China Vows Openness.

It seems as though Obama fervor has even reached the Far East. On Thursday, March 5th, 2009, the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao chatted with the country's 1.3 billion population in his first internet debut. He was sent nearly 150,000 questions and answered quite a few in efforts to give transparency to the Chinese government. Here is an excerpt from his opening message:

Wen Jiabao: “Dear Netizens, I am very glad to talk with you on the Internet
today, shortly before the beginning of the two national meetings. I have always
believed that the public has the right to know what its government is doing and
thinking about, and the right to criticize and make comments on government
policies. The government needs also to seek people’s feedback and ideas in order
to make sound policy decisions, and it should make administrative affairs public
and decision-making democratic. This is the first time I communicate with the
public through the Internet. Since it’s my first time, I am a little bit
nervous. But I have always remembered the words my mother often told me — No
matter whom you are talking to, be honest with them, and speak from your heart.
She was diagnosed with cerebral thrombosis a few days ago, and has almost lost
her eyesight. But I bear her words dearly in my heart. I think that this is a
chance for me to talk to you from the bottom of my heart. I will be honest with
you, tell you truthful information, and listen to your truthful voices.

For more of the story, go here to the Washington Post.

China Warns World of Dalai Lama.

According to Reuters, the Chinese goverment is once again alerting various nations and countries of the influence the Dalai Lama is trying to spread. The message is one conveyed with urgency as they ask that states do not welcome the religious leader to come and speak on the liberation of Tibet from Greater China. The Chinese government does give some valid points as to the Tibetan leader's demands, almost making them seem unreasonable and not things that a religious leader would want.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Peril for "Made in China"

While here in the U.S. we are very immersed in our own economic perils, China, too, suffers from the worldwide economic crisis. The news entry below from Al Jazeera English gives a broad and informative account on the troubles of China's import and export economy today.

There are reports that the country's exports have fallen 17.5% in the month of January alone. The Chinese economy did not fare well either in 2008, citing a 43.1% decrease in imports as well. What this means, as the U.S. and world economies suffer, so does China. With a loss of many exports to now frugal countries and the dwindling of imports due to less demand, the Chinese government is also at work to create a stimulus plan of their own totaling to nearly $600bln itself.

See the article here.

Comparison of Cultures: China and Japan

It's a peculiar thing to learn about China and Japan as I have over the last couple of semesters. To see two countries behave as though they are father and son, one learning from the other and attributing much their co-existence, they still find their own ways of retaining individuality. I've learned that Japan has always lived in the shadow of China but I never knew how the cultures of each country were so prevalent in everyday life. The Japanese can lend thanks to China for much of it's advancement in language, technological innovations (in the past), and general growth in societal life. The following link gives a brief, yet delicate, look in to how the two countries differ in the "ways" they conduct their businesses and tasks at hand.

"Japan is all about the way of doing things. Practice, ritual, perfectionism, as
much fanatical attention to the process as to the result. China is all about
finding a way to do things. Improvisation, little interest in rules, putting up
with whatever is necessary to attain the result."

Two crews perform the same task in each country and one can see for oneself how culture has shaped and left an impact on how the countries people work.

"The" way vs "a" way

China Giving Lesson North Korea

In an editorial written on the Economist.com it says that Chinese business men are moving factories to North Korea now to avoid rising cost in China. Factory Managers are also teaching them the same practices that they use in China, which as the author states could have good or bad outcome. The good, that some day North Korea could benefit from the global system, or the bad that the stands of manufacturing, and corruption could be far worest than the Chinese. The editorial goes on to state that their are conflicting strategies in dealing with North Korea by the West. One, give them aid in return for denuclearizing, or stop all aid in hope that the central party will fall. The author closes with some good news in saying that the human rights conditions must be improving because low level businessmen are starting to accept bribes, without fear of reprisal form the government.

http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/asiaview/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10598636