain China's rise" could be part of the underlying larger picture, suggesting that America has become accepting of a unified global nation.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:19 on November 16th, 2009

You may be onto something here.

snuffysmith

at 06:20 on November 16th, 2009

China-U.S. discord on currencies clouds Obama visit -- Reuters
Currency rift with China casts shadow on Obama's trade hopes -- Globe And Mail
Dollar under pressure as Obama tours China -- Reuters
China’s Role as Lender Alters Obama’s Visit -- New York Times
President Obama will urge China to join US in ‘world leadership’ -- Times Online
Chinese students, netizens and shops welcome Obama to Shanghai -- L.A. Times

PIM of SPAIN

at 06:26 on November 16th, 2009

To be honest, Obama couldn't do anything else as bowing to the Chinese and the Japanese who each respectively for $2 trillion and $1 trillion are the US greatest creditors with US dollars that continues to reduce in intrinsic value every time.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:45 on November 16th, 2009

Those are certainly defining issues for the relationship.

snuffysmith

at 06:29 on November 16th, 2009

Welcome, comrade Maobama
United States President Barack Obama visits Beijing as China is organizing a new world order based on economic independence and respecting cultural and political differences - a hierarchical change all nations can believe in. Beijing welcomes being classed as the US's "essential partner" and "competitor"; being competitive is second nature when you have been a major economic power for 18 of the past 20 centuries. - Pepe Escobar

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:45 on November 16th, 2009

Thanks very much snuffy for your comments.

PIM of SPAIN

at 06:43 on November 16th, 2009

In recent years, China has begun to flex its economic might. No longer content within the constraints of pure Communism, China has seen fit to dabble with Capitalist ventures.
Unfortunately, with a long history of Communist thought, few of China's business elite have been able to become successful in international business.
The Chinese government sponsored numerous business classes, and although this helped, the Chinese wanted a better way to get ahead. Maybe Chinese government should invite US entrepreneurs to teach them old style real capitalism, if they still do know about and still are around in the US?

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:50 on November 16th, 2009

Maybe we can find some for them? I understand some are leaving due to bonus money:)

aurealeus

at 06:58 on November 19th, 2009

On July 1, 1997, China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial rule. Since then, it appears that China began embracing HK-styled capitalism and flexing "its economic might."

I'm not sure I would agree with the statement; "...few of China's business elite have been able to become successful in international business" whereby China seems to have been very successful in flooding the American as well as other International Markets with cheap products recently, as well as opening the door to numerous International Business Ventures thereby helping to boost the Chinese Economy to world financial dominance over the last decade or so.

PIM of SPAIN

at 07:03 on November 16th, 2009

Let them understand what kind of people I do have in mind. Pure full blood entrepreneurs and not the corporate clowns, or loan slaves that sit the largest part of their time behind the desk and TV eating hamburgers and snacks while drinking alcoholic and soft drinks. And even more ... not the class of over-bonused bankers you may have in mind.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:06 on November 16th, 2009

Thank You for clarifying PIM:)

aurealeus

at 07:15 on November 16th, 2009

I'm not sure I understand what "Pure full blood entrepreneurs..." are?

I like to think of myself as a pure-full-blood entrepreneur and have owned my own successful non-corporate styled business in the past but I am currently now an unemployed wage-slave.

Would I be a candidate "to teach them old style real capitalism" and if not, could you please clarify what you have in mind?

PIM of SPAIN

at 08:59 on November 16th, 2009

To answer Aurelius question about "Pure full blood entrepreneurs...":

This wrote tikun to me under my essay about wealth creation:

"Wealth accumulation is driven by having the temperament or as they say in the Bronx, balls, to make your own brakes and be as independent as possible.

Most of all, LISTEN to the needs of the people around you.

LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS.

Enjoy your work and have fun doing it.

Oh I forgot to mention the luck that is sprinkled into the mix.

Put away some money every week and let it work for you. Having your own business is risky and often lonely but for me it doesn't come close to working for others. Not to say that being employed isn't righteous.

Put all this into the mix and just maybe the outcome will be plenty. Someone once said that you do not have to have a million dollars to live like a millionaire. I finally understood what he meant by it."

and this I wrote back:

A very true advice Tikun you gave. It shows you do have the real entrepreneurial blood in your vanes. People without won't be able to create wealth unless they are crooks amongst them the ones that 'walk' Wall Street. The only enemy of an entrepreneur is envy, others see your wealth, but not the loneliness in your decisions and successes and the 100+ hours you put into your business every week.

