China builds longest bridge

[uk_vette]

Fittster said:

Bing o said:

Fittster said:

jbi said:

in 50 years time China's GDP will be over 40 trillion dollars (est), I think the Chinese can spare $20-30 Billion and manpower is not an issue either.

Go and have a look at China's demographics, cheap labour is going to run out quite soon.

Not been a problem for the Arabs has it...?

I wasn't aware of large chinese oil reserves.

.
North East China, up by Daqin (Known as Oil City ) and Harbin.
Mostly in the Heilongjiang province.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daqing_Field

4th largest field in the world.

There is a little known fact that China is the biggest gold producer in the world.
Overtaking South Africa some years ago,



'vette

Edited by uk_vette on Monday 10th January 14:39

Edited by uk_vette on Monday 10th January 14:39

Edited by uk_vette on Monday 10th January 14:40

[Jimbeaux]

smifffymoto said:

Because they can and to show themselves as the only true superpower left in the world.

If you were to look at what constitutes such a thing, I think you will find them still lacking.

[Jimbeaux]

jbi said:

Halb said:

smifffymoto said:

Because they can and to show themselves as the only true superpower left in the world.

Maybe one day, and one day approaching quicker with each passing day, but not today, the American eagle is still flying high.

yup... should pass the USA in GDP (PPP) in the next few years though

Next "few" years?

[Jimbeaux]

Fittster said:

Bing o said:

Fittster said:

With an ageing West Population they are likely to face competition for workers. They are also likely to be a bit cheesed off with they find all those American bonds aren't worth what they paid for them.

Which is why the Chinese are mining most of Africa and using the locals as slave labour. There is a reason why their empire has been kicking around for a few millenia....

China have never really had an Empire, certainly not to the extent that European nations have historically had.

Other BRIC countries have far brighter futures than China.

Agreed Fitt. Their two roads of Capitalism and dictatorship are going to cross at some point. Either way, they will have a slowdown.

[Pints]

uk_vette said:

There is a little known fact that China is the biggest gold producer in the world.
Overtaking South Africa some years ago,

South Africa has since been overtaken by more countries. I think they're currently languishing in 5th.

[Jimbeaux]

uk_vette said:

Fittster said:

Bing o said:

Fittster said:

jbi said:

in 50 years time China's GDP will be over 40 trillion dollars (est), I think the Chinese can spare $20-30 Billion and manpower is not an issue either.

Go and have a look at China's demographics, cheap labour is going to run out quite soon.

Not been a problem for the Arabs has it...?

I wasn't aware of large chinese oil reserves.

.
North East China, up by Daqin (Known as Oil City ) and Harbin.
Mostly in the Heilongjiang province.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daqing_Field

4th largest field in the world.

There is a little known fact that China is the biggest gold producer in the world.
Overtaking South Africa some years ago,



'vette

Edited by uk_vette on Monday 10th January 14:39

Edited by uk_vette on Monday 10th January 14:39

Edited by uk_vette on Monday 10th January 14:40

Arguments like that are subjective. For example, rare earth mining. China has much of that in Africa. We even buy it while it is cheap. If they jack it up, we can reopen productive mines we closed due to them being non-economical. If they become needed or economically practical again, they are there.

[Bing o]

Jimbeaux said:

jbi said:

Halb said:

smifffymoto said:

Because they can and to show themselves as the only true superpower left in the world.

Maybe one day, and one day approaching quicker with each passing day, but not today, the American eagle is still flying high.

yup... should pass the USA in GDP (PPP) in the next few years though

Next "few" years?

It's supposed to be early '20's - http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-gdp-overta...

Fittster said:

China have never really had an Empire, certainly not to the extent that European nations have historically had.

Other BRIC countries have far brighter futures than China.

The Chinese withdrew from the world stage in the 1430's. Up until then, they had sent the largest armada ever seen to places as far afield as East Africa. IIRC, the Chinese have never fought a major battle on foreign soil (I think they beat up the Thais in the 15th Century, but apart from that, their dominance was achieved through trading).

It would be a very different world if the Chinese had sailed East instead of West, as they were centuries ahead of the Western Europeans.

[TEKNOPUG]

The biggest reason that China can build a bridge this long and we can't if because we have no need to. Sure, it's a great engineering feat but civil engineering is only there to solve a problem; and if we don't have a problem of such magnitude, then we aren't going to build something to solve it.

We built the Chunnel and had France been another 15 miles away then we would have built it another 15 miles long. But it isn't, so we are stuck with only our relatively "minor" feats of engineering.

[Halb]

Bing o said:

It would be a very different world if the Chinese had sailed East instead of West, as they were centuries ahead of the Western Europeans.

At what point in time?

[jbi]

Bing o said:

Jimbeaux said:

jbi said:

Halb said:

smifffymoto said:

Because they can and to show themselves as the only true superpower left in the world.

Maybe one day, and one day approaching quicker with each passing day, but not today, the American eagle is still flying high.

yup... should pass the USA in GDP (PPP) in the next few years though

Next "few" years?

It's supposed to be early '20's - http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-gdp-overta...

That would be nominal GDP

I was referring to GDP based on purchasing power parity which is arguably a more accurate indicator of national wealth as it takes cost of living into account.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...

As you can see China is sitting at $10,084,369 for 2010 and the USA at $14,624,184

Assuming Chinese growth of 10% annually and USA growth of approx 3.5% it will be roughly 5-6 years

[eccles]

Can you see it from space?

[Jimbeaux]

jbi said:

Bing o said:

Jimbeaux said:

jbi said:

Halb said:

smifffymoto said:

Because they can and to show themselves as the only true superpower left in the world.

