How should the US view China's developing relations with her neighbors? Should the US modify its foreign policy toward these same nations in light of their changing Relationships with China?
Clearly, the US must encourage relations that serve to reduce security concerns and improve the economic well-being of all parties involved. From stability comes peace, and it is in everybody's best interests for China to maintain peaceful relationships with her neighbors. By the same token, the US must discourage hostile overtures from China to her weaker neighbors.
The US is already actively participating in China's huge economic growth by opening manufacturing concerns that employ thousands of Chinese workers at a fraction of the US labor cost. India has the next great opportunity for growth as the US is poised to take advantage of the low cost of manufacturing in that country (possibly at China's expense?).
Since some of China's neighbors have Muslim populations, the US would do well to reconsider its position on Iraq. Improved relationships and an end to hostilities in this country could only help improve the relations with China's neighbors, and perhaps influence China to stop persecuting its own Muslim population.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Uyghur Minority Chafing Under Chinese Oppression
In an article published April 15, 2008 from Khotan, China entitled, "A Second Restive Minority Faces China's Heavy Hand," the author argues that while Tibetan protests have grabbed headlines, the social unrest among China's 8 million Muslim Uighurs in the resource-rich far western territory have gone virtually unnoticed by the press.
Despite reports of police shootings and arrests at a protest demanding Uighur independence on March23, the world has paid little notice. China is doing its best to downplay ethnic tensions that threaten national security as well as the upcoming Beijing Olympics, claiming that the state has stabilized ethnic areas.
Human rights activists disagree. Nicolas Bequelin, a researcher for Human Rights watch in Hong Kong, claims China's policies are alienating, and that they are "efficient in that political political repression works. But they have ethnic tensions."
While Han Chinese live and work beside their Uighur neighbors, the interaction ends there. Muslims report discrimination, and are discouraged from practicing any religion. It is in the best interest of Han China to try to assimilate the Uighurs into their culture in order to protect their hold on the oil, coal, and mineral reserves in Uighur territories. However, their methods of assimilation border on the extreme - maintaining one's ethnic identity is not encouraged. People who attempt to help Muslims often end up dead at the hands of police during interrogation.
To further their aims, the Uighur people have created the World Uyghur Congress to draw attention to the plight of the Uighur people. To this point, they have been successful at maintaining the elements of their society that set them apart from the Han Chinese. How long the Han Chinese will allow this to continue is another story.
Susan
Despite reports of police shootings and arrests at a protest demanding Uighur independence on March23, the world has paid little notice. China is doing its best to downplay ethnic tensions that threaten national security as well as the upcoming Beijing Olympics, claiming that the state has stabilized ethnic areas.
Human rights activists disagree. Nicolas Bequelin, a researcher for Human Rights watch in Hong Kong, claims China's policies are alienating, and that they are "efficient in that political political repression works. But they have ethnic tensions."
While Han Chinese live and work beside their Uighur neighbors, the interaction ends there. Muslims report discrimination, and are discouraged from practicing any religion. It is in the best interest of Han China to try to assimilate the Uighurs into their culture in order to protect their hold on the oil, coal, and mineral reserves in Uighur territories. However, their methods of assimilation border on the extreme - maintaining one's ethnic identity is not encouraged. People who attempt to help Muslims often end up dead at the hands of police during interrogation.
To further their aims, the Uighur people have created the World Uyghur Congress to draw attention to the plight of the Uighur people. To this point, they have been successful at maintaining the elements of their society that set them apart from the Han Chinese. How long the Han Chinese will allow this to continue is another story.
Susan
Monday, April 7, 2008
Child Labor Scandal in Shanxi
In an article posted June 18, 2007 entitled "China: Child Labour Scandal Exposes Gross Corruption," Antoaneta Bezlova detailed the ordeal endured by 32 migrant workers who had been forced to work as slave laborers in a brick kiln for over a year. The workers were routinely beaten and starved, and were forced to handle hot bricks bare-handed, and were so filthy that the grime could be scraped off their bodied with a knife.
What's even more shocking is the revelation that, over the last few years, at least 1,000 children between the ages of eight and 16 have been enslaved in the brickworks in the Shanxi province. It is no coincidence that the brickworks is owned by by the son of the Communist Party chief. Local police ignored illegal labor practices due to an agreement between the police and local officials.
Fathers of the kidnapped children claim that their children were kidnapped and sold to the factory bosses for 500 yuan each. The laborers were forced to work and live in unbelievable squalor. "The places those children lived in were worse than dog kennels," said Chai Wei, a father of a missing child, upon searching several brickworks searching for his son. He described children sleeping on wooden planks, and walls covered with excrement. He and other fathers were horrified at what they saw on their rescue efforts, and get no help whatsoever from the local police.
