Sentence from News

[whl626]

" But with some analysts predicting that, between 2000 and 2015, 3.3 million American jobs will have migrated to low-cost centres overseas, “China” is becoming shorthand for fears that the global supply chain, that triumph of American capitalism, might turn out to be its creator’s undoing. "

I wonder if anyone can help me understand this sentence ? I got it from a UK news.

[RonBee]

Perhaps your question is about supply chain?

• sup·ply chain
  
  noun
  
  suppliers in manufacturing process: all the manufacturers and suppliers who provide the parts that make up a particular product
  http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/featur...efid=561534138

• "A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution options that performs the functions of procurement of materials; transformation of these material[s] into intermediate and finished products; and distribution of these finished products to customers."
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply+chain
  (From: Wikipedia)

• supply chain
  The network of retailers, distributors, transporters, storage facilities and suppliers that participate in the sale, delivery and production of a particular product.
  http://www.investorwords.com/cgi-bin/getword.cgi?4823

• Supply Chain: [sup] Supply Chain refers to the distribution channel of a product, from its sourcing, to its delivery to the end consumer (also known as the value chain). The supply chain is typically comprised of multiple companies who are increasingly coordinating activities via an extranet.
  http://www.udel.edu/alex/dictionary.html#sup
  (From: Hackers, Hits and Chats: An E-Commerce and Marketing Dictionary of Terms)

See also: http://www.eyefortransport.com/glossary/st.shtml

A global supply chain would be one whose reach is international.

[whl626]

Oh sorry Ron, I should have been more specific about my question, in fact from ' China ' til the end of the sentence. What does the whole sentence mean ?

'China is becoming shorthand for fears ..... ' ???

' triumph of American capitalism ???

[RonBee]

" But with some analysts predicting that, between 2000 and 2015, 3.3 million American jobs will have migrated to low-cost centres overseas, “China” is becoming shorthand for fears that the global supply chain, that triumph of American capitalism, might turn out to be its creator’s undoing."

The explanation is in the but clause. In China, labor is relatively cheap, and some businesses have set up manufacturing plants there to save money. There are some who fear that such a strategy will backfire. They think China will take business from American companies.

That is my interpretation anyhow. What do you think?

:)

[whl626]

Still confusing :P

" China " is becoming shorthand is what I don't get it ?

as far as i know ' shorthand ' means you need help, right ?

[RonBee]

Still confusing :P

" China " is becoming shorthand is what I don't get it ?

as far as i know ' shorthand ' means you need help, right ?

I see. No, that's shorthanded. The phrase is shorthand for, which means it is used in place of a much longer expression. You could also say short for.

:)

[whl626]

Gosh

Now I sort of got it :)

China is shorthand for fears means ( China = fears ) :).

Everything is clear to me now. Thanks Ron

[RonBee]

That's it! :D

You're welcome.

:D

[RonBee]

Still confusing :P

Um, I think that should be still confused. (But you are no longer confused, I hope.)

:wink:

[RonBee]

:D