China: the Duping of America

Every day, more news is coming from Iran and North Korea. North Korea is threatening to nuke Hawaii, Iran is nearly in a civil revolution, and not so surprising, China is standing in the background.

China has been long-time allies of Iran and North Korea, as well as Russia and Iraq. China and Iran had been long-time associates since 126 BC. China and Russia had been linked since the Ming Dynasty; China and Iraq for over 2000 years. Today, China is North Korea's most important ally. In 1961, China and North Korea agreed to the "Sino-North Korean Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance", in which China is obliged to protect North Korea from any type of unprovoked acts of aggression. China is also the biggest exporter of food, arms, and fuel to North Korea. China is wary of having any problems with North Korea because there could be an over abundance of North Koreans seeking refuge in China. China usually will side with North Korea against any sanctions brought about by the international community.

Relations between the United States and China were somewhat neutral. In 1954, Richard Nixon, (then vice-president of the United States) supported easing trade relations with China even though they backed the North Koreans in the Korean War. In 1969,Nixon had already started relaxing trade relations by lifting the embargo of Chinese products sold in the United States , even though China had provided approximately 300,000 soldiers to fight with the North Vietnamese Army. There were still restrictions, but not as stringent as before. By 1971, China gained entry into the United Nations. In April of 1971, Nixon relaxed the 20 year-trade-embargo with China. Then he visited China in February, 1972, and Russia in May, 1972, making agreements with both countries regarding trading and with Russia, trading, and arms agreements (SALT-Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty).

China recognized the importance of having good relations with the major world players. This would enable them to join the world market, to become a leader in financial resources, and to gain power and influence on international policies. China opted for the "brain over brawn" option. They actually decreased their military forces, and implemented many social and economic reforms. The Chinese government, although still communist, understood that good relations with the "super-powers" could only be beneficial.

China also benefited from the Middle East conflicts. While the entire world was watching the Iran-Iraq conflict, the fall of the Soviet Republic, and the Iraq invasion of Kuwait, China was negotiating with countries and companies, offering opportunities to open factories and companies in China, allowing private ownership of businesses, as well as promoting foreign enterprises. During this time period, China was only involved in three skirmishes, and none were of global importance.

During the 1990's, the relationship between China and Russia improved greatly, especially after the demise of the Soviet Union. This was mainly brought about by China's renewed interest in obtaining weapons and other military cooperation. This led to a major arms technology agreement, a nonaggression declaration, and a treaty in which Russia agreed to provide funds to China to build a nuclear power plant. China purchased weapons, submarines, and aircraft from Russia. In 1993, a foreign policy which endorsed the sales of Russian arms to China also included an assurance to China that no other country namely, the United States and Japan, would be able to enlist the aid of China against Russia.

Since the late 1970's until today, China's economic growth has been advancing at an incredible rate of approximately 10% per year. Some economists believe that China is growing too fast and will implode, while others believe that China will be a super-power and will overtake the United States as the most powerful nation in the world.

China was admitted into the World Trade Organization, (WTO) in 2001. In 2001, trade between U.S. and China grew to more than $120 billion, however the U.S. imported over $100 billion worth of products, while China imported approximately $20 billion from the United States, leaving the U.S. with a deficit of over $80 billion, and China holds approximately $728 billion of the U.S. Treasury debt.

There are a plethora of products imported in the United States from China, ranging from toys to fish products, to car tires, to building supplies, etc., etc., etc. China produces about 70% of the fish farm products in the world. However, the problem is that the waters of these fish farms are so polluted because there are too many of these fish farms. There are so many companies in China that give off pollutants, such as pesticides, lead, and mercury, at an alarming rate, that China is one of the most polluted countries in the world with some rivers so toxic that they cannot be used for anything, especially not for drinking water. The fish farmers began mixing drugs into their fish ponds to keep the fish alive. However, the fish do not expel these drugs and pollutants, and the fish becomes a bullet in the belly, making many people who have ingested the fish very ill, or killing them. Some of the fish effected were imported shrimp and eel. In 2007, toxic puffer fish were mislabeled as monk fish and were exported to the United States. When a grocery store is running a sale on fresh or frozen fish, it is important to find out from where the fish came. It could be imported and does not meet the requirements of the F.D.A.

American imports from China also includes toys, clothes, building accessories, electronic appliances, and household items. Chinese exports are twice as likely to be recalled than exports from other countries. Recalled products include baby swings, baby carriers, Easy-Bake ovens, fans, electric heaters, and saws. Some of the most alarming recalls includes toys with lead paint, pet food, dry-wall, and car tires.

Toys with lead paint could quite easily lead to lead poisoning. The symptoms of lead poisoning are similar to the symptoms of A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. They include behavior problems, unable to focus, unable to pay attention, and increased aggression. The number of new cases of A.D.D., and A.D.H.D. has been on the rise in the past few years. The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry estimates that one out of every six children in the United States has a high level of lead in his or her blood. Lead poisoning also causes high blood pressure.

Dry-wall imported from China has caused considerable damage in new homes primarily in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Virginia.

The F.D.A. routinely conducts investigations to make sure that imports into the U.S. are safe and have advised against purchasing products from China, notably, infant formula, coffee and tea products, and pet food.

Bankrupt U.S. firm, General Motors, has sold its Hummer division to a Chinese Company, privately owned Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd., making it the first company to import cars from China. Considering the track record of the Chinese products, is this a good idea? Because of the lower cost of the vehicle, maybe saving the consumer a couple of thousand dollars, citizens should put the family into a Chinese made vehicle, with tires made in China, and what?, cross their fingers?

Ironically, Since 2002, President Obama's step-brother lives and thrives in Shenzhen, China, and runs an internet-based company that promotes Chinese exports, called "Worldnexus Ltd", which is not registered in China. The company provides a website for Chinese firms seeking mainly U.S. markets for electronics and machine parts. The website offers an address, but the address is bogus.

Certainly, many products imported from China are available from firms that are U.S. owned, with processing in the United States, and adhering to the F.D.A. requirements. Catfish grow to be record size in the U.S. waters, shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico are delicious and safe, asparagus grows wild, mushrooms also grow wild, and who eats eel?

So, as children are being contaminated by lead, people are being poisoned by imported fish, new houses are collapsing, and the United States is up to its eye-balls in debt to China, maybe the next time the family jumps into the car and heads off for a money-saving jaunt at Walmarts, someone will take remeber that "you get what you pay for." Is it really worth it?