I have often wondered whether Xi has had buyer’s remorse given Biden’s belligerent statements after he took office. China helped Biden’s allies develop the virus that allowed Biden to be elected, and China has friends in the US elites, but Biden appears to have played a game of bait and switch.
The reality has been that Biden’s policies have been so self-destructive that they have greatly benefited China. Biden instigated a proxy war with Russia that has given China unprecedented access to Russian energy, raw materials, and weapons technology while seriously depleting NATO weapons stocks.
Biden seems to be intent on instigating a naval war with China in China’s backyard. China’s steel production is 10 times that of the US and its shipbuilding industry is roughly 100 times the US. A conventional arms race with China is not going to end well for the US, and a likely outcome of a hot war would be the destruction of most of the US surface fleet that gets with missile range of China. A naval war with China is likely to give China big victory.
Now we are seeing a growing trade war. The problem is that the Biden administration seems unable to see more than one move in advance, and its likely that an extended trade war will hurt the US and its allies more they hurt China.
Has Xi been the real winner with Biden’s policies?
Just consider how badly China’s economy has done post-Covid and you will have an answer.
The economic results are verifiable: unlike fantasies about Covid-19 being invented to take down Trump or the Russian invasion of Ukraine being somehow a Biden policy.
Do you think US interests would have been better served by the US continuing to allow high tech to. flow freely to China? Do you favor Chinese seizure of Taiwan?
Regarding vehicles specifically, I believe Chinese imports are necessary to keep Americans manufacturers honest. Domestic design philosophy is a net negative on the middle class.
That’s all supposed to change soon as GM launches its first affordable modern EV, the Chevrolet Equinox EV, which offers up to 319 miles of range and should cost around $35,000 after tax credits. Then an even more affordable LT variant will debut later this year that should push the price tag into the high-$20,000 range after tax credits.
They can get away with raising the “affordable” floor to a subsidized $35,000 dollar bus because they have a captive audience.
Where there is a legitimate gap between the Chinese and American worker, a small subsidy can level the playing field. But a $25,000 gap between BYDs affordable EVs and GM’s EVs–even after a subsidy–can’t be explained away by production costs. At that point, I believe it’s a design choice.
Then hold the Chinese to the same pollution standards American manufacturers are held to. Make the playing field as level as possible but…that isn’t happening, is it?
Our government has ■■■■■■ this whole thing up from the 1970s and this EV thingy is just more of the same. There is NOTHING to be gained and much to be lossed…ESPECIALLY regarding pollution.
The Equinox EV is produced at GM’s Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, production facility.
This $35,000 gigantic EV is made in the same Mexico where China plans to build EVs selling for half the cost. The finger of blame needs to be pointed American manufacturers–not the government, or foreign competitors.
