The Chinese are Coming
Travelling across three continents, Justin Rowlatt investigates the spread of Chinese influence around the planet and asks what the world will be like if China overtakes America as the world's economic superpower. In the first of two films, he embarks on a journey across Southern Africa to chart the extraordinary phenomenon of Chinese migration to Africa, and the huge influence of China on the development of the continent.
While many in the West view Africa as a land of poverty, to the Chinese it is seen as an almost limitless business opportunity. From Angola to Tanzania, Justin meets the fearless Chinese entrepreneurs who have travelled thousands of miles to set up businesses.
Justin Rowlatt crosses Brazil and the United States on an epic journey as he continues to investigate the spread of Chinese influence around the planet.
In Rio, local industries, including bikini factories, are threatened by cheap Chinese imports, and in the Amazon, Justin witnesses the phenomenal impact of the Chinese hunger for resources on the indigenous people and the environment.
In the US, from California to the rust belt, Justin encounters the rising undercurrent of American fury over their own decline in the face of competition from China.
I attempted to buy the series from BBC; but it is not available in the USA!
Great series, quality and very informative.
Where is Part 2 of this Documentary? Its mention at the end of this one that Part Two Deals with what the Chinese are doing in South America.. right at the doorstep of USA..
Where the hell has the video above gone? Does anyone know where i can watch it? But anyway, China is now trying to get bigger and bigger not just in business, it's in also in 'taking the lands' from other country like Hoang Sa Island in Vietnam and another island in Philippines. Let's see what gonna be in the future...
China will soon collapse, they have NO resources.
I support your idea Enook.
The Chinese have no resources? China has a population of 1.4 billion hardworking, clever people who now turn out, each year, 10 times the number of STEM graduates than America. That's quite a world changing resource, don't you think?
I'm noticing more and more videos being removed because the YouTube account has been terminated due to "multiple third party notifications of copyright infringement". This is internet censorship and only the beginning.
From Wikipedia regarding SOPA it says "Opponents have warned that SOPA would have a negative impact on online communities. Journalist Rebecca MacKinnon argued in an op-ed that making companies liable for users' actions could have a chilling effect on user-generated sites such as YouTube. "The intention is not the same as China's Great Firewall, a nationwide system of Web censorship, but the practical effect could be similar", she says.
we need alien invasion to balance the world from china and any other greed nations
We would very likely lose that conflict and all die or be enslaved how about just having Aliens contact us not to mention that the super powers would jump the gun and nuke every thing if Aliens invaded earth hell I'd bet they'd do that if the Aliens came in peace
What is the surreal sounding piece of music played towards the end when Thomas Friedman was talking?
If the American government were not borrowing trillions of dollars, the Chinese would not have such an economic advantage. It's a sad thing when Communist China has a smaller government, in terms of percentage of GDP, than the "free" United States have.
If you want to understand the Chinese, play the game of Wei Qi - to win, you do not imperil an elite king - you win Wei Qi by a steady accumulation of numerous small advantages.
The China aren't stupid, they want our resources and by the looks of all the huge industrial loans they are continuously giving us and the apparent economic take over they are pushing for, they will have it. Its disgusting, we had our illustriously beautiful history destroyed and distorted, now we are allowing others to destroy our future.You need to understand that the Chinese are not our friends and that they don't care about us.You think the economical damage the British empire imposed on the majority of our continent was detrimental? You think the slave trade was a big deal? Wait till our future generations are financially indebted to the Chinese in a massive way and most forms of employment within Africa are facilitated by Chinese corporations, Africa's economy will be a massive asset to them and a giant plantation to us, surprise, f***ing surprise. We are treated like s***, told we are useless, that we should go back to Africa and stay there, now we are allowing the same people to take over our continent with a smile on our f***ing faces, disgraceful, despicable, as men we are cowards and should be ashamed of ourselves and ashamed to look our women and children in the eyes.Mark my words, in a few generations time our continent will no longer be called "Africa" it will be called "New Asia" because of our idiotic complacency.
There is a saying " no permanent friends, only permanent interest".
This comment is pre-watching the documentary, and I will post another post-doc..
As an African, I can safely say that we are very much aware that we are being exploited. However, we have very few options, those companies and charities that emphasise fair trade rarely actually trade fairly, and charities and aid work have been working in this continent for centuries now - to no avail.. (people don't need food and handouts, they need AFRICAN education that will teach them how to succeed with the environment but most of all they need good governance). For many African countries we CAN do it all by ourselves, that is the physical stuff, we have the resources, and man power we can build our own roads, schools, hospitals, and we do build the majority of them ourselves - BUT we don't have good governance!! You might think that colonialism is the big excuse, but it is no less than the truth. The way Africans govern typically is a tribal matter, our land was divided and different tribes with different outlooks on life were put together, we are very spirtual people and our beliefs do matter to us. All of these traditions that our ancestors held were discouraged, unrewarded and almost abolished after colonialism, so we were forced to adopt a false 'democracy' or government, and the 'colonials' took all of this with them after decades of reigning our countries.
