Earlier this month, I was one of dozens of journalists whose lawns were mowed by a Chinese company Robotic Germany was invited to inaugurate the machine.
It’s a nice machine with some nice features that are much better than other similar products but the ride here was not as great in many respects as the lackluster nature of the event.
The company’s employees from Beijing were clearly having a good time, but the venue presented a depressing conference scene.
Obviously, the Chinese team had not given much thought to the organizational details, which infuriated many European journalists who had been standing outside in the rain for hours.
However, at one point I spoke to a very young CEO and got some interesting information.
I asked if this lawnmower China I will also be sold because in 20 years of visiting their country regularly, I have never met a Chinese citizen who has a lawn at home.
The young robotics CEO said: ‘Oh no, we all live in apartments. Private houses with their own lawns are very rare in China.’
This comment and the raucous launch event tells us a lot about China’s growing success in dominating all these products, you name it.
A low-cost robotic lawnmower might be an outlier, but even if you take something big, China’s energy to be the best gets pretty scary.
China, for example, now has more than 300 electric car manufacturers, of which at least 50 are planning to export electric cars to Europe.
According to recent claims, Chinese hackers can hack any vehicle and even stop it in the middle of the road.
Two other elements of the event stood out to me as someone who has been writing about China for years and who in the recent past has spoken at several Chinese universities, trained companies and set up British businesses in China. Helped to do.
The first is that lawnmower project ‘Segway‘ was an American start-up that failed and was sold as a basket case to a Beijing robotics business. We see the same kind of thing happening regularly.
Second, the nature of the cynicism at the German event was not surprising to anyone who knows even a little bit about China. Unfinished work or no work at all is a headache for Westerners working there.
There’s even a phrase in the local Mandarin language, which translates to ‘I did something like you asked me to do.’ These foreign businessmen and West Those born in China, who have set up businesses there, often feel like they have to manage a company full of inexperienced people.
And yet the extent to which China has campaigned to effectively capture the market of the West cannot be overstated.
Although the Chinese Communist Party calls its attempt to dominate the world an ongoing process, in reality it has already done so.
Chances are, the majority of the products you use every day either come from China or are made by a Chinese-owned company.
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The electricity that powers them is sold to you by Chinese interests and even the technology that enables you to read these words is Chinese.
From hundreds of major British businesses, utility companies and other national infrastructure to technology firms with often sensitive information such as facial recognition and artificial intelligence, to airports, private properties, football clubs, pub chains and private schools, not just wealthy Chinese citizens. Rather, they are owned by the Chinese state, which we now know is working tirelessly to undermine our democratic institutions through cyber-espionage.
According to reports, the situation is the same in America and other western countries.
Given that the country was incredibly poor just 50 years ago where millions of Chinese were dying from famine 60 years ago and seeing that the same political masters, a bunch of ideologues, are actually now are also running the country, and this rise is one of China’s most extraordinary developments of the past 100 years.
As Professor Jocelino Kollars, a Chinese academic, said on Monday: ‘The Chinese people are the most oppressed by the Chinese Communist Party.’
And yet they have held back this incredible ongoing rebellion. What fascinates me is not just how they bought the world, but to see what motivates them.
For me it could be one of three things.
The first is that China, whose state name was ‘The Middle Kingdom’, literally means the center of the world.
With present borders and the same people, with no significant influx of skilled immigrants, they led the world for 1800 years from the emergence of modern China in 221 AD, and during all those 1800 years they were the world’s most powerful people. There was a large economy.
For the Chinese people, the country’s bad luck from the early 19th century until the 1990s was just a shock.
Yet in 1820, when China was already in decline, it still owned 30 percent of the world’s GDP.
The US was followed by China at 1.8 percent. Moreover, China’s historical power was based not on aggression but on its intellectual, cultural and commercial prowess. Some argue that China was a more civilized society than a state.
Another possible source of China’s success is simply trade opportunism. The Britain they see is still (surprisingly) the ninth largest industrial power in the world.
