China’s Got Talent: Loving Husband Begs Judges To Let Wife Sing [Youtube]

From China Smack on Youtube. An insight into the Chinese mind – story of a husband going all out for his wife from ‘China’s Got Talent’.

Filed under: Culture, Lifestyle, People, Population, Social, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, Youtube

China bans smoking in public venues — in theory [AFP/The Age]

A country of 300 millions smokers – tabacco use is hardly just a personal lifestyle choice – it is a social event, deeply ingrained in everydaylife – I recall a female friend from China remarking that men are more ‘manly when they smoke’. But, it is a first step. 

‘Tobacco use is deeply ingrained in China, where offering a cigarette is a common greeting ritual. Lighting up in elevators or even hospital waiting rooms is routine and second-hand smoke is considered a serious health threat.’

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China bans smoking in public venues — in theory
Sebastien Blanc
Source – The Age, published April 29, 2011

China launches a ban on smoking in indoor public spaces Sunday but the effort is widely viewed as vague and half-hearted and few expect it to have much of an impact in the tobacco-addicted country.

The nationwide prohibition is designed to bring China — which has more than 300 million smokers, roughly equal to the entire population of the United States — more in line with health regulations in developed countries.

But it faces a tough test.

Filed under: AFP, Chinese Model, Culture, Domestic Growth, Education, Environment, Health, Politics, Population, Public Diplomacy, Reform, Social, Soft Power, The Age, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities

China’s defense policy ‘ensures national security’ [China Daily]

China’s defense ministry begins to hold first-ever regular press conference in Beijing. The PLA continues its rhetoric of its defensive nature with Geng Yangsheng at the forefront; but here’s another article from December 2010 that I found that comes with more solid facts and numbers:

Speaking of the 2010 annual DOD report to Congress on China’s military capabilities released in August, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng argued, “The report ignores the objective truth and accuses China for its normal national defense and army construction” he said. “The development of the Chinese army is reasonable and proper,” Yansheng added.

From Chinese Military Modernization Program Continues Apace, Though Persistent Domestic Development Problems Remain (Strategic Discourse, December 28, 2010)

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China’s defense policy ‘ensures national security’
By Ma Liyao and Zhou Wa
Source – China Daily, published April 28, 2011

Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng hosts the ministry’s first-ever regular press conference in Beijing, April 26, 2011. Photo – Xinhua

BEIJING – The development of weapons and equipment is to ensure national security and is not directed against any other country or specific target, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

The international community should regard weapons tests and equipment upgrades as part of the modernization of the armed forces that is being carried out as technology advances, Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said.

Geng’s comments came in response to questions on the second test-flight of the J-20 stealth fighter jet during the Defense Ministry’s news conference in Beijing.

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, China Daily, Chinese Model, Culture, Domestic Growth, Greater China, Influence, International Relations, military, Politics, Public Diplomacy, Strategy, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, U.S.

Australia: China warns PM on rights [The Age]

A report according to China’s Global Times states Geoff Raby, Canberra’s top envoy to Beijing saying last month that ‘no country could ever replace China in its importance for Australia’s economy.’  – Australia’s Julia Gillard begins first China visit (Global Times, April 26, 2011) To a large extent, that is true, China is providing Australia’s economic ballast for the more it grows, the more of Australia’s resources it needs. This is probably indicative of China’s self-concept of the weight it now carries around. Pre-Beijing Olympics, an announcement as such would have been rare-r.

For more – check out Redefining Australia-China ties (Global Times, April 22, 2011)

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China warns PM on rights
John Garnaut
Source – The Age, published April 26, 2011

BEIJING has warned Julia Gillard not to press too hard on human rights as she begins her first visit to China as Prime Minister.

Ahead of her arrival last night, an editorial appeared in the state-owned Global Times saying ”the Australian government should at least show basic respect to China”.

It called for Ms Gillard to distance her China policy from that of her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, who it said had allowed ideology to ”blow it into a mess”.

Filed under: Australia, Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, Chinese Model, Communications, Culture, Democracy, Education, Environment, Human Rights, Influence, International Relations, Jasmine Revolution, Media, Nationalism, Politics, Public Diplomacy, Resources, Soft Power, Strategy, The Age, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, Trade

China pushing to be Asia’s top draw among students [China Daily]

China’s Ministry of Education earlier this year stated it plans to draw 500,000 foreign students to China by 2020. With the number of US students in China set to come up to 100,000 in the next four years, China looks set to expand its sphere of people diplomacy vehicles and the spillover cultural capital effect. In comparison, the number of foreign students in US colleges stood at 671,000 in 2008/2009.

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China pushing to be Asia’s top draw among students
By Chen Jia
Source – China Daily, published April 26, 2011

State Councilor Liu Yandong (center right) attends the Global Summit of University Presidents and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities' 15th Annual Presidents Meeting at Tsinghua University on Saturday, where she delivered a keynote speech. Photo - China News Service

BEIJING – China is aiming to become the most popular destination in Asia among international students, said State Councilor Liu Yandong.

She made the remarks on Saturday at the Global Summit of University Presidents and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities’ 15th Annual Presidents Meeting. The gathering was held at Tsinghua University and was one of many activities held to celebrate the university’s centenary.

Liu, who is an alumna of Tsinghua University, said that to achieve the goal, China is expanding the number of students it sends to study overseas and the number of international students who come to China through cooperative educational programs with the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The government will increase the number and size of scholarships to attract more foreign students, she said.

