Delaney Place offers a daily email review of books with the hope of spurring debate, discussion and learning. Sales of the book via their website earn charities a donation. In today’s update the book “China in Ten Words” is reviewed. Here author Yu Hua discusses the lopsided growth of China and the high social costs incurred.
“China’s model of growth is to spend 100 yuan to gain 10 yuan in increased GDP. Environmental degradation, moral collapse, the polarization of rich and poor, pervasive corruption — all these things are constantly exacerbating the contradictions in Chinese society.”
To read the review and to elarn more about these daily email updates, go here:
On 25 January, China’s State Council announced the 12th Five-Year Plan for Energy Development. Covering the 2011-2015 period, the plan clarifies national energy policy priorities through an ambitious set of infrastructure and market targets. It also serves as a useful basis to benchmark China’s progress in the energy space.
Christmas isn’t a public holiday in Mainland China. Yet in the urban centres many have been exposed to the commercial drive that precedes Christmas elsewhere in the world. Shopping malls in Beijing have trees and garlands. Stores in Shanghai have decorations and gift ideas. Diners in Guangzhou eat to the tune of Christmas carols.
For many couples dinner out on Christmas Eve has become a tradition. It’s hard to get a restaurant reservation. Many of those out are on dates or newly married. The more settled may have a small tree at home.
The celebration of Christmas in China is purely commercial. Christianity is a fledgling religion practiced by the minority. The rest may have hear of Christ but maybe they haven’t connected the decorated tree and Santa Claus with the birth of Jesus.
Christmas isn’t a public holiday in China. Many Western companies ill give the day off the staff regardless. Kreab Gavin Anderson China closes early today to allow people to celebrate Christmas Eve. We are closed tomorrow.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong the celebration of Christmas is a national affair. The Jewish population is smaller than the Muslim community. Hong Kong hasn’t bent to the US trend of wishing ‘Season’s Greetings.’ This is Christmastime all around. It’s meant not to exclude but to include. In Hong Kong, Christmas is a holiday for all.
No matter where you are – or how (or if) you celebrate – Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
From CNBC - Published: Tuesday, 11 Dec 2012 | 2:19 PM ET
A new assessment of global trends by The National Intelligence Council predicts that the U.S. will lose its place as the world’s top economy by 2030. If China’s GDP continues growing at its current pace, the republic will become the lead economic power within the next 20 years.
But the study also says China will not overtake the U.S. as the global hegemon. The era of the “one nation to rule them all” mentality will end: for the first time since WWII the U.S. will belong to a multi-polar world.
The study goes on to suggest that a growing political partnership between the U.S. and China will be essential in ensuring global security. China’s military will increase alongside its economy and the U.S. will be forced to relinquish some of its power as the world’s largest military force. It will be up to the U.S. and China to work collaboratively to prevent imminent global disasters.
By 2030, 15 countries including Afghanistan and Pakistan will be at high risk for state failure and terrorists will become more sophisticated in their attacks, taking down entire power grids and large pieces of infrastructure according to the study.
China’s rising middle class will continue to grow and gain access to communications technology and healthcare. This highly educated middle class will want to collaborate with the United States instead of fight against them, the study predicts. Unlike Russia, the Chinese are much more accepting of U.S. intelligence reports, assessments, and collaborations.
America will no longer lead the world single-handedly by 2030 but the country will achieve an energy surplus that will allow it to assume independence from OPEC and boost its natural gas and oil exports. Shale extraction will be a breakout industry for the U.S. in the coming decade.
The study also says that developing nations such as Brazil, India, Colombia, Nigeria, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey “will become especially important to the global economy.
Christmas has come and gone. Gosh, that was fast! All the toys are shipped and the ornaments are in stores. For China’s manufacturing sector the seasonal rush is over. It’s all in your mall now.
That means the seasonal slowdown is underway across manufacturers in China. Many ask workers to take time off. Some slow production down from 2-3 shifts to just one. Others shift to the early production of summer gear. Just as you hang your stocking someone in China is starting to inflate swim tubes.
But in another sign that China is struggling the year-on-year growth of China’s exports has been perilously low – just 2.9% over the previous year, when you compare November trade results. This is much lower than the 9-11% increase forecast. That means slowing demand in Europe and the USA is starting to take its toll.