My point is: (sorry to have rambled) :
The Chinese are not in any way contributing to the governance of our countries, and so they are not improving our situation.
They are merely tapping resources back to their homeland.
It may seem selfish to bite the hand that feeds you, but this is the truth, we did it once before, we celebrated in an quick union with the British Empire and when they left, which the Chinese will also ultimately end up doing (as I doubt that they will ever see themselves as Africans), they took it all with them.
Visiting my home country in Africa, I see all of these cheap Chinese products, cheap scratchy plastic bowls, weaning out our bamboo or calabash wooden bowls? We are now in the age of sustainability and renewable resources, these plastic bowls do nothing but litter our land..
It's really sad that my nation is looking for quick fixes.
Also, the Chinese immigrants and companies often offer labour at ridiculously competitive prices, and out compete local trade, which can't afford to compromise on costs, many have gone out of business, this is definitely not sustainable - like I mentioned, what will happen when the Chinese leave?? Where will our own tradesmen and women go?
Another point is that the Chinese respect their culture, but to the extreme that they rarely integrate into other cultures or partake. There will be Chinatowns within these African countries, and they will live segragated from the citizens. I have read reports that some of these Chinese businessmen and women only buy from Chinese stores, and only eat Chinese food etc.. talk about integrating.
Also one more point is that many smart Chinese entrepreneurs have purchased land in the African countries, so that they can inherit when they self brought-on boost occurs in the cost of land.
As an African, it's very uncomforting to know that the land your ancestors were buried on may be owned by a person who is not willing to engage with your culture, who might build a skyscraper, or some strip joint (exaggeration), but may not respect the site, or might be only interested in selling it back to you for as high a price as possible.
These are all my fears for my nation.
I do see one major positive with the Chinese though; they have increased the interest in the endless possibilities available in African countries - Yes India and China are booming, but along with Mumbai, Mexico City, Lagos in Nigeria, West Africa is also one of the world's MEGACITIES, the Chinese are VERY VERY smart, they will increase competition for Westerners who have been ever to comfortable with trading with Africans.
TJ
your comments much appreciated
As a chinese, i think i can relate to parts of what you have said. The chinese kinda like to keep to themselves. I guess they enjoy being in their own comfort zone and see no reason of getting out of it.
Regarding chinese buying up land elsewhere, thats because you are not allowed to own land in china (at least not in the urban areas, not sure bout rural areas). Thats why you can see esp in Canada, Australia, america, south east asian countries, the chinese are coming in and buying up property, to the extent of raising the property prices in these places. The cheap labour.....outside competition have been flooding the chinese market since the reforms and even more so after china joined the WTO...so much so that it has saturated the market in china that small time businesses have no choice of competing with the international MNCs that they begin to look for opportunities elsewhere, ie africa or other SEA nations.
Hi Julian, are you Vietnamese? I think you know a lot about business.
I'm a chinese from malaysia. I did say i am a chinese in my opening statement so im kinda surprised at whereabouts did the vietnamese idea come in. I just observe stuff, dont know much actually.
It is illogical to say that just because they are not contributing to the governance of your countries that they aren't improving your situation. There are MANY ways in which someone could help the situations across Africa. There are very DIFFERENT situations depending on where you are, and so the "solutions" or ways to help will be different as well. In general though, increasing international trade and specifically foreign investment helps a country get more money ie. richer
The point about the environment doesn't hold much weight... if the new bowls are cheaper then you'll buy them. Anyone will... that's how plastic came about pretty much, it's a cheap alternative material. For people that have little money, cheap things are good, no?
Trying to attract foreign investment (and succeeding in doing so) is not a quick fix. The technology, health, and overall wealth that (sub-Saharan) Africa is lacking, will come from the technology, health and wealth that China has. Those things diffuse and eventually will be had by Africans as well... but it doesn't just happen over-night and it does NOT happen on its own. No country has been able to become rich on its own... especially in modern times when there is a global market for goods and services.
Here's my major problem with your post/argument, "We can do it all by ourselves". Really? How many of the places in Africa are still colonized by rich countries? 0? How long has it been... 30 years? You can't blame colonization for STILL not being able to "do it all by ourselves". The cause of the continued poverty in sub-Saharan Africa (because Middle Eastern countries are doing just fine monetarily for the most part) is its geography. There are so many countries that are "landlocked" meaning they have no access to water, that they are basically stuck, and forced to pay high prices to transport what little goods they produce for export. There is very little infrastructure or "linkages" in place to connect these countries to markets for their products, and so the cost of transportation is huge. In addition to being landlocked and far away from large consumer markets, the history of corruption within the countries creates a cyclical problem which is very obvious to those in power. Within 7 years of the first day of an administration, there is almost always a conflict that occurs, or an uprising of some sort within the country. The reason for this? The fluctuations of economies within the region. When the economy is good (because prices for the staple goods that the countries produce is high) people are happy. When the prices fall (usually because of an alternative good available on the global market, or increased efficiency in production elsewhere) people become poorer and more unhappy. Unhappy people get desperate and start to dislike the government because they believe that they are taking the profits that are no longer going into the pockets of citizens. So, you see, it is not just corruption itself that is a problem, but the perception of corruption that can cause conflict which ultimately stunts development.