The discovery of webs of provincial slave labor coincides with the development of new labor laws designed to protect workers from local labor abuses. Unfortunately, many local officials chose to ignore directives from the central government. Workers' advocates argue that directives will only be enforced if independent labor unions are allowed to form.
Based on what I have learned in this class, I am not surprised that child labor or slave labor exists in China. China is a country with little respect for human life or human rights, so why should we expect them to treat migrant worker or their children well? They also have no respect for the law, and corruption is just as rampant as ever. As long as there is profit to be made from slave and child labor, they Chinese will find ways to circumvent any "laws" they can put on the books.
Susan
What's even more shocking is the revelation that, over the last few years, at least 1,000 children between the ages of eight and 16 have been enslaved in the brickworks in the Shanxi province. It is no coincidence that the brickworks is owned by by the son of the Communist Party chief. Local police ignored illegal labor practices due to an agreement between the police and local officials.
Fathers of the kidnapped children claim that their children were kidnapped and sold to the factory bosses for 500 yuan each. The laborers were forced to work and live in unbelievable squalor. "The places those children lived in were worse than dog kennels," said Chai Wei, a father of a missing child, upon searching several brickworks searching for his son. He described children sleeping on wooden planks, and walls covered with excrement. He and other fathers were horrified at what they saw on their rescue efforts, and get no help whatsoever from the local police.
The discovery of webs of provincial slave labor coincides with the development of new labor laws designed to protect workers from local labor abuses. Unfortunately, many local officials chose to ignore directives from the central government. Workers' advocates argue that directives will only be enforced if independent labor unions are allowed to form.
Based on what I have learned in this class, I am not surprised that child labor or slave labor exists in China. China is a country with little respect for human life or human rights, so why should we expect them to treat migrant worker or their children well? They also have no respect for the law, and corruption is just as rampant as ever. As long as there is profit to be made from slave and child labor, they Chinese will find ways to circumvent any "laws" they can put on the books.
Susan
Sunday, March 30, 2008
China's Wild Youth
According to the article "Bad Company" by Matthew Forney/Yinchuan, posted on Time.com 11/4/02, China's youth have gown increasingly violent. Teenage gang members hurl explosive devices at enemies, assault and rape citizens, and murder authority figures such as teachers. They have a taste for drugs, rock music, and believe they owe the world nothing. They also make up China's fastest growing criminal group.
Experts see a moral vacuum as the driving force behind this trend. Chinese youth are disillusioned with the ideals of Communism, and religion has been discouraged by the government. Divorce rates are rising, families are crumbling, and after-school activities and team sports are all but nonexistent. These children form gangs like their Western counterparts as a way of filling an emotional void. As a result, three-fourths of youth involved in crimes are also involved with a gang, many with ties to criminal syndicates. Shan Guangnai of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences commented, "With this many kids going bad, it looks to me like society is falling apart."
Unfortunately, the government does little to keep kids out of gangs. Since there are few juvenile detention centers, teen offenders are housed with adult criminals, which provides the teens useful contacts in the criminal world. These kids become the petty thugs who work for loan sharks once they're released. They learn new methods for beating and torturing clients who won't pay protection money, and while many say they won't kill, most agree that they would cut off fingers if necessary.
Some parents are able to afford to pull police strings on behalf of their children, but most are not. Once in the system, it is difficult for them to get out and go straight. They want to be important, to be a leader, but chose the path that sends them toward an uncertain future. For them, a violent death is often a foregone conclusion.
Based on what we have studied concerning China's youth, it appears that while they have more opportunities than ever, they are squandering their potential on lives of decadence and violence, of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Increased affluence of some has led to resentment by those who have not yet made it. The lax moral code encourages the pursuit of money above all else, and indulgent parents encourage sloth and laziness by providing for their able-bodied offspring long after they could provide for themselves (much like the spoiled children of America!).
Fortunately for China, this does not apply to all Chinese youth. As long as there are more children who are taught to value education above violence, and right from wrong, China will have a future. If the scale ever tips in the other direction, the entire society will implode. It's up to the parents to set good examples, and the youth to decide which path they will take.
Experts see a moral vacuum as the driving force behind this trend. Chinese youth are disillusioned with the ideals of Communism, and religion has been discouraged by the government. Divorce rates are rising, families are crumbling, and after-school activities and team sports are all but nonexistent. These children form gangs like their Western counterparts as a way of filling an emotional void. As a result, three-fourths of youth involved in crimes are also involved with a gang, many with ties to criminal syndicates. Shan Guangnai of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences commented, "With this many kids going bad, it looks to me like society is falling apart."
