The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Recently, the British did something that made Americans grit their teeth in anger.

That is the UK’s decision to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank!

Initially, the AIIB's intended founding members were all Asian countries, and the United States has been seeking behind the scenes to dissuade countries from joining the AIIB.

Now that the UK has joined the AIIB, this decision by the British will inevitably lead to many other important European countries deciding to join the AIIB as well.

Why did the British decide to join the AIIB?

In addition to wanting to cause trouble for the United States and retaliate against the US position in the Falklands conflict, it is also based on Britain's own interests!
The UK has already begun to rethink the significance of China's rapid development and what it means for the UK?
If China quickly becomes the world's largest economy, Britain will have to seek to establish a completely different and closer friendly relationship with it than before.

In other words, the UK needs to develop an independent and autonomous dialogue relationship.

The UK now understands its national interests in a very different way than before. Like many European countries, the UK has a serious debt problem and is short of funds. Seeking cooperation with Huaxia will inject funds into its unsustainable infrastructure construction, and the City of London will also have the opportunity to become the most important offshore RMB center, which is also an opportunity for London to compete with New York for the world's most important financial center. In the long run, London cannot maintain its current position unless it opens up to the RMB.

As the integration between China and ASEAN continues to accelerate, countries around the world have to rethink and re-examine.

After all, next year, China and ASEAN will achieve economic integration. By then, China + ASEAN will surpass the EU and NAFTA to become the world's largest economy.

Not to mention that China is now the world's largest industrial country and also the world's largest industrial power!
It is impossible for Britain to give up its own interests because of the United States.

Although the United States has a great influence on Britain and its infiltration in all aspects is terrifying, it cannot change the fact that Britain's decision-making body is still mainly composed of British elites.

The glory of the British Empire during its time still influences most British people today.

After joining the European Union, other countries gave up their own currencies and used the Euro, but the UK insisted on its own currency, the Pound Sterling, which was in the UK's own interests.

Without monetary autonomy, how can it be called a sovereign state?
The UK's decision to join the AIIB is also seen as a turn eastwards, which, like the UK's accession to the EU, is seen as the most important foreign policy shift in the UK since 1945.

The difference is that the United States encourages Britain to join the European Union, but does not want Britain to turn to the East.

However, the UK chose to join the AIIB despite US opposition, a decision that made the US very angry.

At this time, a special meeting was also being held in the United States.

Three Type 003 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers were launched in one year. This is simply terrifying!

These are not just three Type 003 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, but also represent three aircraft carrier formations!

Americans are well aware of the deterrent power of aircraft carrier formations.

After all, when it comes to the use of aircraft carriers, Americans are definitely the strongest in the world!

The construction of China's own "Ford-class" nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has just started, and there are still a lot of technical problems to be solved, while China has launched three Type 003 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in one year.

The catapult system of the US "Ford-class" nuclear-powered aircraft carrier uses electromagnetic catapults. The United States still has a lot of technical problems to solve in electromagnetic catapult technology, while China has already adopted electromagnetic catapults starting from the 002B nuclear-powered aircraft carrier!

The reason why the United States insists on using electromagnetic catapults for the catapult system of the "Ford-class" nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is because China's 002B nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has already adopted electromagnetic catapults, proving that the technical route of electromagnetic catapult technology is feasible.

The United States has mature steam catapult technology, but Americans also know that the performance of steam catapult technology is not as good as electromagnetic catapult technology. Compared with steam catapult technology, electromagnetic catapult technology has too many advantages.

This is not just because of the electromagnetic catapult technology, which can save energy compared to the steam catapult, but also because the size of the electromagnetic catapult is much smaller than the steam catapult, and the number of operators is about 30% less. In addition, the electromagnetic catapult has a strong enough force to launch drones as well as heavier carrier-based aircraft.

The structure of a steam catapult is complex, while the electromagnetic catapult is relatively simple.

Of course, electromagnetic catapults are not without disadvantages, the biggest disadvantage being power consumption. However, this disadvantage is not a big problem for all-electric and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

Who would have thought that the United States, which has always been at the forefront of naval technology, fell behind at some point and turned from a leader into a follower.