- landlocked: no linkages to massive consumer markets
- corruption: people and government are often not working together
- conflict: either internal or external, stunts economic development within the country/region
Last one?
- reliance on one or two staple goods
This sort of relates to the geography of sub-Saharan countries... essentially the goods that the countries have to export are "staples", things like rice or grain that are inexpensive and whose yields can fluctuation depending on whether and fertility of soil in any given time period. Almost every economy in S.S. Africa is Agrarian (based on farming). So say, there's a drought and so a country's yields are smaller than usual, that means that they make less money. There's one simple explanation for a country not making as much money as usual. Then next case would be that a group of S.S. African countries are all growing the same staple. Say, even, that they get some investment from a Multi-National Corporation to industrialize their farm, and so their yields would grow. Well, first of all, this investment will mean that the farms have to grow a certain crop rather than a multitude of crops that the family could live off of. And also, simple Supply/Demand theory: as supply increases (more countries produce the same good), ceteris peribus (everything else remains constant), than the price per good goes down. Again, lower profits for farmers, who are now in debt because of the loans they got for the machinery, fertilizers, etc. that come with industrializing the farms.
All in all, S.S. Africa is in rough shape. As you can see, there are a lot of problems that aren't necessarily controllable... like geographic location. BUT, that being said, it is all the more reason for these countries to welcome foreign investment and ASSISTANCE in escaping this cycle of poverty which they've been stuck in for hundreds of years. "We can do it all by ourselves" didn't work out, it's nice to have faith and think that all people are created equal and are able to do anything BUT sometimes you have to accept that there are differences that make it more easy or difficult to accomplish something, and for S.S. Africans their geographic location isn't just hindering their development, it has essentially halted it.
- a white high-schooler, not Asian or African... just an objective 3rd party observer
The days of American dominance are numbered, and almost at an end. As the inventor of a new product, I tried to have my invention manufactured in America. You simply cannot compete with the Chinese. It is because of America's laws (some good, some bad) that will end America as an economic superpower. The cost to make my product in America: $400.00. The cost in China? $85.00. How can anyone manufacture anything in America again?
It is not possible. America will descend into a lowly third world nation within 40 years is my prediction, and we will be at the mercy of the Chinese. Got help us all.
I would say that each country has its own competitive advantages and they should take advantage of it. America should get over that human rights and trying to spread democracy and capitalism around. Instead of focusing so much on the flaws on others, they should look inwards and fix the problems within.
the anti-Christ will surely come from China..
Get real. Stop attempting any kinds of racism on a biblical level.
And I can assure you, London to a brick, your God would let this Anti-Christ stay. I mean, if your God was willing, in a nanosecond Satan would've been taken care of. But why is Satan (let's say it's a he) still around? Because your God let him stay. The day there was no Satan, the day people would stop praying to God, like if I don't have bad health, do I need a doctor? If there was absolutely no Satan, would we NEED God? Pierce Brosnan once said: Don't you worry this franchise of 007 would ever run out of steam, the minute he (007) wiped out one bad guy, another would pop up, thank God for that. The moral of the story? God always PROVIDE people like Samuel enough MONSTERS that they would pray to him/her/it to get rid of, thus ensuring God's own existence! Providence n. [Latin: related to *provide]
Brazil: another country going down the drain environmentaly. :-(
Another war in the making.
Referring to the part about that school teaching "Chinese". "Chinese" is not a language, mandarin is. I've nothing against them teaching mandarin, but they should at least use correct terms.
True. As a chinese woman growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I find myself constantly amused by the strange terms people use for chinese stuff. The spoken mandarin or cantonese languages are refered to as "speaking chinese". lol! That's like saying to an indian person that he/she speaks indian when in fact the indian culture has many languages and dialects varying by region.
Once a classmate of mine in college referring to the actual written form of chinese said they were "chinese words" but i believe the proper term is "chinese characters".
they need to play this in every college and high school. we need to open our eyes now!
LonG live China. They Deserves to be the Super Power.
America Russia don`t deserves that place
I'm sad that China is resorting to corporate privatization and allowing this to happen. God damn capitalism. Of course they are nowhere near to what the US is doing...
Has anybody realized that China is a third world country and they don't give jack s*** about politics.
The most important thing for Chinese politicians is for you to shut up and bring food to the table.
This results in oppression of disturbances of public order, like Tibetan demonstrators.
Political rights in this point of view is luxury, compared to essential needs like food.
Hence the criticism of wealthy countries, crying and s*** about the political rights of a minority.