But now we are increasingly drinking, getting drunk, missing out on work, being uncertain and broke, and getting bogged down in stupid trivia like the culture wars over gender, Brexit, the Royal Family, Pronounce, Volkism and the like. The rest suffers from self-inflicted problems.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has successfully transformed himself into Mao II, often appears careless and disorganized when it comes to workforce performance.
But the Chinese are still intelligent and educated, they work hard and are patriotic and are very good at decision making and business.
The Chinese people are so entrepreneurial that it is almost impossible to believe that they live in a state that is still officially communist.
So when they see a weak but interesting American start-up like ‘Segway’, they set out to grow it and take it higher if there’s a market for it, why not a lawnmower? don’t be
When talking about President Xi, it’s important to remember that nice, smart but slightly random young people persuading us to buy smart lawn machines is one side of the Chinese economic miracle.
But they are soldiers of hard-line party ideologues who years ago decided to launch a project with the delightful and surprising name of ‘The Belt and Road Initiative’ which aims to do exactly what they are doing. Conquer the world.
Cyber-hacking and undermining the West in the interest of this project is not wrong, it is an essential part of the game.
It is highly likely that more than a decade of persistent and widespread hacking has resulted in Party operatives working from the secretive Chinese Academy of Governance Central Party School in Beijing now having access to information from every Western intelligence agent and the West. I have the name and address of every anti-China person.
According to Edward Lucas, author of the book Spycraft Rebooted: How Technology Is Changing Espionage, China may have obtained data on facial features, voices, fingerprints and gait, the distinctive way we walk.
Our chronic reluctance to react decisively to it is a reflection of our weakness which can be fatal.
It may be too much to quote Sun Tzu’s famous ‘The Art of War’ here, but many military generals and philosophers wrote over two thousand years ago that one of the points still applies is to ‘defeat the enemy. The opportunity is provided by the enemy himself.’
I asked Professor Kollars of Case Western University to explain why China is, in some sense, engaged in a ‘war’ with us.
Above all, he argued, this was because they were themselves before being affected by demographic problems, primarily the lack of women that arose from Mao’s disastrous one-child policy in China. are determined to establish as a first-class economy.
According to him: ‘China wants to avoid the middle-income trap, which is a situation in which countries like Brazil, Turkey and Mexico have made some progress, but they have not moved beyond this stage because they are always stuck in the same trap. are And one way to do this (sustainable development) is to expand state-run trade.’
He said there is another factor and that is the sense of racial superiority in which the rights of minorities are crushed and the state does not allow dissent at all. This is still the communist mentality.
According to him: ‘China wants to extend its power outside the country so that they can expand the revolution. It represents the party’s thinking.’
In the end comes the remnants of China’s history of colonial exploitation, Kollars said. “There is deep resentment among the Chinese against the West. This resentment is enough to drive us to dominate the West and show them that this is our time.’
Believe it or not, one of my favorite observations from 27 trips to China are the manhole covers in the ‘Da Bund’ area of Shanghai. I doubt if many tourists notice it, but embossed on these iron lids are the western letters SMC-PWD (Shanghai Metropolitan Council Public Works Department).
It stands for Shanghai Metropolitan Council Public Works Department and is of course a reminder of the days when the city was ruled by the British colonial era.
Isn’t it proud, amazingly, if you are a Chinese investor and many others whose grandparents walked on these colonial-era sluices now own a privatized British water company.
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#China #dominate #West
2024-09-05 21:45:26
The Unfolding Narrative of China’s Economic Domination: Insights from a Robotic Lawn Mower Event
Table of Contents
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend an inaugural event in Germany, where a Chinese company, Robotic, unveiled a cutting-edge robotic lawnmower. Despite the impressive technology, the sensory experience surrounding the event was less than uplifting. With the rain pouring, numerous journalists found themselves standing outside, waiting to enter, only to face a conference that felt drearily organized. This stark contrast between the Chinese team’s enthusiasm and the overall somber atmosphere was telling of the cultural and organizational disconnect that often surfaces in international business exchanges.
