The unique history of China and the interaction of Chinese people with the rest of world give China many friends around the world. Those ties have been both strong and historical, despite Chinese’s common animosity towards old Western colonists and Japanese imperialists. This historic foundation will continue to benefit both China and the world for a long time.
The following article is an interview with a well-known Jewish scholar, covering topics both past and present, including sensitive ones such as Muslim world and China, 2008 Beijing Olympics and Steven Spielberg.
William Huang says
Shane,
Very nice link, I have always been very interested in the interaction between Chinese and Jewish people.
Shane9219 says
It is my hope that China can become a bridge for the world. It did her share throughout her history. The challenge is now and future. USA tried for a long period of time, and was not very successful.
China certainly faces many racial and territorial issues of her own. Properly resolving those issues not only can relief old history baggages, but also provide good examples and a new foundation for this troubled world. Efforts to settle border disputes with surrounding countries, the return of HongKong and Macau peacefully have born major fruits. Cross-border trade with Vietnam, for example, has been booming and peaceful. Taiwan is to sign CEPA with mainland. The remaining issues are border issues with India, Tibet and South China Sea territories.
yo says
Nice article Shane, very interesting.
TonyP4 says
If China is friend to Israel, she would be enemy to most Arab countries, and vice versa. It is better to stay out of the Middle East. Have we learned enough for US’s involvement in the Middle East?
Arabia countries are more important for China as a supplier of oil.
Steve says
Thanks for the article and link, Shane. It was nice to hear so many viewpoints from an angle we normally don’t get exposed to. I don’t see why China can’t have friendly relations with both Israel and the Middle Eastern countries, as long as she steers clear of the conflict between the two. As Tony mentioned, Arab countries supply oil but Israel also is involved with a lot of high tech trade so both are valuable, though oil outweighs technology for overall benefit.
William Huang says
For one reason for another, I run into Jewish people a lot and I have many Jewish friends (one of them lives in Israel and another’s first name is Israel). I don’t know it’s just me or it’s the general rule, Jewish people like to be friends with Chinese. At least it’s my impression. However, March 2008 Tibet riot and Olympic protest may have changed some of Jewish people’s view about Chinese. My Jewish friends are reluctant to tell me what they think of China-Tibet issue but I have already run into a Jewish couple who think Chinese are not treating Tibetans well.
A childhood friend of mine who runs a company doing store sign and remodeling business in Shanghai has about 20% of the business in Middle East including Israel and Dubai (go figure). He enjoyed working with both Israelis and Arabs.
colin says
@6
“However, March 2008 Tibet riot and Olympic protest may have changed some of Jewish people’s view about Chinese. My Jewish friends are reluctant to tell me what they think of China-Tibet issue but I have already run into a Jewish couple who think Chinese are not treating Tibetans well.”
Yes, I know the feeling. If you look a Jews and Chinese, they are often, prositively or negatively, compared together for their similarities. I get that prior to last year, Jews appreciated the hard work, sacrifice, intelligence, etc., of the chinese and their culture, and vice versa. I too noticed last year that all of the sudden, it “felt” like Jews had become new critics. Not sure if it is really a shift of their opinions, or if it was the media exaggerating the right. Certainly, pro-tibetans and other anti china groups would like china to have a few friends and as many as possible. It might have been part of a coordinated negative PR campaign against china.
I would like to get to the bottom of this as well.
William Huang says
@ colin #7
One possibility is that they identify Tibetans’ experience with holocaust which is in my view so far from the truth. But what can you do? Also, China is an easy target. What can go wrong for criticizing a communist? Some people just need an enemy to hate so they can feel good about themselves. I do found that these who grow up in Israel are more open-minded and relaxed than, say those who grow up in US. This is my experience.