China to build 40 billion dollar Nicaraguan canal

[Viking]

An interesting move.  The US essentially announced it's presence on the world stage with the Panama canal.

If China really wants to make an impression they should do something that hasn't been achieved yet. The Panama Canal was quite a feat: over 100 years ago.

Modern tinpot dictatorship aren't very impressive. Just look at what Iran has managed in 20 plus years with 20 plus billion dollars and access to the blueprints and compare it to what a small band of jewish and gay refugees from europe managed to do in 18 months in 1944-1945.

[Jacob]

This does make sense for china from china's point of view. The Chinese Communist party lives in a world where politics and diplomacy trumps commerce and contracts. They believe that in a trade war with the US american puppets in panama city will close the canal to chinese commerce. In their mind they need an alternative canal in a country run by either chinese puppets or irrational anti-americans.

This is a source of conflict in the sense that china will now defend the sandinistas diplomatically, like they do the Sudan government.

I agree with this.  The object of the canal isn't to make money.  Hell, the canal may never even be built.  The objective here is to demonstrate to the people of central and south America that China takes its interests (political, economic, etc) there seriously.

The idea that the first trans-isthmus canal was built at Panama rather than Nicaragua because of some fluke volcanic eruption or whatever  is bogus.  All of the planning for 20 years before the canal was built compared the two locations, and both long-term studies (before the French effort, and again before the American efforts) ended up concluding that the Nicaraguan route was not economically feasible, despite the lesser elevations that needed to be overcome.

I don't think this canal will ever be built.

Yup, you guys sum it up pretty well.

[crazy canuck]

I agree with Vikings points.

But it is interesting that China is taking a diplomatic shot directly at the US sphere of influence.  Tit for tat from the Chinese perspective?

[alfred russel]

I agree with Vikings points.

But it is interesting that China is taking a diplomatic shot directly at the US sphere of influence.  Tit for tat from the Chinese perspective?

If China wants to fund massive infrastructure improvements in central america, that is great. I don't see what that does for China though.

I think the sphere of influence concept is as outdated as making a major splash on the international scene with a canal across the central america. I suspect parts of Chinese leadership don't share that view though.

[crazy canuck]

I agree with Vikings points.

But it is interesting that China is taking a diplomatic shot directly at the US sphere of influence.  Tit for tat from the Chinese perspective?

If China wants to fund massive infrastructure improvements in central america, that is great. I don't see what that does for China though.

I think the sphere of influence concept is as outdated as making a major splash on the international scene with a canal across the central america. I suspect parts of Chinese leadership don't share that view though.

They dont actually have to fund it to make the splash   They just have to talk about all their interest in doing it one day and how much that makes the area vital to their security interests.

[Razgovory]

Why does China have to fight the US?  Couldn't it be useful for China if they went to India or Indonesia?

Why would the Chinese usea canal in Nicaragua to get to Indonesia?

They wouldn't.  It would keep trade lanes open to Europe though.

[grumbler]

They dont actually have to fund it to make the splash   They just have to talk about all their interest in doing it one day and how much that makes the area vital to their security interests.

Well put.

[The Minsky Moment]

Clearly it will not work, as no suitable palindrome can be constructed using Nicaragua.

[Malthus]

Clearly it will not work, as no suitable palindrome can be constructed using Nicaragua.

[in fake "Fu Manchu" Chinese accent]

"Cin lan' a canal Nic?" 

[Tonitrus]

An interesting move.  The US essentially announced it's presence on the world stage with the Panama canal.

If China really wants to make an impression they should do something that hasn't been achieved yet. The Panama Canal was quite a feat: over 100 years ago.

[timmah] Giant cargo-hauling zepplins!  [/timmah]

[Admiral Yi]

"Cin lan' a canal Nic?" 

[Viking]

I agree with Vikings points.

But it is interesting that China is taking a diplomatic shot directly at the US sphere of influence.  Tit for tat from the Chinese perspective?

In their zero sum world, they will take any shot they will get. The Sandinistas are a good target for them.

[Caliga]

Clearly it will not work, as no suitable palindrome can be constructed using Nicaragua.

DAMN YOU TO HELL!  I was going to make that joke.

[Eddie Teach]

Clearly it will not work, as no suitable palindrome can be constructed using Nicaragua.

DAMN YOU TO HELL!  I was going to make that joke.

Calm down. It wasn't that great a joke.

[Caliga]

I was going to phrase it in a way that I think would have been marginally more humorous.  Specifically, I was going to write this:

The main reason this won't ever happen is because "A man!  A plan!  A canal!  NICARAGUA!" just doesn't work.