If the western countries would be deprived of their fundamental needs, I doubt if they would choose human rights and political s*** first.
This is a testimony of a Chinese person born in Holland AKA western Europe. After 18 years of living in Europe, I figured out that politics and democracy is a western thing, Chinese society has been a authoritarian society for straight 5000 years. Even communism is imported from the west, the west imposes their destructive influence on other cultures. Both capitalism and communism is a western invention, so all is to blame the west.
I don't think other people have better explanations for the disinterest of China for human rights as I have knowledge from both the east and the west. There are many ignorant americans, believing the allegations of leaders, depicting China as agressive. The only times Chinese being aggresive is in Kung Fu movies and losing money with gambling.
China is a second world country, as a matter of fact they are the premier second world country. Being a First, Second or Third world country depends on your allegiances & economic & governmental system, not ones wealth. A better term would be developing country. Now other than that I am quite glad to see someone else argue this point I've tried to make for years now.
Judan, you sound very westernized for a person who claims to be chinese. Perhaps you are pseudo-ethnically Chinese (as in looks but no substance) and on an ego trip on the Internet but it is unlikely many real chinese people would agree with you -except in spirit. The real people of China have major concerns about human rights as evidenced by regular self-immolation in Tibet and rioting in Xinjiang, as well as sporadic responses in localities affected by the massive corruption and exploitation that paid for wealthy brats like you to get westernized.
Hey Mother Finger, u seem to think you know what you are talking about, talking about human rights and all that crap. The ordinary chinese people wont be bothered bout all that as long as they have food on the table, kids have access to education etc. The west is just trying to deflect their own problems by exagerrating China's flaws. I see nothing useful in your comments and its just repetitive of what you have read in the news.Corruption you say, tell me which country is not faced with that problem.....likewise for exploitation. I suggest you study the history of china and see how it has developed into what it is today instead of just reading all the criticisms in the news and taking them at face value. Spare me the eurocentrism for one second and try to take it from a more objective point of view. Having said that, I believe china still has a long way more to go and has lots to learn.
"human rights and all that crap" - interesting category to put human rights in... Statements like that take away from any logical things you might have to say.
I hope you aren't focusing your energy on that small matter cause you would have missed my point. Having said that, thanks for pointing that out to me, scrap the "all the crap" part out.
It amuses to see how people know the new super power is emerging who will eventually take over the US to be the worlds No.1 and totally freaked out about it.
I do however feel disgusted by the people who uses political and environmental reasons to justify their views against China where the true motive behind these justifications is AMERICANS CANNOT ACCEPT OTHER POWERFUL NATIONS TO EXIST and not the well being of the common people nor the environment. If you do, there wont be such distinctive inequality of wealth and western firms will not be the leading cause of global pollution. You don't need to be political and you don't need to deny this 'evil' thought. I know how you people think because I grew up with people like you!
Like it or not China is striving to become the worlds most powerful nation. So that dirty little tricks on supporting Ürümchi and Tibet independence or even provoking the war between North and South Korea with the hopes of China involving will not stop them. The longest lasting nation with the highest population in the world is unstoppable.
All I'm saying is don't use lame excuses and 'concerns' because lets face it, you really don't care that much. What you do care is that you are seeing and knowing this nation will eventually replace US so that you will lose your sense of superiority. Period.
I really liked both parts of this documentary, but I think the subject was too much analysed from a western perspective. China is rising as many other countries has done before. Are we afraid? I don't think we should. Would it be better if it was western companies doing the same thing?
unfortunately the China perspective is not shared due to their reluctance to share information. You are right, we should learn from them, no one is too intelligent to learn. But it's apparent that they don't consider impacts, only economics - that's why they beat us, if we had no concern for people we'd be the same, it that good> I don't think so
I'm sorry, but are you saying that the West has 'cared' about others during their 18th/19th/20th/21st century economic expansions? The modern framework of the global community is framed because of the West's atrocities during these periods. You, without even realising your own cultural history has already decided to point the finger at someone else. In fact, sinophobia has regularly been used to fuel animosities between the West and the Far East for at least since the industrial epoch. Heard of the Chinese Exclusion Acts of USA, Australia etc.? Heard of the Pacific railways? China and its people have been victims to the very societies you proclaim to be free. If you were so aware, why don't you bring this up?
I would hope that you realise Chinese people live and coexist with other cultures all over the contemporary world. This is not to say that China is all good, but show me a society where deviance does not exist?
To generalise China and the Chinese people in a way where you can frame them to not care about impacts just economics is outrageous. How can you generalise 1.3 billion people!? It would be absurd for me to generalised 300 million Americans and label them all like they are one generalised idea of what an American is.
The Chinese have been trading and working all over the world for centuries now. They have kept true to their ways and have always been the hardest working most driven of business-men. This documentary focuses on china for obvious reasons of our current context, but the fact is that markets like Africa are open to any company or business person that is willing to get a little dirty and think outside the box for a bit. And yes, you can think as one of the boxes that big container of Chinese goods to be sold at Wal-Mart and keep that illusion of USA comfort.
