The most alarming area is the Wests dependence on rare earth metals. The other areas such as microchips can be feasibly diversified across a multitude of countries without any major domestic pushback in those countries - it's a relatively clean process that is a good wealth generator - and that Taiwan being the epicentre of the industry, albeit they wont be happy, they're still an ally of the West. The same cannot be said of the rare earth metal processing plants which in comparison are far more polluting, especially when it comes to heavy metals. The Chinese state has fewer scruples about environmental damage as we in the west do, despite it being a growing area of concern for the Chinese population. Additionally, when it comes to technology transfer, we will not be able to so easily export expertise out of China due to hostilities, and so upskilling our own workforces on the necessary processes will take time.
Seems to me that the US is the one becoming ever more isolated, that as it pushes for a conflict with China and ever greater control of her (the US) vassals especially in Europe, Asia & America that she is growing more and more over-extended.
China meanwhile is outfoxing her with deal such as the French entertainment investments she's made, the Canadian pipeline to BC which will sell gas and oil to China, China's investment in the North-West Arctic straits that Canada owns (by right) (and that China supports), growing Chinese influence in Asian countries such as Japan, Philippines, Vietnam and others, and of course her influence over Germany, Italy and France, along with Africa. This along with the US Dollars' problems (that you mentioned good sir), seems to me like the US is facing tough times.
Don't have a dog in this fight, but it'd be nice if it was to utterly disappear. China wants influence or money sure whatever who cares? China will help China, if they want to invest in Quebec, Canada, France I'm glad, if the US wants to sure but the trouble is that the latter's investments keep coming with strings and tend to harm their vassals.
Great post as usual. Minor comment: not sure about the 416kg of rare earth metals in an F35. It sounds like far too much. If every F35 has half a ton of this stuff, they can't really be rare - or owe their rarity solely to F35 production...
The most alarming area is the Wests dependence on rare earth metals. The other areas such as microchips can be feasibly diversified across a multitude of countries without any major domestic pushback in those countries - it's a relatively clean process that is a good wealth generator - and that Taiwan being the epicentre of the industry, albeit they wont be happy, they're still an ally of the West. The same cannot be said of the rare earth metal processing plants which in comparison are far more polluting, especially when it comes to heavy metals. The Chinese state has fewer scruples about environmental damage as we in the west do, despite it being a growing area of concern for the Chinese population. Additionally, when it comes to technology transfer, we will not be able to so easily export expertise out of China due to hostilities, and so upskilling our own workforces on the necessary processes will take time.
Thanks Dale, you raise some excellent points
Seems to me that the US is the one becoming ever more isolated, that as it pushes for a conflict with China and ever greater control of her (the US) vassals especially in Europe, Asia & America that she is growing more and more over-extended.
China meanwhile is outfoxing her with deal such as the French entertainment investments she's made, the Canadian pipeline to BC which will sell gas and oil to China, China's investment in the North-West Arctic straits that Canada owns (by right) (and that China supports), growing Chinese influence in Asian countries such as Japan, Philippines, Vietnam and others, and of course her influence over Germany, Italy and France, along with Africa. This along with the US Dollars' problems (that you mentioned good sir), seems to me like the US is facing tough times.
Don't have a dog in this fight, but it'd be nice if it was to utterly disappear. China wants influence or money sure whatever who cares? China will help China, if they want to invest in Quebec, Canada, France I'm glad, if the US wants to sure but the trouble is that the latter's investments keep coming with strings and tend to harm their vassals.
Great post as usual. Minor comment: not sure about the 416kg of rare earth metals in an F35. It sounds like far too much. If every F35 has half a ton of this stuff, they can't really be rare - or owe their rarity solely to F35 production...