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January 2007
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AsiaPundit » Blog Archive » iPhone Now Available in China “Even though the official Asian launch date for the Apple iPhone is not until 2008, users of the China’s Taobao auction site can already buy the ‘revolutionary’ phone. No…
October 2004
- 11-day Great Wall tour
This is what gets published on China travel—a cliched piece on a 11-day Great Wall tourgroup hike littered with quotes of the comically translated English signs that proliferate Chinese tourist destinations. Apparently these signs “reflected the difficulty of translating from a pictorial language, where each word is an image or an idea.” I’m still trying to stop rolling my eyes.
- Hooters invades China
There are so many other things Shanghai still doesn’t have. But at least now we have a Hooters! Ugh. I could make some joke about Chinese girls and, um, well “hooters”…but I’m too disgusted to go there.
- China to be top travel destination
According to the World Tourism Industry, China will be the world’s most popular travel destination by 2020, when it is expected to draw 130 million tourists.
- China vs. crocodiles
China’s attempts to breed crocodiles is a comedy of errors in this New York Times piece. Problems range from illness, picky diets, impotence to obesity: “They don’t chase the females,” he said. “They’re very fat guys. They just eat, eat, eat.”
- HK smoking ban
No more smoking in bars or restaurants in a place that is part of smoking-crazy China?! Time to move to Hong Kong.
- Nearly 100,000 killed in accidents in 9 months
“Most of the deaths occurred on the roads, with 77,664 fatalities from traffic accidents — a 2.3 percent increase — or 1,772 deaths — from the same period last year.” But according to the WHO, these road fatality figures are likely on the low side.
- Bush gets no help from China
It’s ridiculous that the administration would ever expect the Chinese to make campaigning for Bush a priority over the health of its dynamic (and precariously balanced) economy. It’s even more ridiculous that there are actually many Americans who believe unpegging the yuan is the key to direct relief for the struggling job market. Believe it or not, my fellow Americans, this is not one you can blame on China.
- China mine blast: 56 dead and 100 missing
Another tragic loss in China’s deadly coal industry.
- China loves the Swoosh
An interesting (and lengthy) feature in the latest issue of Time on Nike’s booming success in China.
- CIA documents on China released
The hits and also some pretty big misses by the CIA, a trove of unclassified documents on its work in China dating all the way back to pre-Communist upheaval.
- US criticizes China’s justice system
What justice system?
- China rejects statement by Dalai Lama
China only accepts certain types of concilliatory statements, and they must fall under the category of grovelling and kow-towing, a la imperialist China lording over the barbarians.
- Earthquake in southwest China
And just in case you were curious about the location of this earthquake, the last sentence of this story is sure to help you pointpoint the spot “1,400 miles southwest of Shanghai.” Uh, thanks.
- Sperm donor shortage
Odd since I hear donors can be paid 200 RMB per “donation” 10 times a month. Not a bad monthly salary supplement.
- First private Chinese airline approved
Hopefully Okay Airways (yes, that really is the airline name) is better than that. I wonder what else came up in the brilliant brainstorm to name China’s first private airline?
- Dalai Lama says Tibet could benefit more by remaining with China
Wait, so the guy who fled China for his life after a failed uprising to free Tibet said what?
- Yao and more Yao
Gratuitous story on the NBA and Yao Ming’s glorious return to China.
- Watch out for that falling satellite
Pretty amazing that this thing crashed through and destroyed an entire 4-storey house without causing any injuries. But aren’t space (crash) landings usually more well-planned?
- Publisher suspends ‘Rape of Nanjing’ comic
Before reading the article, I assumed the Chinese would be complaining that the comic was making light of the bloody massacre. Turns out this comic is perhaps a little too honest for Japan’s taste.
- Chinese hostage killed
So being a traditional ally of a supporter of the American war on terrorism, not a supporter of the American cause, is now enough. Nobody is safe anymore, America.
- Strange name request
Unfortunately, in China you cannot name your baby after the “@” symbol.
- Mental illness growing in China
China continues to grow and change as quickly as ever, leaving native traditions and culture too often far behind, further threatening mental health.
- Reward for ratting-out porn sites
The government is getting serious about expelling smut: $60-$240 per tip.
- Beijing to install condom machines to fight AIDS
Yes, certainly progressive. Most surprisingly, these machines are addressing a growing AIDS problem in a very public way.
- China first in world in road deaths
According to the WHO, that works out to 600 deaths and 45,000 road-related injuries every day. And a total of over 100,000 deaths in 2003 makes injuries from traffic-related accidents the leading cause of death in the 15-45 year old age group in China.
- China erects monument for SARS monkeys
China sure likes monuments: everything from Mao to monkeys.
September 2004
- Foreign diplomacy no-no’s
And the “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” award goes to Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Chen Tan-sun, for calling Singapore “a country the size of a booger”.
- Third baby boom
Shanghai is expecting a baby boom that will peak in 2014 and 2015 of 160,000 newsborns.
- More paternity tests
Husbands and wives are increasingly checking up on one another’s loyalty, as fidelity in marriages decreases in a more open society.
- Rival lama hails China’s leadership
This poor, 14-year-old puppet.
- Possible Dalai Lama return
I’m not getting my hopes up. But with apparent headway being made and the recent leadership changes, automatic dismissal might not be necessary this time.
