re: Venezuela reality- it ain't drugs, it's China

I think if we wanted to we could do it with relatively moderate impact globally. I doubt that Venezuela is a hill that the ChiComs want to die on. In terms of real oil imports to China it's minimal. China has better deals in place with Saudi Arabia and Iraq.....and even Russia and Indonesia. Plus the transport costs and distance. We underwrite Chinese oil imports with our Navy controlling the IO through the Straits of Molucca into the South China Sea ....
.and we basically do it at no charge. The Chinese would don't want to jeopardize that for the overall minimal amount they get from Venezuela.

While Venezuela has the largest reserves in the world, it's oil has a serious problem in that it is very heavy and viscous with a high....very high sulfur content. There are other reasons like logistical and infrastructure. There's a reason that Venezuela has remained stunted over the years even before Chavez and Maduro even with the recognized reserves.

quote:

---

No reason to hide it. It's what needs to happen.

---

I might disagree, but thats respectable.