Cobalt Greywalker Wrote:One of the things I see about China in the 2020's is the drastic slowdown, or near complete halt, in their economic growth. Why? Fen recycling tech primarily.
I don't remember how much OTL China has a hold, but there are significant amounts of metals shipped there for recycling. Not only do local (and superior) facilities drop that, it means less travel for the goods (which not also saves money, but lessens greenhouse emissions which will be a bonus for Governments looking to be see as 'Green'). This I see as further allowing Fentech (waved or not) being implemented locally. Governments will like more local production if it doesn't cost too much (and creates jobs). Along with the mineral resources now commercially available (as Dartz and M Fnord point out), this will drop China's economic footprint.
This starts happening around 2016, after the curfuffle of the end of the Boskone conflict dies down due to things like the PEPPER treaty. Around then I see plenty of Dane corps looking to get a hold of Fentech.
With all to automation tech I see the Fen introducing, the need for labour that China (and India) currently fulfils would be greatly reduced. As much as it benefits China, I see it annoying them at the same time due to loss of customers.
...And that's where my inspiration falters for the moment.
I would disagree with this, because Chinas economic increase is NOT dependent on any metal export at all. In 2014 and later they are primarily buying stuff and making people opening companies in China, because an economic good thing for them.
They consider their ACCESS to "rare earths" a strategic resource, so the export of Fenspace might decrease the dependence of some other countries on China, but it won't really do much bad to their own industry.
Dragonflight Wrote:Take that mindset and extend it to Fenspace. It won't matter to them what "decadent western agreements" may be on the table to restrict the militarization of the rest of space, it won't matter to the Chinese. They're going to be finding ways to do it. They may not be the "big bad", but if written up properly, the idea of violating any offplanet Chinese installations or assets should invoke the same feeling of unease and dread that a person would get at the idea of flying a Cessna into Chinese military airspace on a bar bet. They're the "looming menace over the horizon" if written properly, because frankly, their operational policy and long-term strategy is based on this philosophy. They will overcome. Period. Even if it takes generations. That kind of mindset will apply to the conquest of space, even if they have to take time and assess the situation carefully.Yes, I can see this...
because China is not necessarily willing to play by the same rules... the Fen neither want to wake up the US nor China in a bad mood, so they will stay careful. On the other side I am not sure they would give China a "blank card" with things they do in orbit.
The whole "stealth ship/weapon test" thing of the Gas Station Story could be (but don't need to be) a part of Chinas long range strategy to get recon data and prepare some military presence in space without showing their cards before they are ready. Most likely they didn't consider the idea that the weapon would be found.