- Writing without understanding
“It’s bad enough for us to be among the major trading partners of a dictatorship that allows slave-like work conditions, tolerates child labor, represses dissent and controls its people’s right to travel. It’s even worse when that regime doesn’t allow us to benefit from its country’s 100 million outbound tourism bonanza.” Yeah! Look at all this money the US has lost since it eagerly chose to be trading partners with a habitual human rights violator. Could this Miami Herald article pointed out in EastSouthWestNorth possibly do a better job of summing up America’s ignorance when it comes to China? (2)
- Busting up the party
A prominent international health journal blasts China’s deal with the devil (tobacco-product sponsors) to be a part of the F1 circuit. Opening festivities leading up to Shanghai’s races started this week.
- US asks China for “genuine” HK government
Necessary? I suppose so. Pointless? Extremely. But everybody already knows that.
- Last speaker of 400-year-old language dies
Without any surviving native speakers, can a language still survive?
- No return trip for Elton
Quite a performance, Sir Elton: “Rude vile pigs,” shouted John, who performed later in the capital, Taipei. “Do you know what that means? Rude vile pigs. That’s what all of you are.” One of the photographers shouted back, “Why don’t you get out of Taiwan?” John answered, “We’d love to get out of Taiwan if it’s full of people like you. Pig! Pig!”
- NY Times assistant detained
Sure, foreign reporters may be experiencing less government oppression, in terms of physical detainment. But what’s the use if Chinese assistants are used as replacement scapegoats? Just another misguided effort to draw less attention to “sensitive” issues?
- Louis Vuitton’s foolhardy hopes
“Zanardi-Landi noted that for Louis Vuitton, which sells its products only through its own outlets, there would be little possibility of duping a customer into believing he or she was buying the real thing when it was a fake.” Pretty stupid to enter a counterfeit-ridden market saying that the situation is improving (it is?) when you don’t even know the real reason behind rampant sales of luxury rip-offs.
- Watering down Xinjiang
A thoughtful and lengthy piece on the uncomfortable situation and problematic issues in Xinjiang.
- The fastest growing economy in the world
With greater speed comes greater (good and don’t forget the bad) consequences.
- Man slashes 25 at Chinese school
The third knife attack in six weeks reported by a day care or school in China—increasing violence or more open reporting?
- Hu’s Faustian bargain
So what did Hu have to do to gain this last title from Jiang? China Digital News notes a Wall Street Journal article that questions the completeness of the sudden handover of power to Hu.
- The CCP’s shame
“Local authorities had shut down the school because it made them look bad. It drew unwanted attention to the AIDS epidemic and raised questions about why the children couldn’t attend public schools.” So removing these AIDS orphans’ only education option and beating a brave volunteer makes the government look better? The government continues to perpetuate an attitude of fear that shuns AIDS victims by shrouding the problem in mystery and taboo. What will happen when the CCP succeeds in silencing the few brave voices?
- Sacrificing tea for US weapons
Of course the US supports a one-China policy. That’s why Taiwan is asking its citizens to start saving up, and drinking less tea, so the island can afford to purchase US weapons to defend against China.
- Hu’s reign begins
Surprising the entire world, and perhaps relieving much of the CCP, Jiang Zemin surrendered the last major post, military commander, to president Hu Jintao for the most peaceful transition of power in the history of the CCP.
- $94,000 fine for one-child violation
“The couple’s house had been sealed up ‘according to the law,’ the paper said, or until they pay the fine which was unusually large.” Until they pay the fine?
- Extreme status symbols
Chinese are just searching for ways to throw away money. The latest—$32,000 platinum-covered Vertu mobile phones (cheap models are $4,700 and only leather-clad). Why? “This is very hard to describe. They are actually seduced by the Vertu element of mystique.” Oh please. Only if “mystique” is a euphamism for pretentiousness.
- Hong Kong surprise
The same controversial security law Beijing so stubbornly pursued in the past, causing massive protests, has suddenly been dropped from the agenda.
- Yes, China does hate Japan
And the award for most obvious (and self-pitying?) statement of the month goes to TokyoNow.
- Those pesky protestors
Ah, nothing like a group of police “backed by thugs led by a notorious local criminal” to put down a sit-in staged by a group of middle-aged women peacefully protesting the confiscation of a factory and business they built with their own money.
- Anti-terrorist troops to defend against America and Japan
Blowing up the Three Gorges Dam…there’s something someone could do that would really piss China off. Now why would anybody do that?
- China’s businesswomen
“Women entrepreneurs are running more than 40 percent of China’s private businesses.”
- China’s war on terror
In addition to the usual “stability” justification, the CCP seems to be taking excuses straight from the U.S. War on Terrorism Everywhere rule book.
- Marlboro: Made in China
No more import duties, and a bigger chunk of the $31 billion cigarette market in China.
- China’s high regard for teachers
“Primary and middle school teachers’ income has risen nearly 11- fold from 1984 to 2004, while that of college teachers has increased 17-fold during the period, Beijing Youth Daily reported Thursday, adding teachers in China now earn more than the average of white collar workers.”
- No more reward for unproductiveness
Shanghai no longer handing out bonuses to “dinks”—double income, no kids.
