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TheOtherHobbesyesterday at 5:40 PM1 replyview on HN

If US hegemony is total, why is there no oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz?

Why does the US economy rely so heavily on chips manufactured in Taiwan, and on components, products, and services provided by China?

The difference between the US and China is that China understands that carrier strike groups are not the modern definition of hegemony.


Replies

nradovyesterday at 7:12 PM

There has never been any such thing as "total" hegemony, so that's a strawman argument. The US doesn't get much oil from the Strait of Hormuz and so while starting another war with Iran was a stupid move, the consequences are largely someone else's problem. I agree that depending on other countries for strategically critical manufacturing was a bad move. Fortunately that's now being rectified but it will take some time.

https://www.semiconductors.org/chips/

China's attempts at hegemony have largely consisted of making loans on bad terms to corrupt developing countries and then trying to foreclose when they don't pay. This has not worked.