Wandering China

January 27, 2012 • 1:10 am 0

Davos 2012: Who’s afraid of China? [BBC]

It certainly piques my interest that three odd years after China helped lift the global and regional neighbouring economies during the GFC (with a RMB 4 trillion stimulus package 扩大内需十项措施), scepticism toward their economic intent still remains.

Critics then levelled accusations that China was compounding an already hyper-inflated and overheated global economy. Ulterior political intentions and self-determinism aside, the fundamental truth for the Chinese remained – there was little for the bottom-lined focused Chinese to gain in an unstable economic environment.

It seems from the initial salvos at the Davos 2012 World Economic Forum Meeting that the lens in viewing China is still one of skepticism. Internally, is China going to have a hard or soft landing, will its economy overheat, does it have the right balance of investment and consumption? And the number of cynics of what China does overseas seem to be growing. See - Chinese overseas investment draws Davos scrutiny (New Zealand Herald, January 27, 2012)

“The problem in non-Chinese public opinion is that there’s a Chinese official behind every Chinese business person,” World Trade Organization director-general Pascal Lamy.

This, Lamy argues is a question of perception that needs to be tweaked by developing a ‘better’ grand narrative. See also - China’s reality lost in translation, Davos told (Channel News Asia, Jan 26, 2012).

What is also particularly interesting is the question of timing of the Davos meet. Pegged squarely during the Chinese Lunar New Year period, the top Chinese leaders were always going to give this meet a miss. See - China Dials Back Its Davos Presence in Holiday Week (Wall Street Journal, Jan 26, 2012).

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Davos 2012: Who’s afraid of China?
By Tim Weber
Business editor, BBC News website, Davos
Source – BBC, published January 26, 2012

: Many in the West worry about being overwhelmed by the sheer size and strength of the Chinese economy. Photo – Getty Images

So, who’s afraid of China’s economic power?

Mention the topic in polite conversation, and chances are that you’ll hear complaints about dumping cheap products, stealing jobs and grabbing resources.

If you talk to politicians and economists, you may hear complaints that China is keeping its currency undervalued. There are worries about the size of its foreign currency reserves – currently approaching a massive $4tn (£2.55tn). Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, International Relations, Media, Politics, Mapping Feelings, Strategy, Economics, BBC, Communications, Charm Offensive, Domestic Growth, Soft Power, Influence, Chinese Model, Public Diplomacy, Beijing Consensus, Trade, Government & Policy, Reform, Peaceful Development

January 26, 2012 • 3:33 pm 0

Hello America, China TV reporting [Straits Times/Washington Post]

China makes a pronounced soft power move to effectively convey its point of view. So here we witness the commencement of a fight for global mind share through the proxy of English-language media control. That said, ‘experts say the country’s lofty media goals may collide with the communist government’s long history of official censorship and propaganda.’

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Hello America, China TV reporting
CCTV’s new US set-up aims to boost Beijing’s ‘soft power’
Washington Post
Source – Straits Times, published Jan 19, 2012

: Hello America, China TV reporting. –ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO

WASHINGTON: In a downtown D.C. office building, China’s most ambitious effort to become a global power in English-language TV news is literally taking shape.

In a few weeks, China Central Television (CCTV), the nation’s state-run international broadcaster, intends to originate news broadcasts produced by a staff of more than 60 journalists hired in recent weeks from NBC, Bloomberg TV and other Western news organisations.

The new Washington operation, its managers say, will be a hub of CCTV’s global news-gathering operations as the network launches a major expansion outside China to compete with international broadcasters such as CNN, the BBC and Al Jazeera. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, Culture, International Relations, Media, Politics, Strategy, Straits Times, Charm Offensive, Washington Post, Soft Power, Influence, Chinese Model, Public Diplomacy, Beijing Consensus, Democracy, Peaceful Development

January 25, 2012 • 1:26 am 0

China firms splurge on year-end parties [Straits Times]

Prosperity in China over austerity elsewhere in the global climate?

Chinese New Year parties have been a traditional part of business life, but they have arguably like many facets of Chinese-ness, changed with the times.

China’s wealthy firms are now seen milking more mileage with from their corporate year-end parties (nianhui). Evidenced by a growing number of increasingly wealthy companies as platforms to boost their public image and relations with government officials and suppliers, perhaps it is only natural some of them try to push the envelope to outdo one another.

In the spotlight: we start to see porn stars despite pornography being banned in the country (A quick VANCL: Porn star Sora Aoi pops by clothing seller’s AGM, Want China Times, Jan 18 2012). China’s top search engine Baidu notably held their European-themed party at a Beijing stadium on Jan 7 with 15,000 staff from across the country in attendance. Veteran rock singer Chyi Chin also appeared.

