(Natural News)—China recently announced a grand plan to mass-produce humanoid robots that can perform various tasks and interact with humans to insulate itself from reliance on foreign powers and replace Chinese workers with machines.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published a blueprint document back in November, saying that the robots would be as “disruptive” as smartphones and would “reshape the world.” According to the paper, the strategy aims to make the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) the global leader in the field of robotics by building a “humanoid robot innovation system,” developing artificial brains and limbs by 2025.
Being the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, CCP aims to achieve breakthroughs in environment sensing, motion control and machine-to-human interaction capabilities in the next two years, which is why it is striving to compete with the United States in the field of chips and hardware. In recent years, billionaire Elon Musk’s Tesla and Boston Dynamics have been leading the said industry.
The document also said that by using a whole-of-nation system, the communist regime could harness technologies to “profoundly change human production and lifestyle and reshape the global industrial development pattern.” However, according to several reports, this move carries national security implications and will help the CCP maintain an economic advantage, even though its population is nosediving due to years of severe restrictions on childbirth. In 2022, after six consecutive years of declining birth rates, China recorded its first annual population decline since the early 1960s. According to a forecast by the United Nations, the East Asian country’s population is set to fall from 1.42 billion in 2022 to 1.31 billion in 2050 and drop below 800 million by 2100. (Related: China’s humanoid robot factories to go online in 2025, HALF of human labor force to be eliminated.)
And so, China’s government is effectively replacing people with robots to maintain a competitive edge in labor-intensive manufacturing industries as per a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. In fact, a draft proposal by the regime’s internet regulator suggested back in April that all content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) should be mandated to “reflect the socialist core values” espoused by the CCP. According to the new document, all new robots and AI-powered artificial brains should be “guided by People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.”
Director of the China Policy Initiative at the America First Policy Institute Adam Savit confirmed with the Epoch Times that the regime could use robots to spread communist ideology throughout the global marketplace. “They will certainly try,” he said. “The CCP takes advantage of any means available, especially innovative new technologies, to spread its ideology and expand its influence.” He also pointed to social media giant TikTok, which is owned by the CCP-affiliated ByteDance, as “the most successful and disturbing example” of Beijing’s s use of technology to spread its idealisms.
END GAME: CCP robots to dominate the world
According to reports, China installed 290,000 non-humanoid industrial robots in 2022, whereas the United States, by comparison, only installed 39,000. The former is now dominating in terms of robot density, as it has deployed more robots relative to workers. The communist nation now operates the largest operational stock of robots in the world.
This is something to worry about as the nation already can use automation to gain economic advantage in the years to come, a report by the International Federation of Robotics pointed out. “Robot density is a key indicator of automation adoption in the manufacturing industry around the world,” International Federation of Robotics President Marina Bill said. “China’s rapid growth shows the power of its investment so far, but it still has much opportunity to automate.”
Moreover, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported that the CCP seeks to earn a long-term advantage by establishing and controlling the supply chains required to create advanced robotics. “Beijing aims both to achieve a high degree of self-sufficiency and to capture a significant share of the global market for a wide array of advanced products and components,” the paper suggested. The report further noted that if the nation can gain an edge in what has been described as a fourth industrial revolution in manufacturing while reducing its dependence on high-tech imports, China may be able to boost its own prospects for long-term growth while diminishing those of its competitors.
“The really scary thing is,” Arthur Herman, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute said, “is that it could lead to the CCP gaining more influence in establishing international standards and rules over AI and robotics. China’s robotics industry becomes the global standard, pushing aside any competition, including setting the moral standard.” The expert said that is not a good sign if people want to have sensible and responsible standards for the future development of a potentially disruptive technology that everyone can live with.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.