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May 15, 2008

Shopping: India and China

The Indian Navy considers a Super Hornet buy for the INS Vikramaditya. These would operate in addition to sixteen MiG-29K fighters to be delivered with the rechristened Russian carrier Gorshkov.

In a revelation so far kept under wraps, the Navy has asked Boeing a contender for India’s $10-billion tender for 126 air force fighters if the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet can operate off the INS Vikramaditya, the rechristened Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov currently being refurbished in Russia for the Indian Navy. None of the fighters in the IAF’s existing fleet have the capability to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier.

All excellent news for the Indian Navy and by extension the Anglosphere and civilization, provided the Russians deliver the Gorshkov. Elsewhere, mainland China uses its Walmart pocket money not only to arm itself to the teeth and provide a pornographic fascism with Chinese characteristics for a generation of ultra-nationalists. Now they buy America.

PRC companies are bargain hunting in the United States.

Liu spent about $500,000 for seven acres in Spartanburg -- less than one-fourth what it would cost to buy the same amount of land in Dongguan, a city in southeast China where he runs three plants. U.S. electricity rates are about 75% lower, and in South Carolina, Liu doesn't have to put up with frequent blackouts.

About the only major thing that's more expensive in Spartanburg is labor. Liu is looking to offer $12 to $13 an hour there, versus about $2 an hour in Dongguan, not including room and board. But Liu expects to offset some of the higher labor costs with a payroll tax credit of $1,500 per employee from South Carolina.

"I was surprised," said the 63-year-old president of Shanxi Yuncheng Plate-Making Group. "The gap's not as large as I thought."

Rantburg commenter Gliling Lumplump3518, observes "These 'Chicoms' understand global capitalism better than Democrats, that's the sad part."

Correct. And the Democrats may be about to nominate a man more genuinely Marxist than anyone in the ChiCom leadership for two generations. One ray of light: The Chinese would not be the first foreign competitors to lose their shirts in American bubble investments. For the Japanese of the late 1980s all that California sunshine lead them into a quagmire.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at May 15, 2008 06:27 AM

Comments

As the Wiki article notes, 'Vikramaditya' is from the Sanskrit for 'Strong as the Sun'. Hinduism would surely offer some excellent ship names. Reminds me of the High Guard fleet names from Andromeda (I think the ship names were the best thing about that show; O! the potential!).

But Vikramaditya is also the name of a legendary king, "the King Arthur of the East".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikramaditya

Posted by: The_Campblog [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 15, 2008 07:15 AM

I would say the ship names are the second greatest thing about Andromeda. They seem to me to be inspired by Iain M Banks "Culture" series. If you have not read these you are in for a serious treat; start with Consider Phlebas (Wikipedia spoiler warning).

Posted by: Ghost of a flea [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 15, 2008 10:40 AM

Yes, potential was definitely maximized in Lexa's case (and the Monica Schnarre guest spot!?!).

Thx for reference.

Posted by: The_Campblog [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 15, 2008 12:22 PM

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