- – -

China firms splurge on year-end parties
But controversial guests, obligatory performances attract rising criticism
By Kor Kian Beng
Source – Straits Times, published Jan 25, 2012

: Baidu co-founder and chairman Robin Li (centre), dressed in European court attire, performing with employees at the Chinese online search giant’s year-end party recently. — PHOTO: CHINA DAILY

WHEN China’s top search engine Baidu started holding Chinese New Year parties after its launch in 2000, they were cosy banquets for its staff to mingle and have some fun, much like the dinner-and-dance events in Singapore.

But this year, the company’s party was anything but simple. Held at a Beijing stadium on Jan 7, the glitzy affair was attended by 15,000 staff from across the country, and featured performances by Taiwanese singer Chyi Chin.

Such transformations of China’s corporate annual year-end parties – called nianhui in Mandarin – are becoming common, as a growing number of increasingly wealthy companies turn these events into platforms to boost their image. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Chinese Model, Culture, Domestic Growth, Lifestyle, Modernisation, Social, Straits Times, The Chinese Identity

January 24, 2012 • 12:02 am 0

China No Match for Dutch Plants as Philips Shavers Come Home [Bloomberg]

Is China’s longer-term sustainability as the world’s factory seeing signs of a reversal; or is there more to this move by Philips to bring its top-priced shaver production back home? Is the Chinese model showing cracks or are other countries repositioning against the ‘over-bearing’ success of the Chinese model? Is this a case of simple economics or an embedded strategic move of self and regional-determinism?

This article presents a few likely scenarios.

“A product engineer in Shanghai now is just as expensive as in Drachten… in China, the headcount turnover is high. That is not sustainable.” Rob Karsmakers, factory manager for Philips Asia.

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China No Match for Dutch Plants as Philips Shavers Come Home
By Maaike Noordhuis
Source – Bloomberg, published Jan 19, 2012

Philips, which also lights the Eiffel tower and the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, employs a total of 14,000 people in the Netherlands. Photo: Ralph Orlowski, Bloomberg

Royal Philips Electronics NV (PHIA) workers in the Dutch town of Drachten who expected to be fired were astonished when the site manager said the company was bringing production of its top-priced electric shavers home from China.

Rob Karsmakers, the factory manager who returned from four years working for Philips in Asia, told the baffled crowd that the consumer-electronics company would boost investment in Drachten, where it employs 2,000 staff.

“A product engineer in Shanghai now is just as expensive as in Drachten,” said Karsmakers, who has overseen the plant since 2009, in an interview. “But in China, the headcount turnover is high. That is not sustainable.” Philips, which also lights the Eiffel tower and the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, employs a total of 14,000 people in the Netherlands. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Bloomberg, Chinese Model, Domestic Growth, Economics, European Union, Influence, International Relations, Mapping Feelings, Soft Power, Strategy, Trade

January 23, 2012 • 3:40 am 0

HK furore over China prof’s remarks that Hong Kong is a land of ‘dogs’ and ‘thieves’ in thrall of British Colonialism: [Straits Times]

Indicative or divisive?

A row on a Hong Kong MTR train between mainland Chinese and local HK passengers has been escalated by a Peking University professor into a cultural clash.

Arguably, another pertinent reminder that the impression of the cultural and geopolitical homogeneity of Chinese can be quite far from the truth.

No stranger to controversy, the article ‘What has Professor Kong Qingdong done this time?‘ (Peking University, Nov 20, 2011) is indicative of his employer’s recognition that his role has, from time to time, ‘exceeded the premises of freedom of speech while ignoring a teacher’s basic principles’.

That said, the fact that such polarity of views can exist in China does point to an increased diversity of Chinese thought and expression.

A known critic of the free press and China’s more liberal news sources, this suppositional 73rd generation descendant of Confucius is a vocal supporter of Communist orthodoxy. He’s famous for a remark saying if “China’s journalists were all lined up and shot, I would feel heartache for not a single one of them”

A highly divisive statement by calling Hong Kongers ‘dogs’ as such can be reflective of China’s old guard with mindsets shaped by the cultural revolution. On most counts, such a broad value judgement can scarcely be regarded as a scholarly statement. On the other hand, if you watch the video in detail, Professor Kong’s assertion that Hong Kongers can take a ‘holier than thou’ attitude reminiscent of a ‘colonial hangover’ when it comes to dealing with mainland Chinese has been well documented.

In some ways it may be unfortunate this unravels during the Lunar New Year period. The spring festival’s intent is one of leaving the past behind with winter, this event may only serve to dredge up more division.

In our rapidly converging world of global production networks, it can be inadvertent that we find more and more common goals being met by diverging value systems.

It may not be my place to demarcate the role of academia, but as an supporter of the middle path, I think once we start to choose to impose rather than elucidate and illuminate, then such scholarship requires a moment of introspection and reflection.