- Following Bill
Is Monica, of course. Here she comes, China. And she even brings her own book.
- Sprucing up for 2008
English classes are not just for the young. Free classes are offered in communities throughout Beijing, as many senior citizens take advantage of the opportunity through a sincere sense of duty to be good hosts in 2008.
- Four-star bathrooms
I cannot even begin to imagine wanting to buy a drink in a Chinese bathroom.
- Latest crusade
If you live in China and your porn website is nearing 250,000 total hits, you might want to consider pulling it down. Unless you’re willing to go to prison for life because of it. Or you could just resort to printing it out and selling it on the street.
- China’s passionate love affair with cars
Another top priority for the CCP: figuring out how to keep traffic flowing, and parking accomodations for 140 million cars by 2020.
- A step beyond ping-pong diplomacy
“If Hong Kong political candidates finish in a dead heat, the election will be decided by the luck of the draw from a bag of numbered pingpong balls.” And yet another place in which the election process makes a mockery of democracy.
- To tip or not to tip
All you expats in China may not be enjoying a tip-free lifestyle for long.
- Beijing Olympics Chinese 101
A book of simple Chinese phrases compiled for the 2008 Olympics to equip foreigners with useful phrases like “The sky is bluer, the water is clearer and Beijing is becoming more and more beautiful” and other such praise China expects to hear about itself.
- Olympic construction frenzy
Many experts justify the destruction of traditional architecture in the name of construction of Olympic buildings and venues that will be used for 2 weeks in 2008 by saying “it is an inevitable side effect for a city that wishes to renew itself.” But perhaps it is time to reasseess if it is not difficult to say that “the destruction of old buildings will far exceed previous radical changes such as Communist founding father Mao Zedong’s decision to tear down the ancient city wall.”
- Bruce Lee: ambassador of Bosnia?
An odd quote from an odd story: “We want that people, when you say Mostar, respond: ‘that’s the city that has a monument to Bruce Lee.’” But why would anyone want that?
August 2004
- Painfully shy
“The six-month study of 1,000 people in major Chinese cities suggested 52.5 percent of men over 40 suffer from erectile dysfunction to some extent… Patients on a national average only saw a doctor 22 months after the first symptoms occurred.” A Beijing man would wait nearly 3 years(!) before seeking treatment.
- The finer points of “real love”
“…as opposed to the Internet chatroom variety.” Courses taught to 15-year-old students across Shanghai use rather lofty means of literature such as Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Pushkin poems to “help guide students through puberty smoothly.”
- Over-sexed ed?
For such a straight-laced country so reluctant to even whisper that taboo word sex, how does a Guangdong university end up with a sex education course that consists of “blowing up condoms like balloons and playing games where the female students pretended to be prostitutes”?
- A political ‘misunderstanding’
“China said on Monday a misunderstanding caused it to bar a top Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker from entering the mainland over the weekend.” A misunderstanding? Forgive me if I seem more than a little skeptical.
- Doggy breath freshener, sun screen and cat laxatives
Perhaps this is what happens in a country with a strict, one-child policy.
- The violence of corruption
Political and reputation-related concerns complicate an already difficult fight against corruption, but increasingly, this fight is taking on consequences of life-threatening violence.
- Grisly revenge
Undoubtedly a sad case of a victim in great need of help, likely made into an example in the CCP’s ongoing crusade against web pornography.
- Losers not traitors
Well, it’s nice to see how far China has come.
- 100th anniversary
Happy birthday dear Deng…
- If you’ve bought it, flaunt it
Seems pretty wrong for parents to tell a daughter, post-plastic surgery, that “we finally look like we’re from the same family.” Probably wrong enough to make that daughter start saying things like “I hope to see a day when it’s so commonly done we’ll no longer use the term artificial beauty.” Yikes.
- Never steal ancient relics
Capital offense number 137: stealing relics from a former Chinese imperial palace.
- Hairboy aspires to be rock star
Hopefully his entertainment career grows beyond his debut at the age of six in a movie called “A Hairy Child’s Adventure”.
- No bicycle and no tent
A Briton got all the way from Britain to Mongolia, 16,000 kilometers, only to have his only means of transportation stolen.
- Safety or paranoia?
While Mao cannot claim the 7,000 km legacy of the Great Wall, he did leave behind a tunnel system of “12,000 kilometres in dozens of cities across China.”
- Nudist colony fails to take off
While a part of me laughs at the mere idea that somebody actually thought this idea could fly in China, I also wonder at the odd juxtaposition found in Chinese locker rooms—where I have never seen people of all ages so completely comfortable with nudity.
- Ex-007 hits China hotels for shunning AIDS kids
Even without the added oddness Mr. Bond lends to this story, this is something to note. While the government has come a long way in shedding thick layers of denial and cover-up, its next task is helping its people overcome a tremendously harmful stigma against AIDS.
- September release for Clinton book
Yes, the real book by Bill Clinton, will be published in China. Chinese publisher Yilin Press really bought the rights from Alfred Knopf this time. So the question is how much of this Clinton book will Yilin Press censors feel obligated to fake? (1)
- Hong Kong has highest abortion rate in developed world
“Medical experts quoted by the report blamed the high rate on poor sex education in the southern Chinese territory’s schools…” Just in this territory of China?
