Chapter 1143 We Can’t Let the Chinese Be So Arrogant Anymore (2 in 1)

The investment plan for the UAE was ultimately not discussed in detail.

But fortunately, it didn’t stop there——

In the international environment of 2004, it was a very valuable opportunity for such a market that was relatively friendly to China and had a relatively mild environment to actively extend an invitation.

It is basically equivalent to a novice village, which allows Chinese companies that want to "go global" to avoid facing hellish difficulties right from the start.

Therefore, Chang Haonan and Li Zhongyi finally agreed to not make a large-scale announcement about the matter for the time being, but first, in the name of the four equipment industry departments, require the relevant companies and research institutions to summarize the results achieved in recent years and the results that may be achieved in the short term, to see if they can screen out projects with potential for investment in the Middle East.

At the same time, we will make use of Li Zhongyi's past connections in the oil system and try our best to obtain overseas investment in incremental oil and gas projects.

This two-pronged approach will prioritize showing sincerity and stabilizing the UAE's mentality, and then encourage domestic companies to go overseas on a large scale when the time is ripe in the future.

However, Li Zhongyi was still somewhat unwilling to accept this.

Before Chang Haonan was about to leave, he asked again with lingering interest:

"Advisor Chang, can't we achieve foreign investment or cooperation in the aviation industry through this AWACS project like we did several times before?"

Chang Haonan sighed softly:

"If it is feasible, I would also like to use this familiar method."

"But if I remember correctly, the UAE has a population of less than 450 million, and except for two urban areas where every inch of land is valuable, it is almost all desert... Under such conditions, it is impossible for them to develop industries other than petrochemicals, not to mention aviation manufacturing, which has very high requirements for land and workers' quality..."

In fact, Li Zhongyi knew it very well in his heart, but there are some things that he has to hear from others before he will give up.

For leaders of a department at the level of the Industrial and Construction Commission, it is almost impossible to find another example like Ding Gaoheng who can be in charge of the same system for more than 20 years.

Therefore, he still hopes to achieve at least some interim results during his tenure.

Otherwise, you will just be making things easier for others, which is always a bit uncomfortable.

"All right……"

Li Zhongyi showed a slightly regretful expression, but still stood up to see the guest off in person...

……

Compared with the joyous atmosphere in China, the atmosphere in a white house on the other side of the earth seemed a little off.

In the magnificent Oval Office, Mr. Bush was leaning on his office chair with one hand on his forehead, his head half drooped, looking as if his body was hollowed out.

Logically speaking, as a politician, 58 years old should be the prime of his life.

But the current situation is not optimistic either for him or for the entire Elephant Party.

First of all, the war situation, which seemed to be very good a few months ago, suddenly took a turn for the worse after entering 2004.

Because Paul Bremer, who was directly appointed by the White House, was completely incompetent, there was widespread rebellion in the Mesopotamian region, which completely dispelled all the fantasies of allowing the US military to return home for Christmas in 2003.

The first Battle of Fallujah two months ago was a mess and almost destroyed the confidence of the Marines, but they still only killed 400 of the 800 militants.

Not only did it fail to improve public security in Anbar Province, but it made the region even more chaotic.

As the public gradually becomes desensitized to the attack three years ago, opposition to the use of military force abroad is growing louder.

The media controlled by the Donkey Party naturally would not miss such an opportunity.

They edited together footage of the president's speech announcing victory in the war a year ago on the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier with footage of the brutal battle in Fallujah, and played it on various media outlets to highlight the slap in the face.

Secondly, the differences of opinion within the party are almost exposed. Powell and Cheney are almost out of control, and although the identity of security adviser Condoleezza Rice is useful, she is really lacking in ability. The entire leadership team is in a state of being a vanguard without a general...

The only good news is probably that the economic situation is slowly emerging from the shadow of the Internet bubble and the Asian financial crisis and has entered a relatively prosperous phase.

But this is only compared with previous years.

If we compare it with other major economies, a growth rate of 6%-3% for six consecutive quarters is not satisfactory.

Although statistical magic has been used to bring the paper employment rate to a new high since the Cold War, this kind of thing may deceive outsiders, but it is obviously of no use to the people who actually hold the votes.