Earlier some economists pointed to a rise in China exports and saw this as encouraging signs for the global economy. (Somebody somewhere is buying this stuff so that means somebody somewhere has money, so goes the thinking.)
But these same economists forgot to factor in a seasonal bump. Just as Anna Wintour celebrates spring while we’re still dressed for autumn, so China factories rush to produce in September the stockings and toys we’ll want in December.
Santa’s Little Helpers
So as you place that Transformer under the tree, spare a thought for Chinese manufacturers. Get out there on 26 December and start buying up Easter baskets and swim suits. The world needs its holidays and China needs the exports.
Fuli Bridge, Yulong River, Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
How well do you know your colleagues? With today’s work demands and schedules it’s feasible you spend more time with them than your family (horrifying, I know). And while we may “catch a drink” or meet them socially from time-to-time, it’s hard to know them really well.
There are always surprises.
Lijiang River, Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
In the Beijing office of Kreab Gavin Anderson are a number of framed photographs. These showcase the beauty of China from the natural landscapes to architecture ancient and cutting-edge. The photographs here are by the same professional – my colleague Tom. (Click on the images to see them full screen.)
Lijiang River, Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
Thomas Adams is a defence analyst by training and now a member of our Public Affairs team in China. He’s artfully transitioned from writing research reports on a nation’s defence systems to helping clients navigate the government and regulatory regimes in China.
But that’s not all Tom does.
National Center For The Performing Arts (The Egg), Beijing, China
Two years ago Tom picked up a high quality camera and began capturing what he saw. He described to me the transcendental moment when you’re looking through the viewfinder waiting for the perfect moment. It seems many of those times are in the early morning as this range of photographs showcases the stunning light of dawn.
Wuzhen Ancient Water Town, Zhejiang Province, China
In a nod to his French-Canadian heritage Tom signs his artworks ‘Thomas Gaston’. Perhaps that’s to separate his work like and art fame? Regardless you can find a broad selection of his works on his Flickr page.
Yulong River, Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
Alternatively you can leave a comment. With such a positive review of his work, I am sure he’ll check the comments to see what you say.
Please – tell Thomas what you think of his photographs. I think they are AMAZING!
In The Economist this week an intrepid reporter accompanies a group of Chinese tourists into the top part of North Korea, just past the border with China. These Communist Party members mourn the days gone by – back when the state provided and free enterprise was forbidden. Today ordinary Chinese have to work to survive and many are forgotten in a country overtaken by business.
“During their four days in North Korea in October, the Maoists found a country that appeared to be following the right path: one that, in their view, Mao had started down but which his diminutive successor, Deng Xiaoping, had abandoned. “Dwarf Deng destroyed the lives of peasants,” says one member of the group, staring from the bus at new two-storey houses in the countryside on the way to Mao Anying’s memorial in Hoechang county.” The Economist
Living in Hong Kong and traveling regularly in Mainland China, it’s hard to see why anyone would envy the lives of North Koreans. In her groundbreaking book “Nothing to Envy“, Barbara Demick describes the day-to-day lives of ordinary North Koreans in biographical format. The landing page for the non-fiction book has an eery description:
“What if you had to live in a country where radio dials were fixed to a single government station? Where the surroundings were entirely black-and-white except for the red lettering of the propaganda signs? Where you were required to keep a large portrait of the president on your living room wall and bow to it on national holidays? Where sexuality was repressed except for purposes of reproduction?”
It really does sounds like, ehr, nothing to envy!
Scenes from a Communist Wonderland
But change can force strange bedfellows. You may not like where you are but in retrospect the “good old days” like, uhm, good. In 2003 the German film “Goodbye Lenin” told of a passionate Communist mother falling into a coma just before the Berlin Wall collapsed. Her doctor says any shock could kill her – so when she wakes her children go to absurd lengths to recreate for her the life of an ordinary East German.
So maybe it’s not unusual for Chinese to miss the “good old days” of state-run enterprises, free healthcare, guaranteed housing, low-cost food and all the other benefits. In America I have friends who listen to nothing but “classic rock” radio stations. They miss their gas guzzling muscle cars and cell phone-free existence. Imagine the good old days before Facebook?
Perhaps there’s an opportunity here. Maybe we can run tour groups into North Korea to experience all that has been lost. We can air drop in Tori Spelling and others for a round of “I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here.” The obese can experience below-subsistence diets as ways of removing unwanted pounds.
