Socialism/Communism
CHINA'S ECONOMIC IMPERIALISM
I don’t know about you, but I’ve grown tired of buying from Amazon and finding that most of the products I purchased were from China. Christmas decorations, electronic devices, women’s clothing, men’s clothing, tennis shoes, children’s clothing, etc. Knowing that China imprisons and discourages Christianity, I was surprised to get Christian apparel made in China.
I am an advocate for buying American because Chinese goods are cheaply made and break easily. They are often misleadingly advertised. I really don’t want to support a communistic country and am knowledgeable about the enslavement and imprisonment of Christian believers, but have been under the impression that most goods in America are American made. Not so.
I even put “made in U.S.A. only” in my Amazon search box, but even then, I usually am fortunate to get one product listed first among thousands of imported offerings. When I tried to request made in China products, Amazon was unable to comply as they only use “import”. I tried to find names of Chinese exporters and Chinese importers in the U.S.A., and then I slowly became aware that major corporations use Chinese labor and even cosmetic companies such as L’Oreal, Lancome, and Estee Lauder are made in China. We have been sold out!
China is growing rich, and as they do, the Chinese communist party is weaponizing to become the second largest economy to bribe or punish other nations. The communist party in China controls the flow of more than $3 trillion worth of foreign goods and services entering the country each year. This vast import market gives China leverage over companies and governments who depend on access to the Chinese market.
No country, industry, or sector is safe from Chinese Communist pressure and retaliation. After a Chinese human rights activist won the Nobel Peace Prize, the party banned salmon imports from Norway, which merely hosts the prize. During a dispute over the Spratly Islands, China banned bananas from the Philippines. When Canadian authorities arrested a powerful Chinese CEO, the party banned Canadian pork and canola products. After Australia opened an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, China stopped importing Australian cotton and beef, imposed an 80% tax on Australian barley, impose taxes is high as 212% on Australian wine, and restricted tourism to Australia. Amid diplomatic tensions with Japan in 2023, China banned half a billion dollars in annual Japanese seafood imports.
The Chinese Communist Party also weaponizes foreign independence on its huge $3.7 trillion worth of annual exports, especially its exports of critical strategic goods like rare-earth elements. During a 2010 dispute over the Senkaku Islands, China cut off Japan from its supply of rare earths, threatening to send Japanese auto makers into a tailspin. In 2019, Beijing threatened to cut off America’s supply, which would have wreaked havoc on everything from our oil industry to our production of military jets.
China also controls a dangerous proportion of our medical and pharmaceutical supply chain. After China unleashed the coronavirus pandemic on the world, the communist responded to American criticism by threatening in their state media that “the United States would sink into the hell of a novel coronavirus epidemic” without Chinese drug exports.
The party also uses its economic power to sanction hostile foreign officials. (Sanctions include: being banned from doing business with or entering China, not allowing those associated with China from doing business with them) When the European Union imposed largely symbolic sanctions in response to the Uyghur genocide, the party retaliated by sanctioning five members of the European Parliament, more than two dozen European ambassadors, and several European aligned think tanks. In the summer of 2020, the party targeted 11 Americans for criticizing China’s takeover of Hong Kong.
There are only a few things we can do. Before you head to Amazon, search for “made in America” products. There are a lot of options, but be sure to check the origin of products to be sure. You will be surprised at what is out there.
If you are shopping at Amazon, they often don’t give the origin. Even if you go to Amazon’s “Made in America” site you have to check the origin. Avoid products with strangely spelled company names: Gehibao, Asamqu, Qekoma, Lassloom. Shopping online you need to look at names but also look at format of the ad. Chinese ads are busy with more information in smaller places. They often look much different than American ads, although they are changing. Watch for Chinese characters.
All of these suggestions require more time and effort to be a good shopper and to support American workers and businesses. Remember money is power!
(Statistics provided by Seven Things You Can’t Say About China by Tom Cotton)
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Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.
Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
Jeremiah 29:7
New International Version