The truth is that this earth simply doesn't posess the resources for other countries to live as the west has, and to a great extent still does. I am not saying China should not be allowed to prosper, they have the same rights as anyone else. I do think they have manipulated their currency. And I also think that if we give them access to our markets they should have to follow all the same guide lines as us, otherwise they have an unfair advantage and will definitely put other companies out of business. They should have to meet all safety, environmental, and other standards before being granted access to American markets. We should have access to the manufacturing facilities that send products here and should be able to deny them entry to our markets if they violate labor laws, environmental laws, ethical standards, etc. They should also have to give us the same level of access to thier markets as we give them to ours. Once you put us on a fair and level playing field if we can't hold our own we deserve to lose.
We should also tell American companies that leave to go over seas that they will face the same scrutiny and will still have to pay their employees the same rates as if they were in America. If they don't want to do that, then we can charge them import tax and treat them as if they were any other Chinese company. Right now they get the best of both worlds, they get cheap foriegn labor and relaxed regulation but still get to bring their products in to the US tax free.
What should happen is exactly the kind of thing we build weapons to prevent from happening. Think slavery was abolished? Think again! You get in our way, and we'll have a fleet of aircraft carriers parked up and down your coastline so fast it'll make your head spin!
(not my idea... just sayin')
Uh, what? That didn't make sense to me, probably just me but could you explain what you meant further? I was talking about trade agreements between the US and China and the fact that if everyone thinks we can all live as the west has for years and still does they are mistaken. I'm not sure why you brought up slavery or weapons.
Trust me I am quite aware of America's agressive treatment of the rest of the globe, but what has that to do with our unbalanced trade agreements with China? If you are saying we are preparing to threaten China or surround them with air craft carriers, well sorry but your just wrong.
The US needs China financially and could not win a war with them right now, and we know that. Starting a war with China isn't anything remotely like invading Iraq or Afghanistan, it would most likely start a world war. The fact is China has its bluff in on the US right now. We won't even try to balance the trade agreement for fear of upsetting them and making things worse. They had gotten away with so many trade violations that they even got brave enough to manipulate their currency in an attempt to further damage the US dollar at a crucial time, finally we called them on it. I suppose we figured, how much worse could it get.
China has also recently started trying to persuade the Russians and several other countries, along with the IMF, to start trading in Chinese yens instead of American dollars, which would absolutely kill our economy. If you want to see how differently we treat developed countries with real power vs. how we treat say Iraq or Afghanistan, watch what happens with China. I am not proud of this fact, but we know who we can pick on and who we can't.
"You get in our way, and we'll have a fleet of aircraft carriers parked up and down your coastline so fast it'll make your head spin!"
This comment reflects exactly what is wrong with the USA. China is being referred to as oppressive and brutal, well just look at the US track record internationally-bullying, intimidating, stealing, killing?! . Using the war machine to gain power and resources and strike fear into other countries. The US is so backwards in its thinking-the recent financial meltdown occurred because of greedy rich Rockefellers who care nothing about their people just profits. An (false) economy built on the entertainment industry and the war machine has grown tired it garners no respect around the world. Now the US debt is so large that other countries don't want to deal with the US. In fact the US is basically in debt to China for life!? Yet Walmart sends one of the largest container ships in the world empty to China only to return fully laden. Thats not trade that is being owned! How will they come back.........I sense another 'war' invasion coming. Don't get me wrong I am not supporting communism, I am supporting better more citizen friendly treatment of the US people. After a near catastrophic financial meltdown what does the government do... ask you to spend more stimulus money (thats it lets create more debt, and gee I wonder who is benefitting-MAJOR CORPORATIONS!) to get things back on track. WHAT????!!! Why have no major CEO's or execs been held accountable for financially raping and pillaging their own country. HELP WANTED- a new way of being without the Rockefellers, Cheneys, Rumsfelds, Haliburton......
@Wald0. China has all the resources it needs; except for the most vital -- fossil fuel reserves. They get theirs from the same place we get ours. So it is vital that we control their access, lest they become the big kid on the playground. We forced Saudi Arabia to use U.S. Dollars for exactly this reason. If that changes, things will get ugly. "Uncle Sammy may have to break a few kneecaps; U know what I'm sayin'?"
Point is, we like our current business arrangement, and we intend to keep it. We may never go to war with China. If anything, that will likely be another 50 year cold war.
LOL.....This business arrangement is about to be over, and your economy implode, or perhaps deflate. The funny thing is going to happen next?
All you arrogant Americans have got a big shock coming to you in the next 10 years when China & India become the 2 biggest economies in the world & the oil producing nations are right now thinking of changing the currency for oil to the Euro. I never thought that I would ever say this but I will be glad to see the smiles wiped off your Arrogant faces. Your own oil supplies are running out fast & if they do change to oil currency to the Euro your dollars will not be worth the paper that they are printed on, so you will not have the money to fund any wars. You need to lose your attitude problem. I'm starting to understand why you are the most hated nation in the world, I used to have a lot of respect for America, I lived there for 2 years about 20 years ago, but the more I hear your arrogant attitude to the rest of the world the quicker I am losing respect for you.
