Links » Crème » Friday Links: Chinese reactions to Mitt Romney, inside Foxconn, and Ai Weiwei curates New Statesman
Links » Crème » Friday Links: Chinese reactions to Mitt Romney, inside Foxconn, and Ai Weiwei curates New Statesman |
- Friday Links: Chinese reactions to Mitt Romney, inside Foxconn, and Ai Weiwei curates New Statesman
- The Daily Twit – 10/19/12: U.S. and China Steel Fighting
- Top 10 Search List (October 19, 2012)
- Beating a Dead Horse: Chinese Investment and the U.S. National Security Excuse
| Friday Links: Chinese reactions to Mitt Romney, inside Foxconn, and Ai Weiwei curates New Statesman Posted: 19 Oct 2012 05:50 AM PDT
On my Dragon Air flight to Hong Kong this afternoon, we were given the food option of beef brisket rice or chicken with casserole. The casserole featured thin slides of egg between soft slices of potato. Both set meals came with a shrimp salad and bread, and after all that, we were served Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Obviously beverages were free, including red and white wine, and the coffee was brewed from a pot, and on top of all that, THERE WERE OUTLETS UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS HAD ADAPTERS IN CASE YOUR PLUG WASN'T COMPATIBLE. In conclusion, Dragon Air is the best. Links. On a scale of "not at all" to "not," how surprised are you that Yang Rui supports Mitt Romney? "Yang Rui, the host of an English-language news broadcast, found himself in hot water earlier this year for calling for the government to 'clean out foreign trash,' and writing about the 'Jewish bosses' of the American media and the 'wrong biased policy of shielding Israel.' After the debate, Yang Rui wrote, 'Romney has the upper hand on many topics, in my estimation. Obama seemed weak and young. His opponent was mature and calm, with a mouthful of statistics, clear logic, concise language; he is a very good debater!' (His post was later deleted for reasons unclear, but you can find a remnant of it online.) // We can expect more Chinese reaction to come. In the next and final debate, on October 22nd, which will focus on foreign policy, a fifteen-minute segment has been set aside for 'the rise of China and tomorrow's world.'" [Evan Osnos, The New Yorker] Corollary: Chinese reactions. [The Atlantic] Foxconn humanized, with photos. "I am not yet going to characterize what I saw, and I am not pretending to know more than I do. This was a few hours out of one day. But what I saw once inside the gate was very different from the picture that 'Foxconn' had always conjured up in my mind. I'll plan to post a series of photos day by day until I've conveyed the range of what I saw. If scenes like these conform closely to how you had imagined Foxconn to look, congrats on your insight. They surprised me." [James Fallows, The Atlantic] Ya don't say. "A White House-ordered review of security risks posed by suppliers to U.S. telecommunications companies found no clear evidence that Huawei Technologies Ltd had spied for China, two people familiar with the probe told Reuters. // Instead, those leading the 18-month review concluded early this year that relying on Huawei, the world's second-largest maker of networking gear, was risky for other reasons, such as the presence of vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit." [Reuters] More on China and "currency manipulation." "Candidate Romney's repeated promise that he would label China a currency manipulator on his first day in office is well known. But could he really afford to do so? China imported $120 billion of U.S. commodities in 2011, and roughly 1 million Chinese visitors toured the United States that year, each spending an average of around $7,000. Despite China's slowing economy, these numbers will increase in 2012. Would a President Romney really honor his threat, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs? Two days before the 2008 presidential election, Obama issued a similar threat to protect the U.S. textile business from Chinese competition. After winning the election, his administration spent roughly four months investigating whether China was, in fact, artificially suppressing its currency. The conclusion? China was not manipulating the renminbi." [Foreign Policy] Another award-winning Chinese writer. "The Taiwanese poet Yang Mu (楊牧) has been chosen by an international jury as the winner of the third Newman Prize for Chinese Literature. Sponsored by the University of Oklahoma's Institute for U.S.