They were always gonna have to align themselves to one of the big three (US,EU, China). Brexit is a story of a country that vastly overestimates its power.
Left vulnerable by Brexit, the U.K. looks eager to sign onto Beijing’s giant Belt and Road program. (FP)
- Thread starter Piecake
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Maybe need Chinese help to build HS2...? I mean when was the last time we did major rail infrastructure in the UK?
That's long gone, there aren't even that many big British owned companies anymore.
I guess Brexiters weren’t so delusional after all when they thought they’d help build an empire. They just got the wrong one.
It's also a way for China to spread its ideology and values into the world.
Authoritarianism, oppression of the individual, nationalism and a strong aversion to democracy, diversity, freedom, human rights and western values in general.
And honestly, I believe these same values are getting more and more popular in the West, too. Trump and Brexit clearly show that.
The crown, the towns, the lands, all of it.
Occupied, stripped of all its wealth and disbursed to all its erstwhile colonial subjects. While we are at it, get the damn geese, 'roos and kiwis to pony up as well.
Fuck 'em threeways to sunday and back.
as an ethnic chinese in singapore (herself an ex-british colony) and well-versed in the history of the opium wars, these replies made me laugh....
no offense to any brits here of course.......i am agnostic myself but sometimes i do think that karma exists....either that or the circle of life.
so the current timeline is akin to star wars episode 3: revenge of the sith? XD
China can't force nations to take credits. For Germany is the belt already profitable with Duisburg and Hamburg being the end of the China-Europe road.
With all of our decisions it feels like I'm experiencing "Twitch Chat Plays the British Government."
Ah, yes.
That bastion of stability and prosperity that is Italy. That the UK is mentioned next to Italy isn't a good look. While I agree that it is an exaggeration, Italy doesn't strengthen your point.
The Five Eyes are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US. This is to add to the above post.
But Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore? And no EU countries.
The point is about the hyperbolic Brexit title though. If UK is weaker for leaving the EU then why is Italy while remaining in the EU.
Separate deal and one that was already made. He said TPP but meant TTIP, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
They're two different countries. With different statures.
If Brexit is making the UK as disfuncional as Italy, that is a cause for concern. The argument is that if stayed in the EU, it wouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence as Italy.
And it's a bogus argument because it's not backed up by anything in the article outside of a "maybe" because of Brexit.
That's not what I'm arguing. The point I'm making is that using Italy as a point of comparison doesn't help strengthen your argument.
TPP was a stupid package, because Obama let neoliberals sneak too many multinational corporation stuff in it. Also it has absolutely nothing to do with UK's geopolitic direction in the 21st century. UK was one of the first to dump Obama and sign up on AIIB.
Yeah well that's what I was arguing about and if you can't see how Italy, member of EU, doesn't support that then we're done here.
Are you sure that’s what they meant? The TTP was designed to weaken China’s influence which is what they were seemingly referring to.
Yes. 200%. Don't believe me check yourself, it's called the Trans Pacific Partnership. Also we don't and can't legally negotiate as a member of the single market which we are and were for the entire negotiation period plus the USA never ever proposed it because it was pre brexit.
Also what he said wouldn't make sense if he really meant TPP, I believe everyone the USA wanted signed up. The only rejected deal was TTIP which was supported by us (because we never disagree with daddy) but rejected by the EU as a whole.
The AIIB is virtually meaningless to Britain and, frankly, most of Asia. It's a potemkin bank - a facade for unregulated Chinese SOE investment in Belt and Road projects. Outside of stronger bilateral trade relationships with China, Britain would almost certainly benefit more from the CPTPP - but it's really not clear how anybody else benefits from Britain's involvement.
Prestige. The Great Britain brand name still turn heads in a lot of former colonies. Think of UK as the "Leica" of the western world.
It's likely to be less about Britain's prestige and more about balancing against US bilateralism.
In any case, in the hypothetical scenario that Britain joined the CPTPP after leaving the Euro Customs Union, it would have to entail a vast re-orientation of UK trade and investment. Even now, CPTPP only account for like 8-10% of Britain's exports as opposed to the EU at 40-50% or whatever it is.
You already know this, but I'm going to spell it out for you anyways: Italy is one of the most politically unstable members of the EU.
To be fair britains politcial scene is basically Italy or worse at this point.
Lord buckethead isnt a serious candidate for prime minister yet..
The united states could only do it for so long. China is our next super power. Fueled by cheap goods we all bought.
Insane but only outcome here. Capitalism doesnt care who is in charge.
I really dont think western populations are going back to a system that oppresses the individual at every turn.
I also dont think that future challenges like climate change or the advent of AI can be handled by authoritarian regimes.
And lastly I do not believe that authoritarian regimes can peacefully coexist, which becomes an ever increasing problem as our destructive abilities grow and conflicts grow to one mass extinction event after the other.
I really don't think that humanity can enjoy a positive and sustainable future unless liberal, western, rational ideology becomes the dominant ideology around the globe.
lmaoo after all of britain's bragging that leaving the eu will allow them be more powerful and sovreignity
Businesses bend over backwards to appease china. See the taiwan issue. Business runs government. We wont go overnight. It will be q slow trickle like how fascisim is rising around the world. I dont think we are going to go full chinas wants... But i dont even want that version light. I cant ignore their progress or their consumer power. Example look at the avengers sales. China is just 50 mill behind the usa.. Their markets are interesting and growing. It blows. Its like when you. Know your gf is about to break up with you.
I hoped italy would be a one off, but this would be another shitty domino.
The rest rules with an iron fist spread across all nations. China is copying us again. I mean what youre saying is that nations dony live under western influenced rule, even if they are 100% against it like many muslim nations. Their road initiative is dangerous to our status quo. Especially when thr only god is making anothet dollar. Weve got nothing else to really combat that. Its our own doing as well. Like destroying our enviornment.
Were going to see a shake up with climate refugees. Food will be short. These are all things that will benifit a country like china offering a deal with thr devil to the desperate while the west infights.
Do you see the usa leading the call to fix "shithole" countries? Or do you see china swooping in like a predator.
"Would you be interested in a (bad) trade agreement with England?"