Don't see how they can do any worse with China vs. the relationship they had with the U.S. and Europe. I would be concerned with China's ecology record ... you think that they would skip the mistakes that other industrialized nations have made. I think this is a good documentary if you take it for face value ... that it is from the British (western) point of view.
The Chineese have yet to experience the uprising that has been inevitival in every major power's expansion.
They are enjoying the honeymoon phase of expansion. Eventually, they will have bore "children" and become responsible for the effect. History, no matter which way you think you play it, will catch up.
Almost everything I own is made in China.
Err, I think everyone is forgetting about the Africans here. They are the ones who will suffer in the long run, I mean they are yet to recover from the scars left behind by the US and European nations.
i think this is a little different though. like the chinese aren't setting up puppet governments in these places, individuals are just migrating and becoming entrepreneurs.
China is going through raw vicious capitalism and consumerism phase, that America already went through in the 20's and 30's. Good for them, but we are moving forward still into post-consumerism, a world where people start to care and support each other, instead of money hungry exploitation.
really? dream on...
It all starts with a dream... cynic.
@ alans
Thank you for making me laugh. You sound like a bright comedian who will go places with your unique brand of humor.
ha! what planet do you live on? Remember the massive bail outs for wall street? Do you call that people supporting each other? I guess you can make an argument for it. Bought politicians supporting the huge corporations with tax payers money while average citizens are being kicked out of their homes. You're dreaming buddy, get off your undeserving moral high ground and see what is ACTUALLY going on.
alans: "but we are moving forward still into post-consumerism, a world where people start to care and support each other, instead of money hungry exploitation."
Oh darling, bless you. What an idealist. A wonderful thought indeed but no. Why do people live in such a fantasy world now :(
This "documentary" is absolute bogus and biased view of the whole China-Africa relationship. It is simply laughable how the writers have squeezed so much negative cherry picked realities, and occasionally throwing out few insignificant positive facts to appear balanced.
This guy and his audience represent sour Westerners, slowly watching their standing in the world slowly wither, no need to be picky with words here; just call it plain old JEALOUS!
How convenient that the show touched on so much of African history, even showing ruins of European glory days, but purposefully avoided drawing any parallels between China's engagement of Africans versus those who came before them. Chinese have a long way to go before they top the likes of "King" Leopold or all other similar and brutal Western colonials.
When they finally left the continent, only driven by their own greed to share its resources peacefully, they found pleasure in repainting this greed as "White man's burden".... I am sure it was in the interest of Leopold or Ian Smith to educate and better the African population (drowning in sarcasm, please throw a buoy of straight talk) .
To call this a documentary is an insult to all other wonderful work in here....it is uninformed/ignorant and tabloid view of the reality.
China please come exploit us!!
This is normal. When you start to lose ground or get afraid a smear campaign is always the best way to react.
BTW I was a recon soldier who helped people escape commie countires - you have NO idea what communism is.
So you would then know what life is like in China, and are you saying that you have helped people escape from China?
That is like saying I knew what America was like during the race riots and the civil rights movement, or slavery, therefore I know what all democracies are like- you have NO idea what democracy is.
funny you said that. i am a volunteer aid worker in afghanistan and help the locals daily after the assaults, rapes, murders and other violence perpetrated on them by coalition forces. you, sir, have NO idea what 'democracy' is.
HEY dont blame THE PEOPLE of America its the friggin government mostly - I myself am an activist working to change our American "culture" from what it has become. Sure the people are partly culpable but I never murdered anyone - yet.
Well youre goverment murders hunderts of thousnds of people a day
Yes your right by profiteering off the tobacco sales they in a way are doing what u say but I dont think thats what you infer.
China is NOTHING like the U.S. in the early 20th century, because China is an oppressive communist regime that treats people like animals. America never ran any of there own citizens over with tanks. All you China lovers are in store for a very rude awakening when the communists take over YOUR country. At the heart of communism is the drive to expand. This is all part of the plan for the communists. They are fast approaching the point where they can start conquering. Be wary, and stop bashing America, because even though our corporations pillage the resources of smaller countries, be sure that the american PEOPLE don't like it, and have genuine compassion for poor coutries. A trait the communists do NOT possess.
whatever they to their people maybe that their people's problem tell me one country that china is haveing war at moment ? i dont love china and i dont hate america its belive that china is much peacefull people and their goverment at least at the moment no one is perfect...
well, my friend, just do a search on "Ludlow massacre" and get into a world of shock and pain... be sure to check out the wikipedia article on "Anti-union violence".
You say that like the people of china are of one mindset as you are defending Americans as not being of the same mind as their govt.