For more, see:

Beijing professor and descendant of Confucius provokes anger by insulting Hong Kongers (Washington Post, Jan 23, 2012)

On the social media front: Follow Up on Peking University Professor Kong Qingdong’s Anti Hong Kong Comment (Bad Canto blog, Jan 22, 2012)

Catch both versions of the video (with subtitles and sans subs) here - Kong Qingdong: Hong Kongers are bastards, dogs and thieves (Shanhaiist, Jan 20, 2012). Also on the Shanghaiist, catch the original ‘skirmish’ here. Watch: Bitchfight between mainland tourists eating on the Hong Kong MTR with local passengers (Jan 15, 2012)

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HK furore over China prof’s remarks
Academic’s name-calling rant infuriates HK people in the wake of subway train quarrel
Source – Straits Times, published Jan 22, 2012

BEIJING: A row in a Hong Kong subway train between mainland Chinese and local passengers has snowballed into an ugly exchange involving a Peking University professor after he labelled Hong Kongers as ‘dogs’.

It all began on Jan 15, when a Hong Kong man riding the subway chided a mainland family for letting their child snack in the carriage – which is not allowed – according to mainland and Hong Kong media reports.

The subsequent quarrel was videotaped by onlookers and put on the Internet, drawing comments from both sides of the Hong Kong border – the most scathing of which came from Peking University professor Kong Qingdong.

Speaking on a talk show on Internet television site tv.V1.cn last week, the Chinese-language professor repeatedly used the terms ‘dogs trained by colonialists’, ‘worshippers of the West’ and ‘bastards’ as he criticised Hong Kongers. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, Culture, Media, Politics, Economics, Education, Overseas Chinese, Social, Communications, Charm Offensive, Lifestyle, Domestic Growth, Nationalism, Chinese Model, Public Diplomacy, Beijing Consensus, Hong Kong, People, Territorial Disputes, Government & Policy, Democracy

January 22, 2012 • 11:49 pm 0

President Obama’s Lunar New Year Message [White House Youtube]

The US President sends his wishes to Americans and everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Source – White House Youtube Channel, published Jan 19, 2012

Filed under: Charm Offensive, Communications, International Relations, Mapping Feelings, Media, Peaceful Development, Politics, Public Diplomacy, Soft Power, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, U.S., Youtube

January 21, 2012 • 1:22 am 0

Wandering China wishes one and all a Happy Chinese New Year

May prosperity and good health flow for you and family this new year! Better days ahead!

Filed under: Bob's Opinion

January 21, 2012 • 12:01 am 0

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation watch on Chinese money [The Age]

On the surface, it would seem Australia is not sending coherent messages to the source of fuel to its two-track economy, China.

Arguably, if there hasn’t been enough strain between China and Australia in the aftermath of the Obama Doctrine and establishment of a marine base in Darwin when China claims it was ‘stung by the defence pact’, this strategic move might just compound the problem.

Australia’s security intelligence agency has been tasked officially to keep watch on the inflows of Chinese money.

‘Australia has been the biggest single destination for Chinese money over the past six years, with investments totalling nearly $37 billion, mainly in the resources sector.’

The spark? A decision by treasurer Wayne Swan in March 2009 to block a Chinese take over of the Prominent Hill mine in South Australia had strategic implications as it was within the boundary of the Woomera Test Range.

For more, see China-Aust relationship: defence, spying and big business (ABC News, May 4, 2009) – Here we see some evidence of incoherence, measured or not, with Defence Minister Stephen Smith reportedly saying, ”Firstly, it’s not the Defence Department’s decision, it’s the Treasurer’s decision… Secondly, the Treasurer’s made very clear in his public statement – and as a matter of law it’s his decision, not mine – he’s made clear in his public statement that within the Woomera prohibited area, any mining application, or any application for development, has to be specially considered by the Defence Department for national security reasons.”

That said, if we bear in mind China’s fundamental strategy of biding their time and concealing intentions, then we now we have a rather complex game in play here.

Visit ASIO‘s website here.

- – -

ASIO watch on Chinese money
Philip Dorling
Source – The Age, published January 21, 2012

Australia has been the biggest single destination for Chinese money over the past six years. Source - The Age

CHINESE investment in Australia is coming under increased federal government scrutiny, with ASIO and other intelligence groups weighing up possible national security risks.

Foreign investment in critical infrastructure, especially in IT and communications, has become a focus of concern, with agencies warning that the 30-day window for Treasurer Wayne Swan to object to foreign takeovers is too short for security investigations.

