Athens truly has their gyros in a vice these days:
Thousands of Greeks walked off their jobs on Wednesday and marched through central Athens in an angry protest against continued austerity measures being demanded by international lenders in exchange for disbursing bailout funds.
There were isolated clashes with police, but the demonstration was generally peaceful.
The strike was called by the country's main public and private sector unions a day before Greece's parliament is due to vote on reforms that would help unlock the funds from the 86-billion-euro bailout, the country's third in seven years.
In light of China's large planned investments in trade routes that reach all the way to Europe (formerly the New Silk Road but now known as Belt and Road), I bet China would love to have a secure trading outpost and naval base in Greek territory to protect the far end of their long trade lines.
With a China wielding a check book, Greece has an alternative to austerity if China is willing to pay the price to buy Greece.
I'd worry about Russia doing this, but Russia has to sell their plasma to buy a pint of vodka these days.
Or maybe Greece is about to turn the corner and leave the crisis atmosphere behind. Let's hope so.
Turning Greece into a Chinese subsidiary (and thus leaving NATO) would singe our cheese, no doubt.
UPDATE: Related information on China's interests in Europe via the Belt and Road project, including the big projects to make Greece a port of destination.
Bonus: China's efforts undermine the European Union (although the analysis says China wants a unified Europe). I just hope NATO doesn't lose Greece as collateral damage in that impact.