All humans share a capacity for compassion, all governments and corporations share a capacity for exploitation and human cost no matter the title.
Have you ever been to China? Have you ever experienced their culture? Or are you just another product of a failed american education. What a small minded, racist, xenophobe you are. I lived two years in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province and I can tell you I have never met a more welcoming, educated, charismatic people as the people of China. Don't dare try to take the moral high ground concerning oppressive regimes or Human Rights when it is the U.S who engage in illegal occupations, wars for profit, extraordinary rendition, and a foreign policy that can only be compared with the brutality of british imperial expansion. Racial oppression,beginning with the Native American ( who even today are being subjected to the worst kind of racial cleansing), A child poverty rate that matches some of the poorest third world countries. Homophobia and religious fervor that reaches fundamentalist levels. You really ought to take a long hard and detailed look at your own country before criticizing others! You know what.... China is not perfect, name me a country that is, but it is constantly evolving, changing and bettering itself and I can guarantee this, The next war the world has to face will not be started by the Chinese. I cannot be so confident regarding the U.S.A
don't forget the Waco Massacre !
You say that, "America never ran any of there own citizen over with tanks." to vividly show us the horrors of communism. I'm not an advocate of communism, but I would be more cautious of a government which paws its own people. Killing hundreds of its own civilian and conniving other countries to rally behind self-made fear of terrorism to fuel its own oil interest in the Middle East. Unless the shady issues behind the 911 attacks pegging the US government behind all of them are cleared, I advise you to watch some more of the docus here to get you enlightened.
Unlike in the West, Asians value education and hard work. Someday, our comments here might all be in Chinese.
Americans have a genuine compassion for poor countries?! Ha!
actually Americans shot them with guns. Beat them to death, imprisoned them, hung them. The list could go on.
It looks like you have not read a lot about American history.
Also China has 5,000 years of history and has never left it's own country to conquer. Not to sure if you even have read anything about Chinese history.
You are the perfect example of what people call "Ugly America" ignorant and at the same time arrogant.
Hey man I love the Chinese people and culture but you are absolutely wrong. "5000 years of history and they never left to conquer" China was not always quite as big as it is today and that didn't happen because the land just kinda stretched. Also (not supporting the U.S. involvements in Asia) but the communist Chinese armed and funded Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. A good idea for you would be to also look into the history of neighboring countries to see if they feel that China is 5000 years of dropping by with a nice fresh apple pie. Heck start with Mongolia. The whole reason for the rise of the Mongol empire and Genghis Khan was due to Chinese oppression and dominance. Like I said I love China and its culture but your view seems a bit rose colored. Ya gotta accept the bad with the good man. Oh and "The Art Of War" the single most referenced and utilized manuscript on how to destroy lives and dominate was written by a Chinese author.
@StillRV The whole point of Art of War is to teach people how to win a competition by optimizing their resources and manpower. Thus, gain victory by eliminating consumption. In a war sense, win by killing less people.
It doesn't encourage war and it SPECIFICALLY mentioned that the highest level of strategy to winning a war is by not entering a war against your rival. The LOWEST and degrading strategy to take over your rival is INVASION. In addition, he does not encourage kings to occupy a country after military invasion because it will ultimately cost a lot more to administer.
In history, highly intelligent Chinese politicians have the ability to corrupt and ultimately destroys rival states without having to fight and without having anyone noticing.
@Nakor420 I'm sure you will not find any single reference citing that the Chinese Communist run their people over with a tank. And I think I know which video footage you got that idea from and I assure you, you did not finish (or being exposed to) the whole footage.
Chinese are not that violent as you think. For gods sake, just look at the Chinese migrants around you. Do those people look like they'll blow you up? If you want to be afraid then be afraid on an intellectual level. If you want to fight the Chinese then try fighting them on an intellectual basis.
The problem you are facing right now is that you are battling against the oldest, highest populated, most sophisticated and persisting culture in the world.
You are right @steamknife; Wasn't implying that the art of war was battle tactics. But it is a guidebook to victory over ones competition. Do you know if it was written before or after the Mongol dynasty? Because the concept of not governing conquered lands is the same as the Mongol ideal.
@STILLRV
Sorry I did not make myself clear. China is actually a lot smaller today then it was 100 years ago. But China's land grabs at that time were more like what Americans call "Manifest destiny."
The main point is that China has never tried to conquer the world, and it is clear today that the Chinese do not want to conquer the world.
Unlike the western powers in the past and currently the USA.
I should probably make that clear. While the United States does not own countries we just make sure that we have military bases and try to make them some what dependent on us.
True China is smaller today. Thanks for the clarification.
omfg zatarra your the reason me and most of the people in the world look upon america with disgust and hatred, infact I hope china takes over, there influence is already morphing my country, new zealand, in fifty years we will be nothing more then a chinese enclave, sure this pisses me off, but its all worth it if the obese murderer called america falls.
@Zatarra.....
Yeah, that blind arrogance is what has lead America to the brink of being #2....
