Found Money, Dirty Money, Money We Used to Lend to Them Money We Now Need to Borrow from Them

From the Vancouver Sun

Chinese coin found in Yukon evidence of early east-west link

By Randy Boswell, Postmedia News November 1, 2011

A 340-year-old coin from China has been unearthed by archeologists near a planned Yukon gold mine, shedding fresh light on historic trade links between 17th-century Chinese merchants, Russian fur traders and first nations in the northwest corner of North America.

Great, now we have to worry we might hurt the feelings of the Chinese people by claiming Columbus discovered America.

In related and more serious news. Word coming out of France is that Sarkozy is being pilloried by the opposition, as well as some of his supporters (however few are left) for turning to China for help with the debt crisis.

This is a small tidbit all but buried in the news of the day but in my mind its an interesting peek in on how Europe and China may or may not get along in the coming years.

So much focus is always (and rightfully) put on the questions surrounding US/China relations, but Europe is 700 million strong and Chinas single biggest customer. If Europe turns sour on China then Chinas bargaining power and leverage with the US and others is weakened. Does China really want to have the US, Europe and India as well as SE Asia working against them?

I am not saying the Chinese have does anything wrong here but they need to play the game right and ditch the 10 ton tin ears they wear.

Its shocking, Martine Aubry, the general secretary of the Socialist Party, said in the Sunday newspaper, Journal du Dimanche. The Europeans, by turning to the Chinese, are showing their weakness. How will Europe be able to ask China to stop undervaluing its currency or to accept reciprocal commercial accords? Reuters, Nov. 1, 2011

Strange to see a Socialist worried about the Capitalist machinations of a Communist country.

Later in the story another French politician shows he has no grasp of history and very little sens! e of hyp ocrisy.

Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, a presidential candidate from the Debout la Republique Party, went further, calling it dirty money.

China Willingness

On France 3 television, he said China has cheated on all the rules of the game: social slavery, pollution, environment, copying It is now, after having cheated, telling us we are going to buy you.

However wrong he may be his quote does shine a light on the potential for Europe to turn its anger away from immigrants to China.

This should all make for an interesting G-20 Summit.