China Derangement Syndrome Prevents The West from Seeing Reality | Silk and Steel

China Derangement Syndrome Prevents The West from Seeing Reality | Silk and Steel

Author: UK Column April 21, 2026 Duration: 37:31

In this episode of The Silk and Steel Podcast, host Carl Zha sits down with Han Fei-Zi (aka Blue Bear, formerly Doggy) – a prolific writer at Asia Times – for a deep dive into classical economics, the Lucas paradox, China's development model, and why the West fundamentally misunderstands China's economic rise.


The key insights:


• The Lucas paradox – capital should flow from rich to poor countries, but since the 1970s, it's been flowing from poor to rich


• How assets-for-goods trade has de-industrialized the West and enriched Asia (at a cost)


• Why China's economy is already 2-3 times larger than the US on a real basis – and why that's dangerous for Americans to ignore


• The difference between Western aid (Peace Corps, microcredit, window dressing) and Chinese infrastructure investment (roads, rails, dams, solar panels)


• Why manufacturing is the hardest part – and why the US can't replicate China's supply chains


• The zero-to-one myth – China isn't just copying; it's scaling and improving faster than anyone


We break down:


• Why the Belt and Road Initiative had a record year in 2025 (double 2024)


• How China's solar panel exports to Africa, Pakistan, and South America are transforming the Global South


• Why Western aid workers teaching Africans agriculture is absurd (Africans have been farming for thousands of years)


• The Dutch disease and Baumol's law – and how they explain US de-industrialization


• Why Elon Musk admitted that design is a "rounding error" compared to manufacturing engineering


• The birth rate panic – and why China's STEM workforce will triple by 2050


Plus: Why the US should become a "theme park" (cowboys, NASCAR, NBA), why a brown guy telling white people to work harder killed his political career, and why Americans think they invented everything (they didn't).


Han Fei-Zi writes for Asia Times and can be found on X as Blue Bear Monkey (formerly Doggy – RIP).



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Tune in to UK Column News, a daily podcast from the independent news organisation of the same name. This isn't a recap of headlines from the mainstream wire services. Instead, the team at UK Column digs into the stories and narratives shaping public perception, focusing on what they term the 'information war.' Each episode provides analysis you're unlikely to find elsewhere, examining the interplay between government policy, media reporting, and institutional influence. Because they operate without any corporate backing, advertising, or funding from political groups, their perspective is uniquely supported by their audience through memberships and donations. This independence is the core of the podcast, allowing for straightforward commentary free from external pressures. Listeners will hear detailed discussions on current events in the UK and beyond, often connecting dots between seemingly separate issues to present a broader picture of governance and societal change. The tone is analytical and deliberate, prioritising depth over soundbites. For those seeking an alternative to conventional news cycles and curious about the mechanics behind the stories that dominate the day, this podcast offers a consistent and critical voice. It’s for anyone who questions the prevailing narrative and wants news analysis that answers to its listeners, not to sponsors or shareholders.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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