1. The New World Order and financial investment
CTBC Financial Management College
Thursday morning lectures

2. president Trump’s first trip overseas reveals more about US strategy than all speeches produced so far; what’s the image the trail of money forms?
by signing the biggest deal in history with Saudi Arabia—110 bil. worth of military equipment and supporting services—Trump proves to be more of a businessman than a statesman
problems of principle resurface: is money good for a country no matter the source?
the creation of jobs for the US workforce is confirmed to be a priority; still, the bulk of those are in the military and conventional energy sectors
this puts Trump’s global strategy in sharp contrast with China’s—in particular, the OBOR project—that focuses on building infrastructures across Eurasia
as far as public image is concerned, China comes across as the better side in this silent competition (more constructive, peace-promoting)

3. this latest development corroborates other, recent moves involving N
this latest development corroborates other, recent moves involving N. Korea’s missile testing activities
S. Korea voted into presidency a leader intent on avoiding confrontation and settling the issue peacefully, which rhymes well with Beijing’s essentially constructive approach to international relations
along the same line, Russia refrained from overreacting to the landing of a N. Korean missile close to its coast; instead, a few days ago it inaugurated a ferry line with the hermit state
against this background of international political life, Trump’s solid support to the military industry strikes a dissonant note
there is a mixed reception in the US of the president’s efforts to make diplomacy bear fruit: the huge agreement promises tens of thousands of jobs, indeed, but in support of a regime with rather dubious records

4. most of the 9/11 terrorists were citizens of Saudi Arabia; while not directly condemning the country’s government, this raises issues about the culture fostered there
even if the Saudi government is not directly involved in the 9/11 attacks, or the ISIS activity in Syria, could it abet terrorism through its mere neglect? (being rich, the loose way it budgets and tracks money might harm through laxity, if not intention)
at a regional level, militarily empowering the Saudi house has chances to push Iran, its rival, closer to Russia and China; this will only become more necessary with Trump’s intended creation of an Arab NATO
it is useful to remember that, in the same region, China’s influence made itself felt in the construction of a new capital for Egypt; notice the contrast between housing for the poor vs. arms for the rich
the latest developments in the Middle East need to be put in a larger context: in Greece, a country let down by the neo-liberal order also seeks hope in China’s OBOR, while elsewhere the Philippines are making an opening toward Russia

5. something of a geopolitical polarization is gradually emerging: those severely disappointed by the dealings of the couple big finance-military complex look forward to China’s more constructive alternative
hence, the big question: is job creation good regardless of the long-term goals it engages a government in?
China has chances to win the PR battle as long as huge contracts for arming a country like Saudi Arabia compete with those for the construction of roads, cities, railroads, irrigation canals and free markets across Eurasia
worldwide, human rights are taking a beating; the US cooperating with Saudi Arabia on this scale is far from disconfirming this alarming trend