Unfortunately, the government does little to keep kids out of gangs. Since there are few juvenile detention centers, teen offenders are housed with adult criminals, which provides the teens useful contacts in the criminal world. These kids become the petty thugs who work for loan sharks once they're released. They learn new methods for beating and torturing clients who won't pay protection money, and while many say they won't kill, most agree that they would cut off fingers if necessary.
Some parents are able to afford to pull police strings on behalf of their children, but most are not. Once in the system, it is difficult for them to get out and go straight. They want to be important, to be a leader, but chose the path that sends them toward an uncertain future. For them, a violent death is often a foregone conclusion.
Based on what we have studied concerning China's youth, it appears that while they have more opportunities than ever, they are squandering their potential on lives of decadence and violence, of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Increased affluence of some has led to resentment by those who have not yet made it. The lax moral code encourages the pursuit of money above all else, and indulgent parents encourage sloth and laziness by providing for their able-bodied offspring long after they could provide for themselves (much like the spoiled children of America!).
Fortunately for China, this does not apply to all Chinese youth. As long as there are more children who are taught to value education above violence, and right from wrong, China will have a future. If the scale ever tips in the other direction, the entire society will implode. It's up to the parents to set good examples, and the youth to decide which path they will take.
Friday, March 21, 2008
China: World Superpower?
China's incredible growth has led to some pretty incredible growing pains, as well. Stories of civil unrest, widespread unemployment, environmental disasters, and human rights violations fill the news. Why then, with all these weaknesses, is China still considered a contender for superpower status?
One word: greed. International investors are making incredible amounts of money utilizing the cheap, plentiful labor available in China. Social conscience and the environment are trivial concerns if making more money is at stake, so these issues are whitewashed by the Chinese government and are overlooked by those making an economic killing in China today.
The company for which I work has seen factories in America shut down and their equipment sent to China, where it will be operated for 1/15th the wage of an American worker. We send American workers (they get a bonus if they are willing to do it) over to China to teach them how to take their jobs away from them. We were told originally that the Chinese would only be servicing markets in Asia. This, of course, has not been the case. Plants will continue to close in America as long as the cheap Chinese labor can be exploited.
As long as there is profit to be made, China will be exalted. Once they reach the level where they are no longer profitable, they will be cast aside, much like Mexico and Central America (anybody remember NAFTA?), for the next big thing (India?).
It also cannot be ignored that China, in the meantime, has built up a strong military presence in Asia. With little concern for its own people or its own environment, how can China be expected to become a responsible player on the world stage? If China is going to truly succees, there must be an effort to address its obvious weaknesses. Otherwise, China's weaknesses will affect not only China, but the world as a whole.
Susan
One word: greed. International investors are making incredible amounts of money utilizing the cheap, plentiful labor available in China. Social conscience and the environment are trivial concerns if making more money is at stake, so these issues are whitewashed by the Chinese government and are overlooked by those making an economic killing in China today.
The company for which I work has seen factories in America shut down and their equipment sent to China, where it will be operated for 1/15th the wage of an American worker. We send American workers (they get a bonus if they are willing to do it) over to China to teach them how to take their jobs away from them. We were told originally that the Chinese would only be servicing markets in Asia. This, of course, has not been the case. Plants will continue to close in America as long as the cheap Chinese labor can be exploited.
As long as there is profit to be made, China will be exalted. Once they reach the level where they are no longer profitable, they will be cast aside, much like Mexico and Central America (anybody remember NAFTA?), for the next big thing (India?).
It also cannot be ignored that China, in the meantime, has built up a strong military presence in Asia. With little concern for its own people or its own environment, how can China be expected to become a responsible player on the world stage? If China is going to truly succees, there must be an effort to address its obvious weaknesses. Otherwise, China's weaknesses will affect not only China, but the world as a whole.
Susan
Sunday, March 2, 2008
More Power for SEPA
The article, "China Environment Agency Gets More Power" was posted to Google News on February 29, 2008 by Henry Sanderson.(http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5icPw8BwDs4EYOrcM2Xe3KOGqPw5gD8V44VN01).
This article describes how China's government is increasing the authority of its environmental watchdog agency in an attempt to slow the rampant pollution associated with China's rapid economic growth. SEPA is to be upgraded to a full Cabinet ministry with a bigger budget and more people, and is part of a government restructuring approved this week by the Communist Party leadership. As environmental problems are among the biggest that China faces, this action should help SEPA, formed in 1998, enforce rules that, in the past, were often ignored.
"SEPA in recent years has been trying to do a lot with very little," said Alex Wang, director of the China Environmental Law Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The challenge that SEPA faces now first and foremost is insufficient resources and authority."
With Beijing set to host the Olympics in August, the world has been awaiting a response from China on how they plan to deal with the city's notoriously dirty air. It is estimated that China's air and water pollution cost about $100 billion a year — 5.8 percent of its economic output — mainly through health costs. The government spends 1.35 percent of the gross domestic product on environmental protection.
