Series Title:Made in China: From Unrivaled Factory to the Chip War Dead End
Article Title: [Made in China EP.2] The Resource Trap: EV Graveyards and the Global Hunt… The Price of “Fast Fish” Economics
In EP.1, we witnessed the might of the “World’s Factory” that no nation has been able to overthrow. But have you ever wondered… what is being swept under the rug of the fastest-moving conveyor belt on Earth?
Welcome to EP.2 of the Made in China trilogy. Today, we take you to the “Dark Side” of an economic model that prioritizes Volume above all else. A model that has created scenes the world watches in disbelief: Mountains of abandoned electric vehicles and a cross-continental hunt for resources to feed an insatiable industrial beast.
1. EV Graveyards: When “Subsidies” Create “Waste”
Drone footage flying over fields in Hangzhou reveals thousands of electric vehicles (EVs) parked, rotting under the sun and rain, with weeds growing through their chassis. These aren’t broken cars; they are brand-new vehicles “manufactured to be abandoned.”
This is the side effect of Supply-side Economics, where the Chinese government injected massive subsidies into carmakers to accelerate a new industry.
The Subsidy Game: Many companies churned out cars simply to claim government cash and inflate sales figures, with zero regard for actual market demand.
Failed Car Sharing: Huge fleets came from ride-sharing startups founded solely to harvest these subsidies, only to go bust and leave the cars as monuments to waste.
In China’s eyes, this is a “Tuition Fee” they are willing to pay to ensure a few strong survivors (like BYD) dominate the world. But to the rest of the world, it is a colossal waste of resources and an environmental time bomb.
2. Ghost Cities: Built for GDP, Not for People
It’s not just cars; entire “cities” are being overproduced. China’s economic model relies heavily on real estate (accounting for up to 30% of its GDP). The easiest way to pump up GDP numbers is simple: Build. Local governments sell land -> Developers borrow to build condos -> GDP grows.
The result? “Ghost Cities” filled with skyscrapers, eight-lane highways, and shopping malls, but zero inhabitants because prices are disconnected from real incomes. This is a massive ticking time bomb (like the Evergrande crisis), reflecting that the World’s Factory is producing things the world (and its own people) doesn’t actually need.
3. The Global Hunt: The New Colonialism
When domestic factories run at full steam, domestic resources aren’t enough. China must “hunt.” Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China builds roads, ports, and dams for developing nations in Africa and South America… not for charity, but in exchange for “mining rights.”
Cobalt in Congo: Essential for almost all EV batteries, largely controlled by Chinese firms.
Lithium in South America: Major mines are being snapped up by Chinese stakeholders.
While the world celebrates “Green Energy,” China is quietly playing a game of Upstream Monopoly. They are ensuring that no matter what energy source the world switches to, China will always be the one selling the raw materials.
4. The Shadow Guardians: Hypocrisy at the Border
The hunger for resources doesn’t just cost money; it costs integrity. China has long championed a foreign policy of “Non-Interference” (not meddling in other countries’ internal affairs). But when its resource lifelines are threatened, this principle vanishes like smoke.
A prime example is Myanmar. To secure oil and gas pipelines running to the Indian Ocean (bypassing the US-dominated Malacca Strait), China needs stability in a volatile land.
Boots on the Ground: Reports suggest China has deployed private security contractors and armed drones into Myanmar’s territory to protect these strategic pipelines from ethnic rebel attacks.
Funding the buffer: Paradoxically, Beijing also maintains ties with powerful ethnic armies (like the UWSA) along the border to create a “security buffer” for its assets.
This reveals a stark reality: For the World’s Factory, sovereignty is optional when supply chains are at risk. The Dragon speaks of peace, but its claws are deeply embedded in its neighbors’ soil to ensure the oil keeps flowing.
The model of “Mass Produce, Subsidize, and Hunt for Resources” has made China grow faster than any nation in history. But it comes at the cost of environmental fragility and a massive debt bubble.
Crucially, no matter how many mineral resources China hoards, there is one tiny grain of sand they still cannot dig up and struggle to manufacture. And that single weakness is about to determine the loser of the next war.
In the final episode, we dissect the Dragon’s only fatal flaw. 👉 [Read Next – EP.3: The Silicon War… When a Fingernail-Sized Chip Becomes the Wall the Chinese Army Cannot Climb](Coming Soon)
🇺🇸 America’s image during this period: The U.S. positioned itself as the Leader of the Free World.
Polite in speech, diplomatic, full of etiquette and sweet words — yet still undeniably powerful.
Built alliances such as NATO, the UN, G7, IMF, WTO.
Supported a “New World Order” where American rules were central.
Soft power was at its peak — Hollywood, McDonald’s, Apple, Dream.
🤝 The world tacitly accepted America: “Yes, the U.S. may have its own interests, but at least it’s keeping the world in decent order.”
