Following recent MAJ’s comments, I came across this article ‘Reflections on Tibet‘ by Wang Lixiong published in 2002. Wang Lixiong is the writer of ‘Roadmap of Tibetan Independence’ published last year. In the article, Wang Lixiong “considers some of the bitter paradoxes of Tibetan history under Communist rule, and their roots in the confrontation of an alien bureaucracy and fear-stricken religion”. It’s worth pointing out that the original article 西藏问题的文化反思 was published in Chinese in 2001 and therefore we need to be careful how relevant it is to today’s Tibet issue.
Continue reading »
Mar 17
minipost-Cultural Reflections on Tibet
Written by: sophie | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, culture | Tags:religion, tibet
158 Comments » newest
158 Comments » newest
In a previous thread, Steve asked why, with so much material improvement in Tibet region shown by MAJ, the Chinese government still can’t win Tibetan’s heart? I have been asking the same question too.
Mar 14
minipost-Silly Taiwan Acronyms
Written by: Steve | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, General, language, media, politics | Tags:Add new tag, humor
19 Comments » newest
19 Comments » newest
Reading TonyP4’s comment this morning on the Numbers as Language thread, I noticed he used the acronym FOB meaning “Fresh Off Boat”. That reminded me of my Taiwan days and especially Catherine, one of the gals at my office in Hsinchu who was one of the funniest people with one of the driest wits I’ve ever encountered. She seemed to have an acronym for everything! So I thought it’d be fun for everyone to share the ones they know. I’ll start it off: “That stupid MBA made a pass at an MIT while married to an ABC. He’s just an IBM anyway.”
Mar 13
minipost-Numbers as Language
Written by: berlinf | Filed under:-mini-posts, language | Tags:Chinese, math
40 Comments » newest
40 Comments » newest
NPR once broadcasted an interview talking about why Asian students are better at math (if I can be excused) . The speaker explained that in these mostly agricultural societies, the mindset is you reap how much you plant, hence their greater commitment. In America, there is more emphasis on “working smart” than “working hard”. Translated into educational jargon, he is saying that time on task still makes a difference. Continue reading »
Mar 12
minipost-Could China & India Go To War Over Tibet?
Written by: Steve | Filed under:-mini-posts, General, News, politics, religion | Tags:border dispute, China, conflict, india, tibet
406 Comments » newest
406 Comments » newest
I came across this opinion piece recently and thought it might engender a good discussion among us. I don’t agree with the author’s conclusions at all and will give my critique after his article. We’ve discussed China’s relationship with the “West” on numerous threads, but we haven’t talked much about the relationships with her neighbors. India has come into our conversation not directly but only in random comments measuring the relative progress of both countries.
This opinion piece talks about Tibet as it relates to both China and India, bringing up historical disputes between the two countries and recent developments that the writer feels could portend future troubles. I realize very few will agree with his Tibetan historical perspective but we’ve gone over that in other threads so I’d like us to concentrate more on the present relationship between the two nations.
Mar 12
minipost-What is the best country to get sick in?
Written by: berlinf | Filed under:-mini-posts | Tags:health, healthcare, insurance
32 Comments » newest
32 Comments » newest
This may start like a bar story, but it may end as a rant: one day, a Canadian colleague, an American colleague and I (Chinese) were having lunch, and we were talking about the health care problems each face in our countries. In Canada, you pay high tax, but health care is free. In America, you pay relatively low tax (according to the Canadian), but healthcare is ridiculously expensive. China’s medical system is so diverse and constantly changing that I don’t know where to start. Continue reading »
Mar 11
minipost-U.S and China Scuffle in South China Sea
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, General, News, politics | Tags:law of the sea, south china sea, u.s.-china military relations
144 Comments » newest
144 Comments » newest
The U.S. accused China of harassing a U.S. surveillance ship in the South China Seas earlier this week. According to this CNN report,
During the incident, five Chinese vessels “shadowed and aggressively maneuvered in dangerously close proximity to USNS Impeccable, in an apparent coordinated effort to harass the U.S. ocean surveillance ship while it was conducting routine operations in international waters,” the Pentagon said in a written statement. Continue reading »
Mar 10
minipost-German and/or Chinese?
