We are very busy people trying to make it through the day, but it’s worth taking a few minutes to think about China and what it is going on in their end of the world. The distance to China from New York is estimated to be 6,840 miles, but if their plans for domination work, they will be sitting on our doorstep rivaling us in any area of our economy that you can think of.
Look at a map of the world and if you shine a laser light, China is already there in some form. Let’s start with Africa, a country that President Trump has vilified as being backward and substandard. According to Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, Commander of the U.S. Africa Command, China is quickly learning how to best invest in mineral extraction operations and build railroads that will haul those products to the coasts for export.
Waldhauser said “China has read our playbook” and replicates what has helped the U.S. succeed in Africa and improved upon it. Port after port is being rebuilt with Chinese dollars and they are gaining enormous influence throughout that nation. Mineral extraction makes both China and local governments rich and also increases their political clout. And with the help of Russia they are winning new friends each and every day.
The story is the same in Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. China is buying port after port in countries ranging from Italy to India, which gives them exclusive locations for their ships to transport goods. Have you ever heard of the Silk Road? The history books tell us that it is the historic trade route that enabled China to once have merchant contact with the West.
Today’s New Silk Road project is aimed at striking up economic and cultural partnerships with other countries. China’s goal is to do up to $2.5 trillion in cross-border trade within the next 10 years. At this very moment, China is investing billions in steel manufacturing and heavy equipment, which helps it gain a foothold in any countries that don’t have those industries. At the same time, it is pouring billions into new technology with the goal of outpacing U.S. in the near future.
While Russia has been attempting to undermine America’s stability by spying and hacking into our systems, the Chinese are becoming the bigger long term threat to our world dominance with sophisticated planning and political smarts. At the same time as we are debating such subjects as the Mueller report, Medicare for All and free college tuition, it is worth asking our politicians how do they intend to keep pace with China in the coming years?
Former State Assemblyman Jerry Kremer is a columnist for Long Island Weekly and partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek in Uniondale. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or Anton Media Group.
