We've had impassioned discussions about Tibet this year. But the controversies surrounding China has not just been about Tibet - they have also been about Africa. In anticipation of a series of posts on Africa, I thought I would put a few feelers out to see if people on this forum would be interested in discussing the topic, and if so, where people initially stand. … [Read more...] about The Partnership between Africa and China – a Force for Good or Evil?
China
(Letter from chinayouren, Opposing Viewpoint) Shanghai’s Tower of Babel
If you've been reading the Chinese press this week, you might have come across two strikingly unharmonious pieces of information. I am speaking of the treatment of the Shanghai Tower news by China Daily (ht Shanghaiist). In the space of 3 days from 11/28 to 12/01 China Daily has changed its tune radically in two articles about the construction of the new tower, which started … [Read more...] about (Letter from chinayouren, Opposing Viewpoint) Shanghai’s Tower of Babel
(Letter from BI Yantao) China: Internet censorship tightened
As Beijing Olympics closed, the Internet censorship in China further tightened. Undeniably, this deterioration has affected and frustrated an increasing number of netizens in China. … [Read more...] about (Letter from BI Yantao) China: Internet censorship tightened
Update: McCain injects Presidential Politics into U.S. – China row over Taiwan Weapons Sale
McCain seems to be getting a little desperate. He seems to be pulling all stops (including going negative and aggressive against Obama) and most recently also trying to inject some foreign politiking into his campaign. … [Read more...] about Update: McCain injects Presidential Politics into U.S. – China row over Taiwan Weapons Sale
Chinese elitism versus American parochialism (aka Sarah Palin-style "democracy"): Musings on how different political systems function. Part I: The Chinese story.
Prologue: On my last trip back to China I brought back some reprints of Republican-era books. The following musings are based on my hasty reading notes. Abstract: The Chinese society functions well when the stuff of its elite works. The American society functions well when the stuff of its elite works and is embraced by its masses (which is far from automatic). The challenge … [Read more...] about Chinese elitism versus American parochialism (aka Sarah Palin-style "democracy"): Musings on how different political systems function. Part I: The Chinese story.