Love to hear from the "other side of the pond"! Your guest was very frank and practical about the future of "geopolitics and empire"!
The denial of a 'social credit score" was a bit disingenuous and reminded me of Bill Clinton's "it depends on what the definition of "is" is" lol. The mention of Running Man comes up a lot, but I stand by my prediction that our future will be much more like the society of "Demolition Man" in that society will gladly trade away all liberties for the sake of "security" without much confrontation at all with the powers that rule. Taco Bell for everyone! (although in the version I watched recently, they switched Taco Bell for Pizza Hut - the memory hole has already been opened...)
Great objective interview. Different societies may have different priorities and goals. Homogenesis societies are more likely to grow with less or minimal civil friction. What is good for the Chinese may not be good for Russians or Mexicans.
Great guest Hrvoje. I just came across his work recently.
What he says about China & Shenzhen in particular is spot on. I lived 13 years in Shenzhen until late 2021. People would be astonished as to how technologically advanced these places are and how futuristic they seem. My wife is from Wuhan, a tier-2 city, but just its real estate (high rises) is impressive. My last two years working in Shenzhen was mostly teaching in various depts. at Tencent. Very impressive.
As for what Eric said about China being not as dependent on the U.S. is so true and unlike what most people [wrongfully] think. The majority of their trade is NOT with the U.S. And there's a huge rapprochement currently happening with Japan, a long time foe. Here are some very telling links that attests to this:
- ASEAN (official statement): Joint Statement of the 28th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting, May 4, 2025
The only thing I would disagree a bit with Eric is the surveillance aspect. Sure, the tech is mostly beneficial for social harmony; but, as a foreigner living there - though we were perhaps not as tracked as much (like on WeChat) I didn't like all the excessive biometric surveillance and often paranoid procedures that I would need to go through for X or Y. But this is normal. Eric was born there and was brought up in a very different mindset/conditioning. I know because I taught elementary + middle school + high school students (as well as adults) for many years; so, I know how they are conditioned to think of the group/collective first. But overall the main benefit is very positive since you do have a more harmonious society with a lot less crime compared to the West. I always felt very safe in China.
BABA was my only stock position until Scott Bessent brazenly stated that Chinese stocks could be delisted. I am almost 62 so it wasn't worth the risk. Now that it has stabilized I may repurchase. The US government is acting like a dictatorship that the constituents did not vote for. A declining power that is lashing out in despair.
Love to hear from the "other side of the pond"! Your guest was very frank and practical about the future of "geopolitics and empire"!
The denial of a 'social credit score" was a bit disingenuous and reminded me of Bill Clinton's "it depends on what the definition of "is" is" lol. The mention of Running Man comes up a lot, but I stand by my prediction that our future will be much more like the society of "Demolition Man" in that society will gladly trade away all liberties for the sake of "security" without much confrontation at all with the powers that rule. Taco Bell for everyone! (although in the version I watched recently, they switched Taco Bell for Pizza Hut - the memory hole has already been opened...)
Great objective interview. Different societies may have different priorities and goals. Homogenesis societies are more likely to grow with less or minimal civil friction. What is good for the Chinese may not be good for Russians or Mexicans.
Great guest Hrvoje. I just came across his work recently.
What he says about China & Shenzhen in particular is spot on. I lived 13 years in Shenzhen until late 2021. People would be astonished as to how technologically advanced these places are and how futuristic they seem. My wife is from Wuhan, a tier-2 city, but just its real estate (high rises) is impressive. My last two years working in Shenzhen was mostly teaching in various depts. at Tencent. Very impressive.
As for what Eric said about China being not as dependent on the U.S. is so true and unlike what most people [wrongfully] think. The majority of their trade is NOT with the U.S. And there's a huge rapprochement currently happening with Japan, a long time foe. Here are some very telling links that attests to this:
- ASEAN (official statement): Joint Statement of the 28th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting, May 4, 2025
https://asean.org/joint-statement-of-the-28th-asean3-finance-ministers-and-central-bank-governors-meeting/
PDF: https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Final-Draft-of-Joint-Statement_28th-AFMGM3-clean_20250504.pdf
- Xinhua Commentary: Against global headwinds, Asia finds strength in cooperation, 2025-04-12
https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20250412/40a88339bfcc4af1a2d300d15032ec04/c.html
- ChinaDaily - Former Japanese PM: Japan should redefine its position and role in Asia instead of aligning with the US, 2025-04-30
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202504/30/WS6811a8e1a310a04af22bd11b.html
Plus like Eric said, China is opening up gold vaults around the world to back the yuan for trade:
- China Rapidly Moves To Global Yuan-Gold Trade Settlement With New International Gold Facilities
https://jensendavid.substack.com/p/china-rapidly-moves-to-global-yuan
- SCMP: China to boost yuan with overseas gold storage facilities as it challenges US hegemony, 23 Apr 2025
https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3307555/china-boost-yuan-overseas-gold-storage-facilities-it-challenges-us-hegemony
- PBOC Official Press Release on this: http://www.pbc.gov.cn/en/3688110/3688172/5552468/5680562/index.html
The only thing I would disagree a bit with Eric is the surveillance aspect. Sure, the tech is mostly beneficial for social harmony; but, as a foreigner living there - though we were perhaps not as tracked as much (like on WeChat) I didn't like all the excessive biometric surveillance and often paranoid procedures that I would need to go through for X or Y. But this is normal. Eric was born there and was brought up in a very different mindset/conditioning. I know because I taught elementary + middle school + high school students (as well as adults) for many years; so, I know how they are conditioned to think of the group/collective first. But overall the main benefit is very positive since you do have a more harmonious society with a lot less crime compared to the West. I always felt very safe in China.
BABA was my only stock position until Scott Bessent brazenly stated that Chinese stocks could be delisted. I am almost 62 so it wasn't worth the risk. Now that it has stabilized I may repurchase. The US government is acting like a dictatorship that the constituents did not vote for. A declining power that is lashing out in despair.