Venezuela has become a policoeconomic mess since Hugo Chavez (Marxist, ostensibly) took over (elected), nationalizing the oil industries there. Texas oil money was very pissed.
Exxon-Mobil bailed out, and Chevron & Conoco remained, albeit in straitened circumstances. Making less money , and responding to US economic pressure, they ran existing extractive infrastructure into the ground. New investment went to Canada, also possessing heavy crude oil.
Then Chavez died and his less charismatic, but equally corrupt acolyte Maduro took over. The country is now a patchwork of fiefdoms., each taking care of its own business. Some legitimate trade is done in minerals and oil, but there is smuggling and drug trafficking, too. The Venezuelan people have been sold out and about 9 million of them have bolted to other SA countries, and to the US.
Trump &Co. are making a big mistake. Oil companies are awash in product and aren't likely to pump capital into what is likely to be an unstable situation.
But in my logic, I believe use commerce and trade are much to use military to improve other people's life. A lot of African countries benifited with Belt and road inititive, if not because of the sanctions on Venezuela, they could join belt and road and get a lot of investment into the country and better the people's life. Of course , the US wont allow it happen in their backyard...
I don't think belt & road is altruistically motivated, but rather in PRC's interest. The use of trade, and the transaction of development capital for secure, strategic trade (and military) positions in one's country doesn't seem like a bad idea, but I'm sure that recipients' sovereignty takes a hit when the bill comes due. It's not an overtly violent way to attain control and influence, but its aims and methods are nonetheless imperialistic.
1, the BnR for trade routes, of course, it is a plan to diversify the trade routes, and stay away from sea routes, which are mostly controlled by US Navy, it is Chinese national security, since china is position itself as a manufacturing hub.
2, a lot of the debt from african couties are no interests, refinced and extended. with the investment that China put in, high speed rails, hospitals, schools, and other infranstractures, the recipeint countries can use this to better the life of their people.
3, I understand the western rhetric think this is another form of imperialism, but at least the Chinese way is peaceful, and the bottom logic is, if we can make other countries prosper, maybe in the future they want to buy things from us. which is win win situiation for both countries.
pretty much a brain dump here, hope i made some sense.
Venezuela has become a policoeconomic mess since Hugo Chavez (Marxist, ostensibly) took over (elected), nationalizing the oil industries there. Texas oil money was very pissed.
Exxon-Mobil bailed out, and Chevron & Conoco remained, albeit in straitened circumstances. Making less money , and responding to US economic pressure, they ran existing extractive infrastructure into the ground. New investment went to Canada, also possessing heavy crude oil.
Then Chavez died and his less charismatic, but equally corrupt acolyte Maduro took over. The country is now a patchwork of fiefdoms., each taking care of its own business. Some legitimate trade is done in minerals and oil, but there is smuggling and drug trafficking, too. The Venezuelan people have been sold out and about 9 million of them have bolted to other SA countries, and to the US.
Trump &Co. are making a big mistake. Oil companies are awash in product and aren't likely to pump capital into what is likely to be an unstable situation.
You summarized it well. It's everything.
But in my logic, I believe use commerce and trade are much to use military to improve other people's life. A lot of African countries benifited with Belt and road inititive, if not because of the sanctions on Venezuela, they could join belt and road and get a lot of investment into the country and better the people's life. Of course , the US wont allow it happen in their backyard...
I don't think belt & road is altruistically motivated, but rather in PRC's interest. The use of trade, and the transaction of development capital for secure, strategic trade (and military) positions in one's country doesn't seem like a bad idea, but I'm sure that recipients' sovereignty takes a hit when the bill comes due. It's not an overtly violent way to attain control and influence, but its aims and methods are nonetheless imperialistic.
damn, I wrote a long comment, and accidentally deleted it, lol
I never do that.
I was gonna say few things here,
1, the BnR for trade routes, of course, it is a plan to diversify the trade routes, and stay away from sea routes, which are mostly controlled by US Navy, it is Chinese national security, since china is position itself as a manufacturing hub.
2, a lot of the debt from african couties are no interests, refinced and extended. with the investment that China put in, high speed rails, hospitals, schools, and other infranstractures, the recipeint countries can use this to better the life of their people.
3, I understand the western rhetric think this is another form of imperialism, but at least the Chinese way is peaceful, and the bottom logic is, if we can make other countries prosper, maybe in the future they want to buy things from us. which is win win situiation for both countries.
pretty much a brain dump here, hope i made some sense.