China To Go Green (?)

A document released by President Hu calls for China to begin paying attention to conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment.

“(We will) promote a conservation culture by basically forming an energy and resource-efficient and environment-friendly structure of industries, pattern of growth and mode of consumption….”

Though the knee-jerk reaction might be to question the sincerity of the statement, there is a reason for hope. China already has a major pollution problem. One can only guess that the growth of pollutants will continue to grow as long as the economy does. Even if this is mere lip service, at the environment is getting a mention. It is more of a domestic problem than an international one, anway. Before its pollution begins to have adverse effects on the world at large, it will be making it more difficult for Chinese people to breath (in many cases, it already is).

Police Feud in Beijing

It’s tough to be a cop in Beijing. With a major political meeting upcoming, Beijing cops are making sure that the worse cases are someone else’s problem.

Police from two districts of the Chinese capital got into a brawl yesterday over a dissident neither side wanted on their territory, the Standard reports. The 17th Party Congress, due to start Monday, has authorities frantically playing “hide the dissident” in order to ensure a “harmonious” event.

That is pretty strong evidence that the communist system is still somewhat intact in China. There are two reasons I am saying this. The first is that they are arresting priests in the first place. The second reason: a problem is only a problem if it’s your problem. I’ve seen this at work in other communist countries in East Asia. It seems that getting ahead in The Party or in any government job has nothing to do with what you do, and everything to do with what you don’t. (I’ll pause here for you to discuss whether that is any different from government jobs in non-communist countries). Perhaps it is ironic that the only people the police are really out to protect are themselves. Perhaps you can just shrug and say “that’s China.”

I’m sure more follies with Beijing’s law enforcement are in the future, especially with the Olympics a fraction of a year away. I’m sure no police chief wants Bob Costas to be pick-pocketed in his district.

Taiwan’s Front Line

It’s not Penghu Island that was the site of conflict between Mainland China and Taiwan. Rather, it was the World CyberGames in Seattle, Washington. According to the Taipei Times, several jealous Chinese gamers took out their frustrations on their Taiwanese counterparts:

Taiwanese player Liu You-chen (劉祐辰) won the bronze medal in the grand final of Project Gotham Racing 3 and displayed the Republic of China (ROC) flag during the award ceremony.

More than 10 Chinese gamers and Chinese media employees scrambled toward the stage to grab the flag.

Surely, several pairs of plastic-rimmed glasses were broken during the fisticuff. Whether this bizarre behavior came from the Chinese without provocation is unknown. Seattle police were called to maintain order.

Taiwan still plans to participate in the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing. It should be interesting to see the reaction if and when a Taiwanese athlete stands on the podium in front of a Chinese crowd.

Two Sides to Every China

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the selection of Beijing as the site for the 2008 Olympics. Critics cite China’s human rights record as a reason the Middle Kingdom should have been passed over. Still, China seems to be embracing its role as Olympic host, if only to promote their country.

Others, including activists campaigning for a free Tibet want to show another aspect of China to the world.

As far as sheer cleverness, the anti-Beijing Olympics crew has a leg up.

The bottom line: The Olympics will go on as planned.  There just too much money to be made by companies and individuals from all over the world.  If the past few Games are anything to go on, the Olympics is more about advertising and broadcast rights than athletics.  Surely, though, Bob Costas and NBC will try to convince us otherwise.

China’s Only Children

China’s one child policy has long been controversial. On one side, the country’s current economy and infrastructure could not sustain much more than the current population of one billion. Cities are already overcrowded with people migrating from rural areas. On the other hand, human rights watchers pint out to the serve infringement on freedom and the fact that some women were forced into abortions and sterilization if they conceive more than one child.

Despite the one-child policy, China’s population is expected to grow to nearly 1.5 billion in the next 25 years.

Some officials in China have cited the healthy economy as reason to allow people to have two children. According to the BBC, government ministers shot down that idea, saying, there was not the “slightest doubt” about the need to continue with the (one child) policy.

