China's Premier Li Says Trade Wars are Bad Business. By Order of the Peaky F***ing Blinders!

Globalisation or Gallows?

Right listen up. This Li Qiang fella Premier of China has been yapping about trade. Says 'globalization will not be reversed.' Sounds like someone's been reading Sun Tzu. He wants everyone to play nice no turning trade into a bloody battlefield of politics. A bit like Polly trying to mediate between me and Alfie Solomons except with more consequences than just a hangover and a room full of smashed furniture. He’s saying all this at some fancy talking shop in China – Summer Davos they call it. More like Summer Gamble if you ask me.

Reshaping the Game Board

He’s on about 'reshaping the rules and order.' Now that's where it gets interesting. Adam Tooze some professor calls it 'pluralization.' Sounds like a fancy way of saying everyone wants a piece of the pie and nobody wants to be told how to eat it. China's not just building factories see? They're building a new game a new way to play. Its like when I started fixing races you need to change the rules.

Wisdom of the East or Smoke and Mirrors?

Li's banging on about some agreement signed in Hong Kong 'Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation.' Says it's using 'the wisdom of the East.' Sounds like something Arthur would fall for after a few too many glasses of whiskey. Truth is everyone's got their angle. The Chinese just dress it up a bit fancier than most.

China: Consumption Powerhouse.

This Premier Li is also saying China’s going to be a 'mega sized consumption powerhouse' alongside being a manufacturing one. Well I’ll be. They’re not just making the goods; they want everyone buying them too. Smart move if you can pull it off. Like building a casino where you own every table and rig every game. But let's be honest it's all about buying power.

Who Showed Up?

Bunch of other leaders showed up – Singapore Vietnam Ecuador. Big names like JD.com's Liu Qiangdong and TCL's Li Dongsheng. All trying to get a slice of the action. Li's been shaking hands and making deals all week. You know what that means? Someone's making a killing. The only question is who?

The Long Game

So what does it all mean? It means the world's changing faster than a Shelby can rig a horse race. China's playing a long game. Are they bluffing? Maybe. But in this business you either adapt or you get left behind. And the Peaky Blinders? We don't get left behind. Just remember – 'Everyone's a whore Grace. We just sell different parts of ourselves.' The question is what are you selling?