"PIM, you understand.

It is like an actor finally making the "big" time and people thinking how lucky he/she was. Not realizing that this soul spent years of his/her life working, studying endlessly and pinching pennies in order to get this break. For every one chosen thousands are never heard from.

Witnessing first hand the false starts and stops along the way. The rug being pulled from underneath you and the endless promises that come to naught. In spite of all this you plug away happily working those long hours and even enjoying it most of the time in order to be your own boss. Then just maybe you find some success and enjoy the fruits of your own labor. "

Hope you may be able to judge for yourself whether you are in this category aureleus.

aurealeus

at 10:01 on November 16th, 2009

Thank you PIM......

When I was twenty, I went into the sign business with no working capital or any other means of support, and built a successful business over the next twelve years, one job at a time. During the first three years, I went hungry most of the time while working to build my new business.

I lived in my shop because I could not afford an apartment and pay two rents. I slept on my work-bench for the first six months until I finally got a bed. I ate sheet styled bakery pizza at ten cents a slice that I had to reheat on a space heater because I did not have a stove until I could finally afford a real meal at a restaurant after getting paid for a job. I had no bathing facilities and depended upon family, neighbors and friends to use their shower (not to mention a free meal now and then) and was a frequent visitor at the laundromat. I did not have a vehicle during the first few years either to service my clients and had to either rent or borrow a vehicle until I was able to afford one of my own.

I drove a taxi, washed supermarket floors, coordinated functions and events and many other odd jobs during the first few years just to keep the doors of my business open and eat occasionally. During this time, I also founded a non-profit organization in support of the arts and worked to establish a cultural arts center and programming for the local community. Working 80-100+ hours a week was the norm until the business started to become profitable and I was finally able to hire help in my sixth year.

Eventually, mainly through a strong desire to succeed, intense personal motivation and a willingness to sacrifice, I became successful in my business venture until I finally sold it after twelve plus years and relocated to another State over twenty years ago.

While I might be in the entrepreneur catagory according to the attributes you describe, I doubt that the Chinese Government or any investors will be calling me any time soon... oh well!

Barry Artiste

at 09:14 on November 16th, 2009

Rise? I think China has exceeded everyones expectations as an economic power., and then some.,

Hugh Askew

at 10:08 on November 16th, 2009

Barry, you might want to read a 20 year old tome, titled: The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers.

Paul Kennedy called it correctly - for the rise of China, and the fall of the Soviet Empire.

aurealeus

at 10:09 on November 16th, 2009

I agree! I was shocked at first but when one begins to realize the millions of citizens utilized by slave and child labor in their sweat shops, it becomes less than incredible.

Obviously they learned well by mimicing America's early history before slavery was abolished and the rights of workers realized.

nanute

at 14:25 on November 16th, 2009

Such a good point! And just think, China doesn't have to import the slave labor. Cuts down on the overhead.

Hugh Askew

at 16:49 on November 16th, 2009

Duh. Think what the transport would do to their carbon footprint.

aurealeus

at 15:04 on November 17th, 2009

The major difference is the SlaveMaster. Prior to full emancipation in the United States, so-called "ownership" of slaves was dispersed amongst many civilan "masters" for the benefit of individual businessmen and was not practiced by the government.

In China, the situation is the opposite. Of concern, is how to deal with a communist country as a partner where human rights violations and slavery are not only policy but intertwined as law.

If relations between the U.S. Federal Government and China begin to degrade and our leaders are not careful, we could be travelling down a treacherous and dangerous path leading to major future conflict... only this time, it won't be between a nations countrymen but amongst the world's most powerful nations.

nanute

at 09:37 on November 19th, 2009

The major difference is the Slave Master. I don't really think so. The Chinese government is not in the business of buying people into slavery, any more than the US government was. China's policy regarding human rights with respect to workers, is very similar in nature to the policy of the US when slavery was "legal." It conveniently turns a blind eye, as a cost benefit associated with economic costs.It will speed up the growth of China's ascendancy as a major factor in the world's economy. China won't be able to continue this policy for as long as the US got away with slavery. The reason is pure and simple a matter of nationality. China is different than the US slave labor dilemma in the sense that it is Chinese peoples that are being exploited.