- Perpetuating a lack of class
Well, well. Looks like Mr. Haan is setting a wonderful example for his team’s nation, which has already received plenty of press for its questionable sportsmanship.
- China urges Australia to “properly handle” case of defected law professor
If Australia complies and “properly handles” the situation, will China handle the professor properly when he returns?
- New police regulations to curb abuse
The real question is whether or not these new police interrogation regulations will actually be enforced.
- Kindergarten stabbing
“A janitor wielding a kitchen knife on Wednesday stabbed 15 children and at least two teachers at a kindergarten in the Chinese capital, killing one child…”
- China’s bad sportsmanship strikes again
Come on, China. I know you have more class than this.
- Beijing to clean up smelly toilets
“…infamous for smelly toilets that often amount to little more than open holes.” Is a so-called ‘clean-up’ possible if many Chinese seem to prefer these toilets over Western-style sitting toilets?
- Increasing domestic violence
Wife-beating and domestic violence is on the rise as China experiences growing stress and social upheaval as a result of changes brought about by the booming economy.
- Woman dies after plastic surgery
“…but after the operation she found her breasts were not symmetrical and lumps had developed in them.” Ewwww. As if you needed another reason not to get plastic surgery.
- Zippo fired up over knockoffs
Zippo and every other recognizable brand in the world.
- Gender crisis no worry?
I don’t know if I would be so quick to write off the possibly serious social consequences of the surplus of males resulting from the largest male to female ratio imbalance in the world. Especially in the face of rising nationalist sentiment.
- Durex in China
And the foreign, non-“smelly, unbranded rubbers from the government” have descended upon China. Along with a sex-toy expo.
- The widening urban-rural gap
A telling story not only of the growing poverty, but also the creation of a disturbing class division accompanying this already sensitive issue.
- China’s campus killers
A lengthy piece that focuses upon the increasingly important topic of China’s urban-rural gap. However, the focus of this story is a student murder case, which unecessarily and distractingly sensationalizes an already troubling issue.
- Clinton mix-up
Sloppy as ever, Chinese publishing pirates did not take enough time to distinguish Bill’s book from Hillary’s.
July 2004
- Six DVD pirates detained
Most distributors do not have websites to give them away. I will be impressed when (and if) this exposure reaches levels higher than mere distribution.
- Websites leading graft exposure
Any scapegoating that doesn’t involve placing the blame upon the CCP is welcome. And the sooner the better.
- Christianity: China’s newest “cult”
Everybody loves to hate a ‘cult’—especially the CCP. If they could have it their way, everything other than communism would probably be labeled a ‘cult’.
- Politics driving officer’s case
Hold on, let me read that one more time: “Zhao and two other women ran when he asked them to come into the inspection station.” Usually it isn’t a good idea to run from the police. Other reports also stated that Zhao continued to struggle and strike at the officer once she was initially detained, resulting in subsequently rough handling. But…somehow I don’t think any of these details really matter.
- Disney to sponsor Rockets, Kings games in China
Amidst Disney, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and NBA, only two words matter here: Yao Ming.
- Veteran walks 110,000 km
Now that is hardcore. Are you reading this, Dan?
- Yahoo, Google ‘irresponsible’ in China
Shame on you both. Just because the CCP calls something “subversive” doesn’t mean you should, too.
- Sharapova top attraction in China
I would imagine Sharapova would be the top attraction not only in China…and not only for her tennis skills.
- China recruiting women astronauts
Another step in China’s ambitious plans for space.
- Shanghai blames Canada for its corrupting influence
Corruption isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Canada. How is this “a warning to parents who want to send their children abroad” rather than a warning on “parental pressure” and “very high expectations”?
- Ad for HK porn actors gets brief airing at job fair
I’m surprised the porn ad got any airing at all. How did something like this slip past the organizers? Afterall, Hong Kong is still technically part of China.
- Cloud seeding away from the bigger issue
“Last year, for each $1,205 of economic output (gross domestic product), China consumed four times more water than the world average, and five to 10 times more water than such developed countries as the United States.” Yet, somehow the war on web porn remains a top CCP priority.
- Younger Chinese going under the knife
I am assuming that the plastic surgeon did not agree to give a 3 year-old dimples to help a ridiculously out of hand mother “cultivate her sense of being a model”. Hopefully China’s plastic surgeons reserve themselves for more humanitarian causes, like replacing noses on children from the countryside “whose noses were bitten off by rats”.
- Hijacking attempt
An unarmed librarian with a history of mental illness attempted to hijack an Air China jet with some imaginary sulphuric acid, forcing an emergency landing.
- More on the ‘Porn War’
This ongoing crusade (which is receiving a tremendous amount of coverage) is yet another item on the long list of CCP duties that really make me question the government’s sense of priority.
- Quality of sex products sparks concern
This story is definitely one of the most amusing I have run across. “In their eyes, I was firstly abnormal in using the toy and, secondly, I was shameless in bringing such a case to court,” he said. Well…I’m not so sure I can disagree with what other people thought of he who had “bought ‘her’ from a local sex shop for 900 yuan (US$108).”
- Cellphone triggers lightning on Great Wall
Do not use “mobile phones near gas stations during thunderstorms.”
