China. Why are we still doing business with them ...

[EvenLessNarkyPuffin]

When they're arresting artists. Will any country actually risk losing money and make an effective protest? They're breaking their own laws by arbitrarily arresting people in a pre-emptive crackdown, but we only care about democracy when it's in our (business) interest.

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'cos they are cheap and most business is not bothered by morals, where have you been?

If we stopped trading with China and applied sanctions purely because we disagree with their human rights record it wouldn't be them that suffered but us. It would be foolish to wage war because they're far too powerful. As it stands, we're in a stronger position to influence the Chinese through diplomatic relations. There's a time for ideological principles but there's also a time for 'realpolitik'.

It's a tough one, but am not sure that sanctions/trade embargoes are ever effective in themselves, so it would need to go to the next stage whatever that may be. The problem with sanctions/withdrawing trade is that it would hit the workers the hardest who are the very people the government are abusing.

China has opened up though since the Beijing Olympics. Abuses are being reported more and more, and there is definitely more openness, although a very long way to go.

Hi EvenLessNarkyPuffin ,

I am sorry you feel that way, but really you need to pull your head out of the sand, wake up and smell the coffee.

Do you really think for 1 split second, China cares about exports to little UK ?
An embargo, who is going to suffer, certainly not them.
Not a Chance.

All that is going to happen is that you will have to pay far more for all the Chinese stuff we buy, be it a £1.00 tat from the Poundland store, or a new Volvo, it's all Chinese.
And before you say, "but I don't buy Chinese stuff" I would have a long hard look at what we buy.
The fact is, the world can not do with out China.
China is the worlds factory, like it or not.
China's population are growing richer by the day, and their home domestic market is booming. More cars sold in China than USA.
Europe population is about 740 million, which is about half of China's population.
They have a huge domestic market which is growing stronger, they want all the gizmo's now.

Fay

Why did you resurrect this Fay?

Same reasons we do business with the Middle East, South America,Africa,Eastern Europe. There is money to be made and trade to be done. Ethics/morals don't really enter the equation until things really get out of hand eg Syria