Chinese “Imperialism”
The American “left” positions itself as the eternal champions of the oppressed, fierce critics of empire, and vocal opponents of anything…
Chinese “Imperialism”
The American “left” positions itself as the eternal champions of the oppressed, fierce critics of empire, and vocal opponents of anything smelling of capitalist exploitation. They’ve wring their hands over Western imperialism, colonialism’s long shadow, and the rapacious greed of multinational corporations.
Fair enough on the history.
But watch what happens when China shows up in Africa, or LATAM with ports, railways, and no lectures on governance: suddenly, these same folk discover a brand-new villain. China, they solemnly intone, is “just as bad” as the old European powers, maybe worse! Debt traps! Neo-colonialism! Authoritarian influence!