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In reply to the discussion: Ecuador renounces trade benefits from US Congress [View all]Lugal Zaggesi
(366 posts)87. True, the Chinese culture is very different
than the English-speaking-dominated "Western" culture.
Even when China ruled the Seas (early 1400's) they treated lesser powers differently than Europe ever did.
It will be interesting to see how they handle being the new "Superpower" in 10 or 20 years.
http://www.amazon.com/When-China-Ruled-Louise-Levathes/dp/0671701584/
When China Ruled the Seas
This is an entertaining look at the voyages of Zheng Ho, a eunuch in the service of the Ming Emperor of China, in the fifteenth century C.E. China's navy was then the most powerful in the world, and Levathes helps us recognize this with some skillfully drawn comparisons between Zheng Ho's treasure ships (the largest wooden vessels ever built) and the puny Santa Maria. China was unquestionably the most advanced civilization in the world during Zheng Ho's time, and had the voyages been allowed to continue, resulting in permanent Chinese influence on and control of the Indian Ocean, Africa, and possibly America and Europe, our world today would be very different indeed. Levathes does a good job of explaining why Ming China decided to stop the voyages and its international trade, and points out that while Westerners tend to see this as a failure, to the Chinese at the time it seemed a success. This is probably the most valuable insight of the book, the illustration of a very wide gap between the psychological makeup of East and West.
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Is that why Sandy Levin threatened to block it if Ecuador gave Snowden asylum?
magical thyme
Jun 2013
#21
President Correa has already refused US military bases in Ecuador unless Ecuador can have bases
byeya
Jun 2013
#25
and Sen. Sandy Levin's threat to block it pre-empted Ecuadors pre-emptive pullout.
magical thyme
Jun 2013
#26
I think Ecuadoreans are better off with better paying jobs than selling flowers.
Divernan
Jun 2013
#52
Ecuador: Media is Distorting Our Words on Snowden. We're Pulling Out of US Trade Agreement
Catherina
Jun 2013
#3
Given Correa's brother's interest, and according to the indigenous population,
msanthrope
Jun 2013
#6
To me, 8 million acres of rainforest with hundreds of thousands of endangered
geek tragedy
Jun 2013
#9
The Top Dems who came up with this stupidity must be feeling like real doofuses now n/t
Catherina
Jun 2013
#7
HAH! So much for the US holding it over Equador's head about Snowden! n/t
backscatter712
Jun 2013
#8
Ecuador also offered a multimillion donation for human rights training in the United States
Catherina
Jun 2013
#11
Ecuador owes China $9 billion, and China now owns 20% of Ecuador's land mass--pristine
geek tragedy
Jun 2013
#30
Ask the indigenous peoples in the rain forest that Ecuador just sold to China
geek tragedy
Jun 2013
#31
Denying themselves hundreds of millions in trade benefits will really show the US who is boss
Bacchus4.0
Jun 2013
#20
^ Says a citizen of the Empire, perturbed the coin of the realm nolonger buys loyalty as it once did
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#34
Ah yes, the U.S. as abusive spouse- but one with a steady income to share if the abuse is allowed.
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#44
Hardly. You care not a lick about Ecuador's well-being, only their subservience.
Poll_Blind
Jun 2013
#46
Yeah, the US doesn't care about it's "Back Yard" going to Chinese influence
Lugal Zaggesi
Jun 2013
#38
Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Paraguay have right governments too. The US doesn't need Ecuador
Bacchus4.0
Jun 2013
#54
Ah yes, I forgot about the rigthwing "Parliamentary Putsch" of Fernando Lugo in Paraguay
Lugal Zaggesi
Jun 2013
#73
Sometimes I really love it when another country flips off the US. We need that
Nanjing to Seoul
Jun 2013
#59
Good. Tell the Us Government to take thie economic extortion and stuff it
Nanjing to Seoul
Jun 2013
#69
It's actually hilarious. Like an obnoxious middle-schooler flipping off the principal,
Nye Bevan
Jun 2013
#86
Ecuadorian business leaders call withdrawal from pact "irresponsible" (Spanish)
Bacchus4.0
Jun 2013
#63
So, where the hell is this big announcement on Snowden Ecuador was supposed to make
railsback
Jun 2013
#71
It never happened and this article was circulating saying there are no plans to halt commerce ties
flamingdem
Jun 2013
#76
aha, meanwhile I'm reading about how China already owns Ecuador and is going in to the rainforest
flamingdem
Jun 2013
#78
Someone should tell the rose sellers currently running a million dollar ad buy for a trade agreement
alcibiades_mystery
Jun 2013
#89