Especially when compared with the EU and China next door, Mr. Bush looks like a useless person who only knows how to engage in war...

In short, the current election situation is not optimistic.

Almost all forecasting agencies believe that the Democratic Party will return to the White House.

This was really hard for him to bear, as he came from a powerful family and had a smooth career before...

Just when the little bush was being emo alone, a phone on the table suddenly rang.

It was not until a few seconds later that he managed to move his body and picked up the receiver.

It's like a computer that has its power button pressed but is slow to respond.

"Mr. President, I have an important document here."

The voice of Deputy Secretary of State John Roberts came from the other end of the line.

"come in."

In any case, he still had basic awareness as a politician, so he took a deep breath and quickly readjusted himself.

It's just that the fatigue caused by long-term lack of rest is difficult to completely cover up...

Soon, Bolton strode into the Oval Office and placed a document on the desk in front of Bush:

"Your Excellency, Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv have already signed a memorandum of understanding. We don't have to worry about the problems between them for the time being..."

"ok, I get it."

The latter flipped open the file and quickly glanced at the contents:

"Finally, a big trouble has been solved... Congratulations."

Although he said this, his expression did not relax at all.

Even when he saw the details on the second page, he frowned slightly——

That’s the part about the Davidic State’s commitment to the UAE.

Thanks to his years of experience in "serving" the Bush father and son, Bolton guessed his leader's thoughts almost instantly.

The United States is now facing a trend of "not being able to win and not being able to withdraw" in the Middle East. Considering domestic public opinion, its future strategy will inevitably rely more on the role of the GCC.

At such a critical juncture, it is obviously not a good thing for allies to engage in infighting.

So he quickly added:

"After the talks, I have clearly warned Silvan Shalom of the Davidic State to keep a low profile at least until the end of this year's election, otherwise if the Donkey Party comes to power, many things may get out of control..."

The face of the small bush opposite changed slightly, but the worry in his eyes did not diminish.

In fact, what he was worried about was not what was happening in front of him.

But it is more long-term, the situation ten or twenty years later.

Since the 1960s, the State of David has been Washington's main tool for controlling the situation in the Middle East and its most important strategic asset in the region, without a doubt.

But with the end of the Cold War and the euro beginning to threaten the international status of the US dollar, the priority of the GCC countries in the diplomatic sequence has been rapidly increasing in recent years.

Under such circumstances, the David Kingdom, which has a strong desire to stir up trouble, is transforming from the most important strategic asset to the most troublesome strategic burden.

From a rational point of view, we should make decisions when necessary.

However, the huge investment in David Country in the past has already formed an extremely solid interest relationship in North America.

The food and clothing of millions of canal workers depend on it, and this cannot be changed by any individual's will.

It even gives the former the ability and ambition to turn the tables.

If this continues, the United States may be dragged into the quagmire by the other side...

Looking at the leader with a gloomy face and no words, Bolton finally became impatient after waiting for a few minutes and called out softly:

"Mr. President?"

Wake up the little bush from brainstorming.

The latter knew that at this critical moment of the election, the David country issue was a high-risk slide that could not be touched, so he quickly changed the subject:

"Oh...I'm not thinking about David Country."

"That……"

Bolton also had good intentions and wanted to share the burden.

But for the small bush, they had to make up an excuse.

As usual, at times like this, one country needs to take the blame:

"I'm worried about China."

"The trouble this time was ultimately caused by someone interfering... Including during Operation Allied Force in 1999, it was also them who intervened when we were about to defeat the Euro and forced the Euro's exchange rate to remain above 1. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many troubles now..."

The little bush was just saying it casually, but once he opened his mouth, it was like a landslide, and there was no way to stop it:

"Going back further, when Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merged, they also colluded with Europe and almost ruined the entire merger..."

"Throughout the 1990s, if the Chinese hadn't interfered with the blood transfusion, the Russians would never have been able to recover so quickly..."

"besides……"

In short, after taking inventory of all the "glorious deeds", they were directly put into the pile of unforgivable crimes.

Of course, although Little Bush is not very smart, he still has some basic common sense.

After China entered the international trade system, he was definitely one of the biggest beneficiaries.