Is the one-child policy a holdover from China’s more authoritarian past or is it a harsh-but-necessary step to ensure China’s future stability?

In Praise of the Public Toilet

In a rather bizarre, rather earthy column recently published in the China Daily, journalist Zou Hanru sings the praises of lavatories, namely Hong Kong’s public restrooms.

Here is an excerpt of the glowing report:

The first and foremost requirement for a well-managed toilet is, of course, its hygiene standard. Poorly managed ones greet users with a stench that could be smelled far away, but in Hong Kong that odor does not exist even inside the restroom. Facilities may not be sparkling but are reasonably clean. It is made possible by thorough cleansing on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, which is complemented by an effective ventilation system that helps dry up the floor and dissipate the smell as well as any airborne virus.

While you might not be running to book your ticket to Hong Kong, you have to admit that the city does have a reasonable grasp on the whole restroom thing. Unlike some other cities, you don’t have to pay to use the toilet in H.K., and your rarely have to resort to a quick slash against an alley wall.

Yes, in a sense, Zou is right. A city’s public restrooms are a reflection of the city itself; though such glowing praise of restrooms is a bit over the top.

Manga’s Upstart Challenger

While Japan holds a virtual monopoly on East Asian cartoons and animation in the West, China has its own cartoon industry.  Manhua grew out of satirical newspaper cartoons and small, illustrated books mainly used as propaganda during the turbulent parts of the early 20th century.

Manhua immigrated to Hong Kong and Taiwan ahead of the communist take-over of the mainland and became more of a pop culture phenomenon morphing into an industry that put out commercial publications featuring kung fu and fantastical adventure stories.

Unlike its Japanese counterpart, the pages of a Manhua book are in full color and feature lifelike characters.  Japanese comics as well as western animation have heavily influenced modern Manhua.

Cartoons from the mainland are re-emerging as well.  With the unprecedented growth of China’s economy, it seems likely that Chinese cartoons might someday challenge the dominance of Japanese manga and anime in The West.

Don’t Hate China

A recent piece in the Seoul Times is entitled The Price of Tea in China. Clever title, huh? The cleverness stops there. The writer, one Thomas Emmon Pisano, does no less than call for a return to the days of the Joseph McCarthy. He also calls Mao a capitalist:
In another time and place the manufacturers that are supporting communism, would be indicted and tried for treason. The late chairman Mao would be, at this moment in history, applauding the efforts of the Chinese people for beating the west at its own game.

True, China is winning the trade game right now. Their human rights record is still rather shameful, but most countries, the U.S. included, overlook that because of the sheer amount of profits to be made. But, I fail to see the U.S. and China as having the black-and-white, good-and-evil relationship that Pisano does. Is China communist in more than name? Not according to any Marxist doctrine that I know of. One could just as easily write an editorial about how free enterprise and economic opportunity have changed China for the better. Suddenly, The Party’s clout is tempered by the needs of business.

For god’s sake, Wal-Mart has invaded China. It’s as if Sam Walton has invited today’s Chinese Communist Party to dance on Mao’s grave and they eagerly accepted.

So, for your use of Cold War era catch phrases and your pre-Woodrow Wilson views of the world, I thank you, Mr. Pisano.

China Toughens Trade Practices

China is telling the US to “take that,’ by requiring that all food products from from the US be inspected before entering China.  This move was made after the US criticized China’s health policies following a rash of unsafe Chinese products found in the US.  The most publicized case of faulty products was the tainted dog food that caused the deaths of multiple animals.  Chinese manufacturers broke the golden rule of international trade: if you want to find favor with consumers, don’t kill their pets.

On the other side, though, China is criticizing the US for using these rare but serious cases to level the playing field.  China has long been trading at a surplus with the US and is criticizing the US of using its own stricter trade policies to keep Chinese goods from being imported.  As China continues to grow economically, you can probably expect these trade wars to continue.  Perhaps war isn’t the right word.  Both sides are busy posturing while the businesses and export/import brokers scramble to make adjustments as their products earn lengthier stays in the ports awaiting inspection.