Foreign Policy Blogs

Dolphins protect China's interests, but can't save its GDP

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China’s Xinhua news service reported today that on Monday China Radio International announced that a group of dolphins prevented pirates from attacking a group of Chinese merchant ships passing the Gulf of Aden.

This bizarre event was minor compared to the major story coming out of Beijing today: that China’s GDP dropped significantly in the first quarter, growing only 6.1%, down 4.5% from last year at this time.  Recent news has suggested that China’s massive $815 billion stimulus package was beginning to take effect, but now that progress is under naturally increased scrutiny.  (Read a lot more on the stimulus package in my colleague Roger Scher’s recent post.)

If they can fight the pirates, then perhaps the dolphins can swim over to Shanghai and stimulate some growth!

 

Author

Christopher Herbert

Christopher Herbert is an analyst of foreign affairs with specific expertise in US foreign policy, the Middle East and Asia. He is Director of Research for the Denver Research Group, has written for the Washington Post’s PostGlobal and Global Power Barometer and has served on projects for the United States Pacific Command and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. He has degrees from Yale University and Harvard University in Middle Eastern history and politics and speaks English, French, Arabic and Italian.

Area of Focus
US Foreign Policy; Middle East; Asia.

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