The Robotic Lawn Mower: A Window into China’s Market Ambitions
During the event, I had the chance to speak with the young CEO of the robotics company. His revelation that the landscape of private lawn ownership is rare in China was illuminating. The notion that China, a country with bustling urban life, invests in products typically designed for suburban Western lifestyles demonstrates a clear ambition to penetrate foreign markets. The young CEO’s statement, “Oh no, we all live in apartments. Private houses with their own lawns are very rare in China,” highlights an important dynamic in Chinese commerce: a growing ambition to expand into markets where there is consumer demand, even if the foundational need does not exist domestically.
The robotic lawnmower is just one example of how China is strategically positioning itself to dominate global markets, following a blueprint akin to its approach in the automotive industry. With over 300 electric car manufacturers, including 50 targeting exports to Europe, China’s aggressive expansion into high-tech sectors becomes increasingly apparent.
Cultural Disconnection and Western Cynicism
What stood out to me at the event was not just the innovative technology on display but the apparent cultural dissonance between the Chinese and the European attendees. Many European journalists expressed frustration over the organization and professionalism of the event, a sentiment that resonates with the ongoing challenges Western businesses face in China. This disconnect can often lead to a sense of cynicism among Western stakeholders, whose experiences can range from bureaucratic delays to organizational incompetence in China.
The phrase in Mandarin, which translates to “I did something like you asked me to,” epitomizes the complications of navigating business practices in China. This sentiment is prevalent among foreigners who have established businesses in the region, often managing teams that exhibit a range of skills and capabilities, reflecting years of varying education and exposure.
China’s Extensive Market Strategy
Despite the setbacks at the event, it’s crucial to recognize the sheer scale of China’s ambition. While the Chinese Communist Party frames the nation’s efforts to gain a foothold in the West as a long-term endeavor, in reality, they have already made substantial progress.
The prevalence of Chinese-produced goods in daily life underscores this point. From utility companies to technology firms managing sensitive data, China’s influence extends deeply into aspects of Western infrastructure and commerce. With allegations of espionage overshadowing this expansive reach, it’s evident that the stakes have never been higher. For instance, the concern over potential vulnerabilities in electric vehicles and other technologies raises serious questions about cybersecurity and national security.
The Roots of China’s Economic Drive
The remarkable transformation of China from a nation plagued by poverty and famine to an economic powerhouse within just a few decades is nothing short of extraordinary. Scholars often point to a combination of historical legacy, trade opportunism, and an unyielding work ethic as the driving forces behind China’s ascent.
Historically, the concept of China as “The Middle Kingdom” highlights a long-standing perception of cultural centrality, which influences its desire to reclaim a dominant position in global affairs. This ambition, coupled with a sense of historical grievance towards Western colonialism, propels a fervent pursuit to showcase China’s burgeoning power on the world stage.
The Strategic Moves Ahead
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s agenda focuses not just on technological expansion but also encompasses a broader ideological drive, encapsulated in initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to enhance global trade connectivity. As Western nations grapple with internal divisions and cultural disputes, China’s cohesive strategy appears increasingly poised to capitalize on these vulnerabilities.
Reports of extensive cyber operations and espionage have further highlighted the necessity for Western countries to reevaluate their defenses and counterstrategies. As China continues to amass knowledge and leverage it to strengthen its economic foothold, the onus is on Western nations to be vigilant and proactive.
Conclusion
The launch of the robotic lawnmower event encapsulates a myriad of themes — from cultural disconnect and organizational challenges to the vast ambitions of a resurgent China aiming to dominate international markets. As China accelerates its global strategies, it is vital for Western countries to recognize the broader implications of this change. The challenge lies not only in navigating the complexities of international commerce but also in addressing the potential risks inherent in an all-encompassing Chinese influence.
In understanding the motivations and strategies underpinning China’s ascent, we can prepare for a future where economic interplay between East and West will shape the global order for generations to come.
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