The Stumbling Block
In any new world financial reform proposal, the Chinese voice will be very important. After all they are the world's largest creditor nation! They have US$2 trillion worth of IOUs with them.
The Chinese will not agree to any 'hare-brained' scheme by 'tin-pot' dictators, who are sitting on some raw materials - and think that the future belongs to them. The world has so many of this variety, that it does not require me to be specific.
Even a serious attempt by the EU, with the Euro, has not been able to significantly dent the dollar market share! Apart from the Euro, in the the last 10 years, there have been at least 3 half-baked - and unbaked attempts to break the dollar hegemony.
And after the Chinese come the Japanese with US$1 trillion of reserves. Russia, India and Brazil total to another US$1 trillion.
So, there you have it - it is out in the open!
What can you do about the Chinese question?
The Way Out
China, in its own short term interest (importantly) and long term interest (definitely) needs to find a way out!
Buying gold in such large quantities is not possible - there will simply be no deliveries. Increasing imports is also difficult - as what more can China import. It cannot send many more Chinese on holidays!
What it can do is buy Western firms! China has been always been a laggard in terms of growth in software! Maybe they can buy some software firms. The domestic Chinese entrepreneurial spirit has been damped in the last 100 years. What if the Chinese were to spend on some Venture Capital funds! What if China were to kickstart their fast-moving consumer goods industry by buying P&G!
The Chinese need to acquire some big ticket assets - for about US$1.5 trillion and bring down their reserves to US$0.5 trillion. This will reduce US outstanding debt, create demand for US stocks, lift the Dow Jones, and create value for the dollar. As I see it this is the only way that the Chinese can cash in their chips. The House will not let them take it away any other way.
And then the Chinese are free to join any currency bloc - or even initiate one!
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