Trans-Pacific Cable Plans Mired In US-China Geopolitical Rivalry 162
An anonymous reader writes "Attempts to build a new telecommunications cable between the US, New Zealand and Australia have become a nexus for the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China in the Pacific. The U.S. is reportedly creating a technology ring fence to match its military one and contain China's ambitions in the Pacific. The U.S. military could even help pay for any planned new cable to link its bases in American Samoa with its expanding military presence in Australia's Northern Territory. It has been made 'very clear' U.S. authorities would not allow significant Chinese investment in one cable project and it followed that they would not tolerate the use of Chinese gear in its construction. 'It was made very clear. These are cables connecting whole countries. These are very political things,' one insider said."
Re:Easy answer... (Score:5, Informative)
China had, at last count, almost two thousand nuclear weapons [wikipedia.org] and climbing.
Re:Easy answer... (Score:4, Informative)
China needs someone in their corner with nuclear weapons. Either that, or develop their own.
There are only 8 states known to have nuclear weapons (nine if you count Israel). If you are too fucking ignorant to know that China is one of them, which undermines most of your supposed argument, then you have no business discussing foreign policy.
And China isn't running around hunting down its ex-pats in Russian airports when its citizens come forward and say what its government is up to. They just stare blankly into the camera and then say "We make you iphone! iPhone good! You want more iphones? Shut up." ... and that's the end of it. -_-
This manages to be both idiotic, ignorant and racist all in one, so that's awesome.
Do us all a favor and shut the fuck up.
Re:Easy answer... (Score:4, Informative)
And they presently lack an effective delivery mechanism.
Except for the 65 odd ICBMs [defense.gov].
Re:toleration violation (Score:5, Informative)
That's already happening.
Brazil is pulling away from doing business with US tech firms.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-19/nsa-spying-gives-advantage-to-brazil-s-local-tech-firms.html [bloomberg.com]
Germany is pissed:
http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2013/08/14/german-backlash-to-nsa-spying-gets-stronger/ [wsj.com]
EU in general is looking elsewhere for technology:
http://gigaom.com/2013/06/07/nsa-spying-scandal-fallout-expect-big-impact-in-europe-and-elsewhere/ [gigaom.com]
Business world wide is starting to look elsewhere:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2013/09/10/how-the-nsa-revelations-are-hurting-businesses/ [forbes.com]
Cloud Computing was just sentenced to death by NSA
http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/04/spying-bad-for-business/ [techcrunch.com]
The NSA revelations will prove to be one of the biggest detriments to US computer technology business in decades.