However, due to financial capital policies and deindustrialization, an entire generation or even two generations have no one willing to be an industrial worker. A large number of factories have either gone bankrupt or moved to other countries. The American elites have either gone to Wall Street to work in finance or become lawyers, doctors and other high-income countries. No one is willing to study civil engineering, mechanical engineering, automation, etc.

Let’s not talk about anything else, just talk about the Internet industry. Americans are not very willing to be code farmers, and American Internet companies often outsource code and other businesses to China.

As for the young people in the United States today, most of them who have received a happy education have no ability at all.

The cause back then, the result now!
The cycle of cause and effect is just like this!
After Barack entered the White House, he did not think about industrialization repatriation or rebuilding American industrialization, because this was impossible. Americans could not afford ordinary goods made by Americans themselves. Moreover, rebuilding American industrialization is not something that can be done overnight. Without long-term persistence for more than ten or twenty years, it is impossible to think about it as a national policy.

The U.S. president’s term is only four years, and at most two terms is eight years. A four-year term does not mean that you can get things done all four years. Instead, you have to fight for everything, and there are mid-term elections, so there is not much time to get things done.

Barack's approval rating in the polls is now at an all-time low, which forces Barack to consider making more money. After all, it will be difficult to make more money if he leaves this position.

Barack vigorously promoted new policies, one of which was universal health care, which intended to establish medical insurance covering the entire United States. On the surface, it sounded grand and full of correctness, but in reality it was nothing more than industrial cooperation with the medical system for everyone to make money together.

It's easy to make hundreds of millions of dollars.

After making the decision to end the Iraq War and begin withdrawing troops from Iraq, Barack was subjected to overwhelming criticism. Even though these voices have been reduced a lot through various deals, there are still many of them to this day.

Of course, Barack now has a lot more die-hard voters than before. Through secret support for the promotion of political identity and diversity, many people and organizations have benefited and naturally support Barack.

As long as he continues to expand this group and firmly controls the American black community, he will be invincible. Even after his term ends, he will still be a big shot in the Democratic Party. Anyone who wants to compete for the White House throne cannot do without his endorsement and support.

This meeting is not about the Type 003 aircraft carrier, but about disarmament!
George Walton expanded the military significantly back then, so that the total size of the US military now exceeds two million. This has also caused the US military expenditure to continue to reach new highs, and it is not easy to reduce military expenditure.

So in addition to ending the Iraq War, Barack also wanted to disarm, reducing the number of U.S. troops to around 143 million.

According to the disarmament plan, the total strength of the US military after the reduction will be 143 million, including 54 in the Army, 37 in the Navy, 33 in the Air Force, and 19 in the Marine Corps!
This means that the US military will have to cut a total of 80 troops!
According to the disarmament plan, the US military will cut 40 troops during Barack's first term, and then cut another 40 troops during his second term!
Of course, this is an optimistic scenario. If there is no second term, whether to reduce the military is a matter for others to consider. The focus of the reduction of the military here is naturally the army!

After all, many of those withdrawn from Iraq were land forces!

As a maritime power, the U.S. Army has the lowest status among the Army, Navy and Air Force. The United States does not need so many ground forces, so it is naturally the first to disarm and is also the focus of disarmament.

Except for some elite troops, many army units that were expanded later will be disbanded.

Of course, US disarmament is not just disarmament, it is also a business, and naturally it is full of various games.

The benefits involved here are quite astonishing!
Except for old units like the 1st Marine Division, no one will move them, because this type of old units have complex roots and huge energy. As for those units with weak combat effectiveness and those that have been expanded in recent years, which unit to cut, how to resettle the officers, and how much resettlement compensation to give to the soldiers, the space here is as vast as the ocean.

After attending the celebration, Liu Tao returned to Panshan Group.

In addition to dealing with the official business left over during this period, there is another important matter, which is the issuance of the year-end meeting notice.

