MAPPED: China's most ambitious megaproject — the new Silk Road

Business Insider ^ | March 18, 2018 | Jeff Desjardins

[piasa]

Democrats [and RINOs] are “worried” about Russians only because that distracts everyone from their deals with China and Iran.

[RedStateRocker]

I think Eminent Domain has been abused, but something akin to the Interstates and other mega projects calls for it. With property owners being properly reimbursed. I didn’t like Kelo vs New London, but a hyperloop and/or other infrastructure items that benefit nearly everyone and change the face of the country the way the Interstate, the space program, the port of L.A or Golden Gate bridge are why the Founders put it in there.

[RedStateRocker]

Excellent analysis and summation.

Like the Greeks (as any tourist can tell you) on a smaller scale, 3000 or so years of experience running scams pays off.

[Cronos]

China did the same with Hambantota port in Sri Lanka — now it is “given” to the Chinese on a 99 year lease.

[Cronos]

That is such a bogus map

To get from China to Burma and into North east india is to cross high mountains, thick jungles and wide rivers. Furthermore India and China aren't the best of buddies.

and the OBOR completely bypasses india (as India refused to sign up)

And finally, China has no beef with Israel

[Cronos]

it’s not actually a Road — it is a series of open routes across the Eurasian landmass (the one belt) and seaway routes (the one road)

[Cronos]

You guys do realize it's not really a road or a belt right? It's a free trade zone and free routes.

The infrastructure bit is one thing - it's aim is to tie a number of countries to China.

[Cronos]

you guys are so incredibly wrong about Russia -- OEC country profile of Russia

Russia is the 16th largest export economy in the world. In 2016, Russia exported $282B and imported $180B, resulting in a positive trade balance of $102B. In 2016 the GDP of Russia was $1.28T and its GDP per capita was $23.2k.

The top exports of Russia are Crude Petroleum ($73.7B), Unspecified ($45.3B), Refined Petroleum ($45.1B), Coal Briquettes ($8.51B) and Raw Aluminium ($4.89B), using the 1992 revision of the HS (Harmonized System) classification.

The top export destinations of Russia are the Netherlands ($29.3B), China ($28B), Germany ($21.3B), Belarus ($14.1B) and Turkey ($13.7B).

They have some of the best programmers I've seen and they also export a lot of military products.

[Rebelbase]

The PLA,silly.

[Rebelbase]

Fallacy. Once at the center it’s an uphill climb to the USA.

[adorno]

Once at the center it’s an uphill climb to the USA.

Which means that the only energy expended would be on the uphill climb, while going downhill you just fall in. ;)

[Rebelbase]

I think there’s a mass/density angle to be overcome also.

[adorno]

I think there’s a mass/density angle to be overcome also.

Mass/density angle?

There's only one angle, and it's 180 degrees straight across. ;)

[BeauBo]

“you guys are so incredibly wrong about Russia (not exporting anything but oil/gas)”

They are of course also a top arms exporter, but a story that is not widely reported, is that there has been a significant turnaround in their agricultural sector over the course of Putin’s reign (by private enterprises). Although it is not yet a big factor in global markets, they now net export grain, and are on an increasing trend.

Grain import dependency (from the USA) was a strategic weakness of the Soviet Union, and a deterrent to nuclear war.

[kosciusko51]

“I can’t find a single item made in Russia anywhere”

Weapons, oil and gas.

And manned space flights to the ISS...

[entropy12]

I was thinking retail stores. Gas stations never tell me origin of gas. And I do not buy many weapons.

[entropy12]

China exports more than Russia by orders of magnitude, and manufacturing exports last a LOT LONGER than crude oil, gas & raw aluminum, and manufacturing creates more jobs than mining.

[Cronos]

you are correct. My point was that Russia is not just an oil exporter. and as BeauBo pointed out (and I didn't know): They are of course also a top arms exporter, but a story that is not widely reported, is that there has been a significant turnaround in their agricultural sector over the course of Putin’s reign (by private enterprises). Although it is not yet a big factor in global markets, they now net export grain, and are on an increasing trend.

[MichaelCorleone]

I know.

I was being tongue-and-cheek.