I thought the following exchanges from Black Phoenix and United Chinese Diaspora in a recent thread were very insightful and thought would put that as a post. Is guanxi really an exotic leftover from an old decadent tradition - as many people, including I, blindingly believed? Or is it ever-present among us ... in "modernity"? … [Read more...] about Chinese Guanxi
Analysis
5 Popular Misconceptions about the Sino-Russian Gas Deal
The conclusion of a 30-year, 38 BCM/year Sino-Russian gas deal has gotten considerable attention in the media recently. Not surprisingly, much of the coverage - especially in the western media - was emotionally charged, given that Putin's visit to China & the deal signing coincided with the unfolding crisis in Ukraine. There was no shortage of rhetoric about Putin "making … [Read more...] about 5 Popular Misconceptions about the Sino-Russian Gas Deal
Tiananmen and Freedom of Speech
In the lead up to the "25th Anniversary" of the Tienanmen Square Incident of 1989, we are hearing everything again of how a great sad chapter of Chinese history has been - and continue - to be covered up. A politically activist museum even opened in Hong Kong earlier this month. Old, tired politically activists are freshly interviewed by the major Western media outlets again … [Read more...] about Tiananmen and Freedom of Speech
A New U.S. China Diplomatic Row a la Devyani Khobragade?
Yesterday, the U.S. Justice Department indicted five Chinese nationals of the Chinese military, living in China, with cyber espionage in the U.S. against American companies. China has reacted emphatically, calling the allegations trumped up and hypocritical (see, e.g., this xinhua article). According to this Washington Post Report, The Justice Department has indicted five … [Read more...] about A New U.S. China Diplomatic Row a la Devyani Khobragade?
On the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) Between the U.S. and Phillipines
The U.S. and Phillipines leadership would like to portray their new relationship as rosy, strategic and deep. On the street though, talking to the average Joe, one might get a very different impression. Billed as the cornerstone of growing US and the Philippines strategic partnership and of the U.S. pivot back to Asia, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation … [Read more...] about On the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) Between the U.S. and Phillipines