Friday, July 3, 2020

Lebanon made in China: Barbarians at the gate


Artwork by Tarek Chemaly based on a Chinese cultural Revolution porcelain statue
Never a dull day. Right after news broke that talks between Lebanon and the IMF broke down, it transpired that China is interested in our electricity company and railway system - or what's left of both. Before anyone goes about the Chinese human right abuses, those enamored with Saudi Arabia, Iran or the United States (the three most popular allegiances excluding Germany-Brasil in football) should do some basic checks. 
A Lebanese saying goes "min ma akhad emme sar 3amme" - whomever marries my mother becomes my stepfather. And well, seems the Chinese will become Mao stepfather. It is really a deus ex Machina situation saving the situation in extremis. But hey, the Chinese are certainly not doing it for the meager money that will come out of our electricity taxes or our now defunct trains. 
As I said, never a dull moment in Lebanon. Am sure the IMF is baffled.
黎巴嫩中国制造 - that's "Lebanon made in China" for you.