In all likelihood the de-risking/de-globalizing trend will hold going forward. Xi Jinping may alternate between wolf-warrior diplomacy and charm offensive all he wants, but he won't change the fact that America keeps pushing him back further and further. You reap what you sow.
America doesn't hesitate to hit the PRC where it hurts, economically and geopolitically. As early as 2021 the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, like Shanghai-based Caixin, had already sounded the alarm, only to be ignored by Beijing.
The SCMP, then under Ma Yun, pointed out that America wouldn't let go of its sanctions against the solar industry in Xinjiang, a hot-spot of human rights violation. Beijing remained unmoved, unsurprisingly. However, Beijing just chose to ignore North Carolina.
Reality check: The kind of high-quality quartz which is key to Xinjiang's solar boom comes from Spruce Pine, North Carolina. This quartz is also indispensable to high-grade chip manufacturing.
Reality bites.
Author: renqiulan
![1708391408848453.jpg 3060c2dc-35bb-11ec-bf9d-b73b258185bb_image_hires_101153.jpg](/upfile/image/20240219/1708391408848453.jpg)
SCMP (October 26, 2021)
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