For Your Blog

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 relations with China?

The United States should view and modify its foreign policy toward the neighbors of China, by respecting historical perspective. China continues to utilize the Sino-centric bilateral relations with its neighbors. Sino-centric relations historically were based on tribute paid to China’s emperor. Even though, the Sino-centric viewpoint is shared to some degree by Asian countries, the Philippines for example does not formally refer to China as family by the use of language. These differences stem from historical divisions as well as, earned independence such as Vietnam. However, with Russia and America strategically strengthening ties to Asia for trade goods China must compete. Even though, China and the US are in completion they are dependent on each other globally for export and import trade affecting both economies. Our trade dependant economies should inspire a diplomatic effort on non-subversive, non-military trade treaties for domestic well-being in the face of globalization. It is globalization and dependence on Asian production lines that has determined a lack of counter balance for health of the US economy. Maintaining US economic stability will require establishing market regulating trade treaties for health and welfare of both the US and China.

For Your Blog

Choose a marginalized community in modern Chinese society from China Off Center,
Reflect on the survival strategies employed by this community in the face of state hegemonic power. How has this community continued to exist on the margins of Chinese society? What challenges does this community face for future survival?
The Falun Gong faces challenges to their existence and survival because of marginalization in China. They have utilized these survival strategies when facing the PRC on the margins of Chinese society with peaceful protest, daily practice without organization, and establishing a fundamental morality of qi. In China, religion is considered much the same as mysticism, a superstition not a process, science that is reason based. A reason based movement can be controlled by the PRC. It is for this reason that the Falun Gong is banned. The banning occurred when the Falun Gong gathered outside of PRC headquarters in large numbers, non-violently protesting the right to exist. The number of protestor was seen as a threat to the PRC and the people. Therefore the Falun Gong was singled out of the Qigong branches as being more of a threat. The Falun Gong mixed fundamental moralistic standards for qi and qigong practitioners in their version of qigong. This did establish better practitioners and masters but, made the PRC leery of them due to the communist discounting of religion.

In order to survive, the Qigong and Falun Gong must realize for the PRC, there needs to be a wide birth between fundamental moral principles and the market place. The PRC has forgone market regulation to the extent of not protecting its own people to maintain increases in growing markets. The Qigong during the 90’s and beyond was to a large extent, was a social gathering for the under and unemployed who had endured the Cultural Revolution. These revolutionists struggled by the use of fundamental beliefs to maintain some stability in the markets, using consumer education, Falun Gong, Qigong and traditional cultures to cope with the changing PRC economies. In spite of the resistance, some transition had to take place for the PRC and China to progress. If the Qigong and the PRC are to coexist they will have to come to an understanding that one offsets the others mistakes, and provides for a scientific traditional Chinese medicine to help ease the stress of transition into a healthy environmental socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics.

Globalization and Uyghur ethnic group in China

How are China’s Uyghur’s faring in that China’s rapidly globalizing economy and society? What space is made for traditional, non-Han cultural practices in modern China?

How are China’s Uyghur’s faring in rapidly globalizing economy and society?

China’s Uyghur’s are faring less well than expected in the global economy and society. The New York Times article I selected is from the time period of the Beijing Olympics. With the Olympics fast approaching and Beijing officials rushing to make deals to maintain a stable environment, many were protesting. The main Uyghur protest is about the banning of head scarves and traditional clothing. “Human rights groups say that Chinese Uyghur [ethnic group], like Tibetans, have fought for greater freedom to practice their religion as well as more autonomy from Beijing.” (French, 2008) However, the protests and autonomous nature of protests have concerned Han officials, this has increased party rhetoric. “The official [rhetoric] said the [Uyghur] protest was staged by Islamic separatist groups seeking to foment a broader uprising in Xinjiang. China often blames any ethnic disturbances on what it calls splittists and terrorists.”(French, 2008) Beijing in an effort to maintain social stability between groups, “has sought to pacify with economic development programs and suppress with heavy police presence, appearing to be using the upcoming Olympic Games, to be held in Beijing.” (French, 2008) Uyghur grievances regarding Han Chinese moving into Xinjiang and limiting cultural events and practices, are dramatically affecting how the Uyghur’s are progressing in the Han Chinese economy. The Han Chinese economy is the Uyghur’s direct path to globalization.

What space is made for traditional, non-Han cultural practices in modern China?