Documents released to The Saturday Age under freedom of information reveal that the country’s two peak security and intelligence committees – the National Security Committee of Cabinet and the National Intelligence Co-ordination Committee – have recently focused their attention on foreign investment policy. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Australia, Beijing Consensus, Chinese Model, Communications, Culture, Domestic Growth, Economics, Environment, Government & Policy, Greater China, Influence, Mapping Feelings, Media, military, Peaceful Development, Politics, Public Diplomacy, Resources, Soft Power, Strategy, The Age, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities

January 20, 2012 • 12:01 am 0

Government ‘must utilize blogs better’ [China Daily]

On the surface, it looks like China is rubber stamping the use of micro blogs for official uses.

Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office encourages government agencies to actively open micro blog accounts to ‘better understand public opinion and to respond to issues of public concern.’ His argument also highlights the expansive utility of micro blogs to reach beyond conventional means.

That said, it’s important to read between the lines and get down to irreducible core Chinese thinking- He adds that regulations and registration are also needed to facilitate the ”rapid and healthy growth of the Internet“.

Quick facts:

1. 500 million Internet users – highest in the world, greater than population of EU.
2. 330 million registered microblog users
3. 150 million entries made daily
4. Government agencies and party departments have opened more than 50,000 microblog accounts.

- – -

Government ‘must utilize blogs better’
By Zhao Yinan and Wang Huazhong
Source – China Daily, published Jan 19, 2012

Minister stresses importance of keeping public fully informed

: Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, talks to reporters at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday. The coming year will see an enhancement of China’s engagement with the international community so that the world can have a better understanding of the country, Wang said. Photo by China Daily

BEIJING – The government should better utilize micro blogs to provide information and improve transparency, a senior official said.

In the latest call for Party and government agencies to reach an increasingly Internet-savvy population, Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, said on Wednesday that agencies should open micro blog accounts to better understand public opinion and to respond to issues of public concern.

Describing micro blogs as an “important platform” for information and “a bridge” between the government and the public, Wang urged officials to keep their blogs up to date. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, Chinese Model, Communications, Culture, Democracy, Domestic Growth, Education, Government & Policy, Great Firewall, Influence, Infrastructure, Internet, Media, Politics, Social, Technology, The Chinese Identity

January 19, 2012 • 8:29 am 0

China warned on corruption [The Age]

‘Red Princeling (reference to the offspring of party elders or retired generals) General Liu Yuan, sometimes depicted as the hardliner son of Liu Shaoqi (annointed successsor to Mao Zedong) is no stranger to ‘do or die’ scenarios. Will he be the public ‘executor’ of China’s 52 unacceptable practices?

Last year in 2011, he pressed for ‘a major shake-up of Chinese politics, including allowing open debate and ushering in a form of democracy within one-party rule.’

Here he warns of corruption so deep and widespread in the armed forces that it threatens not just the PLA, but the wider Communist Party as well.

Liu Yuan is the current political commissar of the General Logistics department (his previous post was at the Academy of Military Sciences 军事科学研究院 of the PLA 2005-2011) and believed to be politically close to Xi Jinping, China’s upcoming leader (see Liu Yuan: Archetype of a “Xi Jinping Man” in the PLA?).

In some measures, what he says, carries a useful frame of reference indicative of China’s next big moves.

He has reportedly accused Communist Party leaders of “betrayal”, and has been a proponent of more open debate within the party.

Rare: few senior military figures have the wide berth to speak out on publicly on domestic politics.

This number grows, and that itself is noteworthy. See - ‘Princeling’ General Attracts Notice with Criticism of Party (Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2011)

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China warned on corruption
John Garnaut
Source – The Age, published January 19, 2012

: General Liu Yuan is on the attack against corruption in the millitary. Photo – The Age

A RISING star of the People’s Liberation Army has promised a ”do-or-die” fight against powerful corrupt generals, bringing military politics to the fore in the middle of a critical leadership transition.

General Liu Yuan, son of former president Liu Shaoqi, warned corruption had grown so deep and widespread in the armed forces that it threatened the existence of both the PLA and the Communist Party.

”I’d rather risk losing my position than refrain from fighting corruption to the end,” General Liu told officers in his recent Chinese New Year address. ”No matter how high one’s position or how powerful their background, I will see it through,” he said, according to sources familiar with the speech. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: 52 Unacceptable Practices, Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, Chinese Model, Corruption, Government & Policy, Peaceful Development, Politics, Reform, Strategy, Tao Guang Yang Hui (韬光养晦), The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities

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Wandering China

Davos 2012: Who’s afraid of China? [BBC]

Hello America, China TV reporting [Straits Times/Washington Post]

China No Match for Dutch Plants as Philips Shavers Come Home [Bloomberg]

President Obama’s Lunar New Year Message [White House Youtube]

Wandering China wishes one and all a Happy Chinese New Year

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation watch on Chinese money [The Age]

China warned on corruption [The Age]

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