- “If Christians don’t go teach English, the CULTS will”
At the bottom of this news page, you can see that fundamental Christianity and Chinese Communism might have more in common than they would like to admit. In addition to self-righteous rhetoric, a mutual definition of the word “cult”: any belief system that is not Communism/Christianity (i.e. Mormonism).
- First Chinese census
This story makes it sound as though the fact that a population record for China would be so large somehow makes it a novel undertaking. I can’t help but be somewhat surprised that in the year 2004, China doesn’t already have some kind of census system.
- No more old-fashioned phones
It’s a good thing the government took care of that problem. All that dialing on those funny round dials with those annoying little holes with the numbers was just getting out of hand.
- Cash bonus for medal winners
I guess the honor of winning an Olympic medal is not in itself enough of an incentive. Do other countries have these cash bonuses?
- Raids of Hong Kong newspaper offices spark criticism
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) seized documents in an unannounced raid of six major Hong Kong newspaper offices and reporters’ homes, in a questionable “probe” into local media reports which covered “unauthorized” information.
- First survey on homosexuals and HIV
A significantly difficult undertaking considering the tremendous secrecy with which many homosexuals in China must lead their lives. While results are likely to be too incomplete to be of much use, this is a commendable effort.
- Oldest Chinese city
A recently unearthed palace city may be even older than the earliest identified Chinese city estimated to be from 3,600 years ago.
- Chinese farmers sentenced to death for oil theft
I seem to recall reading in one of the State Department’s annual human rights reports that China has over 200 capital crimes. Apparently “damaging a flammable and explosive substance” is one of those crimes.
- Another kind of beauty pageant
China is really getting into the beauty pageant spirit. In addition to a recently announced pageant for plastic-surgery beauties, add grandma and grandpa to the list for the newest “gray head” pageant.
- Myanmar praises China for help against the West
China should probably be a little more careful about choosing its “friends”.
- Chinese weather alert system
Is it really necessary to make comparisons between this comprehensive, and increasingly imperative, weather warning system and the US terrorist alert system?
- Baby traffickers sentenced
6 of the 52 convicted were sentenced to death in the conclusion of what has been called “the biggest baby trafficking case in Communist China’s 55 year history.”
- China army parade in HK a charm offensive, or is it?
You know it’s bad when the military is being used as a pro-Beijing propaganda tool to build up the government’s credibility. Although it could be much worse if Beijing unwisely decides to take this opportunity to intimidate the masses of democracy supporters.
- ‘Good Samaritan’ reaches out to bridge’s suicide jumpers
The mission starts every Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. “Women are easier to deal with,” said Chen, “You can talk to them and try and get them to cry out their pain. The men, I usually tackle them because they seldom listen and they can be very strong.” Eat your heart out, Jayson Littman.
- “Ghostdrivers” take edge off drunk driving
Who you gonna call? Ghostdrivers!
- China’s murky statistics complicate analysis
But it is encouraging to know that the central statistics body is making real effort towards addressing this pervasive problem.
- China to tout ‘Red Tourism’ in anniversary year
“Nostalgic tourists will be able to choose from themes like ‘re-experience the Long March’…” How charmingly communist. This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with the ongoing spat with Taiwan, would it?
- China executes four leaders of 60-member crime ring
Only four?
- China: self-proclaimed beacon of democracy
My favorite quote: “Yang noted Hong Kong enjoys Western-style civil liberties—which are typically denied in China—and that the territory was more democratic than it ever had been.” Of course, Yang Wancheng is also Beijing’s top foreign ministry guy in HK. Does Beijing even believe that crap?
- Connecting China
With a number that represents just 6.6 percent of the country’s total population, China recently surpassed Japan to become the “2nd most wired nation”.
- Sex ed for kindergarteners
Kindergarteners?! In China?? Are you sure we’re talking about the same China?
- New Bush blow to UN population program
The Bush administration claims there is a possible link between the UNFPA and forced abortions in China, despite the fact that the State Department has never found any such evidence. Is this kind of like the link between Iraq and al-Qaida?
- SARS doctor released
Certainly a relief. But in the end, the CCP has probably succeeded in squelching exactly what saved China from itself in its misguided SARS coverup.
- Zhou’s dirty secret
Not exactly sure why China has decided to reveal that ex-Premier Zhou knowingly allowed a plane full of passengers to die in an assassination attempt meant specifically for him.
- No nude modeling competitions
Why even try doing something like this in China? I guess it’s better than trying something like this in a Middle Eastern country.
- First rise in poverty since 1978
The devastating effects of a vast urban rural gap that only continues to grow—the result of a “socialist system” and 9% annual economic growth rates.
- Not so fresh and green
I’m getting kind of tired of all of the stories on China’s impending environmental doom. But if you like scary statistics, this story has a slew of them.
- Foreign swindlers caught
People’s Daily writes that “unscrupulous foreigners take advantage of Beijing citizens’ kindness and commit crimes” because “many Chinese regard foreigners are rich and behave decently.” Damn those foreign devils.
- Chinese `road killers’
Here’s another scary statistic: with 1.9% of the world’s cars, China causes 15% of road accident deaths (104,372 people). The U.S. owns about 30% of the world’s vehicles and had 43,220 motor vehicle-related deaths last year.
