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manqiangrexue
Brigadier
This is so far off topic I'm not going to do my usual point-to-point.
Original topic is about soft vs hard power in determining where people prefer to immigrate. People from third world countries tend to want to immigrate to first world countries because the standard quality of life is better there and it's consider prestigious. That's not debatable, at least not in good faith. These are both things brought about by hard economic power, which is driven by hard technological and military power in the fight for resources.
That's the main point.
LOL I had a feeling that when you said something is very easy, you'd mess it up. Your definition is narrow and dysfunctional and then your use of it is as well, but in a different way. First of all, is having a strong economy hard or soft power? Are you forcing yourself to have a strong economy or are you doing it willingly? Doesn't even make sense just like your definition.
Ok I warned you that it makes no sense to call a country a soft or a hard power. The terms "soft power" and "hard power" aren't useable in the same way as "middle power," "regional power," "great power," or "superpower" as you're using it. Now, you are really digging yourself a hole. So according to your "very easy" definition, are Spain/Switzerland/Arab nations "forced or voluntary" powers? What's a "forced country" and what's a "volunary country?" LOL
Go look up the meaning of "hard power" vs "soft power" before you waddle into a debate then side-track it into oblivion.
From common sense. Most people don't think laying out in the street with nothing to do all day is more comfortable than working 40 hours a week to afford a house, cars, grow a family, etc... even if it does sound like a vacation for life. Is your life more comfortable in Camaroon or Switzerland?
Well, 3 points:
1. Wealthy people want to become more wealthy and investing in a more powerful dynamic economy than their third world nation is a great way to do it. They want to be more than a big fish in a small pond so they want to enter a bigger economy.
2. There is a prestige in moving to a wealthy first world country from the point of view of small impoverished nations and that prestige is due to knowledge of the hard power of the advanced nation. It's considered admirable to have the chance to move there.
3. Talent and wealth are not the same. Many people have great talent but not wealth and they can grow a much more impressive and also financially-rewarding career in a first world nation with the resources to support them and a third world country where there is simply no oppertunity to develop the talent. For example, a talented rocket scientist can develop world-leading designs in China or the US and be paid over 99% of the population for his work but he'd be playing with mud in the Congo.
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Canada isn't not only not important to China but it is irrelevant to China. China doesn't import much from Canada and basically has given up to engage with Canada long time ago. It is more like Trudeau boy can't get over the humiliation he got from Xi during the G20 meeting because he is dumb enough to leak confidential exchange between 2 leaders to the media to score brownie points.
As for Canada needing China or not, it is more if Canada's standard of living would deteriorate without the cheap Chinese imports. Other than that, Canada doesn't need China. However, there isn't much of beef between Canada and China except the fact that Canada can't say no to the US and so ended up doing the bidding of the US from Huawei to recent fake foreign interference in Canadian politics.
So no Canada doesn't have any leverages as Canada is so irrelevant in any Geo-political calculation and has been put on the ignore list by China.
As for Canada needing China or not, it is more if Canada's standard of living would deteriorate without the cheap Chinese imports. Other than that, Canada doesn't need China. However, there isn't much of beef between Canada and China except the fact that Canada can't say no to the US and so ended up doing the bidding of the US from Huawei to recent fake foreign interference in Canadian politics.
So no Canada doesn't have any leverages as Canada is so irrelevant in any Geo-political calculation and has been put on the ignore list by China.
It is practical matter too.
How to counter a nothing?
If there was something, then we can make a plan. When there is nothing? Not sure what is appropriate. It is like a Ch'an Buddhism riddle.
Little Rubio wants dollar hegemony to continue in order using it to sanction other countries. The reality is that the main reason why countries move away from the dollar is that the US and EU have weaponized the dollar through SWIFT and financial sanctions.
His conclusions are hilarious:
Yep, that's the issue. It's not that America steals people's money, it's the "woke pressure campaign." Spot on, Little Marco.
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
The comments are really reasonable and I'm starting to wonder if the literate Americans are seeing America's hypocrisy. They bring up the same points we do: why would anyone want to support a banking system that can rob anyone who doesn't follow America's will? Why would countries not work together to fight against a weaponized dollar created to harm and sanction them? This is spot on and totally not what I expected in Yahoo comments, which would be some rednecks screaming that we should bomb all the countries that don't support the USD.
Even the title is funny because it calls China "tyrannical" while saying that it's actually trying to "topple" the USD, which is the real tryanny, one that Rubio wants to continue! And that's baked into the English language because tyrants don't "topple" anything as they are at the top. The title contradicts itself.
Standard of living would deteriorate in Canada ? People would get insane from cost increase and product availability if we are cut from China. .
China can source replacement products imported from Canada, but Canada like the US or EU cannot find replacement from China product easily.
Iron, Gold are nice exportation to China but multiple countries in Africa would be able do the same exportation with just a little infrastructure help.
We are just shoting ourselves in the foot in Canada and the US found it funny to see us dance on one foot, China too.
Canada, the US and EU would like to import more superior products from the Indian powerhouse.