The Chinese are preparing to build a new transoceanic (Atlantic to Pacific) shipping-canal through Nicaragua. It will make the Panama Canal obsolete. They will use nuclear power for digging. Thoughts?
It's going to devastate the ecology of Nicaraguan lakes. That said, in a war with China, after we take over Nicaragua it will give our carriers an easier route from Atlantic to Pacific.
I own a place in Granada, so I am paying fairly close attention to it. I don't believe it will make the Panama canal obsolete. Both passages will be needed. Nicaragua will be able to take larger ships than the Panama canal even after they get done upgrading the Panama canal. They are talking about two new airports also. The Chinese have been investing in Nicaragua for some time, building malls and shopping centers. So they probably are feeling safe about the stability of Nicaragua politics to move forward on the canal. Nicaragua would not let American companies bid on the project. When I am there locals talk about the Iran contra affair like it was yesterday. People my own age have vivid childhood horror stories they have told me. I was told me we slowed down Nicaragua's progress by 20 years because of our meddling. Might have something to do with their disdain for American government? Chinese are currently considered the best builders in the world, so I am sure they will get it done on time. Nicaragua is kind-of following Costa Rica's blueprint. Foreigners have all the rights of citizens to own property and run businesses. Many awesome tax laws to lure in more revenue. Lots of opportunity awaits in Nicaragua for those who go and seize it.
Understanding the definition of the word "continent", the continent of America was one continent some decades ago. The Panama canal was built and divide the America continent in two parts. China will be so powerful that will divide this continent one more time. Geologically speaking, in the future we will have North America, Central America and South America. About the canal of Panama itself, Panama might charge cheaper and keep being in business...
The Chinese are building it with the huge trade surplus they have with the USofA, which has deprived us of the capital we could have used to build it ourselves. Ain't globalization great? And, sooner or later, our capitalists will be sending our military down there to keep the canal open under the guise of mushroom clouds, babies being killed in Nicaraguan hospitals, Nicaraguans are nasty to their women, or some other such crap. The capitalist sell-out of America continues.
But won't global warming have melted all the polar ice and so opened up the Northwest Passage by the time that's done? http://theconversation.com/opening-the-fabled-northwest-passage-triumph-or-tragedy-9660 And the idea of using nuclear bombs to dig a canal through one of the world's most active earthquake zones seems...questionable I've heard talk of this since I was a small child, (well, not really, the continents hadn't drifted together back then.)
Ignoring any ecological issues in the discussion- competition is good. Two competing canals will probably benefit Americans and the world economy.
I've advocated many times on PF that an interesting civil project for the USA would be to build a shipping canal along the US/Mexico border, from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. It would be a grand project employing millions for years, developing those areas on both sides of the border, and greatly reducing the shipping transit times. Regarding China, they are making better decisions, are more involved around the world, than we in the USA have done, and are IMO poised to dominate the world's economy. This development in Nicaragua is a good example how this is unfolding...
The issue with the polar ice caps melting is that it will take decades for that to happen, close to a century. And considering the heavy effort by the world leaders to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the climate from changing drastically; if they are successful the melting of the polar ice caps could be significantly delayed, and maybe even stop. As for the earthquake zone, let's keep in mind here that after the Fukushima and Chernobyl disasters, I think it is safe to say that humans have really ramped up the safety policies and machinery when it comes to handling nuclear power and bombs. Though for the sake of curiosity, where exactly did you heard that they are going to use nuclear bombs -mini bombs if one prefers- to dig through the canal?
I agree. They have embarked on a long term strategy to create financial hegemony without military threat, nor would there be the massive cultural invasion of american consumer commercialization (I doubt chains of Wang's Chicken or Mao cola machines or fongs fast noodles will start sprouting up). Oh the exploitation will be the same if not more rapacious, because in the end, its a strategy about securing strategic natural resources and raw materials. AND they do seem willing to at least kiss the screwee.
Too bad we can't time-warp back to about 1980, and if we could reduce military spending between then and now by 50%, and spend that money to further develop education and commerce in the USA...how things would be so different. The only thing more idiotic about wasting all this money in the past on military spending is that we're doing the same thing in the foreseeable future. China doesn't need to develop Wang's Chicken since they're already investing $5-$10 billion per year in existing US companies. People, especially Americans, who grossly underestimate China, are just being arrogant...