- Corruption included in new money laundering law
The old version of the law which only included provions for drug trafficking, smuggling, terrorism and underworld activities was deemed “too limited to control today’s numerous other money laundering crimes.” Underworld activities? Isn’t that ambiguous enough to be fairly all-inclusive?
- No U.S. visa without Sen. Clinton’s help
So at the visa interview, I guess the reason of “going to retrieve my husband’s dead body at the request of the NYPD” wasn’t good enough for the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai.
- Chinese math champs
China’s Math “Olympiads”: not just any geeks, these are gold medal geeks.
- China’s poor sports?
Giving Chinese soccer fans something to really boo about. Lesson to learn: if you boo at someone, expect them to boo back. And don’t expect an apology for it afterwards.
- No web porn
What about the pornography widely available and in plain view at any outdoor news stand?
- China has its admirers
In reference to the CCP’s efforts to gently cool its economy, “North Americans feel more dubious about China than do executives from any other region.” Yet, “North Americans still win the race for foreign direct investment.” Somebody isn’t telling the truth.
- Jiang still holds the reins
Perhaps not much in the way of a surprise. But knowing this could lend some insight into the recent backslide on human rights. Although it does make it a little more difficult to pressure the CCP on these issues.
- Baby bribe
A child wouldn’t necessarily want to know that she was “an accident”. What about finding out that she is alive because the government bribed her parents into keeping her?
- War game based on China threat to Taiwan
Code name: Dragon’s Thunder. Who comes up with these names?
- Baby-sellers caught
I wonder if it is safe to assume that the majority of these babies are male. Otherwise, it seems a cruel contradiction when it comes to the value of a baby’s life.
- China builds ties with Myanmar
Interesting how China, with its “friendly policy” regarding Myanmar, has forgotten the persecution of its own people there less than half a century ago.
- Sudden Shanghai storm kills seven
I knew it was a scary storm as I rode back from work yesterday evening (my poor cab driver kept stopping and letting out frightened little yelps as water seeped through all 4 doors), but I didn’t know the extent of its destruction.
- Itsy-bitsy spider catches a snake
Watch out for those house spiders in Zhejiang.
- Go Tigers!
Defending champs, Beijing Tigers, found themselves down by 2 “points” in the deciding game of the Chinese Baseball League championship series, but came back to defend their title against Tianjin.
- Newbridge ends talks with Minsheng Bank
This high-profile fall through of what had been considered a done deal between a major international investor and China’s largest private lender, one of the country’s most promising financial sector prospects, illustrates the remaining shortcomings and difficulties of the still heavily-regulated industry.
- Population of India to overtake China’s within 30 years
A story of striking similarities between India’s and China’s problems with female infanticide. Still, China’s male to female ratio average remains further unbalanced than India’s.
- Cheating in China
Arrested organizers of a test-cheating scam “may be tried under draconian ‘theft of state secrets’ laws, potentially subjecting them to the death penalty.” Don’t even think about cheating in China.
- China stares down stigma
China may have a long way to go in dealing with its fast-growing AIDS problem—“only one in four of China’s 900 million rural dwellers has even heard of the disease”—but the country has taken a first big step in acknowledging a need to overcome stigmas and enforced silence to face the issue.
- Older expats to China
China’s newest, growing American import: expats over 50.
- Female official sentenced to death
I would be interested to know the male to female ratio of government official executions. While officials are often faced with heavy jail sentences or executions due to embezzlement charges, I am assuming the execution of a female official is a rather rare occurance.
- Chaos on China’s wine market
Anyone who has tasted a local wine or two probably realizes that the Chinese wine industry is not spared from the lack of regulation that hampers progress in so many other sectors.
- Deadly lightning strikes in SW China
The southwestern province of Guizhou is plagued by an extraordinarily high number of lightning-related tragedies: as of July 9, 22 people were killed and 56 injured in 149 lightning strikes.
- Multi-millionaire seeks virgin in China
What would you think if you ran across a personal that read “single, male multi-millionaire looking for virgin to marry”? Would a multi-millionaire ever have to resort to advertising himself in newspapers?
- China to open Europe to tourists
32 European countries will be removed from China’s restricted travel list starting September 1st.
- China rallies medical students to stop AIDS
China’s recent directive is sending a mass of medical students to the countryside to educate rural residents on HIV/AIDS prevention. The country has recently taken critical steps in recognizing an epidemic that had been so long swept under the rug.
- Mass sychronized-singing in China
Chinese officials hope that by having 100,000 people singing “Liuyang River” on both banks of the Liuyang River, they can get into the Guinness Book of World Records for…uh…largest number of people singing the same song at the same time. Or something.
- One dead, 35 affected by anthrax outbreak in China
More than just a spore scare. While the Ministry of Agriculture has documented a few cases in livestock every year, until now, China has had no record of the disease having been passed to humans.
- China losing more manufacturing jobs than U.S.
The U.S. can be thankful that it doesn’t have a battalion of downsizing state-owned enterprises.
- Christian beaten to death
Despite the strict constraints upon religion, China continues to put forth the largest church growth numbers in the world.
- From China to New York
A piece on the migration of first class Chinese traditional musicians to the subways of New York City. A story about a struggle that exists at least partly as a consequence of the damages of the Cultural Revolution.
