By All Means Necessary | Elizabeth Economy & Michael Levi | Talks at Google

TL;DR

China's resource quest is not unprecedented in history and Chinese firms are not as advantaged as believed. China's impact on the environment, labor, and governance is influenced by its practices at home. However, efforts are being made to improve corporate social responsibility.

Transcript

CLIFF: Welcome, good afternoon. Today for Talks at Google we're very thrilled to have two thought leaders from the Council on Foreign Relations. They're here to discuss their latest book, "By All Means Necessary: How China's Resource Quest is Changing the World." And so the economic expansion in China is pretty well documented in the press and news... Read More

Key Insights

• 😮 China's resource quest is not unprecedented and follows a pattern seen in previous rising great powers.
• 😀 Chinese firms face challenges such as lack of coordination and profitability issues, debunking the myth of their advantage over Western multinationals.
• 👪 China's impact on the environment, labor, and governance abroad is influenced by its practices at home, although there are efforts to improve corporate social responsibility.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is China's resource quest primarily driven by a need to lift people out of poverty?

China's resource quest serves both the need to grow its economy and lift people out of poverty. However, the focus is more on growing the middle class and urbanizing the population, which can put a strain on resources.

Q: How does China's resource quest impact global carbon emissions?

The responsibility for emissions embodied in trade is a complex issue. While emissions are counted where the smokestack is, the demand for products from China and other countries contributes to emissions indirectly. Differentiating between emissions driven by domestic demand versus exports is useful for understanding the contribution to global emissions.

Q: How does China's resource quest affect global security and political relationships?

China's resource quest has led to its presence in resource-rich countries, sometimes leading to political tensions and conflicts. However, China's leverage is limited, and it faces challenges in attempting to change the global political and economic system. The international system is resilient and responds to China's actions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• China's resource quest is not unique; rising great powers throughout history have sought resources outside their borders to fuel their economies.

• Chinese firms are not as advantaged as believed; they face challenges such as lack of coordination and profitability issues.

• China's impact on the environment, labor, and governance abroad is influenced by its practices at home, including limited environmental impact assessments and poor labor practices.