Comments on: Stealing steel

By: captbbq

captbbq — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 23:38:16 +0000

“Chinese companies have learned how to convert waste alloys into stainless steel”

I that case I would have to conclude one of two things:

A) The Chinese have stumbled onto the Holy Grail of Alchemy
B) The Chinese are building a lot of new structures out of “zinc girders”

but seriously, the author at the Economist should have phrased that part better…

By: moorethanthis

moorethanthis — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 20:55:19 +0000

Sadly, some of Ishihara's more barking statements on the criminal Chinese will probably gain credence within Japan.

By: Lexington Green

Lexington Green — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 15:41:24 +0000

“How will Japan stop the scrap metal thieves?”

Law enforcement? Caning?

This is a relatively minor, but still interesting example of “black globalization”. A high-radius-of-trust community (Japan) that functions well is beset by criminality that it cannot cope with by means of its existing institutions. A resource hungry China will eat its neighbors. Not a pretty picture.

By: subadei

subadei — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:18:37 +0000

How will Japan stop the scrap metal thieves?

Plastic.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 04:05:29 +0000

Never mind that–how will they ever stop the scourge of white people on bicycles?!