From: | Erik_Jameson@*****.COM |
---|---|
Subject: | China and the Canal |
Date: | Mon, 2 Jun 1997 11:22:18 -0800 |
To nerps@********.itribe.net
Sorry, my stupid e-mail program wouldn't let me reply to the
list...
I don't think the Panama Canal would be important enough for
the Azzies to turn that advantage into much. Even now, the
Canal isn't as important as it once was, mainly because the
direction and routes of shipping have changed. I'm sure a
fair amount of shipping goes through, but I would think
that, upon pain of Corporate Court sanctioned Omega Order,
the Azzies don't charge usurious rates or deny passage to
other corps like Saeder-Krupp (which seems to be the corp
that hates the Azzies the most).
As for China and Japan, if China is the mess most people
seem to think it is, why bother? It doesn't seem that
anyone can get a firm grip on more than a relatively small
chunk of turf in China. Given the historical animosity
between Japan and China, any attempt at a grab by Japan
(which they probably did do) would be met by a united China;
in other words, probably the only thing that would unite
China would be a Japanese invasion.
This isn't to say some warlord or other wouldn't try an
alliance with Japan (in fact, Japan probably does play in
Chinese politics and powerbrokering, just not with open
displays of force or maintaining territory), just that the
other warlords would unite to fight back.
Besides, _some_ would argue that Japan and the
"Japana-corps" are so powerful as to dictate policy anyway,
without the costs of having to maintain territory. Just
look at CalFree, Seattle and the rest of UCAS...
Erik J