The year-end meeting was scheduled to be held on February 2 and ended on February 1, which happened to be the Little New Year in the South, which is the 2th day of the 7th lunar month.

The time of this meeting is basically the same as in later years.

Once the year-end meeting is over, it means that the entire Panshan Group system begins to enter the Spring Festival holiday. Except for railways, highways, gas stations, etc. which must operate normally, most people will start to celebrate the New Year.

Even for those who are scheduled to be on duty, triple pay will officially begin.

Regarding the agenda for the year-end meeting, we began to solicit opinions from members of each party group.

Before the year-end meeting begins, each group and company under the group will take the lead in starting the year-end summary.

Of course, the KPI is indispensable here, which is the annual assessment indicator!

The annual assessment is of great reference significance for the promotion, demotion, etc. of cadres.

After Liu Tao signed the meeting notice, someone naturally arranged to distribute the meeting notice to each member of the Party Committee and those invited to attend the meeting.

Those who can be invited to attend the meeting are either in important positions but not members of the Party Committee, or are not in important positions but are being trained and promoted.

In the evening, Liu Tao went to the Southwest Associated University campus.

Southwest Associated University has two campuses, one is the old campus and the other is the new campus.

Now, in addition to some historical exhibitions, party history research and other social sciences, the old campus only has some graduate students and doctoral students in individual majors.

The new campus is the main scientific and educational location of Southwest Associated University. Since its completion, it has always been ranked among the most beautiful university campuses in China.

The entire Southwest Associated University is adjacent to Dianchi Lake on the east, and a large area of ​​Dianchi Lake’s wetland park and parks along Dianchi Lake were assigned to Southwest Associated University.

Walking in the park, reading books, and boating on Dianchi Lake are things that teachers and students of Southwest Associated University like very much.

The relaxed atmosphere has allowed Southwest Associated University to continue to exude vitality since its reconstruction.

This place is not only home to China's top universities, but also an important scientific research site in China, receiving billions of dollars in research funding every year.

In addition, Southwest Associated University is still the richest university in China.

When Liu Tao arrived at the campus of Southwest Associated University, he happened to see a middle-aged man. He was dressed simply, holding a glass of water and carrying two steamed buns, forming a sharp contrast with the high-spirited students around him.

"Hello, Secretary!" When the middle-aged man saw Liu Tao, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he took the initiative to step forward and greet him.

Liu Tao was a little curious, "Which class are you from? Have you encountered any setbacks?"

"Secretary, my name is Li Zhenguo, from the class of 92, I..." Li Zhenguo took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

Li Zhenguo, a graduate of Southwest Associated University in 92, did not accept assignments to ministries, state-owned enterprises or government agencies after graduation. Instead, he started a business with his girlfriend. After more than ten years of hard work, they have finally made a career.

It was just a global economic crisis that put their company on the brink of bankruptcy.

As a result, during the summer vacation, his wife and children were in a car accident on the highway.

The huge blow made Li Zhenguo extremely sad. He no longer wanted to manage the company and let it go bankrupt.

Li Zhenguo wanted to escape, so he left Pengcheng and came to Kunming City and Southwest Associated University to look for and recall every detail of his relationship with his wife.

To enter Southwest Associated University, you need to make an appointment and buy tickets in advance, and the related hotels are not cheap. However, there are huge discounts for students and alumni of Southwest Associated University. Even if students who have graduated for many years return to Southwest Associated University, as long as they have their previous student cards or go to the alumni office to go through the procedures to get a new student, they can enjoy the treatment of college students.

Some alumni who encounter setbacks sometimes choose to return to school to find new strength, giving themselves the courage and power to face setbacks and overcome difficulties.

Liu Tao was very patient and listened carefully. He only counselled Li Zhenguo after he finished speaking.

Almost half an hour later, Liu Tao left and went to the library of Southwest Associated University.

As for whether Li Zhenguo can listen to his advice, it all depends on his luck.

Difficulties, some people fall into them and cannot extricate themselves, while others use them to polish themselves and become stronger. (End of this chapter)