Very enlightening and good observations both by the OP and by you, Mark. Thank you. "China is using sanctions against the USD. In the big picture, China has opened a new front in BRICS’ movement for independence from Anglo-Zionist hegemony." Very apparent once thinks of Russia and India, in particular. And here I thought Judo was Japanese :)
Venezuelan crude is useful for U.S. Gulf Coast refineries because they invested billions of dollars in infrastructure to process crude of that nature efficiently. You need a lot of hydrogen as well as delayed cokers to convert the residuals left after conventional refining. Similar crudes are available from other sources, but opening Venezuela as a source will put downward pressure on the price. As I recall, China did not have great infrastructure to process heavy sour crude very well, but they may be trading product elsewhere. I haven't been to China in ten years, so maybe they have improved some systems there (a lot of money that China doesn't have?).
Currently it seems Chinese Railways in Central and South America are more proposed, than actual building.
- Mexico high speed railway got killed. Chinese Transparency and corruption was the excuse, along with environmental concerns.
- Peru Brazil Railway would take 10 years, and the economics are suspect.
- Chile to Peru Railway in talk. Sounds like parts did exist. Sounds like an great train ride.
- Nicaragua Atlantic to Pacific Railway seems more talk. I don't understand the current status of railways in Nicaragua. Seems they had them, then they got mostly scrapped?
What surprised me in Mexico, was the lack of freight trains. When I visited Mazatlán, a big Mexico Port, the port infrastructure was poor, and even though there was a railroad, I never saw a train. Lots of truck transport. I wonder why? Supposedly it's the fourth largest port in Mexico. There is so much I don't understand about Mexico, especially their railways. Copper Canyon sounds like a great ride, I think it used to connect to the US.
Trains are an interest of mine, and efficient train freight service seems to help economies a lot.
I don't know about Mexico and the problem with trains. Maybe geographical? Its ports of any size (such as they are) are all on the Pacific coast and the Sierra Madre runs all along that, likely exacerbating construction costs and time. Also, the drug cartels (Sinaloa + CGNJ) control all the areas in those mountains all the way down to Guerrero and Oaxaca. Complicating factors at least, I would imagine.
If we had a patriotic rentier class they would be using some of "their" money along with USA diplomacy and prestige (now what's left of it) and economic power or what's left of it, to enable Venezuela to lift themselves up out of poverty while becoming an ally. Instead the Zionist run government views Venezuelans as sub-human only for exploitation=imperialism of the worst kind.
To be reminded of all this recent history, all of it took place in my lifetime, is so so useful, Mark, thank you. And the sources, I forgot already.
Blame my simple brain I guess but... it is surely possible for a US company to develop a bunch of wells in one area, and a Chinese company likewise, in another area. Plenty to share, a good opportunity to demonstrate the innate superiority of Western ways of doing things (/sarc), ultimately of benefit to the host nation-state.
(Setting aside that these companies are immense multinationals, able to redomicile in a click. Let's be blunt: China is way way better at Capitalism. That stings.)
At least The Trump administration is paying more attention to south of the border, which has been neglected for years by the U.S. I was amazed by Marks graph showing how most nations in central and South America now have more trade with China, than the U.S.
The two boat’s droning seems typical Trumpian negotiating. Where he opens with huge pressure, and then negotiates a deal. Basically a bunch of punches to the stomach.
Yes, but if China has contractual agreements in place with Venezuela they have a legitimate (legal) position to contest someone interfering with the ability of Venezuela to fulfill those contracts.
Very enlightening and good observations both by the OP and by you, Mark. Thank you. "China is using sanctions against the USD. In the big picture, China has opened a new front in BRICS’ movement for independence from Anglo-Zionist hegemony." Very apparent once thinks of Russia and India, in particular. And here I thought Judo was Japanese :)
Venezuelan crude is useful for U.S. Gulf Coast refineries because they invested billions of dollars in infrastructure to process crude of that nature efficiently. You need a lot of hydrogen as well as delayed cokers to convert the residuals left after conventional refining. Similar crudes are available from other sources, but opening Venezuela as a source will put downward pressure on the price. As I recall, China did not have great infrastructure to process heavy sour crude very well, but they may be trading product elsewhere. I haven't been to China in ten years, so maybe they have improved some systems there (a lot of money that China doesn't have?).
Currently it seems Chinese Railways in Central and South America are more proposed, than actual building.
- Mexico high speed railway got killed. Chinese Transparency and corruption was the excuse, along with environmental concerns.
- Peru Brazil Railway would take 10 years, and the economics are suspect.
- Chile to Peru Railway in talk. Sounds like parts did exist. Sounds like an great train ride.
- Nicaragua Atlantic to Pacific Railway seems more talk. I don't understand the current status of railways in Nicaragua. Seems they had them, then they got mostly scrapped?
What surprised me in Mexico, was the lack of freight trains. When I visited Mazatlán, a big Mexico Port, the port infrastructure was poor, and even though there was a railroad, I never saw a train. Lots of truck transport. I wonder why? Supposedly it's the fourth largest port in Mexico. There is so much I don't understand about Mexico, especially their railways. Copper Canyon sounds like a great ride, I think it used to connect to the US.
Trains are an interest of mine, and efficient train freight service seems to help economies a lot.
I don't know about Mexico and the problem with trains. Maybe geographical? Its ports of any size (such as they are) are all on the Pacific coast and the Sierra Madre runs all along that, likely exacerbating construction costs and time. Also, the drug cartels (Sinaloa + CGNJ) control all the areas in those mountains all the way down to Guerrero and Oaxaca. Complicating factors at least, I would imagine.
If we had a patriotic rentier class they would be using some of "their" money along with USA diplomacy and prestige (now what's left of it) and economic power or what's left of it, to enable Venezuela to lift themselves up out of poverty while becoming an ally. Instead the Zionist run government views Venezuelans as sub-human only for exploitation=imperialism of the worst kind.
Exactly!
To be reminded of all this recent history, all of it took place in my lifetime, is so so useful, Mark, thank you. And the sources, I forgot already.
Blame my simple brain I guess but... it is surely possible for a US company to develop a bunch of wells in one area, and a Chinese company likewise, in another area. Plenty to share, a good opportunity to demonstrate the innate superiority of Western ways of doing things (/sarc), ultimately of benefit to the host nation-state.
(Setting aside that these companies are immense multinationals, able to redomicile in a click. Let's be blunt: China is way way better at Capitalism. That stings.)
At least The Trump administration is paying more attention to south of the border, which has been neglected for years by the U.S. I was amazed by Marks graph showing how most nations in central and South America now have more trade with China, than the U.S.
The two boat’s droning seems typical Trumpian negotiating. Where he opens with huge pressure, and then negotiates a deal. Basically a bunch of punches to the stomach.
Yes, but if China has contractual agreements in place with Venezuela they have a legitimate (legal) position to contest someone interfering with the ability of Venezuela to fulfill those contracts.