Chinese companies evade sanctions, fuel Moscow’s war on Ukraine, says report Chinese companies, including state-owned defense companies, are evading tech sanctions and fueling Moscow’s war in Ukraine, according to a US report released on Thursday. US export controls against Russia apply to made in the USA tech, but also items produced abroad if they are made with US software, technology or equipment. …
The US is always bleating. "They buzzed our drone"
That one's rather ironic given the drones aren't flying over California, they're flying over Syria-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-66119404
The US Air Force has released video footage that it says shows Russian jets "harassing" US drones over the skies of Syria.
Those despicable commies! The Bbc kinda glosses over why US drones are flying in another country's sovereign air space, or why the US is occupying a large part of Ukra.. I mean Syria. Russia's in Syria at the invitation of it's government, the US... invited itself.
The US (applies equally to some other Western nations) has postponed two to three decades worth of inflation by outsourcing manufacturing largely to China, who can do it cheaper - and over time, better in certain key areas, as much due to atrophy of US manufacturing skills as to Chinese progress.
Winding that back would necessarily result in increasing inflation - as winding that back can only be done through increasing import taxes or subsidies, to jump start US investments at home or at least shift production to other countries.
When push comes to shove, it won't be AI chips that decide victory on the ground in Ukraine and/or Taiwan. It will be mostly dumb chips, basic materials, and a host of goods which can be manufactured, destroyed, and replenished continually with a powerful manufacturing base. LLM's will play no part at all.
One thing to consider is the AI will eventually play a large role in manufacturing, but that will only happen in countries where manufacturing takes place at large scale.
When push comes to shove, it won't be AI chips that decide victory on the ground in Ukraine and/or Taiwan. It will be mostly dumb chips, basic materials, and a host of goods which can be manufactured, destroyed, and replenished continually with a powerful manufacturing base. LLM's will play no part at all.
Yup. US tech and IPR was willingly exported to China so China could make iShineys that the US businesses and customers wanted. Now, the US is saying that's unfair and China shouldn't be allowed to manufacture stuff for the US. And the US may create a lot of IPR, but it can't manufacture the product.
Meanwhile, China's been heavily investing in education, R&D and producing it's own IPR so it's less reliant on being the world's factory/sweatshop. Sure, China might not be able to produce it's own EUV fabs to sweat the small stuff.. Yet. But it's progressing in that area. The West kinda noticed this, and has been desperately trying to slow down the emerging economies using everything from 'climate change' to sanctions. We're not going to buy the stuff we want and need! So there!
Meanwhile, China shrugs and works with it's BRICS partners to boost trade and development. China has a rather large domestic market, so does India and the other BRICS members, so if the US doesn't want to do businesss, well, come back when you need something we produce. There was also the summit between Russia and Africa that just ended in a co-operation and development deal. US and the EU loses more influence in a continent with a lot of business opportunities.
As you say, modern conflicts don't need the latest and greatest tech. They just need a LOT of product that's good enough for government work. And most of the manufacturing base that provided the 'Arsenal of Democracy' has long been turned into vacant shopping malls and empty office buildings-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem_Steel
Eugene Grace was president of Bethlehem Steel from 1916 to 1945, and chairman of the board from 1945 until his retirement in 1957. Grace orchestrated Bethlehem Steel's World War II wartime efforts. In 1943, he promised U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt that Bethlehem Steel would manufacture one ship per day, and he ultimately exceeded that commitment by 15 ships
Ukraine's demonstrating the need for boring, basic, low-tech stuff like field guns and ammunition. The US can't produce those in the quantity required for 1 relatively small conflict. It can produce a small quantity of $1m missiles to shoot down <$20k drones though. It, along with other Western defence companies like Bofors or Rheinmetal can probably come up with a cheaper way to deal with drone swarms, eg a Pantsir copy, but can we afford to produce enough, quickly enough?
Lets face the facts, China is the next superpower, and it unlike the Russians actually has REAL manufacturing and design capabilities because American heroes of Wall Street have invested trillions there since the 80s.
People were hung in WW2 for being traitors for doing far less.
When did this site go from snark to out right hate for the US? There is a war in Europe, Russia is the aggressor, China is maneuvering to increase its global power base, and supporting Russia is part of this. If the US are trying to stop/limit this then I support this. I don’t give a shit if the military suppliers are lobbying, or that the US is also trying to increase its power base. Russian aggression needs to be opposed and if the US are helping in this I am happy.