Maybe one day, and one day approaching quicker with each passing day, but not today, the American eagle is still flying high.

yup... should pass the USA in GDP (PPP) in the next few years though

Next "few" years?

It's supposed to be early '20's - http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-gdp-overta...

That would be nominal GDP

I was referring to GDP based on purchasing power parity which is arguably a more accurate indicator of national wealth as it takes cost of living into account.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_...

As you can see China is sitting at $10,084,369 for 2010 and the USA at $14,624,184

Assuming Chinese growth of 10% annually and USA growth of approx 3.5% it will be roughly 5-6 years

Won't happen IMO. Check back in 3-5.

[Bing o]

Halb said:

Bing o said:

It would be a very different world if the Chinese had sailed East instead of West, as they were centuries ahead of the Western Europeans.

At what point in time?

A good read here - as an example, the Chinese invented the blast furnace some 2,000 years before the west did. Boat construction was also some 700 years ahead of the West's as two examples.

http://east_west_dialogue.tripod.com/id1.html

[slipstream 1985]

petemurphy said:

1A said:

Puggit said:

why?!

Same reason the Americans built the hoover dam when times were hard.

to hide megatron?

lmao!!!

[superkartracer]

Puggit said:

Telegraph

But you really have to ask - why?!

Because they can, we can't even build a f**King simple motorway... that works.

[Martial Arts Man]

Slightly off topic here, but why do some people revel in the prospect of China becoming the most poweful nation on Earth?

Whether it happens or not (I personally think China has a very long way to go!) it won't be like the Ming Dynasty or whatever. There will be no romantic fairytale take over followed by repairing the world's ills. The Chinese are the most racist, xenophobic ruthless folks about. Their second coming wouldn't be good news for us!

For all of its faults, the US has been a faithful friend (on the whole) to us Brits; why the glee at the prospect of its decline?

[Sonic]

TEKNOPUG said:

The biggest reason that China can build a bridge this long and we can't if because we have no need to. Sure, it's a great engineering feat but civil engineering is only there to solve a problem; and if we don't have a problem of such magnitude, then we aren't going to build something to solve it.

We built the Chunnel and had France been another 15 miles away then we would have built it another 15 miles long. But it isn't, so we are stuck with only our relatively "minor" feats of engineering.

I like that explanation.

[Jimbeaux]

Martial Arts Man said:

Slightly off topic here, but why do some people revel in the prospect of China becoming the most poweful nation on Earth?

Whether it happens or not (I personally think China has a very long way to go!) it won't be like the Ming Dynasty or whatever. There will be no romantic fairytale take over followed by repairing the world's ills. The Chinese are the most racist, xenophobic ruthless folks about. Their second coming wouldn't be good news for us!

For all of its faults, the US has been a faithful friend (on the whole) to us Brits; why the glee at the prospect of its decline?

"The Chinese are the most racist, xenophobic ruthless folks about"

This. People should be careful what they hope for.

[jbi]

Jimbeaux said:

Martial Arts Man said:

Slightly off topic here, but why do some people revel in the prospect of China becoming the most poweful nation on Earth?

Whether it happens or not (I personally think China has a very long way to go!) it won't be like the Ming Dynasty or whatever. There will be no romantic fairytale take over followed by repairing the world's ills. The Chinese are the most racist, xenophobic ruthless folks about. Their second coming wouldn't be good news for us!

For all of its faults, the US has been a faithful friend (on the whole) to us Brits; why the glee at the prospect of its decline?

"The Chinese are the most racist, xenophobic ruthless folks about"

This. People should be careful what they hope for.

I agree.

I like the idea of millions lifted from poverty into a better life, but the Chinese in general are nationalistic, intolerant and deeply suspicious of what they call "the west"

I watch their progress with some fascination, however I am in two minds about whether or not it is a good thing for the rest of us.

[dandarez]

Sonic said:

TEKNOPUG said:

The biggest reason that China can build a bridge this long and we can't if because we have no need to. Sure, it's a great engineering feat but civil engineering is only there to solve a problem; and if we don't have a problem of such magnitude, then we aren't going to build something to solve it.

We built the Chunnel and had France been another 15 miles away then we would have built it another 15 miles long. But it isn't, so we are stuck with only our relatively "minor" feats of engineering.

I like that explanation.

I don't!
If it had been another 15 miles it wouldn't be open yet. AND would you get across without a hitch (how many 'hitches' 'fires' 'delay's etc have there been to date?).

We used to have the greatest engineers in the world, the likes of Telford, Brunel etc.
Now, an engineer can be a jobsworth on a Council. Christ, even they can't repair potholes properly!

When we 'needed to' build some small bridges (remember Cockermouth and the floods?) all credit to the Army who stepped in to build a temporary walk bridge in a week.

But what about the proper bridges to cross the 'river' to replace those that had collapsed?
A river, the width of a fag paper compared to the Chinese feat!

Yeah, took nearly half a year to complete the Workington one.

Here's some useful info for you.
It cost £4.6m for this new 'Jansen' (read on to find why it has this name) road bridge.
The town was split in half when the floods destroyed Northside Bridge and badly damaged nearby Calva Bridge.

Engineering firm Morgan Est 'built' (operative word) the 350-tonne, two-lane bridge while motorists wanting to cross the River Derwent had to continue to make an 18-mile detour via Cockermouth.

The good old British Government funded the £4.6m.

And here's the rub!
Sections of the 220ft structure were transported from ...

HOLLAND!

There's a Chinese puzzle for you!

Brunel, if he were alive, would be on a slowfast boat to China!