Dogyote @ Dogyote @slrpnk.net

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2

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217

Joined

2 yr. ago

Are those other capitalist countries building infrastructure or just extracting wealth? It often seems like only the latter while China is at least building infrastructure first. I'm not sure how predatory it is, but it seems less predatory than what's happened in the past.

I can't get past NYT's paywall, and it's the NYT, they're not going to give an unbiased assessment, but I found the wikipedia article. I'm failing to see how China "took the port back." Looks like a Chinese company bought an 85% stake into Hambantota International Port Group, an entity created by the Sri Lanken government to run the port. The agreement allows the Chinese company to operate the port for 99 years.

Then there's this bit:

Writing in 2023, academic and former UK diplomat Kerry Brown states that China's relationship to the Hambantota port has become the opposite of the theorized debt-trap modus operandi. Brown observes that China has had to commit more money to the project, expose itself to further risk, and has had to become entangled in complex local politics. As of at least 2024, the port is not a significant commercial success, although shipping through the port is increasing. 

Okay gang, I need you to think a bit more critically than 'China Bad.' First, why was the term "debt collector" used? China lent money, now they're taking payments. Is that debt collecting, or just the second part of lending money? Is a mortgage lender a debt collector? That's a loaded term meant to give you a negative impression, cuz no one likes a debt collector except perhaps an American hospital.

Second, the countries agreed to the loans. Paying them back was expected and predictable. If payments can't be made, then the debt will be restructured, meaning the payment schedule will be modified so the debtor country can make payments.

Third, the money was often used to build a potentially money-making asset, like a port. If used correctly, the assest should pay for a decent chunk of the loan.

Forth, I see a lot of half baked comments like 'China will take the port back' or 'China will take the hospital.' You must first ask, with what will China take back an African port, or hospital, or whatever? They don't have the means. They're not going to park an aircraft carrier off the coast and drop bombs until the loan is repayed, because they can't. So what does China want? China doesn't want the fucking port, they want resources and friends with benefits.

China's basically going here's a loan, build a port to import goods for your people. Import from whoever you like, it's your port. Oh by the way we make the cheapest and best everything (cuz they do), we'd be happy to sell you whatever you want, like solar panels or EVs. We also need colbalt and the finest silicon sand to build you these awesome EVs and solar panels you want, so we'll buy that from your mines and use your cool new port to ship it. Here's the loan payment schedule. No payments for the first 5 years, then afterward you pay X per year for 20-30 years. Oh no, you're having trouble making payments? Well we benefit from you having that port too, so let's restructure that debt so your people don't revolt and get cozy with the US.

There's no fucking debt trap. That's just racist and moronic. 'Those sneaky Chinese tricked the backwards brown people with a loan they can't repay.' Plus you can't repossess a structure on the other side of the world without a credible threat of violence. China does not have the means. Economic coercion, sure, but the debtor agreed to that and they're not stupid.

Pssh, those are only the humans we know of.

Didn't those trees become coal, not oil?

Trees are like every other plant, ONLY MORE SO

There's a movie called Night Bitch that will provide insights into what it's like being the primary caretaker in today's world.

But Canadian money isn't real money

I don't think so, since once revealed the capability can be easily removed or mitigated.

Okay... Bootlicker: A person who behaves in a servile or obsequious manner.

You seem to be an ardent defender of the ownership/elite/capital class's controlling behaviors. If you're not a member of that class and say what you have been saying, then you are a bootlicker of said class.

I don't believe me calling you a bootlicker is an endorsement of fraud or sabotage, although I hope things work out for OP. That would be such a demeaning situation to be in.

So this all seems to hinge on the creation of black holes. Last I checked we can't do that, right?

OP, I wish you would stop spreading rumors. As others have pointed out, there's no real evidence these allegations are credible.

For more context, nearly all modern solar equipment and energy storage devices (like Tesla Powerwalls) come with cellular equipment for firmware updates and production monitoring when there isn't a better connection available. It's just how it's done nowadays, it's not inherentely nefarious.

Now for some critical thinking. What does China really gain from taking out PV power sources? Those power sources are only producing power less than half the time people need it. Wouldn't it be better to attack the 24/7 baseload power producers like a gas powerplant? If you take out the PV that gas plant will compensate, just like it does when it's cloudy. For this reason there's little point to attacking the auxillary, intermittent power sources.

Are you an employer or a bootlicker?

You're not supposed to eat the grounds...

It was probably you, setting yourself up for a monolog

And taken to Hondouras?

I'm stuggling to believe you were "one of those poor people" in Mexico and your dad was kidnapped in Hondouras.

I think I'm getting conflicting anwsers. Another person says you can melt certain types of plastic.

Follow up: why are soda bottles hard to recycle? You suggest it has something to do with their ability to hold pressure. Why does that make them hard to recycle?

The plaintiffs in Los Angeles said the soda companies were claiming that the bottles were continuously recyclable, when in reality, plastic bottles can be recycled only once, if at all.

How's that work? Like how can someone tell a bottle has been made with recycled plastic?