It is a thing. Why would it matter whether the word is "made up" even if this thread was its very first usage?

The expression is clear to the reader and conveys a conceptual expression of thought -- that of an idea of a new form of colonialism.

The opinion of whether or not, in what form, or to what degree it exists in the world are entirely different things from the word itself.

It has a wikipedia page and is used to describe when a large, powerful country uses soft power to ensure that a smaller country grant favorable economic trade concessions. This is in contrast with classical colonialism, where military force was used to achieve the same ends.

Given the context, don’t you think that wiki description of neo-colonialism is way better suited for China/third-world relations?

Aren't all words "made up" at some point? It's how language works.

you are on a hacker news site.

it generates probably 100 made up words a day.

your critique is meaningless.

True. But neo-colonialism hoax predates this site