• idiomaddict@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    I do not find them trustworthy, no. Additionally, I don’t like you putting words in my mouth, nor do I like you assuming where my information comes from or what I believed about WMDs, especially when you’re not even informed about the straight up WMF-level financial colonialism going on in the Congo (along with many other recipients of Belt and Road funding).

    To answer your questions: yes, yes, and set up defensive measures.

      • idiomaddict@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        This article about mining agreements in the former Katanga province talks about the fact that 90% of the mineral wealth in the region goes to China, the extortionate debt repayment terms, and the allegations of child labor, but the latter is sourced better here.

        • plyth@feddit.org
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          24 hours ago

          The situation doesn’t look that bad for China.

          The quote doesn’t talk about wealth:

          He said that 90% of the region’s minerals went to China.

          The wealth could still be split differently. Since Congo owns 30% of the mining company I would assume that share.

          The child labor articles mentions trafficking by militias. That would be the rebels then which would be less the government and China and more the West.

            • plyth@feddit.org
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              4 hours ago

              and eastern conflicts driven by groups like the M23 rebels, who smuggle coltan and gold,

              That’s Rwanda which is aligned with the West.

              China may exploit Congo but my impression is that we try to get a regime change or such to get the resources ourselves. If we manage to change Congo, which percentage would we offer?

              • idiomaddict@lemmy.world
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                37 minutes ago

                Oh, 100%. I’m not in favor of the US/Canada taking over either- they’re not going to manage anything better, nor will they be less exploitative. That’s what I meant by a grossly pro-US perspective, because it’s obvious that the first source wouldn’t care at all if it weren’t for the profit potential. It’s just also bad when China exploits them.

                I don’t know whether there is a solution that doesn’t involve some exploitation, but that’s why I distrust governments- they’re generally exploitative. My instinct would be that a local coalition of nations à la the EU would allow countries like the DRC to stand up to superpowers, but that would require their neighbors to prefer to ally with them over other nations, which is not the case.

    • Tomorrow_Farewell@lemmy.ml
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      1 day ago

      I do not find them trustworthy, no.

      Okay, what agreements did they break, and/or what countries did they invade this century, then?

      I don’t like you putting words in my mouth

      What words did I put in your mouth?

      nor do I like you assuming where my information comes from

      There are claims (and opinions) that you are making that have very few sources and those sources are the same where one would get stuff like Iraq having WMDs, so you definitely do need to engage in some reflection.

      especially when you’re not even informed about the straight up WMF-level financial colonialism going on in the Congo

      Considering that all of the claims about the PRC supposedly engaging in financial entrapment of other governments have been false, I have a good reason to disbelieve this claim unless I see a trustworthy source. (No, Adrian Zenz is not one, and neither is RFA.)

      along with many other recipients of Belt and Road funding

      Ah, so, it is just Zenz/RFA stuff, again.

      To answer your questions: yes, yes, and set up defensive measures.

      Defensive measures like what?

      • idiomaddict@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Gee, as fun as this is, I am not enjoying it and I’m going to stop.

        As a last note: I was doubtful about whether Uyghurs were mistreated when all of the sources lead back to Zenz, because I didn’t think he was a trustworthy source either. You should look into it more, because it’s no longer the case that he is the only source of information about the genocide China is currently conducting against Uyghurs.

        • Tomorrow_Farewell@lemmy.ml
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          22 hours ago

          Ok. What are the other sources?
          So far, I am not aware of any, other than a meeting where they admitted to having been unable to verify their own sources.