- Customers protest at Shanghai bank
Admittedly, I’m usually inclined to blame the rickety, irresponsible Chinese banks. However, it seems that these angry Shanghainese have yet to learn about the investor’s responsibilities.
- SARS hero undergoing re-education
While China can’t seem to grow fast enough, in some fundamental ways, it has not changed at all. Tiananmen remains the absolute taboo, and forced confessions, thought monitoring and “re-education” are still a part of maintaining stability.
- The Chinese century
Nothing too surprising in this thorough, thoughtful article—includes some interesting figures to help put it all into perspective.
- You’re eating what?!
“Animal organs are not as disgusting as you think. The Chinese have been eating them ever since the Qing Dynasty. If you ate one, I guarantee you’d like it.” Would I really, though?
- Mobile text message filters
“The new technology will allow the authorities to filter messages using key words and to pinpoint ‘reactionary’ text-senders.” Big brother is watching pretty closesly these days. And I don’t mean just in China.
- The new Cultural Revolution
A culture gap, perhaps more accurately recognized as a culture vacuum, threatens China’s wholesome, “upstanding” generations of youth.
- Half a million protest in Hong Kong
Chinese papers called Hong Kong’s democracy march, marking the 7 year anniversary of the end of British government as well as the anniversary of last year’s stunning demostrations against Beijing, “a march by a few Hong Kong citizens.” Since when did the term “a few” start covering everything from 3 to 530,000?
June 2004
- China’s men discover ‘self beauty’
“We want people to appreciate manly beauty, which represents strength and courage.” Strength and courage? I’m waiting for the day that female beauty represents anything beyond aesthetics.
- China combats drugs with executions
1.8 kilograms of heroin is all it takes in China. Just say “(hell) no” to drugs. Or you might be a part of what Amnesty International calls China’s execution “sprees”.
- Peaceful rise
An interesting Economist article on the awkward position of a China with a rapidly growing economy and international presence seeking to make its growth palatable to America and the rest of the world. Any growing power is invariably seen as a growing threat by other major powers.
- Misuse of 2008 Olympic funds
Unfortunately, no surprises here.
- Elton John coming to Shanghai
Look out, China. Also coming soon: Whitney Houston and the Backstreet Boys. Yikes. Are you seeing a pattern here?
- Fraud unveiled at China’s biggest state firms
Another article on the same old story. The big question: when will the urgent need for corporate governance overpower the heavy traditions of politics in business?
- China pays a price for cheaper oil
A story that explains one of the main sources of China’s air pollution—potentially a 10 billion dollar problem. Probably not the best news considering that the problem is caused by the purchase of cheaper, lower-quality oil due to voracious production needs.
- Afghanistan attack on Chinese workers not terrorism
So it wasn’t terrorism or extremist Taliban militants. Officials are now blaming the killing of Chinese workers in Afghanistan on competition…extremist competitiveness?
- Diversion for democrats?
There is something peculiar about opening the doors to a PLA exhibit to draw supposedly hard-core protestors away from a pro-democracy (anti-communist would also mean anti-PLA, right?) movement.
- How to get to America
An interesting op-ed on the more subtle, yet just as fundamentally harmful, form of anti-Americanism coming out of Asia.
- Mind your web content
A “reporting system” encouraging citizens to monitor and report one another’s web-surfing habits—unsettlingly Cultural Revolution-esque.
- Restaurants shut down for adding opium to food
It’s already interesting that there are in fact some restaurants that were lacing their food with opium. But 215 of them?!
- Coastal China: energy, enterprise and a new openness
“Nothing prepares a visitor, returning to China after 27 years, for modern Shanghai,” writes esteemed Washington Post columnist David Broder. Wonder why he didn’t write about meeting this guy?
- Beijing: more expensive than New York
And Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen are more expensive than San Francisco…who are these nutcases? I buy lunch for 75 cents every day.
- Politics over music
“Pro-independence artists are not welcome” in China. Sorry, A-Mei.
- Car makers ignore China glut fears
Too many cars for the market? Perhaps. Another question: where will all of these anticipated buyers park their new cars?
- Flat-footed China police losing fight against crime
Hard to fight crime when you’re bogged down by hepatitis.
- Ancient Chinese bra
I guess ancient Chinese women also needed a little assistance up top.
- Eleven Chinese construction workers shot dead in northern Afghanistan
Makes you really realize the ineffectiveness of the American effort to oust the Taliban when remaining loyalists go out of their way to attack a group of Chinese workers in what is generally recognized as the more stable part of Afghanistan.
- Just catching up
A thoughtful piece describing China’s current economic status — puts the international blame-China campaign into perspective.
- Rodeo high-tails it out of China
Now that the rodeo has left, what will the newly-built (no) bull-fighting arena be used for next?
- Ferrari opens first China showroom
Perhaps a little more like Armani’s introduction to Shanghai, rather than the ongoing Ford, GM or VW news.
- GM to invest three billion dollars in China in next three years
Shortly after this announcement came another by Ford, and then VW. Really, one article about car production increases in China covers them all — lots of dollar signs followed by many many zeros and increasingly high expectations.
- Makeover China
Sounds like China is catching the extreme makeover bug, a la ‘The Swan’, Fox’s latest reality-TV incarnation.