And think of the merchandise opportunities! T-Shirts, photos with dictators, canned meals and more. (Note to self: Check if merchandising Communist purity is a Catch 22.)
For those missing state planning and a derelict economy then North Korea is the holiday destination for you. It sure appeals to die-hard Communists from China!
Ling Jihua was in line to become one of the top leaders in China’s Central Committee. But the car crash that killed his only son may also have killed his career. The botched cover-up of the accident Ling’s career hanging in the balance.
Back in March Ling’s son was driving a Ferrari at excessive speeds around Beijing’s super highways when he lost control and crashed. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The two-seater car had two more passengers – both young women. The dead male driver and one seriously injured female were naked. The other was partially clothed. All tested off the charts for alcohol. (See my earlier post “Naked, Drunk & Dead: Accident Cover-Up Unwinding China’s Leaders“.)
What killed Ling Jihua was the cover-up. The dead boy was said to be someone else. He was buried ignominiously. Ling went to work the next day. He traveled for State business.
For Ling Jihua his son’s death was treated as if nothing happened.
Just six months later the cover-up was exposed. International newspapers and blogs covered the accident in detail. Official state news reporting agencies in China didn’t report the accident – or the connection.
This week at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China delegates are voting in the Central Committee members. These are the “cream of the cream” who then run the nation for ten years. Yesterday initial elections eliminated 19 candidates and today the 247 member Presidium will review the finalists and determine who gets to lead the country. The Central Committee will be unveiled Thursday.
Early reports say Ling Jinhua will not be nominated, despite his long history of faithful service. His decision to attempt a cover-up has been negatively viewed by those attending the Congress. Some say Ling should be treated with the same harshness as Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing party chief whose wife is in prison for murder (see my earlier post ”Sex, Money, Murder and now Missing. Corrupt Communist Bo Xilai Disappears“.)
What is certain is that factions within the Communist Party are vying for control, and any tainted representatives from conservative or progressive groups will be disqualified. Bo Xilai represented the “old era” Communists hoping for a return to State-backed social welfare and greater government intervention. Ling Jinhua is seen as a vanguard of the progressive group wanting continued market reforms and less government involvement in people’s’ lives.
For Bo and the conservatives, the murder by poison of Neil Heywood put an end to his career. For Ling and the progressives, the cover-up of a horrific car crash ended his career.
Death claimed the careers of two aspiring Communist party members. Murder by poison. Naked, drunk and dead. Just another week in the politics of China.
One of the benefits and perils of a multi-office role is that there’s always an office open to work from. Today is a public holiday in Hong Kong when locals spend time honouring ancestors and repairing their internment sites. That’s a perfect excuse to be in Beijing working with the dedicated team of Kreab Gavin Anderson professionals.
At 9:00 am as work got underway the large screen in the office was tuned to the USA Presidential Debate on CNN. This was the third and final such interaction between the candidates. The focus of the discussion was foreign policy.
Before action commenced we wondered aloud if China censors would block anti-China rhetoric. It’s common to watch international news broadcasts and have the screen go black when censors decide sensitive China information is being shared.
So imagine my surprise when Romney ranted against Chinese intellectual property violations – and here in Beijing we could still watch the show. Mitt described a US auto parts maker repairing defective pieces that all shared the same serial number. The parts were copied from the packaging down to the smallest detail – including hundreds of parts all with the same number.
On Day One in office Mitt Romney said he would label China a currency manipulator and would go after the country using international tribunal:
“I’ve watched year in and year out as companies have shut down and people have lost their jobs because China has not played by the same rules. In part, by holding down artificially the value of their currency, it holds down the prices of their goods,” Romney said. “It means our goods aren’t as competitive, and we lose jobs. That’s got to end. They’re making some progress. They need to make more.”
Romney also will use military to “discourage” China.
Obama also took a swing at the CHINA PIÑATA. He said complaints have been filed with the World Trade Organisation:
“China is both an adversary, but also a potential partner in the international community if it’s following the rules,” Mr. Obama said.
No matter which candidate wins, it’s clear that when election season is on, the safest vote is to attack China. Here in Beijing it’s nice to see this dialogue making it past the censor.
The historic centre of Macau features 25 buildings designated by UNESCO as World Heritage sites. This designation is for “places on earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity.”
To celebrate China National Day we walked through the historic heart of Macau from A Ma Temple to the ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral.
