CHINA AND LATIN AMERICA. NEW “SILK ROADS” OR A DRAGON’S LAIR?

http://www.atimes.com/article/chinas-new-silk-roads-reach-latin-america/

               I’ve said this before and I will say it again, I often enjoy reading the articles by Pepe Escobar. The one I’ve placed a link to is one of his better commentaries on the continued progress of the Dragon. I will admit I take a much more ominous approach to the actions of China than he does, but then again, he and I have very different backgrounds when it come to the subject of the Dragon.

               The BRIC and the ‘New Silk Road’, two topics that no one in DC should take lightly when it comes to Latin America. Several years ago, I had a conversation with an individual in the intelligence community on the topic of the BRIC. It was a new concept then and people were investigating its capabilities and structure in an attempt to understand why the alliance was taking place. Most were puzzled that China and India would seem to hold hands on a vast economic venture. Some of us, me, thought it was nothing more than another very advanced weapon the Chinese were developing for future use. In the end, the so called, “Experts” came to the conclusion the BRIC was a fad and the whole concept would just fade away under the weight of the World Bank. The World Banking Organization. Now that was and is a weapon system the Dragon understood. It’s fairly clear to me now, the BRIC was never intended to become anything more than the foundation for the real goal; the New Silk Road concept / Belt and Roads / you take your pick.

New Roads to where?

               The New Silk Road, a topic I’ve written about before, will provide improved trade and will make the nations that take part richer! When you get right down to it, that’s the sale’s pitch. Easy money, just sign here and don’t bother with the fine print! “The rising tide lifts all the boats”. John F. Kennedy. Interesting quote from a family that made its fortune as smugglers during the US prohibition. So, how does message come across in Latin America? Can the Dragon really counter the US by taking large hunks of the Monroe Doctrine off the table? Do any of the people in Latin America even know what the Monroe Doctrine is? Look, China can put as much lipstick on the Pig called “ The New Silk Road” as they want. The reality is, a large enough group in Latin America see exactly what the Dragon is up to. It’s not about lifting the boats of Latin America, it’s about countering the US in the backyard called the Monroe Doctrine. China’s not out to build boats, it’s out to manipulate the region. Yes, the same theory behind the Monroe Doctrine. I never said I was a fan of that US policy to begin with. So where does this new road lead the people of Latin America?

A story the people remember:

               I remember reading an article about the Chines opening an rather large business, I think a copper mine, in Brazil. At first, the government and the works were ecstatic. The jobs! It was all about the jobs. Why, the boats will be floating higher in no time! Then, then the Chinese set the rules. No days off, no sick leave, no family time, no vacation and the idea of only working 40 hours a week was insulting. Management? Well, management was to be exclusively for Chinese. In short, the great news turned out to be the same old song; exploitation! Yep, most of those boats sunk! When the locals and even some of the government officials began to challenge what rules the Chinese had placed on the business adventure, the Chinese had only one answer. ‘If you don’t like it, we will move the operation to another country in the area. I suppose that’s better than the old days of sending in the Pinkertons, but the Dragon’s message was clear. “It’s our money and it’s our rules”

How to counter:

               One of the greatest challenges the US will have with this Chinese initiative in Latin America is history. That Monroe Doctrine thing. How much did that really help the Latin American boats? How much of it was about the US staking it’s claim on everything to it’s South? If you know even the recent history, the last thirty or forty years, between Latin America and the US, it should not surprise you several nations in the region may be more than willing to enter the Dragon’s lair and the truth is, it won’t take much to snap the US’s head back into a position to look over it’s shoulder. Just how sensitive is the US to this potential Dragon’s lair to the South? Well, when the Soviets were attempting to do the same as the Dragon, disrupt the US’s backyard, we suddenly had “Operatives” all over the region. In the end, who is more frightening to the people of Latin America. The Gringos and their Monroe Doctrine or the Dragon and all of its promised boats? We shall see.