🧱 Trump Era: “From Hidden Emperor to Open Emperor”
“No need to pretend we’re allies. We all know I’m the superpower you depend on.” – Donald Trump (in various versions 😂)
What Trump did was: Break every tradition past U.S. leaders had followed.
Rejected multilateralism → shifted toward pure hard power.
Withdrew from several agreements: TPP, WHO, Paris Climate Agreement, etc.
Intimidated allies: told NATO to pay more or lose support.
Openly hated China: used racially charged language in public.
Used social media as a political weapon (especially Twitter).
💥 The result: “The America we once knew” disappeared.
Allies began to distrust the U.S. and sought ways to survive without depending on it.
Old rivals (like China, Russia, Iran) seized the moment to expand influence.
🔮 Post-Trump America: “Losing Balance or Adapting?”
🎭 Joe Biden returned to the “classic tone,” attempting to “restore the pre-Trump order.”
But it’s no longer the same.
The world hasn’t forgotten the “Trump moment” that exposed America’s true hand.
🧠 What the world learned from the Trump era: The U.S. can no longer hide its darker side.
Can one leader really shift national policy this drastically? → Is the system unstable?
Allies began forming “backup plans,” like:
Europe developing its own SWIFT system
Saudi Arabia making more deals with China and Russia
Asia shifting focus from TPP to RCEP
📌 Even though Biden tries to “repair relationships,” the sentiment remains: “You may forgive… but you don’t forget.” – A European diplomat said after meeting with Biden in 2021.
🏛 If we were to compare:
Before Trump = A Roman Emperor in golden robes (rhetoric + hidden power) Trump = Took off the robe and walked the streets with a hammer (I’m the biggest; disagree and I’ll cut your funds) After Trump = Trying to put the robe back on, but it’s torn (The world says “I’ve seen your true form.”)
💡 Speculative analysis from the future:
If Trump returns (a real possibility in 2024–2025), The world may enter an era of “Global Order Instability.” Nations might shift into “survival mode” rather than cooperation.
The U.S. could become a “superpower no one wants to rely on.”
The world might move into a multipolar multilateralism era, with China–India–EU–Russia as alternative power poles.
And America’s soft power may keep fading, if its image as a “model to follow” continues to erode.
🧱 Trump Era 2.0: “The Return of Far-Right America”
Trump’s Return – Not Revenge, But Realignment
🎯 Key Foundation:
This time, Trump is not the same man from 2016. He is now:
Someone who has already held power
Someone who knows where the system blocks him
Surrounded by allies ready to openly dismantle the Deep State
🔥 What’s different from Trump’s first term:
Topic
Trump’s First Term (2016)
Trump’s Second Term (2025)
Positioning
“America First”
“America Only”
Approach
Breaking norms while still within the system
Intentionally aims to “revolutionize the system” using popular support
Foreign Negotiations
Threats and intimidation to get better deals
Actual withdrawal and severing of ties
Alliances
Reduced NATO involvement
Possible full withdrawal from NATO
China Relations
Primary adversary
Preparing for a full-scale cold war
Media & Domestic Institutions
Complained about the media
Determined to control media, judiciary, and government agencies
🧨 “The World Order After 2025” – What Might Happen?
🧭 1. The World Fully Enters a “Multipolar” Era
The U.S. will increasingly shut itself off from the world.
The EU, China, India, and Russia will rise as continental powers.
Global alliances will form not by ideology, but by who offers the best chance of survival.
💵 2. The Global Economy = “A Battlefield of Trade”
Tariffs and tech bans will spike.
Global supply chains may become closed loops within each alliance bloc.
Multinational companies will face pressure to choose sides.
🎖 3. Rising Global Tensions
If Trump pressures NATO, Ukraine may be left to stand alone.
Taiwan could become a flashpoint if China perceives U.S. retreat.
The Middle East may heat up as the U.S. pulls back from its role as global policeman.
🗽 4. America’s Soft Power = “An Illusion?”
Artists, celebrities, and scientists may begin leaving the country.
The image of America as “the land of opportunity” may shift to a land of chaos.
Foreign admirers who once said “I want to be like America” may start rethinking.
🎬 Summary:
Trump’s second term could be:
The end of a U.S.-led world order
The beginning of an era of domestic rule over global dominance
A global atmosphere reminiscent of pre–World War I → Multiple power blocs → Overlapping tensions → A spark waiting to ignite
🐉 China: “From Sleeping Dragon to Alternative Leader”
🌏 Before China’s Rise:
China was once seen as “the world’s factory”: – Cheap goods, abundant labor, and massive profits – But staying out of global political affairs
Behind the scenes, though: China was quietly playing the long game.
📈 When China Started Rising:
The “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) – a modern Silk Road → Billions of dollars poured into global infrastructure, especially in developing nations
Established new financial institutions to rival the IMF/World Bank, like AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank)
Money over military → Instead of sending troops, China uses financial tools, mega-projects, and loans to influence geopolitics.
