China offers $40 Bln in credit to Nigeria

Sinosure, which is China's export guarantee facility made an offer to Nigerian president, Yar’Adua, when he was in Beijing last month. He came leading a delegation of oil industry and business leaders. The exact details haven't been decided yet, but according to Nigeria's finance minister, Sinosure offered $40bn-$50bn of its facilities to help fund projects in Nigeria, to be spread out over three years. As Nigeria is the largest oil producing nation in Africa, this is a great move by China just from that aspect. But if you look into it deeper, it's an incredibly beneficial move, to both Nigeria and China. Firstly although every nation says they care about Africa, the truth is that the only nation that's doing anything to benefit Africa in any substantial way is China. No matter how much money people donate to special charities it does nothing for the future. Even the doctors that go over occasionally to provide medical treatment, as great of a thing as that is, it doesn't have any lasting effect outside of the ones that are there for a long time (a couple years at least) teaching and training other doctors. The best way to not only benefit a nation, but also to have influence over it, is a way China knows better than any other nation on earth. That way is to trade with it. So not only is China securing energy for it's future, it's firstly securing it's place in a continent that will eventually have much influence in the world once China and India fully make their transition from being manufacturing nations, to super powers and consuming nations. And secondly it now giving itself more influence than any other nation on earth on what's going on in Africa, from human rights, to politics, etc.... Just look at the situation with North Korea. But many people think this doesn't matter because, according to them, China has it's own problem with these, and is doing nothing to fix them. But in actuality China is doing more to solve it's problem than many people even consider, and although they definitely have some major problems still, just looking at how much better they handled the recent situation, even with the western media bashing them should be a good enough example. But the truth is some people will never give China it's fair due, why? Because China doesn't talk about what it's "going" to do, like some other countries. Rather China chooses to not waste it's time talking about what it's fixing and just fix it.

China no longer the best place to manufacture....Oh really???

Dan, at ChinaLawBlog has two great post's about the way china's manufacturing is going. A lot of people have beliefs that china is no long the place to manufacture, and I have been closer to the opinion that while, it may not be the best place to manufacture cheap stuff anymore, it is fast becoming the best place to manufacture much more technical things. For thing's like Ipods, laptops, and whichever new gadget comes out we can't even think of right now, China will be the place to get it made. While things like socks, or shoes, and simple clothings might begin to move to southeast Asia, and India. Dan makes an interesting point though, saying that while the labor is much much cheaper in some parts, the infrastructure has not yet reached a level to be of any worth. Also he gives some examples of the companies that are moving out of China. They tend to be major corporations who have the funds and capacity to set up an infrastructure to be based around them, that will actually be beneficial to them. But as he points out, for most importers, they have to deal with what is already in place, thus keeping China a much better choice for all manufacturing in the near future. Check out his post here, and here.

China Responds to State Department Comments

China has recently responded to the reports by the state department that "Hotel rooms, residences and offices may be accessed at any time without the occupant's consent or knowledge." As I wrote in my previous post this is ridiculous and inappropriate. I am glad that China has now come out with response. In the short article by AP, China basically says that, It was out of line for America to say those things, and that China's security measurements, in public places, such as hotels and offices, is "in accordance to international norms." That they specifically only mention public places is interesting, and obvious, as that is all a regular traveler to China should be worried about, and anyone traveling to "non-public" places is probably fully aware that there will be increased security.

Is America Serious!?

Seriously people, please. I can understand the western world being ignorant of China. I can even understand when foreigners come here and first think they'll have the Chinese government monitoring their every move. But seriously, having the US Government issue a warning about never having privacy, and that "All hotel rooms and offices are considered to be subject to on-site or remote technical monitoring at all times." This is just plain ridiculous. Not only is it impossible for China to keep tabs on EVERY foreigner visiting China, Especially during the Olympics. They have no more reason to than America would. Of course they are uptight about what gets out to the news, but that's why they do watch journalists much more closely than every other foreigner. If China we able to monitor every foreigner, and if according to the state departments, "Hotel rooms, residences and offices may be accessed at any time without the occupant's consent or knowledge." I don't think there really would be many foreigners left in China. From either being deported or more so, leaving from having their house broken into. This article really upsets me, and while I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the US government is more stupid when it comes to China than even most of the ignorant 'citizens.' At least some of them are open to new information and willing to accept that China has changed from any previous ideals that they once had, and that maybe they themselves were just a victim of the anti-communist propaganda of their days. That China is less Communistic now than America. That your more likely to get spied on, and your phone call's listened to in your own country than when your visiting for the Olympics. If you want to read the full article is here, from ESPN surprisingly enough.


Update--- Just found the Fact Sheet from the State Department here. The actual fact sheet gives a much more balanced view and so decent warnings. Shame on ESPN for trying to scare people.

Mechanical World

Thought this was a great picture, and makes you wonder about the world and how much we use machines today. Will we soon see Machines, playing other machines, or are they already? I found it from "sanantha" over at Neocha.com which is a great website for underground music and art in China, but I'll talk more about it in a later post.