Space is limited for non-Han cultural practices in Xinjiang for Uyghur’s. “Han-run local governments insert themselves deeper into schools and religious practices to weed out cultural practices that officials fear might reinforce a separate ethnic or religious identity. (French, 2008) Uyghur traditions are neglected by the majority of Han Chinese. For example, in the months prior to the Beijing Olympics, protests in Xinjiang occurred over freedom to practice Uyghur religion and maintain Uyghur autonomy. China, in effort to cover the ethnic disturbance, “blames any ethnic disturbances on what it calls splittists and terrorists.”(French, 2008) The official rhetoric was “the protest was staged by Islamic separatist groups seeking to form a broader uprising in Xinjiang.”(French, 2008) However, the general lack of trust and understanding of different cultures or acceptance of religions in general has limited the space for the Uyghur minority. There are however, a few Han who are not biased. For example, Mr. Chen, a local bank clerk, stated that people were cautious in the months leading up to the article, and his opinion was he did not agree with restrictions on Muslim headgear. “It is their national custom and we should respect it.” (French, 2008) Local Uyghur leaders provide much support and space for cultural and religious practices; however, Han Chinese lead Beijing does not provide space for non conformity

French, W. Howard, “Protest in Muslim Province in China.” New York Times 2 Apr. 2008, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/world/asia/03china.html?scp=1&sq=Protest%20in%20muslim%20province%20in%20china,%20french&st=cse

Lack of Employment regulations at the coal mine

The material covered thus far in the course has reshaped how I view the work conditions in China. The Chinese economic growth is directly affected by coal over half of China’s energy needs come from coal. Coal is building the future of China, passing laws for coal minor safety and coal mines will be one of the first major successes for Chinese workers. Miners should not be endangered in their work. However, in the rush to supply these needs the Chinese government and the coal industry has not regulated safety and provided adequate training to its workers. Instead, it is more accepted “under China’s authoritarian system, that superiors reward subordinates for strict compliance with targets set from above, like reducing mine disasters. Should one occur the incentive to hide it is often stronger than the reward for handling it well. A disaster on a bureaucrat’s watch is almost surely a blot on his career.” (LaFraniere)

In the case of the illegal mine in Zhonglou, 35 people died, it took three months before the information reached the news. Typically, the officials bury problems, rather than correcting the problems, because of not wanting a blot on their career. Local officials pretended to investigate [Zhonglou], then issued a false report. Journalists were bribed to stay silent.” (LaFraniere) Because of “the lack of a free press, independent trade unions, citizen watchdog groups and other checks on official power this makes cover-ups more possible, even though the internet now makes it harder to suppress information completely.” (LaFraniere) China in its rush to succeed and make goals has forgotten the worker. China’s death rate within the mines is 40 times higher that of the United States. (LaFraniere) Widows and those who lost relatives do not believe that the system provides justice for their dead relatives. And as long, as officials can find ways to hide tragedies they will. The system rewards compliance, but does not consider environmental concerns, adequate safety training of coal workers and mine owners, standardized wages, and long-term health of coal workers.

Chinese markets deregulated by the socialist market economy, provided the governments with quick growth potential but, little focus or direction. This lack of direction permeates throughout society as the market economy grows, without the state providing this regulation the Chinese people are left to suffer through difficult work conditions. If China was planning ahead, work conditions, and structured growth would be in place to insure a stable amount of growth within the economy. The health of the Chinese society and its environment would be increase because coal is an unrenewable source of energy.

China's younger generation and its job creativity- graffiti

What general points might you conclude about China’s younger generation from the two sources you have examined?

In the video interview with, Alex he describes a successful Chinese life helping others and having a quality life with meaningful work to better himself and his family. However, he does bring up concerns regarding Chinese youth’s competition in the job market due to increased capacity in the Chinese Universities. Chinese Family insistence on more education and dedication to this succeed seems to transcend generations. In comparison I chose an article from Frontline, regarding Chinese graffiti artists. The article explains about a young 21 year old living the edge of Chinese life while painting illegal graffiti. She does this because she needs freedom from the constraints of society. Graffiti art has even become branded by Nike. Nike paid graffiti crews to paint their trademark on public basketball courts. I concluded that in the absence of a standard job and lack of freedoms in China the youth will be successful even if they make their own job.

Graffiti Art China's urban nomads target graffiti canvas, the Wall ( 2003-12-23 09:49) (cityweekend.com) Frontline

China's internal problems and its status as a world power

For your Blog

With all that you have learned from these recent reports about China’s current internal problems, do you think that its world power status should be reconsidered? Can China successfully overcome these difficulties to achieve such status on the world stage? Create a blog entry and post a comment to at least one fellow member student’s blog entry.