- Star of “Bedtime for Bonzo” dies
Asia remembers him as vanquisher of
communism. China does not share in these fond remembrances.
- China’s condolences
In fact, China’s response to Reagan’s death is best described as “terse”…or perhaps just communist?
- Undercover activist as umbrella factory owner
Apparently China prefers its domestically produced goods, including umbrellas, to be stamped with the normal “Made in China” label—no democratic-allusion substitutes allowed.
- How not to maintain good publicity
I am curious to know what kind of thought-process precedes the idea that putting a body in a cardboard box and then letting it float down a river to be found is better than just calling an ambulance when a drug addict overdoses in your presence? The obvious absence of thought has earned this Chinese hostel owner 6 months in jail.
- China’s getting fat
Although China has imported American fast food and obesity with ease, I have my doubts about the Atkins diet ever making an appearance here.
- The birth of Chinese anti-terrorism
Communist anti-terrorism: taking it to the next level. Eat your heart out, America!
- World Environmental Day in China
World Environmental Day may as well be World Democracy Day in China.
- A misguided effort to fight piracy in China
“We feel there’s a direct link between the lack of market access and the amount of demand for the pirated products.” -Deputy US Trade Representative Josette Shiner. Seriously? Don’t they know how much a pirated DVD costs?
March 2004
- Hong Kong opposition fears Beijing plan
Perhaps a bit of CCP paranoia seeping through amidst the Taiwan troubles. Beijing tightens its grip on Hong Kong, apparently forgetting the summer time humiliation the last time it tried the same thing. Next stop—anti-terrorism crackdowns in Xinjiang?
- Taiwan’s political crisis becomes violent
The Taiwanese election mess continues to snowball, forming possibilites for CCP intervention in the name of, you guessed it, stability.
- China accuses US of hypocrisy on human rights
And international politics digresses to 2nd grade playground taunts. Ouch—that mirror line hurts. “We would suggest to the United States to buy a mirror and look at yourselves in it. China is a poor, developing country. If you don’t have a mirror, we can buy one for you.”
- China says nearly 60 million people living in abject poverty
An unusually candid announcement of official statistics by the CCP.
- Chinese premier defends 1989 crackdown
China continuing to defend its persecution of democracy, in the name of “stability”—no surprises here.
- China executes 10,000 people a year: NPC delegate
Previous high-end estimates for annual state executions stood at only 3,000.
- Bull in a China shop
Forget hiring some guy to tease a bull. Chinese style bullfighting: let two bulls do all the work.
- China steps up monitoring of foreign banks
Tightening the monitoring of foreign banks in China, to guard against their operating risks…? Has the regulatory commission forgotten that it’s the Chinese banks that lag behind the international standards and practices their foreign counterparts follow?
- Praying to the mighty TV
Yes, but almost anything is more individualistic than Chinese communist society. But a hybrid of communist-Christianity in China? Yikes. Sounds like a CCP propoganda dream come true.
- China’s future of angry men
Double-digit percentage budget increases in military spending and by the year 2020, “a population of unmarried men bigger than the entire population of Malaysia”. Sound like a volatile combination to you, too?
- The good doctor vs. the CCP
First he ratted out the CCP on SARS. And now he’s revisiting the most taboo subject of all: Tiananmen Square. Leak or no leak of information, this guy’s ballsy. Or something.
- China restates policy on keeping yuan rate
I’m inclined to believe the stubborn CCP. From another source last month, a quote from a high-level Chinese banking official: “We see no reason why China should change its policy over the position of the RMB to cater for unwise American spending. “
- Merrill: China to up yuan 10%
“This adjustment in the exchange rate is consistent with China doing what is in its best interests,” says Merrill Lynch in this speculative, single-source story. Calling a CCP bluff, or just overly optimistic?
- Chinese karaoke bars may pay for music
This will take a small miracle. Good luck to Warner Bros., EMI and co.
- China rights amendment to edge open door to debate
Gee, those rights sure look nice written out in the constitution.
- Wealth gap in China set to become largest in the world
According to official government figures, China’s urban-rural wealth gap is already perhaps the largest in the world. According to outside estimates, this gap is even larger.
- Bush nappies
For a country reluctant to take very strong political positions on most issues, this could be a rather strong political statement. But then again, what country isn’t participating in Bush bashing these days?
- Mongolian mutant
First SARS, then bird flu, and now one-eyed pigs.
- China shells out for knifeman
A story with a little bit of history, a little bit of war, Russian weaponry and Chinese entrepreneurial spirit. of course it has a happy ending.
- A secret language of women
Female gossip taken to the next level.
- A (questionable) rebuttal
“…Severe infringement of the people’s rights by law enforcement.” In its rebuttal to the scathing Dept. of State human rights report, did the CCP already forget about the tens of thousands of corrupt, abusive police officers it just fired?
- The price of democracy
Good intentions. But perhaps causing the human rights violations America condemns by encouraging democracy, which causes further crackdowns by the CCP, which causes international ire for China’s methods of maintaining stability, resulting in outside efforts to promote democracy in China…I think you understand what I’m getting at.
- Heroin and methamphetamine use soars in Asia: UN report
You would think that capital punishment for most drug-related offenses in China would be more effective.