At least this Chinesse people are getting their oil by bulding Angolia not getting their oil like USA bombing countries for oil like middle east....
@ gary v no one mess's with america and lives long enough to write any history about it. There is a reason why america and russia made 1700 tons of HEU, so if we gona divey up the world we would not have to share any of the loot. We let china play on the world stage while we rob the world printing worthless dollars and rubles to buy oil from us with. The time will come for those debts to be paid in gold, blood or oil. When the time comes remember america owns the sky we let everyone else rent a flight path at america's wim. Anyhow the world knows america does not like war its really hard to get the american people to wave flags and fight for just about any reason lol. As long as the chinese keep our tribute coming we allow them to slave/live for now...........
Excellent documentary!
What gives us the right tell any other country what to do? The horrible thing is that politicians (with the help of Mass Media) claim to speak on our behalf as the insult other countries and peoples and then have the people's children fight their wars.
And we are so stupid that we willingly comply... "In the name of our country"
We are starting to come to the realization that "leaders" like Roosvelt, Napoleon, Clinton, Nixon, Obama, Kim Yung Il, Hitler, Bush, Stalin, etc. don't really care about us or our children.
SURPRISE! ! !
so funny this.... really great superficial information, kind of made me happy in a way because the chinese of today are like the americans of the early 20th century. But nothing was as much fun as the admition by a BBC employee that what the chinese are doing is unfair (yet natural): to refurbish a railroad in exchange for petrol and millions in contracts... AKA the africans still get nothing and that is what seemingly makes the world go round.
China will not wage war against the US if not provoked by that awful cow Hillary Clinton and Obama. Why should they? All they want is to trade and not having US interfering with their domestic issues, like situation with Taiwan.
But Obama administration is eager to kick the hornets nest it seems.
But if they are foolish enough to start a war with China, they will face adversary unlike any before.
They're not going to war. They may flex their muscles but both sides have too much to lose. Its part of the negotiations. One side has something the other wants and the other threatens to withhold what the first one needs. Its a maneuver to get the most possible.
China will not wage war against the US if it isn't provoked by that damn cow Hillary Clinton and fu*king Obama.
All they do is trade. But Obama administration is eager to kick the hornets nest.
LoL they can rise as much as they want as long as they pay america tribute (buy greenback dollars)! CHINA will need those dollars to buy oil from us if they want to make war anyhow. Remember what we did to the far east twice last time they miss step'd their boarders.... oppsy did we do that twice lol can u say crisppy critters. If you feel we dont have our best intentions in mind please go to you tube and check out "korn-all my hate usaf" its what you will get if u dont buy into QES4 friends. IF your feelin lucky how can u refuse such a sweet deal, but remember Its our game, the rules are our own win or lose.
@ zatarra
Why would China want too buy American oil, you haven't got much left. The middle east has got it all & they are all talking about changing over to the Euro as the new currency for oil, so the dollar will be worthless soon. Within the next 10 years China & India will be the 2 largest economies in the world & If the oil producing nations do what they say that they are going to do about changing to the Euro, then Europe won't be far behind them with the middle eastern nations. China does not need to deal with the US for oil, they will buy it direct from the Arab nations. America has had it's time for calling all the shots, it's come down time now & you had better get used to it. Within the next 10 or 20 years there are going to be major changes throughout the world & hopefully we will learn by the mistakes of the past & create a better, fairer world for everyone. America's domination of the world is coming to to an end, it's game over. LOL
I'm not sure China being the world super power will change a thing. China has treated its own citizens quite badly in the past (cultural revolution, falun gong, Tibet). Why would they treat others better than they would their own?
"Tibet" is a lie - you are obviously brainwashed - some Tibet terrorists only - read more books - you will know how Tibet people are treated - more than equal among both the elites and the people. I've been to Tibet a lot of times coz i have relations there - the people are often tortured and threatened by the terrorists.
Dalai is very clear about it - he brainwashed some outlaws and encouraged them to rebel and massacre. I am not saying China is peaceful but the Tibet thing is full of lies.
@ Jack1952
I am not saying that China being the strongest economy will bring about world peace & a fairer world, everyone knows their record on Human Rights. What I'm saying is that the world as a whole will need to learn from the mistakes of the past & work together for a better, fairer world for all of us. It is predicted that China will not be the strongest economy for long anyway, it is predicted that India will overtake them shortly after they become the biggest economy. India does not exactly have a brilliant record for Human rights either, but then again not many countries can really claim that they have (certainly not most of us here in the West). Most countries of the world have got histories that they should be ashamed of, the important thing is that we all learn from the mistakes of the past & change things for a better future. Humanism & population control is the only way for Humanity to progress & the quicker the we ALL wake up to this the better it will be for ALL of us.
@ Gary V
I think we agree then. The oil issue may be moot, however. As China's economy grows, so too will its consumption of oil. This can only hasten the depletion of the world's oil deposits. The new power houses will be those who develop new energy sources