I am expecting a torrent of downvotes, but I really think the tone of this comment thread needed to be challenged.
When did this site go from snark to out right hate for the US? There is a war in Europe, Russia is the aggressor..
If you ignore everything that happened from say, 2012 when the US influence campaign kicked into high gear, which lead to Ukraine's 2014 coup, civil war and the deaths of thousands.. Then yes, I guess Russia could look like the agressor. Alternatively if you read the justification used for the SMO, it's almost word for word identical to the justification we used to destroy Yugoslavia. Then there were the same regime change stunts pulled in Libya, Syria and many other countries. Minsk was exposed as a sham, Ukraine was poised to attack the DPR, LPR and Crimea, and now this war must be fought to the last Ukrainian.
Most Americans are blissfully ignorant of the history, and thus the hypocrisy. It's not hate for the US because the US is simply acting in it's own interests, as nations should. If it's OK for the US and West to intervene and invade sovereign nations, why the suprise when other countries do the same thing?
"now this war must be fought to the last Ukrainian."
If only Russia had actually funded their military properly, they could have fought the last Ukrainian already. Their troll army is better equipped.
Instead, as their army was deemed second best in the world early last year, it was actually just second best in Ukraine and for awhile it was second best even in Russia when Wagner rebelled and met only puny resistance.
"intervene and invade sovereign nations, why the suprise when other countries do the same thing?"
And you wonder why "Russia could look like the agressor" when you are admitting in the next paragraph that they are intervening and invading.
Logic isn't you forte.
Instead, as their army was deemed second best in the world early last year, it was actually just second best in Ukraine and for awhile it was second best even in Russia when Wagner rebelled and met only puny resistance.
Uh huh. Meanwhile, the red & black flag of Ukraine flies victorious over Ukraine's battlefield, as BlackRock's asset realisation team starts offering deals to scrap merchants. Wagner's coup was defeated in <24hrs, Ukraine's has taken a little longer. But Russia's using around 10-15% of it's military to demonstrate the impotence of the NATO collective. Zelensky, meanwhile still can't find a decent suit. He can irritate Russia by flying a few drones into random buildings in Moscow, and Russia will no doubt retaliate using the missiles it ran out of 18 months ago.
But back to the story. Once upon a time Kharkiv's tank works churned out a lot of the Soviet Union's armor. Ukraine also used to make Antonov aircraft, and engines for rockets. After independence of course, it didn't have a market for it's industry, well, other than Russia. But 2014 changed that, along with EU ambitions. But Ukraine doesn't manufacture NATO kit, and wouldn't have been allowed to compete with the established brands. Plus most of it's heavy industry was in the territorys it lost early on when those regions objected to the Kiev regime and it's de-Russification.
But if the conflict can be frozen long enough for the 'Arsenals of Democracy' to rebuild their steel industries, heavy engineering and basic weapon production, some of Ukraine may remain. It's still entirely at the mercy of the West though and will never be independent again. The mighty NATO, defeated by convicts with shovels. If only Russia had de-industrialised like the West has, it wouldn't have been able to produce as many shovels, and Zelensky would have his Crimean penthouse back.
And you wonder why "Russia could look like the agressor" when you are admitting in the next paragraph that they are intervening and invading.
Yes, well, there was the small matter of the civil war and ethnic cleansing that started in 2014. Then the buildup of Ukrainian forces poised to start the ethnic cleansing of the DPR and LPR. Again, we destroyed Yugoslavia to prevent ethnic cleansing there, so why shouldn't Russia to the same to preven ethnic cleansing in Ukraine?
"BlackRock's asset realisation team"
I'm sure you're backing these conspiracy claims with good references in your next post.
"Wagner's coup was defeated in <24hrs"
By negotiation, not by force. Wagner apparently had 2 casualties wherease the feeble army opposition lost several aircraft and many times more personnel.
"But Russia's using around 10-15% of it's military to demonstrate the impotence of the NATO collective"
For the last month or so Russia has lost ground to the inferior NATO collective and Ukrainian forces.
If you think that's the whole force of NATO, you are ludicrously mistaken.
"Zelensky, meanwhile still can't find a decent suit"
I see you're grasping at straws. Is attacking Zelensky's attire the daily missive you've given?
"'Arsenals of Democracy'
Sounds almost like the Soviet's very own "Weapons of Peace".