Despite its new powers, SEPA is still likely to face resistance from local governments whose first priority is to stimulate economic growth and protecting factories that pay tax revenues. Also, since local environmental officials will still answer to provincial or local governments, the new ministry is expected to be understaffed for the task policing the environment.
I agree that this is a huge step in the right direction for China, as long as SEPA is allowed to have some real authority, and that their new powers aren't allowed to evaporate following the Olympics this summer. I would probably beef up the staff in order to ensure that the policing tasks can be adequately carried out, and make sure the local governments are required to be on board. They need to be aware that not only will it benefit China to "clean up her act" and keep it clean, but the entire world will benefit as well.
Susan
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Global Economy Encourages Rebates to Chinese
Refrigerators and the Global Economy
According to an article posted by Reuters on 2/20/08 (“China Farmers to get Fridges, TV’s to Boost Consumption” by Jason Subler), China recently initiated a government program to subsidize 13% of the cost of the purchase of refrigerators, televisions, and mobile phones for rural families in Shandong and two other provinces. At first glance, this seems to have little to do with globalization or the global economy. But look at the motives behind the rebate, and the Chinese government suddenly looks less altruistic.
The rebates are not simply the government’s way of improving the lives of China’s 740 million rural poor, who have not enjoyed the benefits of China’s booming economy. Rather it is a way to encourage them to spend their money on goods produced by Chinese factories. With the possibility of a U.S. recession decreasing the demand for Chinese products overseas, it has become critical that China balance its economy and become less dependent on exports and foreign investments. Chinese economists fear they are facing the end of the boom that kept China’s economy increasing at a rate of 10% annually.
To ease the transition to a more consumer-driven economy, China is taking drastic measures. They have cancelled the agricultural tax, cancelled feed for primary education, and are putting together a form of health insurance targeted at the rural citizens. They are also seeking to close the gap between urban dwellers (annual income of 13,786 yuan) and rural dwellers (annual income of 4,140 yuan) in the hope of diffusing social unrest.
Qian Wang, who is an economist with JP Morgan Chase in Hong Kong, sees increasing sales of consumer goods as a positive sign for China. “The authorities’ medium-term strategic policy focus on stimulating domestic demand, especially amid growing concerns about the global economy, should provide additional firm support for domestic consumption,” reported Wang.
So, while the end result is an improvement for some (only 22% of rural households in China had a refrigerator in 2006), it is hardly the result of China’s concern for its poor. This unprecedented action would never have occurred had it not been for China’s awareness of their current dependence on foreign exports. Yuan Shanchun, the first recipient of the subsidy, however, isn’t complaining about motives. “Who can believe it? How come the government is giving us money to buy things?” he asked. “This is like free food falling from the sky!”
According to an article posted by Reuters on 2/20/08 (“China Farmers to get Fridges, TV’s to Boost Consumption” by Jason Subler), China recently initiated a government program to subsidize 13% of the cost of the purchase of refrigerators, televisions, and mobile phones for rural families in Shandong and two other provinces. At first glance, this seems to have little to do with globalization or the global economy. But look at the motives behind the rebate, and the Chinese government suddenly looks less altruistic.
The rebates are not simply the government’s way of improving the lives of China’s 740 million rural poor, who have not enjoyed the benefits of China’s booming economy. Rather it is a way to encourage them to spend their money on goods produced by Chinese factories. With the possibility of a U.S. recession decreasing the demand for Chinese products overseas, it has become critical that China balance its economy and become less dependent on exports and foreign investments. Chinese economists fear they are facing the end of the boom that kept China’s economy increasing at a rate of 10% annually.
To ease the transition to a more consumer-driven economy, China is taking drastic measures. They have cancelled the agricultural tax, cancelled feed for primary education, and are putting together a form of health insurance targeted at the rural citizens. They are also seeking to close the gap between urban dwellers (annual income of 13,786 yuan) and rural dwellers (annual income of 4,140 yuan) in the hope of diffusing social unrest.
Qian Wang, who is an economist with JP Morgan Chase in Hong Kong, sees increasing sales of consumer goods as a positive sign for China. “The authorities’ medium-term strategic policy focus on stimulating domestic demand, especially amid growing concerns about the global economy, should provide additional firm support for domestic consumption,” reported Wang.
So, while the end result is an improvement for some (only 22% of rural households in China had a refrigerator in 2006), it is hardly the result of China’s concern for its poor. This unprecedented action would never have occurred had it not been for China’s awareness of their current dependence on foreign exports. Yuan Shanchun, the first recipient of the subsidy, however, isn’t complaining about motives. “Who can believe it? How come the government is giving us money to buy things?” he asked. “This is like free food falling from the sky!”
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