-China Issues, Newman Prize is awarded biennially in recognition of outstanding achievement in prose or poetry that best captures the human condition, and is conferred solely on the basis of literary merit. Any living author writing in Chinese is eligible." [Chinese Literature Today, University of Oklahoma] Mo Yan will speak the truth. "At the end of the interview the People's Daily asks Mo the question we all would like an answer to: 'In your December 10 acceptance speech, what will you say?' // Mo Yan responds: // I will say things that are real. I will speak the truth." [China Media Project] Probably too optimistic an article, but still important for the nut graf. "Chinese government-controlled newspapers have openly criticised the detention of a village official who called for the end of Communist Party rule, an extraordinary move that some media experts see as a sign that Beijing is granting more leeway on free speech. // The campaign is all the more remarkable because Ren Jianyu, 25, was sentenced to a labour camp for posting online messages that called for the downfall of the party's 'dictatorship' – sentiments that would normally mark him out for harsh treatment by China's media, assuming they gave any coverage at all." [Reuters] Belated, from Tuesday. "Besuited and fiercely disciplined, with a powerful family background and experience in the Communist Youth League, Liu Yandong appears much like other cadres jockeying for position in China's pending leadership transition, bar one very obvious difference: her gender. // She is the only female member of the 25-member politburo and would be the first woman to reach its standing committee, the country's top political body. Though she is regarded as a long shot, 'the door is not closed', said Cheng Li, an expert on Chinese politics at the Brookings Institution." [Tania Brannigan, The Guardian] China trip montage interlude: Finally… Competition to be "pambassadors." [Sina] Digital version of the New Statesman, featuring Ai Weiwei. [New Statesman] Ai Weiwei's cats. [Buzzfeed] What tier is your city? Now you can find out with this handy formula. [Dave Lyons, Rectified.name] Finally, finally…
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| The Daily Twit – 10/19/12: U.S. and China Steel Fighting Posted: 19 Oct 2012 02:57 AM PDT Seems like all I do these days is write about the U.S.-China relationship. Things could be a lot better, but bilateral relations aren't as bad as the rhetoric might suggest. I blame the election/leadership change and expect that things will quiet down later this year. The latest trade issue in the news is the end of the WTO Grain Oriented Flat-rolled Electrical Steel (aka GOES) case, which the U.S. won back in June. China appealed on a few items and the appellate body sided with the U.S. I might write a post about the dispute over the next few days, but if I do, it will be limited to the issue of transparency. If you want to read up on the case: USTR: United States Prevails in Steel Dispute with China (U.S. government press release) Financial Times: WTO bans Chinese tariffs on US steel — Odd headline. This was a narrow anti-dumping decision that applies to a specific type of product. BBC News: China tariffs on US steel: WTO rejects Beijing's appeal Reuters: WTO hands Obama victory in U.S.-China steel case Xinhua: WTO rejects China's appeal in US steel dispute — This is just straight news. I looked around for the usual "China regrets the decision of the WTO" but couldn't find anything. I expect the Ministry of Commerce had something to say, but I haven't seen it yet. Here are a few more items for your weekend reading: Guardian: China's economy slows down – threatening western bottom lines – Some skepticism about China's GDP numbers, with a look at MNCs and their forecasting as another measure of where things are in terms of growth. New York Times: China's Post-Cheesecake Economy — A quirky look at some of the imagery and metaphors used to talk about the Chinese economy. Refreshing. Reuters: China January-September FDI down 3.8 percent on year to $83.4 billion Foreign Policy: To Renminbi Or Not to Renminbi? - Why China's currency isn't taking over the world — Excellent article by Victor Shih and Susan Shirk about RMB internationalization and what needs to happen before it becomes a reality. Wall Street Journal: The Mechanics of Moving Cash Out of China — I always found this topic kind of fun, even going back to the days when folks were taking suitcases of cash down south with them. Still an important issue, particularly with the recent capital flight. Andrew