PBH / Colombia / Start Forums▼ (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

In China-UNOCAL deal US is sounding a lot like Chavez

US government outcry over the Chinese company CNOOC's offer to buy UNOCAL for over 18 Billion USD forced the company to withdraw its offer. Citing national security concerns and using nationalist (almost anti-imperialist) rhetoric similar to what you often hear from leaders of developing countries the House and Senate agreed on a bill that would require the secretaries of energy, defense and homeland security to examine the CNOOC bid.

Yet these same people put extraordinary pressure on developing countries, like Mexico, to privatize thier oil industries so that American companies can take them over:)

Imagine what AMericans would do if, as is the case with many developing countries, China owned most of the major companies in the US, promoted "democracy" by bankrolling thier preferred presidential candidate, and bribed congressmen to pass laws favorable to Chinese firms?

I think Bush would sound a lot like Chavez, and that we could even American protesters, fists pounding in the air, chanting "Death to China!" :)

By vladimiro on Aug 3, 2005, 07:18 in Politics & the war.

utopiacowboy says on Aug 3, 2005, 07:28:

I think the Chinese should take over the world. Then we could blame them for everything instead of George Bush. I was listening to a report on National Public Radio today where a guy from a western oil company was talking about working with the Chinese oil company on a drilling rig. They had to convince the Chinese to stop dumping everything (garbage, toxic waste, etc) into the ocean. They also had to persuade them to stock enough life boats to save EVERYONE on the rig. The Chinese, gotta love 'em!!!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Bruce V. Shrader says on Aug 3, 2005, 07:33:

subject??? What has this got to do with Colombia????

0 funny, 0 helpful.

vladimiro says on Aug 3, 2005, 08:42:

Foreign investment vs. Nationalism "The U.S. is completely open to foreign investment in its energy sector (PdVSA, Shell, BP, etc) and China is almost completely closed. I think the reciprocity issue was part of it."

These seem more like road blocks the US threw up to try to stop the deal to me. I've only read a couple articles today on it but the underlying issue seemed similar to one of juggling foreign investment with nationalism that you often hear in developing countries. For instance, the concern senators expressed with China getting access to UNOCAL's advanced technology is nationalistic and seems more serious to me than the complaints, like CNOOC's access to low-interest financing, that they used to stop the deal.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

cali373 says on Aug 3, 2005, 08:54:

Where have you been There has always been a double standardm but what does this have to do with Colombia?

Smile if you are a thinker!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 3, 2005, 09:22:

Oil is oil The irony about this to me is that oil is a commodity. It really doesn't matter boo who owns Unocal in terms of the price of crude. Most of Unocal's production is overseas, and much of its ownership is already foreign.

The reciprocity argument (China being closed) holds some water with me but the national security issue is pure bunk.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

poco says on Aug 3, 2005, 22:16:

More political ranting The UP ROAR plus ADDING a zinger on a bill told china about all they need to know. It is correct that everything needs to be reviewed but adding it to a bill? That was not necessary, kind of like shooting China the finger.

The U.S. was wrong about this,, PLUS the deal from China was what? 4 Billion dollars higher,,, who in the U.S. government is paying the shareholder loss,,, NO ONE.

At least someone finally noted that OIL is a commodity. IT COSTS 60 plus dollars a barrel and ANYONE with cash / credit can buy a tanker load.

The same types of oil are fungible.

SUCKS.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

0 funny, 0 helpful.