China’s current internal problems, will affect its overall stability as a world power. If China can overcome its lack of innovation, private property laws, work for unskilled labor and economic hurdles it may limit social unrest. Stresses on the environment due to building growth, limited imports, income gaps, and corruption economically, create barriers to China maintaining its status as a world power. Without true political reform, corruption in local government will continue to cause income gaps for rural workers and increase social inequalities. It is social unrest, and unchecked power that provides for lack of income and under performing economics. Private sector and semi private sector is struggling to offset the state run businesses to boost the economy. Without regulations 9% growth has been achievable, but at the cost of rural poor and urban unemployed. In my opinion, without structured regulations in wage, employment, environment, health care, and business sustainability social unrest will unravel the Chinese growth. China can overcome these difficulties by enacting regulations in phases, therefore offsetting the costs to market economy business and bring stable growth to China. With stable growth, and the ability to allow for more imports from foreign companies, China would then fulfill its full potential as a world power.

Elluminate 1

Rochelle and Gayla's comments regarding To Live expressed the details of differences in the events and representation of events. Gayla pointed out the specific areas of poetry and culture. And Rochelle, addressed the realism in both To Live and Life and Death are Wearing me Out.

Art transcending was expressed regarding details within both the book and play. Dictacticism was my main point with regard to details. Jenson and Weston had great deal of influence on my opinions. However, both Mo Yan and Zhang Yimou expressed other aspects that Jenson and Weston did not address that were accurate to the larger political shifts of the 20th century.

Thanks for a great session.

Environmental Food Safety

China’s food environmental sector is suffering “with high risk and contradictions” the Ministry of Health said following implementing new food-safety laws. (The Straits Times) New Food-Safety laws were put into place following melamine poisoning of milk in China. China’s slow regulatory practices have been blamed for recurring problems in China’s food environment.
The most common health problem from melamine poisoning is kidney stones; this industrial compound killed at least six. The lack of market regulations in China’s food environmental sector to address this matter is shocking considering China’s globalization. The World Health Organization stated that “China’s food safety system was disjointed and said poor communications between ministries and agencies may have prolonged the melamine poisonings.” (The Straits Times)
The lack of market regulations that were second to economic reform affected the governing laws that were in place. The Chinese economy has outgrown its laws and ability to enforce them regularly so much so that the balance of nature is set off course with the poisonings. China as an immediate response sentenced three to death and three to reduced sentences.
The Chinese government approach to regulating the food environmental sector after the problem is not protecting Chinese or the global markets. The Chinese government has tried to regulate, but needs to streamline and increase agricultural agents in the field for monitoring. The key to reducing problems is establishing high costs for violation, early prevention, and informing farms of dangers early. China did react vehemently by sentencing three people to death for selling tainted milk. This was an effort to take serious action quickly that would abruptly end the poisoning. Considering the disjointed enforcement effort, China’s neglect of nature and man, in its rush to be economically reformed, has caused China’s basic needs to suffer.


China's Food Security Grim - The Straits Times

BEIJING - CHINA said on Monday food security remains 'grim' after a series of health scandals, the most recent being last year's tainted milk formula which killed at least six toddlers and made almost 300,000 sick.
A new food-safety law, approved on Saturday in an accelerated process since the milk scandal came to light in September, attempts to fix a fragmentary regulatory system which officials blame for recurring problems.
'At present, China's food-security situation remains grim with high risks and contradictions,' the Ministry of Health said in documents handed to reporters on Monday.
The food-safety law, which takes effect on June 1, sets quality and safety standards for products and lays out a regulatory system as well as a risk-monitoring system.
China approved in principle a new food-safety law in October 2007 following scandals involving unsafe toothpaste, seafood and pet food, among other products.
Nonetheless, the children developed kidney stones after melamine, an industrial compound used in making plastics and fertilizer, was added to milk and other

products to cheat protein tests, prompting Chinese-made products to be stripped from shelves worldwide.
A month later, the World Health Organization’s food safety chief, Jorgen Schlundt, called China's food-safety system 'disjointed' and said poor communications between ministries and agencies may have prolonged the melamine poisonings.
China sentenced two people to death in January for producing or selling milk adulterated with melamine, and jailed the chairwoman of now bankrupt dairy producer Sanlu Group for life, but the fall-out from the scandal continues.
A group of 54 people who say their children developed kidney stones and other illnesses after drinking melamine-adulterated milk are suing Qingdao Shengyuan Dairy Co Ltd for 8 million yuan (S$1.8 million) in damages, Li Jinglin, their lawyer, told Reuters on Monday.
It was unclear whether the court in the eastern city of Qingdao would accept the case. Calls placed to the court could not be connected. -- REUTERS