"It's still entirely at the mercy of the West though and will never be independent again"
Ukraine does need external help since Russia is much bigger and with lots more weapons. They truly are at the mercy of West to provide materiel. They are still independent, even though Russia has tried to make them a vassal state for more than a decade now. Russia likes to have their puppets working for them, be it in Abkhazia, Transnistria, South Ossetia, or Luhansk and elsewhere.
"The mighty NATO, defeated by convicts with shovels."
That's something Skabeyeva might say in her show.
Russia has had problems enlisting people so convicts were the lowest hanging fruit. FWIW, those convicts were cannon fodder and most of them dead already. Yet Ukraine is advancing.
"If only Russia had de-industrialised like the West has, it wouldn't have been able to produce as many shovels"
Russia was supposed to have over 2,000 T-14 Armata tanks before the war. They only have a handful because all money was embezzled by Putin's cronies.
"Yes, well, there was the small matter of the civil war"
Again with the Russian propaganda viewpoint. It wasn't a civil war - hybrid war with Russia provided money, weapons and personnel - including Wagner mercenaries to fight war the separatists.
"and ethnic cleansing that started in 2014."
In 2014 Russia invaded Crimea and among other things jailed Ukrainians who didn't kowtow to the newly installed puppet regime.
Russia then started their persecution of Tatars, the titular people of Crimea.
"Again, we destroyed Yugoslavia"
You are telling revisionist garbage. Yugoslavia dissolved because Slovenians, Croatians and others wanted indepence, and Yugoslavia was already broken up when NATO came there.
"so why shouldn't Russia to the same to preven ethnic cleansing in Ukraine?"
There isn't ethnic cleansing going on by Ukraine, no matter how many times you write it.
I'm sure you're backing these conspiracy claims with good references in your next post.
https://thehill.com/policy/international/3790699-zelensky-agrees-to-ukraine-rebuild-investment-with-blackrock-ceo/
Zelensky’s office made the announcement on Wednesday. It came after Ukraine’s economic ministry signed a memorandum of understanding in November for BlackRock to provide advisory support for designing an investment framework.
10% for the little guy? And won't someone think of the fees? I mean children.. Then again, it'll be interesting to see how Ukraine complies with BlackRocks' ESG policies, and when Zelensky will start appointing LGBT+ people into organisations like the SBU.. Ukraine is not exactly progressive in that respect.
By negotiation, not by force.
Yep, funny how that works. There's a supposed peace conference kicking off in Saudi Arabia next week, but it's based on Zelensky's 'peace' plan. Which is essentially for Russia to surrender Crimea and all the territory it's gained, and then Zelensky will negotiate. Unsuprisingly Russia is unimpressed with this proposal. Especially given the way previous peace deals like Minsk worked out. Again it's one of the reasons why nations are drifting away from the West's sphere of influence because we've proven to be very untrustworthy.
Russia was supposed to have over 2,000 T-14 Armata tanks before the war. They only have a handful because all money was embezzled by Putin's cronies.
Nope, simpler reason. The early production models had a few snags. Plus they didn't want T-14's being captured. Ukraine's less concerned by this so has been busily littering the battlefields with the NATO gear they've been given. This also happened during the civil war with stuff like US counter-battery radars being abandoned in their transport cases for Russia to analyse. Given the number of conflicts the West has been involved in over the last few decades, Russian intelligence has had plenty of time to study equipment and tactics. We rely on air power, so Russia develops anti-air. We rely on cruise missiles, so Russia develops systems to shoot those down, and hypersonic missiles that are much harder to counter.
But Russia's also churning out older model MBTs by the hundreds. The UK can produce precisely zero new MBTs and has a very small number of serviceable Challenger 2s, with many of those being earmarked for upgrading to Challenger 3s. So a total of less than 200, or less than Ukraine's lost so far in it's much hyped counter offensive. It's much the same with other basics, like artillery, ammunition, missiles etc etc. And the same story across Europe. Germany's been planning a new MBT, but it'll be years before they enter service. If ever.
If nothing else this has been a rather rude wake-up call for the West and NATO. If Ukraine has been following NATO doctrine, then clearly it's not working, so a rethink is needed. What that will be is anyone's guess, but at a minimum it seems to suggest a need to massively boost production capacity for consumables like ammunition. It's also been the first drone war, so how to counter that threat, and whether that will cause a re-think of AFV design. And a cynic might suggest this is one of the reasons why this conflict has been allowed to continue. It's clearly demonstrated strategic weaknesses in NATO, and provided support for massive increases in defence spending.. But then wars have always been good for business, if you're part of the defence industry.
