Links » Crème » Melinda Liu on Xi Jinping and the “China Dream”

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• Melinda Liu on Xi Jinping and the “China Dream”
• The LA Times profiles Shen Jianzhong, China’s modern-day Bruce Lee, whose son is still in jail for fighting in self-defense
• Pandas might be source of powerful new antibiotic

Melinda Liu on Xi Jinping and the “China Dream” Posted: 30 Dec 2012 12:00 PM PST From the start, I've been optimistic about Xi Jinping and his administration. Melinda Liu of the Daily Beast has just outlined many of the reasons why: Then, China's new top graft buster, Wang Qishan, met with a number of anti-corruption experts and interrupted one who addressed him as "dear respected secretary." "Drop the formalities," Wang reportedly told the group. The new message from the top: just get to the point. After less than a month into his job, Xi ushered in a new leadership style that's taken China by surprise. He has exhorted citizens to pursue "national rejuvenation" and a "Great Chinese Dream," while cracking down on graft, trimming official perks, and streamlining bureaucracy. At least in some key areas, Xi seems poised to break with the past decade of stagnation, during which time China's economy slowed and political reforms regressed. If the changes take hold, they could have far-reaching implications both at home and abroad. Many Chinese seem heartened, even inspired, by Xi's down-to-earth style. But many of China's jittery neighbors worry that Beijing's dream could become their nightmare, leading to an increasingly nationalistic and aggressive foreign policy. Reforms will never come fast enough for some people (ahem, Nicholas Kristof wrote about Ai Weiwei the day before Liu's article), but at least we're back in a positon to talk about it realistically. And about that "China Dream": In the eyes of the outside world, however, the big question remains: what exactly is this Chinese Dream? The symbolism is potent but vague on details. The phrase evokes China's past glories, but not any precise period. Rather, says Hu Xingdou, of the Beijing Institute of Technology, China's renaissance refers to achievements related to innovation and creativity—such as the compass, papermaking, movable type, and gunpowder, which are collectively known as the "four great inventions." "The Chinese Dream is different from the American Dream , which focuses on individual success," says Hu. "We mainly stress national power and dignity." But he also cautioned, "If a nation cares only about the dignity of the state and not of the individual… it could turn into a horrible country. The Chinese Dream should mean more power to the citizenry." Maritime tensions and increased Internet restrictions are two issues that dampen our enthusiasm, but we can save these topics for another time. While you're on the Daily Beast website, it may be worth checking out its slideshow, Love on China's Assembly Lines. China's Great Dream (The Daily Beast)

The LA Times profiles Shen Jianzhong, China’s modern-day Bruce Lee, whose son is still in jail for fighting in self-defense Posted: 30 Dec 2012 10:00 AM PST Shen Jianzhong, who fought back a pack of hoodlums in October who broke into his house and assaulted his wife, is making the most out of his 15 minutes of fame — but out of necessity. The LA Times recently caught up with him as he offered a grim update to his situation, specifically all that's happened after he and his son thwarted "30 to 50 men" sent to forcibly evict their family: Shen said his troubles have actually increased since the attack. The next day, he said, nearly 100 men arrived in buses from out of town and surrounded his house. When the police refused to drive off the men on grounds that they were behaving peacefully, Shen fled with his wife to Beijing, hoping that media attention and the central government would help his family. Shen said that in his absence his house has not been demolished, but that shortly after his departure for Beijing, the Bazhou police arrested his son. His son is still in detention as we speak. Shen obviously figured speaking to foreign media would help his situation, however a long shot. Even the article concedes that gangs like the one that attacked Shen are usually in cahoots with local officials, who are shitty enough to not care what you or I or the public thinks. They want their land and their money. The video above, if you haven't already seen it, shows the aftermath of Shen and son's fight, in which they purportedly knocked out seven men. And here's a pretty good recap via the LA Times if you need a refresher in what we're talking about: Shen and his family live in Bazhou, a city in Hebei province 60 miles from central Beijing. Shen says he has trained in Lee's Jeet Kune Do style of kung fu for 20 years. He has also been certified by the Hong Kong-based World Record Assn. for completing the highest number of roller push-ups in a minute. The exercise, which involves folding and unfolding at the waist like an inchworm while propped up with a small wheel, is more than a pastime for Shen. He and his wife run a small business teaching the exercise at home and around Bazhou, and they fear that the loss of their house would damage their livelihood. Shen says he was teaching at a nearby gym on Oct. 29 when a group of more than 30 men assembled outside his house, which a local Communist Party official was planning to redevelop into an apartment complex. The men threatened and verbally abused Shen's wife as she returned home with groceries. Once Shen arrived and confirmed to the leader of the group that his family would not leave before receiving guarantees for housing, the assailants, he said, burst through the front door and began to beat his wife. In response, Shen and his teenage son, a graduate of traditional martial arts schools, entered the fray. If Bruce Lee faced forced eviction in China (LA Times)

Pandas might be source of powerful new antibiotic Posted: 30 Dec 2012 12:57 AM PST Maybe these cuddly creatures are useful for more than just their looks. Via The Telegraph: Scientists have discovered that the animals, of which there are around 1,600 in the wild, produce a powerful antibiotic in their blood stream that kills bacteria and fungi. They believe the substance could be used to create potent new treatments against drug resistant superbugs and other diseases. The antibiotic is thought to be released by the bear's immune system to protect them infections when they are living in the wild. Researchers discovered the compound, known as cathelicidin-AM, after analysing the panda's DNA. Scientists have been able to synthesize the compounds, so there's no risk of pandas being hunted like black bears and harvested for their bile. The Chinese researchers found that the cathelicidin-AM, which is produced by immune cells in the animal's blood, was found to kill bacteria in less than an hour while other well known antibiotics took more than six hours. They hope to develop the substance either as a new drug to tackle superbugs or as an antiseptic for cleaning surfaces and utensils. Dr Yan and his colleagues also believe there may be other potential drugs hidden within the panda genome. Must ask though: do we really need more antibiotics in a country that already overuses them? Possibly it's just a never-ending fight: science finds super-antibiotic, forcing super-bacteria to evolve into Batman-bacteria. Giant Pandas hold new weapon in fight against superbugs (The Telegraph)

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