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, Chinese Model, Chinese overseas, Culture, Domestic Growth, Economics, Education, Environment, Influence, International Relations, Media, Nationalism, Overseas Chinese, People, Politics, Population, Public Diplomacy, Social, Soft Power, Strategy

China to lead world economy [The Age]

International Monetary Fund: China projected to overtake the US in real economic output by 2016, a first in the modern era for any country.

Several years have been thrown around, but typically they hover around 2020. This is probably the earliest forecast I have seen, at 2016. Comparing its climb with other powers in a bilateral race against the US in the century before, (the Soviet Union and Japan never quite overtook the US in their time),  ‘China’s ascension has been startlingly different, in speed and size. If it grows at anything like the 10 per cent rate it has averaged since 1980, its economy will be far bigger than that of the US within a generation.’

Indeed, ‘the looming end of US economic dominance marks a turning point’ (Australian National University professor of strategic studies Hugh White)  for much of the world and its old alliances

 For more on China’s press statements and briefings on the IMF website, go here.

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China to lead world economy
Tim Colebatch, Canberra
Source – The Age, published April 25, 2011

CHINA is about to overtake the United States as the world’s biggest economy, creating profound changes in the balance of global power.

In forecasts inserted quietly on its website in recent days, the International Monetary Fund has projected that, by 2016, China will overtake the US in real economic output – the first time in the modern era that any country has done so.

Economic historian Angus Maddison estimated that the Soviet Union at its peak produced only a third as many goods and services as the US; Japan’s economy at its peak was still less than half the size of the US economy.

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, Chinese Model, Domestic Growth, Economics, Education, Environment, Finance, Influence, International Monetary Foundation, International Relations, Media, Nationalism, Politics, Population, Public Diplomacy, Reform, Social, Soft Power, Strategy, The Age, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities

China detains Protestant Shouwang Devotees [BBC]

The BBC reports the latest as more Shouwang Devotees get detained as they gathered for Easter Service.

Related News here – China Keeps Church Leaders from Public Worship Attempt (Compass Direct News, April 11, 2011)

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China detains Protestant Shouwang Devotees
Source – BBC, published April 24, 2011

At least 20 Chinese Protestants have been detained as they tried to gather for an Easter service in Beijing.

The worshippers, from the Shouwang church, were trying to hold an outdoor service because they are prevented from using their own premises.

Police have recently arrested dozens of people from the church.

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Charm Offensive, Chinese Model, Culture, Democracy, Education, Environment, Human Rights, Influence, People, Politics, Population, Public Diplomacy, Reform, Religion, Social, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities

China’s Ghost Cities [SBS/Youtube]

Domestic growth or domestic waste alluding to a paradigm sift in the Chinese mind? This is probably uncharacteristically ‘not’ frugal. Have they taken the ‘capitalist road’ too far? Professor Zhou Xiao Sheng, prominent Chinese sociologist sends a reminder in the video – ‘If it leads to polarisation, then reform has failed…’ An honest question has to be asked here. With an increasing social divide fueled by an overheated economy, we have a paradoxical situation. The upswing due to the property bubble now cannot afford to burst, yet millions are left in squatter-like conditions whilst 64 million empty apartments stay unaffordable to those who need it most.

 ‘Vast cities are being built across China at a rate of ten a year, but they remain almost uninhabited ghost towns. It’s estimated there are 64 million empty apartments.’ (SBS Dateline, April 11, 2011)

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Chinese Model, Culture, Domestic Growth, Economics, Inflation, Lifestyle, Politics, Reform, SBS, Social, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, Youtube

Renren plans US listing this year [Financial Times]

China’s version of Facebook is getting its US listing. The Chinese internet landscape has been changing rapidly, and the voice of social media is getting stronger, and stronger. Savvier companies work hand in hand with the authorities to allow for their growth, whilst ‘Facebook and other western social media sites, including YouTube, are blocked in China.’

Chinese Social-Networking Site Renren Files to Raise $584 Million in IPO (Bloomberg, April 16, 2011)

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Renren plans US listing this year
By Kathrin Hille in Beijing
Source – Financial Times, published February 20 2011

Renren.com plans to list in the US this year in a deal that could make the Chinese company one of the world’s first social networking sites the public can invest in.

The company plans to raise about $500m in an offering managed by Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, said people close to the situation.

China’s internet companies have mostly been followers, copying their larger and more mature US peers’ business models and adjusting them for their domestic market. But Renren’s planned listing could make it a leader in attracting investor funds.

Filed under: Beijing Consensus, Bloomberg, Charm Offensive, Communications, Culture, Domestic Growth, Economics, Education, Finance, Financial Times, Influence, International Relations, Internet, Media, Public Diplomacy, Social, Soft Power, Technology, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities

China mulls immigration changes [Youtube]

China has long been a source of emigration to the rest of the world but as China becomes more prosperous, it has become a place to migrate to for work. The world is cross-pollinating its people at an unprecedented rate, and I hope to good longer term effect. Al Jazeera casts its eye on African immigrants to China as it drafts up its first ever immigration law. Guangzhou’s Africa Town now boasts 20,000 Africans.

Filed under: Africa, Al Jazeera, Beijing Consensus, Chinese Model, Culture, Economics, Education, Environment, Influence, International Relations, Migrant Workers, People, Population, Social, The Chinese Identity, The construction of Chinese and Non-Chinese identities, Trade, Youtube