Is it possible to live a modern life boycotting China
Discussion
I was just having an idle thought the other day - namely is it even possible for "Joe Public" to buy half the things "needed" for a modern life and cut China out of the loop?
I'd imagine that there's not a car, computer, white good or tv without some input from PRC... quite a quandary if you'd like to do away with them?
I'd imagine that there's not a car, computer, white good or tv without some input from PRC... quite a quandary if you'd like to do away with them?
China is quite comfortably the worlds largest exporter and has spent decades ensuring it remains in that position by undercutting and destroying the manufacturing profitability of other countries.
There is a chance you could find other companies and countries to create electronics and components to recreate the mod-cons we are used to however you would probably spend the rest of your life tracking them down and the costs would be enormous.
It's not just electronic components either, it's the raw materials oxides and rare earth minerals; some of which only China manufacturers now. So you would need to start your own mining and manufacturing plants.
TL/DR
No - not without massive investment and time.
There is a chance you could find other companies and countries to create electronics and components to recreate the mod-cons we are used to however you would probably spend the rest of your life tracking them down and the costs would be enormous.
It's not just electronic components either, it's the raw materials oxides and rare earth minerals; some of which only China manufacturers now. So you would need to start your own mining and manufacturing plants.
TL/DR
No - not without massive investment and time.
Spare tyre said:
I’d say Nearly everything in my house apart from wood And tiles has something to do with China
I guess it’s a race to the bottom
are you sure the coatings, paint or pigments used by these items don't originate from China? I would guess it's impossible to buy something which has not in part originated from China. Unless it is food. But then even the conveyor belts used in packing food will come from China. The more you think about stuff the worse it gets.I guess it’s a race to the bottom
I was shocked to find Chinese produced garlic at the North End Road Market (SW london) the other day!
But seriously, it's too late now, most manufactured goods will have some component or material sourced from China.
I'm surprised that from a trade point of view, we let them steal our IP, manufacture similar goods/components at a cheaper price (at the environment's and human rights' cost), and bought them back from them for such a long time!
And only now are we waking up to the fact that our supply chains are completely dependent on them!
But seriously, it's too late now, most manufactured goods will have some component or material sourced from China.
I'm surprised that from a trade point of view, we let them steal our IP, manufacture similar goods/components at a cheaper price (at the environment's and human rights' cost), and bought them back from them for such a long time!
And only now are we waking up to the fact that our supply chains are completely dependent on them!
J4CKO said:
Be interesting to see whether manufacturers move production or source components differently. Thing is, its not the average Chinese person we have anything against, its the evil machine that runs the joint.
Don't worry, I don't think anyone is blaming chinese individuals. Apart from the guy who ate the bat.Hoofy said:
J4CKO said:
Be interesting to see whether manufacturers move production or source components differently. Thing is, its not the average Chinese person we have anything against, its the evil machine that runs the joint.
Don't worry, I don't think anyone is blaming chinese individuals. Apart from the guy who ate the bat.There’s an active drive to not buy Chinese in our house. It’s hard.
On the plus side my kids are getting a great deal less plastic junk...I’m telling them that if they can take a boycott day off school to protest the climate then they can go without plastic. In reality I’m just not buying toys from China, which is now almost all of them.
Also got a new laptop this week, at the budget end where I live the Chinese OEM stuff was the most competitive, so I went with a refurbed Dell and just sUncle duplex the fact that most of the bits were from China.
On the plus side my kids are getting a great deal less plastic junk...I’m telling them that if they can take a boycott day off school to protest the climate then they can go without plastic. In reality I’m just not buying toys from China, which is now almost all of them.
Also got a new laptop this week, at the budget end where I live the Chinese OEM stuff was the most competitive, so I went with a refurbed Dell and just sUncle duplex the fact that most of the bits were from China.
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