WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY - OCTOBER 9-10 - 2024 - CHINA

 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024 - CHINA?

Okay, today I am blundering into an area I know little about - the relationship with China.

First, Other than food, many things in my apartment are made (or partially made) in China. Research shows that Canada and Mexico are our #1 and #2 trading partners, with China as #3.

Okay, I’ve bought things from Temu; I have friends who love TicToc. My phone? It was probably made at least in part in China. My this and that—it was probably made at least in part in China.

Yes, we are in a global economy.  Keeping up with the “Jones” (local competition) is now keeping up with the “Chans.” 

In such a global economy, my clothes might come from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, France, Italy, or the United States. Product quality can be a concern. “Is this a real Coach bag or a knockoff?”  Are the clothes (at least partially) made by a 12-year-old girl in China (concern over child labor)?  

In terms of technology, America has been a leader dating back to Henry Ford and cars and the Wright Brothers and airplanes. American universities have many international graduate students (especially from China) in technology fields. Knockoffs of computers, computing devices, tablets, circuitry, etc., are made around the world.  

Of course, politicians watch China closely.  Are they stealing our secrets?  Is TicToc gathering a vast American database?  Has TicToc touched Americans to collect information for the Chinese Government so easily? 

I bought things from Temu, a Chinese company similar to Amazon. My friend MN purchased a sofa from Temu and was disappointed.  It’s hard to return a sofa you didn’t like to an online company like Temu.  (It would have meant disassembling the couch, finding suitable shipping devices, and paying to ship it back to an American warehouse.  Ultimately, MN gave the couch away.  

Do (or did) American companies “steal” from other American companies?  While I don’t know, I suspect they do.  Ford might have had an advantage in some thing (let’s say brakes), and would Ford or Chrylster copy the idea?  (Maybe make it slightly different).

I have earrings from Temu. They were cheap—even with shipping from China—and I liked the price. I am frugal (cheap). I shop at Dollar Tree for certain things. If Dollar Tree could not sell products made (or partially made) in China, I’m guessing the store might be pretty empty.  

****

Yes, there is a concern that China is spying on the US (and … I guess that we (that is, the United States) have spies all over China - and can tell you precisely where all the essential leaders are at any given minute.  

This is a “hate game” - we spy on you, you spy on us.  We don’t trust (that is love) you, and you don’t trust (love) us.

****

Another concern is that now that the baby boomers are retiring, we are cashing in our investments, and Chinese groups are buying shares in American stocks and American farmland. (Tongue—not quite in cheek) China might have more American assets than we do!!!)

In my perfect world, where love abounds, we would love our (Chinese) neighbors as we love ourselves. And our Arab (and Jewish) neighbors and Russian (and Ukrainian) neighbors.  

Love will win - maybe not now, but in a perfect world.

Love will transform us!!!

Karen Anne White, October 10, 2024