Question by bradwelljackson: When China becomes a tributary state once again, what sort of tribute will the USA offer?
In the past, China demanded that the other, weaker countries pay tribute to her in order to avoid incurring her wrath. Perhaps a king from another country might have to offer her pretty daughter in marriage to China’s emperor. Perhaps another country might have to give up 50% of its grain harvest. Perhaps they would have to offer up their most treasured, priceless national landmark, or even construct a whole new one especially for China. What sort of tribute will China demand of the USA?
Best answer:
Answer by spot the cat
i’ve got something they can kiss
and you too
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Just keep the money flowing their way
Live atomic warheads, which will detonate upon arrival.
I have read idiots saying that the partnership between American and China works both ways, lol, sure, like the partnership between a slave and a master. China has decided to diversify its currency basket by adding Yen etc to it (that is why the Yen is increasing in price now) it shows that China is going off American foreign debt, maybe due to pressure from other countries. If you ask anyone China has all the aces and what they want to happen will. I think as a tribute America could sell some of its aircraft carriers.
We will send China our vast treasure of incarcerated inmates, our wonder-full assortment of insane and mentally unbalanced patients, an assortment of color-full politicians and two tickets to the 2010 World Series…
You can’t demand tribute from a state that could cream you militarily. Small, powerless states work fine for blackmail. We aren’t yet. When the corporations here have completely wiped out the consumer base that used to support them and there is no longer any funding for the military or anything else, I assume their tribute would be land.
I am not sure this was ever what the kow-tow entailed.
Rather, it was an act of submission that recognised the Emperor’s superior status and acceptance of all the Empire stood for, but without claiming (as it would in the West) any short-term financial gain or advantage.
I’m sure the current Chinese leaders would be flattered to receive in marriage one of Barack Obama’s pretty daughters, but I really do not think this is something they would ever demand as a right.
Curiously enough, the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing was designed by a Swiss firm of architects.
What they are really after though, is recognition of China as a great superpower with the right to its way of doing things without criticism from abroad. Respect, in other words. They would therefore expect China to be offered first pickings over any resources going, such is oil or minerals or anything else they consider essential.
Once that is established, trade is done strictly on an equal basis – there would be an equal exchange, so that a harmonious balance can be maintained, and mutual profit sustained over many generations to come, which of course benefits China far more than any baubles offered in tribute.