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Overcoming Bias Commenter's avatar

"Stupidity" is a foolish word choice by Robin, based on the examples in the article he cites. Robin says he's talking about trade, but he's really just talking about the special situation of trade with a would-be hegemon.

Even if we accept the idea that trading with a country means not just selling and buying goods but also companies, the CNOOC and Huawei deals are categorically different from most international trade deals. Give us examples about US refusals to sell companies to Mexicans or Germans or Canadians. And give us examples of China selling important Chinese companies to non-Chinese owners.

CNOOC is a branch of the Chinese government that wants to accomplish the Chinese government's goal of controlling more sources of energy for China. Huawei is an enormous telecom company that cannot operate and succeed without the continuing favor of the Chinese government. These have very little to do with Apple using Foxconn to build hundreds of millions of ipads, or Chinese parts suppliers making parts for Korean cars sold in the US.

CFIUS may or may not be the best thing for US citizens, but you need to address CFIUS and concerns that are specific to China. You've spoken before about how China is different and may very well come to dominate the world as the US did before. If the US thinks that CNOOC and Huawei's bids were a part of that effort, can you tell me why we're better off just going along with it? Can/should we require that China be willing to sell Chinese companies to non-US companies?

Robin, you need to explain why the best US strategy with China is to have no limits at all on China's purchase of any goods or companies anywhere.

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Overcoming Bias Commenter's avatar

I think you are correct. The opposition against the buying and the opposition against the selling need not be the same groups.

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