Sullivan: Is China A Cheater? — This is the subject I talked about yesterday, although instead of trade, I was mostly discussing IP. Financial Times: Chinese group in insider trade settlement — Looks like we're not going to see any litigation over the CNOOC-Nexen insider trading, but at least the bad guys had to pay something. These days in the financial services sector, that's (unfortunately) a big win. Global Times: Injury lawsuits rise among seniors — Not as boring as it sounds. This is one of those strange effects, apparently, of economic development in China. Seniors are getting out more, traveling, living longer, and have better access to heath care. Result: more injuries and lawsuits. Stanley Lubman: Vital Task for China's Next Leaders: Fix Environmental Protection — Law prof Lubman on the huge enviro challenge facing China after the leadership change. Indeed. © Stan for China Hearsay, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us |
| Top 10 Search List (October 19, 2012) Posted: 19 Oct 2012 02:18 AM PDT
2) 黄秋生 罗志祥 骂战 (Huáng Qiūshēng Luó Zhìxiáng màzhàn, Huang Qiusheng Luo Zhixiang spitting war) – Hong Kong actor Huang Qiusheng said on Weibo in June that he didn't know who Luo Zhixiang, a Taiwanese singer, was. After Luo's fans poured their angry protests on his Weibo, Huang said during a TV interview that when a man passes a pile of shit covered by flies, all the flies get angry and worry that the man is going to take that shit away from them. Luo fought back on his Weibo, saying he was not shit and uploaded photos of his fans. Huang later said that he would withdraw from Weibo as it is only a insignificant dust in one's life. Chinese story here. 3) 永州车祸 (yóngzhōuchēhuò, Yongzhou bus accident) – A bus overturned in Yongzhou, Hunan Province, leaving 4 dead and 8 critically injured. About 50 people were aboard the bus. Chinese story here. 4) 金韩松 (Jīn Hánsōng, Kim Han-Sol) – Kim Jong-Il's teenage grandson Kim Han-Sol said that he has never met his grandfather or his uncle, North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-Un in an interview conducted at the school in Bosnia where he studies. English story here. 5) 高晓松 流氓体 (Gāo Xiǎosong liúmángtí, Gao Xiaosong's "hooligan" catchword) –Gao Xiaosong, a pop icon in China, recently updated his weibo with a adapted phrase from an ancient folksong, "build your wall high, stock up your barn and act like a hooligan". This line was used by the leader of a peasant rebellion against the emperor. "Act like a hooligan" quickly gained popularity and were attached to the end of every sentence people say. Chinese story here. 6) 雅安地震 (Yá' ān dìzhèn, Ya'an earthquake) – A earthquake of 4.2 degree hit Ya'an, Sichuan Province this morning. No casualties have been reported. Chinese story here. 7) 新加坡大学生拍色情片 (Xīnjiāpō dàxuéshēngpāisèqíngpiān, Singapore College student shot porn video) – A Malaysian man who is a law student in the National University of Singapore posted on his blog picture and video featuring him having sex with his girlfriend. He said he was trying to see where the moral bottom line of Singapore society is. Chinese story here. 8）最美红衣大姐 (zuìmeíhóngyīdàjié, the most beautiful lady in red) – A middle-aged woman wearing a red sweater was seen buying clothes and helping a half-naked homeless man put on the clothes in Hebei. Her kind move was captured on camera by a witness and uploaded online. Internet users started looking for the "most beautiful lady in red". Chinese story here. 9) 黑龙江集贤倒塌办公楼 (HēilóngjiāngJíxián dáotābàngōnglóu, Jixian county collapsed building) – An office building belonging to the local running water company in Jixian, Heilongjiang collapsed a few days ago. The rescue efforts have ended and 6 people died. A rescuer told media that the whole building has not used a single steel bar, but the investigation committee said what he said was only his personal opinion. Chinese story here. 10) 赴日 0元机票 (fùrìlíngyuánjīpiào, zero-yuan plane ticket to Japan) – While most domestic airlines were scaling down their air routes to Japan due to sharp decrease in seat occupancy rate, Spring Airlines started selling plane tickets to Japan at zero yuan and more than 2000 tickets were sold in the past two days. The airline suspended its offering of free tickets yesterday "due to nationalistic outcries against it". Chinese story here.        |
| Beating a Dead Horse: Chinese Investment and the U.S. National Security Excuse Posted: 18 Oct 2012 11:15 PM PDT
