The Chinese are Coming

Okay, so I've always had a secret fear of the Chinese, since they're really coming into the world as a superpower. And let's face it, when you control 1/6 of the world's population, becoming a major superpower gives you a significant advantage.

I'm watching the documentary "The Chinese are Coming" on BBC iPlayer, which talks about the Chinese industrial invasion of Africa. 4 minutes in and I can see that the Chinese have drastically changed the coastline of Angola, making it a huge shipping lane. They're working incredibly hard to build a super mall in this Chinese industrial heaven. I'll tell you what, the Chinese are bloody efficient, but it does look like a literal invasion. They've shipped into Angola, giving them all of these buildings. You'd think it'd open loads of job opportunities for the locals, but the Angolans don't work there. The Angolans think that the Chinese influence is good though, so no complaint.

To put this in comparison, when the British came over to Africa to build a giant railway they employed as many locals as they could. However, the Chinese are renovating it... alone. The cost of all this does give the Angolans better trade though, so you really have to think about what they're doing and how they're doing it. Should the Chinese do all the leg work, getting all the money from oil and construction while the Africans are just getting a fair bit more trade?

"To end poverty, build a road," as the Chinese say. Yup, the Chinese have built loads of roads.

I'll tell you what, the Chinese have apparently started up businesses here because the Westerners are too scared to set up trade because of all the risk assessments that Africa fails. Just comes to show, there is somewhat a correlation between giving a shit about risks and the economic downturn. Yeah, it won't be much, but yes there's a correlation.

However, the Chinese are killing loads of elephants for their ivory, despite it being illegal. They make chopsticks. What the hell was wrong with wood?

Okay, so you know how Robert Mugabe was breaking the human rights laws in Zimbabwe? And how the UN were all like, "Nah, mate, you can't be doing all that shit and that." Well the Chinese went along to the playground and stood next to Zimbabwe and said, "Actually, they can. It is totawwy their countwy and they can do whatever they want with it." Interesting. Whoa, to make this more serious, look at this quote.

"China is taking pressure off Mugabe... and is making life easy for Mugabe to continue abusing human rights."

Damn.

"We're richer and more powerful than before. This gives us the confidence to go oversees. When I was younger, Chinese were bullied oversees."

Many African businesses are actually collapsing because of Chinese competition. "They're supposed to boost our economy, not compete with us."

To make you more worried, the Chinese have taken control of the largest copper mine in the world. We used to own it.

"They take what they want and don't give anything back."

"Are you telling me that there are no Zambians that can drive a forklift or a dumper truck?" This guy was angry about the Chinese coming over to work and not giving out jobs.

"If the Chinese don't improve working conditions, we'll have to kick them out. Back to where they come from."

Throughout the video, I've noticed that the Chinese don't let the camera crews into any of their factories that employ Africans, and ironically they've all been accused of abusing human rights. That's very interesting.

China is now the world's second largest economy, which is a lot different to what it used to be.

I still have another video to watch, which is all about how China may overtake America in the economical war that is definitely about to begin. If I find loads more interesting stuff like I did with this video, then I'll definitely make another post about it.

I apologise if you were looking for wit and humour from this blog post, but I was so interested in this idea of China buying the entire world out that I had to take it seriously. Whether all this is good or bad is still yet to be determined, but I honestly don't think there would be any harm in being a little cautious right now, especially if Obama goes all George Bush on their asses and decides that they won't be beaten. I would really like to see the American government's stand on what is happening. I can pretty much guess Cameron's reaction, "Oh well that's just fine. Good on those yellow-headed rascals."

I'll give you some funny soon, I promise.