Nice to see an putin defender going all out. Why not move to russia?
My Russian is rather rusty. But perhaps some day. Places like Moscow or St Petersberg are cleaner and safer than places like LA, SF, London, Paris etc. Cost of living is also lower. Of course this may change as Ukraine continues emulating it's heroes. The SBU's just released a cartoon showing it's V-Weapons, complete with imagery ripped off from Venom ready to rain terror on the citizens of Russia. That's been spun as 'bringing the war to the Russian population', ie a blatant terror campaign. Slight snag is previous attacks on Russia have just lead to calls from the population to escalate and finish Ukraine.
At the moment, it suits Russia because the SMO has always been a war of attrition, not territory. Ukraine's been helping with that by throwing it's forces against Russian defences, and it simply can't afford to keep doing that. It's currently busily attacking Artemovsk, which it previously said was strategically unimportant. The location is/was an important logistics hub, but if you look at a map the NYT showed months ago, Russia's defence lines are far behind the city. Which is much the same along the line. Ukraine may almost have captured or bypassed Robotyne, or placed itself in another cauldron, but it's still a good few kilometers away from Russia's first line of defence.
And back to logistics.. The media's been spinning about Ukraine gaining artillery superiority, but only because it's concentrating it's remaining artillery in a few points. Which is back to the logistics and supply chain challenges. There's a shortage of ammunition in NATO, and a shortage of artillery. Perhaps chopping up old field guns and converting the barrels into bombs wasn't a good idea. Russia, China and N.Korea can churn out new field guns and ammunition far faster than we can. China still produces a lot of components we need to produce weapons, and perhaps it'll respond to our sanctions by banning more stuff to the West? What would happen if China banned the sale of DJIs?
Good of you to move to a country that invades its neighbours and sen missiles into civilianhouses.
I don't need to move for that to happen. We've done it repeatedly in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and France might be poised to start doing it in Niger. They've just had a coup, the ousted leader's asked for France to intervene. I wonder what would have happened if Russia had been asked to intervene in the same way after Ukraine's coup? Ok, apparently they were asked, but said 'No'.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's just attacked an office building in Moscow City, again. So rather suggests the target is a deliberate choice. The Bbc words the justification rather coyly-
A drone hit a skyscraper in Russia's capital Moscow, which houses government ministries, for the second time in two days
Of course it doesn't mention which government ministries, but it seems that as Zelensky says "this is an inevitable, natural, and absolutely fair process.", then it will also be fair for Russia to respond in kind. It's already warned a few times that attacks like this would result in more attacks against Ukraine's decision making centres, and has done so, eg the recent destruction of the SBU building.
While I've often agreed with your criticism of wind mills and other energy strategy madness by governments, the sickening pro-Kermlin fuckwittery you've regurgitated above has earned you the nuclear option on downvotes.
It's fine. Although people who criticise Western policy in this conflict are being jailed for exercising free speech, the UK hasn't gone quite that far. Yet. But what I find sickening is the determination of our leaders to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian, and the hypocrisy. Russia is doing nothing more than we've done to many small defenceless countries that wouldn't do what they were told. Next up will be Niger, which looks like it's heading for a "nuclear" war after it's coup, and banning uranium exports.
For the current conflict, you really need to look at Ukraine's history, it's red & black flag, and where that has flown before with the OUN. It's been a strange conflict with the media from warning about the rise of the far-right in Ukraine (and Russia) to now denying this and praising it. Plus there's been some other strange symbology as well as the WW2 stuff. A recent video had an SUV with the mark of Khorne proudly painted on it's door. Blood for the Blood God and all that. The general 'Chaos emblem is also rather popular. This risks invoking a serious escalation if Games Workshop's lawyers get involved.
But instead of our leaders calling for peace, they're continually calling for more weapons and more blood. Not their own of course, but other peoples. In their desperate attempt to defeat Russia, they seem perfectly happy to drag everybody down with it and destroy our economies. The consequences of sanctions on oil & gas prices were inevitable, but also suit our idiotic leader's NZ ambitions in 'reducing demand' by making it too expensive for people in the West to heat our homes. And our leaders also seem to be determined to expand the conflict and draw in China, because why not?
I wonder who invested all those trillions in building them factories,training and equipment in China ?
These same people are the greatest traitors in history, portrayed as heroes in WSJ and today they have created a nuclear monster with modern technology when they had basically nothing in the 80s.
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