You can't smell it or feel it, but it is there 
There are many types of terrorism in the world as we know only too well. There is the kind that kills people and destroys property. There is the kind that seeks to destroy the environment. There is cyber, bio, state sponsored, nuclear and narco terrorism.
Finally there is the kind that is right out front, legitimate and at first extremely useful to the victim. In the early stages there is euphoria as the situation appears to good to be true. Then there is benign ignorance, then some inklings of concern and finally the awareness that a huge hole has been dug, with few options as to how to climb out.
Economic Terrorism
This terrorism develops from one entities reliance on another entity for a significant portion of its financial well being. This is exactly the situation between the United States and China.
At first it might be product driven as cheaper sources of labor and products become available. While this has undermined the United States ability to manufacture and has created a significant loss of jobs, the cheapness of the product was to much to pass up.
The next step in the process is financially driven as China has become prosperous while the United States has floundered, requiring massive sources of capital to stay afloat. China now has the advantage of leverage, with the economic stability of the United States virtually in its hands. Further, there is now a limit to the pressure the United States can bring to bear on China for actions deemed critical, such as the imposition of sanctions on Iran to attempt and halt that country's nuclear weapons capability.
Finally, the United States is in the position where not only is there no leverage against China, but in a few keystrokes on a computer China could metaphorically bring the United States to its knees.
Economic Advice From The Chinese Military
Comments out of China Monday made by Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu and Maj. Gen. Luo Yuan and Senior Col. Ke Chunqiao includes the following, in response to the proposed United States arms sale to Taiwan:
Attacks could come "by oblique means and stealthy feints,"
"For example, we could sanction them using economic means, such as dumping some U.S. government bonds,"
"Our retaliation should not be restricted to merely military matters, and we should adopt a strategic package of counterpunches covering politics, military affairs, diplomacy and economics to treat both the symptoms and root cause of this disease,"
"China's attitude and actions over U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan will be increasingly tough," "That is inevitable with rising national strength."
The moves China will make, if any, remains to be seen, but it important to be aware that not all terrorism makes a sound or involves death, yet it can still be extremely painful.
Photo courtesy of NewsTarget.com
Comments
China is already engaged in a multifront plan to dominate the US. The DoD reports of 2005 and 2008 show this clearly. That was then...now we know there is a serious problem, when Microsoft, Google, Northrup Grumman and now Intel all admit they were hacked into at the same time period by China. China now has the information they were seeking to find. What they do with it may have consequences far beyond our abilities to counter it.
The mistake was made during the 80's when it was decided to give away our electronics manufacturing to China, Japan and Korea. Now, even the mention of fair trade elicits a response of over-reaction, with the cutoff of monopoly rare earth materials for just about everything there is to manufacture.
It won't be long before we have nothing left. We must create our own manufacturing base of communications technology equipment and uphold IP and Trade Secrets. We also need to protect scientists, entrepreneurs, and others, many of whom are missing in action.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!