The above is the title of a 2015 film by the journalist and author John Pilger. It concentrates on US military ambitions in the Asia Pacific region. As a record of the arms industry looking for an enemy, it makes for disturbing viewing.
A different sort of war is already under way. This is the trade war of tariffs, of course. This has escalated to the point where the first set of options has run out – there is in effect no more trade left to tax.
I read a comment that the Chinese might soon get fed up with being the only adult in the game. They do have powerful options as heavy buyers and owners of US Treasuries (US government loan stock). They could stop buying new issues or even dump bulk holdings in the market.
Such actions could have very serious repercussions for the global economy. Let us hope they don’t get provoked beyond that legendary inscrutability.
It is worth remembering that the US president and his party have to play to please an electorate. No such inconvenience will worry the Chinese leadership.
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