BYD Brazil scandal exposes flaws in Chinese investment (www.dw.com)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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Summary

Brazilian authorities uncovered "slavery-like" conditions at BYD’s factory construction site in Bahia, rescuing 163 Chinese workers subjected to withheld passports, withheld wages, and unsanitary conditions.

The site, managed by contractor Jinjiang Group, was shut down, and BYD faces scrutiny despite its promises to cooperate.

The case highlights tensions between Chinese investment and local labor standards, sparking debates in Brazil and China over worker rights.

Experts see this as an example for Chinese investors to respect Brazil's independent judiciary while noting it won’t deter future Chinese investments.

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[-] skhayfa@lemmy.world 6 points 11 hours ago

This was in Brazil. I wonder how they treat their workers in mainland China

[-] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 3 points 2 hours ago

What's a little human rights violation in today's society? Amirite?

[-] P00ptart@lemmy.world 19 points 22 hours ago

That's just china being china. However, I wanted to mention good on Brasil. They've been doing more +s than -s lately. They're really bringing their standards up recently, it seems. Good for them. Shame the war criminal got away, though.

[-] Eldritch@lemmy.world 5 points 22 hours ago

This doesn't expose anything new. We've known this for decades. If they have a problem with this sort of behavior. They need to not do business with brutal, oppressive systems and government like China. But of course it won't stop them in the long run. Like it never stopped western nations from trying to benefit from the exploitation either.

[+] rah@feddit.uk -14 points 21 hours ago

You say that as if Western nations aren't themselves brutal, oppressive and exploitative.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

[-] rah@feddit.uk -1 points 1 hour ago

This does not describe what I've done.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago

It sure as hell looks like that’s what you did.

[-] rah@feddit.uk -2 points 58 minutes ago* (last edited 57 minutes ago)

looks like

To you. Maybe re-read what I've written.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 47 minutes ago* (last edited 47 minutes ago)

Okay.

You say that as if Western nations aren’t themselves brutal, oppressive and exploitative.

Still looks like "What about the Western nations? No one is completely blameless." To me.

[-] rah@feddit.uk 1 points 36 minutes ago* (last edited 33 minutes ago)

"What about the Western nations? No one is completely blameless."

That would only make sense if I had introduced the concept of Western nations. OP did that, not me.

Maybe re-read not just what I wrote, but the whole thread.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 17 minutes ago

Okay, I've re-read the thread.

It still looks like you're both engaging in whataboutism to me. You still haven't explained how this is not implying that no one is completely blameless, making the argument invalid.

[-] Eldritch@lemmy.world 9 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

That's only because you're putting words in my mouth. That was literally the point. We've just outsourced the brutally. And just because the West used brutality and slavery does not justify China doing it now.

Either way I'm going to get it from both sides. Tankies screaming about China criticism. Capitalist upset about criticizing the west.

[-] IndustryStandard@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

So to clarify your position, you also advocate for countries not doing business with the West

[-] Eldritch@lemmy.world 1 points 34 minutes ago

Where the west behaves similarly, absolutely. It would be hypocritical not to.

[+] rah@feddit.uk -9 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

That was literally the point.

You've misunderstood.

the West used brutality

I'm saying Western nations use brutality now.

both sides. Tankies ... Capitalist

Don't put me in a box.

[-] Maalus@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

There are more countries than "the US". Not everyone has fucked up work laws, especially in Europe.

[-] rah@feddit.uk 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 56 minutes ago)

"the US".

I haven't said those words.

[-] ManixT@lemmy.world 8 points 12 hours ago

Could you pleaae share some recent examples of similar western behavior like this?

[-] Eldritch@lemmy.world 5 points 15 hours ago

So was I. And I didn't. Simply mentioned the hypocrisy of both groups. Again, you're making assumptions.

[-] rah@feddit.uk -2 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 55 minutes ago)

So was I ... Simply mentioned the hypocrisy of both groups

You said:

"They need to not do business with brutal, oppressive systems and government like China."

Here you're stating that China is a brutal, oppresive system and government. Saying that "they" (Western nations) need to not do business with "brutal, oppressive systems" implies that the Western nations are not themselves brutal and oppressive.

You also said

"Like it never stopped western nations from trying to benefit from the exploitation either."

and used the word "stopped" which is past tense, meaning that Western nations' benefitting from exploitation of their population is something which happened in the past and is not something which is still happening now.

You also said

"just because the West used brutality and slavery does not justify China doing it now."

and used the word "used" which is past tense and even said "China doing it now", clearly contrasting a (supposedly) past behaviour of the West with a current behaviour of China.

this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2025

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