Ok, so what percentage of that stuff is actually high value-add?
How much useful USD capital and more importantly KNOWLEDGE capital was invested into China -- all so we can get lots of average and also crappy power supplies and 80's 90's electrical hardware tech? This could've been done in other places with the right investments.
I'm not saying China didn't do an amazing job. But given the outcome, a powerful autocratic nation that wants to usurp the world authority... was it really worth it for mediocre stuff that's slightly cheaper?
> Ok, so what percentage of that stuff is actually high value-add?
Millions of factory owners have individually decided that waiting 3+ weeks for shipping from Shenzhen was better than any US-based equivalent manufacturer, who probably could ship them the parts in just 5 days at much cheaper shipping prices.
There's no singular person from on high encouraging people to trade with China (at least, any more so than say NAFTA encourages trade with Mexico). This is an individual decision that was ad-hoc decided en-masse over multiple years.
In fact, we had a trade deal with all of Asia (except China) called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. So that we'd encourage trade with Vietnam, India, Mexico, Australia, Canada _INSTEAD_ of China. But we elected a President in 2016 who got rid of the trade deal (and instead pushed for ineffective Tariffs).
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Look, its Apple who decided to manufacture iPads and iPhones in China rather than the USA. In fact, President Obama famously sat down with Steve Jobs to ask him what the USA needed to bring manufacturing back to state-side.
Steve Jobs famously replied: nothing. There's nothing the USA could do to win back the iPad / iPhone. That's how big of a lead China has on manufacturing and assembly. At this point, its a question of what we, the USA can do, to win back the hearts and minds of manufacturers.
Thumping anti-Chinese attitudes is probably counterproductive. They see China as a superior manufacturing chain than USA. Its more important to recognize the reality, and begin to emulate Shenzhen. What can the USA do to "build our own Shenzhen" ??
How much useful USD capital and more importantly KNOWLEDGE capital was invested into China -- all so we can get lots of average and also crappy power supplies and 80's 90's electrical hardware tech? This could've been done in other places with the right investments.
I'm not saying China didn't do an amazing job. But given the outcome, a powerful autocratic nation that wants to usurp the world authority... was it really worth it for mediocre stuff that's slightly cheaper?