clare at snyder.on.ca wrote:

<snip>

> If they were to decide they had a point to make to the west, they
> could, with present reserves, stop selling ANYTHING to the west for
> long enough to bring the west to their knees, while continuing to pay
> all idled chinese workers the same as they are being paid today, and
> still have money left over.( Hint - it wouldn't take long)

Even easier, stop buying US Treasuries, putting the US into deep yogurt
indeed. As of Oct, 2007, the Chinese held $388 billion in US Treasuries,
about 17% of the outstanding bonds, notes & bills. The Japanese held
$592 billion, about 25%.