http://www.stratfor.com/asia/specialreports/special50.htm

In Bruce Webster's book "Y2K Survival Guide", he identified several "wild cards" that could exacerbate Y2K impacts. One is a devaluation in China. As the lowest cost provider of raw material, textiles and other goods, a Chinese devaluation would pull the rug out from other countries dependent on exports like S. Korea, Japan, Brazil and many others.

Perhaps, this is why the Chinese are rattling their sabers over Taiwan - to draw attention off of their devaluation. This would play in China as an increase in nationalistic pride and could play overseas as "at least we talked them out of invading Taiwan".

-- Bill P (porterwn@one.net), August 16, 1999

Answers

No...my reading is that by devaluation the Chinese put the West and the developing Asian nations exactly where they want them, in turmoil.

China has a plan. The way I see it is this is a pawn piece in a big chess game. Will the U.S. and the west give up Taiwan to keep the economy strong? Yep...check mate.

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), August 16, 1999.

Yes, the nations are chessboards, with pawns and kings and rooks and queens.

Who has the best long term strategy?

Who is willing to take more initial risks in order to endure until checkmate is achieved?

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), August 16, 1999.

Got Nikes? I predict China will win out.

-- got nikes? (gotnikes?@gotnikeees.com), August 16, 1999.