# Trump calls Pakistan, Taiwan and other world leaders to chat **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 3, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-calls-pakistan-taiwan-and-other-world-leaders-to-chat/773693 "2016-12-03T01:27:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-calls-pakistan-taiwan-and-other-world-leaders-to-chat/773693/121 "2016-12-15T18:16:56Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > You are aware that the US government can’t file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 in the manner of some dodgy US gaming & property development outfit, aren’t you? > > … Well, we know it, but The Donald is going to be \*\*mighty \*\*disappointed when he figures it out. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-calls-pakistan-taiwan-and-other-world-leaders-to-chat/773693/122 "2016-12-15T18:28:56Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Also, you haven’t considered that potentially US manufacturing could grind to a halt over a lack of components. And a huge chunk of the supply chain is in China. Big three auto makers import tens of billions of dollars worth of components from China. A 10 cent spring can shut down a n automotive production line because where else can you source the part? > [@penultima\_thule](#): > > You are aware that the US government can’t file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 in the manner of some dodgy US gaming & property development outfit, aren’t you? Among the many things I’m sure pleks is ignorant about, I’ll include rare earth metals. They’re a group of elements that are necessary for making modern electronic devices like TV’s, computers, cell phones, aircraft, nuclear reactors, dvd players, etc. And guess what country owns ninety percent of the world’s supply of rare earth elements? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-calls-pakistan-taiwan-and-other-world-leaders-to-chat/773693/123 "2016-12-16T05:01:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Among the many things I’m sure pleks is ignorant about, I’ll include rare earth metals. They’re a group of elements that are necessary for making modern electronic devices like TV’s, computers, cell phones, aircraft, nuclear reactors, dvd players, etc. > > And guess what country owns ninety percent of the world’s supply of rare earth elements? And it was only about a decade ago that the ROC government in Taiwan relinquished claims to the majority of rare earth elements outside of China. I’m referring to the fact that Taiwan used to claim Outer Mongolia as a non-negotiable part of China. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-calls-pakistan-taiwan-and-other-world-leaders-to-chat/773693/124 "2016-12-16T05:06:03Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And guess what country owns ninety percent of the world’s supply of rare earth elements? There are [vast deposits of rare earths](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-14009910) [in the Pacific and near Hawaii](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/commodities/8616623/Rare-earth-minerals-find-in-Pacific-could-spark-Japan-Hawaii-stand-off.html), although not as accessible or easily mined as China’s. I suppose though that this would be like America’s oil-shale; it’s still cheaper to import from the Saudis but if push came to shove the lode is there to be mined if need be, albeit with more difficult technological means. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-calls-pakistan-taiwan-and-other-world-leaders-to-chat/773693.md?page=6)