Especially in the past few years since he took office, if it were not for the large amount of cheap industrial products exported by China, it would be difficult to guarantee even an economic growth rate of 3-4%.

So, after spraying it on his mouth, the refreshed little bush didn't plan to do anything real.

I just put away the documents and prepared to go back and rest.

But after hearing this, Bolton's eyes lit up.

As a pure hawk who once said, "The relationship between the United States and the world is like the relationship between a hammer and a nail, and it can hit whoever it wants," he has been dissatisfied with China for a long time.

But for a long time, leaders did not take the initiative to take the lead, and subordinates were not able to really do anything.

But today, he got the chance.

Bolton slapped the armrest of the chair:

"You're right. We can't let the Chinese continue to be so arrogant!"

Almost scared the small bush.

However, seeing that he looked prepared, the latter thought for a moment and sat back in his chair:

"Tell me what you think?"

"We should strike hard in all areas and punish Chinese companies, organizations and individuals who oppose us!"

"..."

Bolton's words were shocking, and he almost choked to death with the first sentence.

The small bush waved its hands quickly:

"Our economy is already deeply tied to China, so this will also affect us..."

Bolton continued almost without thinking:

"Then we should attack their weakest but deadly points. Just treat it as a warning..."

Obviously, his initial proposal was not meant to be serious.

It's just a matter of following convention to lift the roof first to make it easier to open the windows later.

Even if you know about this top-level conspiracy, there is nothing you can do about it.

Sure enough, the little bush also became interested:

"So… you already have a plan."

This is not a question.

Bolton nodded:

"Last year, we won a lawsuit at the WTO, which prevented Chinese soybean growers from using the varieties they had planted before this year. Both filing a complaint and re-breeding will take time... It is expected that China's soybean production will remain at a relatively low level until 2007."

"To this end, they have been in frequent contact with ADM, Bunge and Cargill in the past six months, hoping to purchase at least 1400-1500 million tons of soybeans in the next few years. Coincidentally, according to the forecast of our meteorological department, the four states of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Indiana will face relatively dry weather in the next two years..."

The Bush family was originally from farmers in the central region, and they were extremely sensitive to these things:

"You mean, we can take advantage of the drought and hype up the risk of soybean production cuts to drive up futures market prices, inducing Chinese people to buy at high prices, and then release a large amount of goods to dump the market during next year's production season?"

"Yes."

Bolton was so excited that he raised his hand and snapped his fingers:

"According to conservative estimates, if this round of operations is successful, 85-90% of their domestic soybean companies will go bankrupt by next year or the year after. By then, we will be able to control the entire industry at a very low price..."

Obviously, compared with the previous crazy idea, this plan is much more feasible.

Moreover, when joining the WTO, China made huge concessions on non-staple agricultural products.

In other words, the soybean market in China is almost completely free.

This also gives them enough room to maneuver.

However, the little bush is still a little undecided:

“But they still have reserves, and LDC is a French company after all…”

Since Bolton was able to come up with such a ruthless and precise plan, he must have already studied these details in depth:

"I have calculated based on their production and purchases over the years. The current reserves cannot support the country's consumption for a whole year. More importantly, the amount of arable land that Chinese people have is there, and most of it is used to maintain self-sufficiency in staple food. There is simply no way they can have enough area to grow cash crops. Unless they can create arable land out of thin air, it is impossible for the reserves alone to support market confidence..."

“As for Louis Dreyfus…”

He hesitated for a moment, but soon regained his resolve:

"On the one hand, the French are not philanthropists. Once they realize that the soybean market is profitable, they will definitely stand on the same side as us... On the other hand, Louis Dreyfus does have a full say in the wheat market, but for soybeans... we definitely have the final say!"

Given the agricultural output of the United States, Bolton can indeed have this confidence.

For a moment, the look on the small bush was uncertain.

Intellectually speaking, it seems inappropriate to create unnecessary trouble at such a critical juncture in an election year.

But the agricultural cycle is measured in years, or at least quarters.

If we don't act now, it may be too late.

Therefore, after thinking it over again and again, he finally narrowed his eyes:

"Contact the Minister of Commerce and ask him to come to my place tomorrow..."