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50
EU should ‘get competitive’ instead of complaining about China, says Taoiseach (www.irishtimes.com)
submitted 14 hours ago by schizoidman@lemmy.zip to c/europe@feddit.org
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https://archive.is/Z2TOR

“There was a time 20 years ago when people, perhaps rather dismissively in Europe and indeed elsewhere, might have been saying that China are imitators. I think that’s long gone now. I think China has very strong indigenous research capacities, strengths, and abilities, and therefore, genuine partnership is important,” he said.

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[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 10 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

There is this time now when people, perhaps rather conveniently in Europe and indeed elsewhere, might be ignoring that China's economy has massively been running on slave-like labour for long period now. I think these and other human rights violations in China aren't gone. I think China has very strong dictatorial policies, censorship, and surveillance capabilities, and therefore, calling 'genuine partnership' important while not even mentioning these crimes discredits Mr. Martin completely. As a European, I don't want this cHeAp PrDuCtS mAde By SlAvE LaBoUr.

Mr. Martin didn't discuss Europe's growing trade deficit with China. And when speaking on 'issues around Chinese subsidies,' he claims that 'they make similar accusations in China about Europe.' I would really like to know what these Chinese accusations about European subsidies are. This is makes no sense as Chinese subsidies are far higher than anything allowed in Europe.

The Irish PM is conveying Chinese talking points after his China visit, and he is even hypocritical given he is calling for a 'trade framework with China' while opposing the EU-Mercosur trade deal.

[–] GMac@feddit.org 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Let's just substitute China for America and see how that reads...

'There is this time now when people, perhaps rather conveniently in Europe and indeed elsewhere, might be ignoring that America's economy has massively been running on slave-like labour for long period now. I think these and other human rights violations in America aren't gone. I think America has very strong dictatorial policies, censorship, and surveillance capabilities.'

I don't think anything in that revised text is completely wrong.
The inadequacies of US human rights and employment rights do impact to the point of forcing many into fearful servitude as a form of slave labour, even when they aren't just quietly paying slave wages for manufacture in other countries anyway.

I'm not saying you are wrong about China, but a critique of anyone pursuing 'partnership' with China while not even mentioning equivalent criticisms of the current dominant trade partner discredits the complaint. If anything trade with china is a side grade, but probably not a downgrade.

[–] plyth@feddit.org 0 points 4 hours ago

Very valid arguments but ‘get competitive’ instead of complaining is unavoidable unless we go to war. China will win all of our markets and without further natural resources we won't have anything to trade for.

We have to get competitive despite China using slave labor and despite China bribing our elites.

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 8 points 5 hours ago

„Just compete with human rights violations bro. What‘s the matter bro? Can‘t even do a little slavery on an industrial scale? Stop clinging so much to democracy bro. Freedom isn‘t doing you any good man! Try harder bro!“

Genuinely piss off.

[–] pcgaldo@lemmy.ml 22 points 13 hours ago

For decades, there have been joint ventures and significant investments by large European fortunes in China. They took the money and set up businesses there because it is more profitable for them. Now they are selling us a manipulated narrative to make us believe that it is something alien to them. We must not be fooled.