There’s an old saying stretching back to ancient Greece that “those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad”*. And there’s no doubt that the United States is in the grip of madness under Donald Trump.
Trump’s “America First” tariff policy is an unmitigated disaster for the West’s relations with developing countries such as Fiji, not only because it is hurting their economies but is driving them away from the democracies into the arms of authoritarian nations such as China.
As part of a concerted diplomatic offensive, the Chinese Ambassador to Fiji, Zhao Jian, has wasted no time in capitalising on the Coalition’s unhappiness with Trump’s policy. And the same thing is happening all over the world as Beijing exploits America’s madness to try to destroy its relationships with other countries.
It has been a propaganda gift unprecedented in modern times – the US turning in on itself, burning bridges that have been built over decades and ultimately destroying confidence in America’s global leadership.
Grubsheet can scarcely believe that I find myself agreeing with the Chinese Ambassador about anything. But he is right in the conclusions he draws in the following article in Friday’s Fiji Times.
A global tariff war is madness and America has handed China the best opportunity it has ever had to turn developing nations away from the US and the Western Alliance in general into the Chinese sphere of influence. Which sadly means that the destruction of American influence is next.
Mad. Photo: The Guardian
A cartooned penned when America’s tariff imposition on China was 125 per cent. It has since gone up to “at least” 145 per cent.
The stability of the global financial system in in everyone’s interests including Fiji.
The Chinese Ambassador is pressing all the right buttons. Already China, South Korea and Japan are talking about a unified approach. It’s time Fiji aligned itself more closely to these big three economies.
Fiji should become a part of China and all Fijian citizens should become Chinese citizens. China should take over Fiji.
@ Slacker
If the Chinese take over as you suggest, then all the Indians like you will be repatriated back to India. They dont like Indians.
US Vice President JD Vance referred to Chinese workers as ‘peasants’. How condescending is that?
The Chinese Ambassador is right on this one. Fiji should now align itself more closely with the bigger economies in the Indo-Pacific – China, South Korea, Japan and India.
I fondly remember when Charles and Diana visited Fiji, and friendships abounded between all, and kindness and generosity everywhere was the norm in Fiji.
It took just one despot to shatter and change all irrevocably, just like in America today.
The Chinese are polite, decent and corporate greed killers. They have gotten rid of religion from their turf which is like a dog collar for humanity and reprogrammed the foolish who still want to be slaves of priests, pundits, maulanas and transformed these former religious nutters into Asian work ethics.
They are producing 250 ships of various kinds in one month whilst the superhero America has not even been able to produce that much since world war 2. America is heading towards a war where thousands of Americans will be killed because of their madman.
Yes you’re correct to say that China has had its fair share of hardliners but the end result of all that suffering is a country that is the production capital of the world. There is no poverty in China . There is poverty in the Western world.
A rebel,Sun Yat Sen took his soldiers and some ,to Taiwan and the West very quickly started to protect them from becoming communist, hence the tense standoff much like Northern Ireland and Great Britain who are at tenterhooks about the ownership of Northern Ireland.
China should also reprogram India out of its religious stupidity so that Indians can own toilets, become productive and most of all get rid of all the filth like human faeces from public places . I am an Indian so I know what motherland needs. Fiji also needs to be reprogrammed from its own bunch of religious time wasters. Too much lotulotu and bhajan and not enough productivity . Even Jesus was not religious after he gave up Judaism and embraced reform. We the people have forgotten what Jesus told us to do. Believe in him ,not the rituals of religion and that if we are to believe in a religion than let it be the one that looks after orphans and the widows . Look up the book of James in the bible .
Long live China !! You guys are the best , most gracious friends of poor countries.
Good analysis Peter 100%…Jesus is the Son of the Living God, Yahweh, that we ALL should allude to follow HIS Ways, the problem with us indigenous Fijians, is that we are not changing our mind-set to work harder on our God given land-sea resources to live a decent life, instead too much empathizes on “lotulotu” but not Jesus Christ…no wonder we are still a drifter-group of mind-set in this world… James 2:22, which states: “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”
GD, this is a fascinating development. And, many possible drivers and outcomes. Reading history, it is clearly rooted in geopolitics and the exercise of economic power. It also speaks to protectionism and efforts at nation-building in difficult times. it is obvious that every country seeks to protect its own interests as no one wants to feel getting used.Hopefully logic and common sense will prevail. There’s also a strong possibility of relative and underlying agendas—perhaps even a subtle reset of systems and relationships is on the card.
CHINA IS EVIL
Beware of what one wishes for:
Questions:
1. China’s human rights record against the Uyghur people?
2. China’s persecution of religious groups.
3. China’s debt trap to vulnerable economies through it’s treacherous Silk and Belt Road program.
4. China’s vow to invade Taiwan and reclaim it by 2027?
5. Panama’s rejection of Chinas influence over the Panama Canal.
6. Australia taking back ownership of the Darwin Port.
7. Australian Federal government’s tearing up of Victoria’s State BRI with China.
Yes, America has done itself great harm, but, let’s not quickly run into the arms of the devil with our kerekere cup begging for Chinese aid to replace USAID.
China will never have any good intentions towards any country that it aids. It will expect huge paybacks, even to the extent of taking over of a nation.
Rabuka needs to be very wary of what he’s getting Fiji into. But then again he’s too old and senile to look beyond his Rolex timepiece.
@ Get it Up
Please take two Panadol and go to bed. You will feel better in the morning.
As for the begging bowl…remember beggars can’t be choosers.
@get up Fiji–
Questions: How many countries has China invaded in it entire history?
How many countries has China destroyed by bombing it to smithereens?
In how many countries has China practiced “regime change”?
How many countries has China nuclear bombed?
How many countries has China colonized?
How many military bases does China have around the world?
In how many countries has China started wars in its entire history?
How many countries has supported and encouraged coups and executed its leaders?
How many countries has China sanctioned economically?
Read the questions again before giving your prejudiced knee-jerk responses.