Is there any connection between the Ralls rejection and the Huawei/ZTE investigations? Here's a statement from Xinhua today that says yes:
Yes, both of these items involved Chinese companies and perceived national security risks. But if the results were not a coincidence, what does that mean? I assume that we are supposed to believe that there is a China bashing conspiracy going on here, that Huawei, ZTE and Ralls have all been treated unfairly for some reason (China bashing or protectionism – not sure which one Xinhua was going for this time). Of course, if you're going to posit that this was all coordinated, it might help to explain why. Aside from these being Chinese companies and the problems being related to national security, I'm not sure what the common thread here is. As I've written many times now, I have problems with the Ralls decision. I find it difficult to believe the national security objections, particularly since Ralls had already complied with a U.S. Navy mitigation plan. That's why with respect to this deal, I question whether China bashing or some sort of protectionism might be involved. With Huawei and ZTE, I take the other position. The fears of future security problems seem reasonable, and certainly not so far fetched that, in the absence of clear evidence to the contrary, I would entertain the possibility of local protectionism or good old fashioned China bashing. So I'm not buying any attempt at dumping these items in one category and calling it a trend. Moreover, let's make sure we stick with the facts. The above quote notes that these Chinese companies have been "blocked" from investing in the U.S. Not exactly true. Ralls had one project blocked, but I don't see any reason why it cannot continue with other U.S. deals. For Huawei and ZTE, their future in the U.S. looks much dimmer, although neither the House report nor the White House investigation blocked anything, but were more akin to supervisory opinions. The result might very well be that future deals involving Huawei and ZTE will indeed be blocked as a result of these investigations, but technically neither the House committee nor the White House are the ones doing the blocking. I am also confused by Xinhua's use of the term "backfired." Exactly what has backfired for the U.S.? That's very odd language. For something to backfire, there needs to be an unwanted effect. The U.S. has made life difficult for Ralls, Huawei, and ZTE, and it has angered Beijing. In the future, U.S. companies may very well run into some problems in China because, you know, reciprocity is a bitch. By the way, China has its own national security review process, albeit a relatively new one. You think it might start using it? You bet your ass. But this is all speculation, and for the U.S. government, so what? Nothing has backfired, at least not yet. Finally, a quick comment on the Sany/Ralls lawsuit, which I've also mentioned before. Sany's chairman has been quite vocal about how he intends to take this "all the way." Unfortunately, the U.S. statute that authorizes CFIUS and the president to make these investment decisions does not allow for judicial review of presidential orders. Sorry, but that seems rather clear, and the Ralls "appeal" appears to be a sure loser, unless someone comes up with a creative angle. It probably doesn't need to be said, but just because you sue someone, that doesn't mean that you are supporting the rule of law:
Oh, please. I don't like the result in the Ralls case either, but the president undoubtedly has the authority to make that decision. I'm glad to hear that Sany trusts the U.S. legal system so much; too bad it doesn't trust its U.S. legal counsel more, as I expect that person is probably advising that the suit should be dropped. I tend to get annoyed when an entire legal system is disparaged because someone doesn't like a specific case, particularly when the critic is an interested party! I remember when everyone in the U.S. condemned the judicial system there because of the infamous McDonald's "hot coffee" litigation. The whole thing was remarkable in its stupidity. Similar things are said about China's legal system whenever there is a high profile criminal case involving a government official. No, says I, those are individual cases and shouldn't be used to condemn the entire system. The Ralls decision might have been unfair, and you may not like the treatment of Huawei and ZTE, but I think it's time to move on. © Stan for China Hearsay, 2012. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us |
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