💬 China’s Soft Power:
Spread culture through Confucius Institutes
Promote Chinese culture via dramas, KOLs, and Chinese-language social media
Achieved success in global tech industries (Huawei, TikTok, DJI)
😐 The World Sees China in Two Contrasting Lights:
One side: “China is an economic opportunity”
The other side: “China is a threat to freedom”
🌐 In a Post-Trump World:
As America lays all its cards on the table and allies start to waver, China is emerging as the “alternative” many nations are starting to consider.
📌 Especially in countries that are tired of the American-led system, like:
African nations: Frustrated with what they see as overbearing IMF and World Bank conditions
Some Asian countries: Looking for capital, not wanting to depend solely on the U.S.
Russia: Growing even closer to China, sharing the same goal → no single global ruler
🧠 China’s Grand Strategy:
Not to lead the world like America, But simply to ensure the world doesn’t need a single leader.
As if saying:
“You don’t need to love us… Just don’t rely on them 100%.”
🪖 Russia: “The Superpower That Never Wanted the Spotlight, But Refuses to Be a Side Character”
⏳ A History That Never Fades:
Russia isn’t like China, which grew quietly — Russia is an “old superpower.” The former Soviet Union once clashed head-on with the U.S. during the Cold War. Even though it collapsed in 1991, the “superpower spirit” never disappeared.
🧊 The Cold War Never Truly Ended:
After the USSR fell, Russia appeared to step back… But once Putin came to power in 2000, the game changed.
“Putin’s Russia is a wolf that got its fangs back.”
🔥 How Russia Plays the Game:
Russia doesn’t aim to create a new world system like China. Instead, its strategy is: “If I can’t lead the world, then no one else should be able to either.”
🇷🇺 Russia’s Grand Strategy:
Weaponizing energy: Europe, especially Eastern Europe, relies on Russian gas and oil
Fueling political division in Europe and the U.S. (evidence of election interference, etc.)
Expert at proxy wars: Syria, Libya, Africa, Ukraine
📡 On the Soft Power Front:
Expands its narrative via RT (Russia Today) and alternative media outlets
Supports anti-globalist, far-right, and anti-NATO movements
Sells itself as the “alternative to the Western worldview”
🪙 Small Economy, Big Impact:
Russia’s GDP isn’t in the world’s top 5, But it’s rich in energy, minerals, and weapons.
Its role in OPEC+ gives it influence over oil prices
One of the world’s top arms exporters, especially to nations that don’t want to rely on the West
💣 The Ukraine War: A Turning Point for the World
The invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to severe Western sanctions on Russia. But instead of crumbling, Russia turned its back on Europe and pivoted to Asia.
China, India, the Middle East, and Africa became its new trading partners. While they may not outright support Russia, they don’t openly condemn it either.
🌍 Perspective from the Global South:
Many nations see Russia as a counterbalance to the Western world. When NATO seems too aggressive, Russia acts as a counterweight.
African nations have started buying arms or hiring mercenaries from Russia (e.g., Wagner Group).
Russia may not be the “hero” reshaping the world, but it’s the one saying:
“No one should reshape the world alone.”
📌 If China is “the new alternative,” 📌 Then Russia is “the resistance to having only one choice.”
🇮🇳 India: “An alternative power bloc that doesn’t need to follow anyone” 🕉️ A naturally great nation India doesn’t need to try hard to “appear big” — because it truly is big.
The most populous country in the world (surpassing China)
7th largest land area globally
An ancient civilization with deeply “classical” roots (Not just India, but the source of influence for Buddhism, Hinduism, and South Asian culture)
But what makes India most intriguing is…
“Being a great power that deliberately chooses a middle path.”
⚖️ India doesn’t pick sides — it picks itself
India is not a member of NATO
Not a close ally of China or the U.S.
India is part of BRICS (China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa) Yet at the same time, it cooperates with the QUAD (Japan, U.S., Australia) to counterbalance China
India is exceptionally skilled at “multi-table diplomacy” — like a diplomat who talks to everyone without owing anyone.
🛕 India’s Strengths:
Soft Power is incredibly strong
Bollywood, Yoga, the depth of Indian philosophy
Indian cuisine is found globally (because curry shops are a force!)
Technology is on the rise
World’s largest digital ID system (Aadhaar)
Launches low-cost satellites — and already landed on the moon’s south pole!
A global hub for outsourcing, IT, and software engineers
A democracy where people still have a voice
India hosts the largest democratic elections in the world
Despite some issues, people have real voting power, and politics remains vibrant and open
A growing economy with solid fundamentals
India’s growth relies heavily on its domestic market, unlike China’s export-focused model
A massive and youthful workforce is entering a “demographic bonus” phase
“India doesn’t try to lead the world… But it wants the world to accept that being true to oneself is also a form of power.”
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