Written by: berlinf | Filed under:-mini-posts | Tags:Chinese, German, language
24 Comments » newest
24 Comments » newest
In a recent commentary in the Chronicle of Higher Education (March 6, 2009, A33), Professor Brockmann (professor of German at Carnegie Mellon University) pointed out that the study of foreign languages should not be a zero-sum game.His commentary is a response to the University of Southern California’s plan to eliminate the German Department to usher in studies of Eastern Asian languages such as Chinese and Japanese. I think he has got a point in saying that this is not a zero-sum game.
Mar 01
minipost-The Mysterious Death of Li Qiaoming
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, General, News, politics | Tags:chinese civil society, chinese justice system, chinese netizen, Li Qiaoming, police brutality
19 Comments » newest
19 Comments » newest
Chinese officials in Yunnan have recently taken the unusual step of inviting internet users to help in investigating the suspicious and controversial death of Li Qiaoming in policy custody last month.
The controversy began a little over a week ago, when on February 12 in Puning county of Yunnan province, a public security bureau announced that inmate Li had sustained fatal brain trauma during a game of 躲猫猫 (eluding the cat) with fellow prisoners. 躲猫猫 appears to be a physical game of rough and tumble played by inmates within some Chinese prison systems, and the term 躲猫猫 has since become a hot search term on the Internet in China, generating over 35,000 comments on QQ.com alone. Continue reading »
Feb 26
minipost-Tibetan Losar 2009
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, politics | Tags:losar, tibet
281 Comments » newest
281 Comments » newest
Well – the New York Times just pronounced that first day of Losar 2009 is a Day of Mourning in Tibet.
Here is another version of Losar 2009 from the People’s Daily. Continue reading »
Feb 25
minipost-Hillary Clinton’s Successful First Visit to China as Secretary of State
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, News, politics | Tags:china's currency reserves, human rights, sino-u.s. relations, u.s. debt
33 Comments » newest
33 Comments » newest
Judging by reactions from the Chinese government, Secretary of State Clinton’s state visit to China last weekend has been a great success.
This trip is foremost about realism. Continue reading »
Feb 23
minipost-Paris court rejects China’s Saint Laurent art claims
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, culture, News, politics | Tags:chinese imperial art, lost treasures
297 Comments » newest
297 Comments » newest
A few threads ago, we discussed the topic of who owns the Chinese imperial arts in the context of Taiwan vis-a-vis the Mainland.
Well – it may be timely to also discuss who should own the Chinese imperial arts in the context of China vis-a-vis great collections of art in the West looted from China during her century of shame. Continue reading »
Feb 19
minipost-Something to chuckle about #4
Written by: DJ | Filed under:-mini-posts | Tags:Falun Gong, freedom of speech, humor
58 Comments » newest
58 Comments » newest
I suppose it is generally a good idea not to pick up a fight with someone agreeing with you. Or as Sherlock Holmes would have said, “it’s elementary”. So with that in mind, this following story probably sounds rather amusing. (H/T to Charles Liu)
The short version: Some Falun Gong followers literally stopped the press of a Canadian newspaper over a sympathetic article towards their cult spiritual movement.
Continue reading »
Feb 18
minipost-Letter: China is helping Africa’s Development and Modernation Effort
Written by: guest | Filed under:-mini-posts, News, politics | Tags:china and africa
47 Comments » newest
47 Comments » newest
Chinese President Hu Jintao ended his tour of four African nations this week, having promised to deepen ties with the continent.
A lot of chatter has surrounded China’s interests in Africa. Media have branded China’s role in Africa as an invasion or an era of neo-colonialism with ulterior motives of pillaging Africa’s raw materials. Rhetoric from Chinese and African leaders includes words like “friendship,” “partnership” and “brotherhood,” stressing a shared history and common experience.
This report was produced last summer when WorldFocus traveled to East Africa.
World Focus Radio Blog (Feb 18, 2009)
Feb 17
minipost-Letter: Who owns the Chinese imperial treasures?
Written by: guest | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, News | Tags:China, Forbidden City, National Palace Museum, taiwan
145 Comments » newest
145 Comments » newest
When Chiang Kai-Shek retreated with the Nationalists to Taiwan, he brought with him over 600,000 pieces of artefacts removed from Chinese imperial palaces during wartime. These artefacts are now stored at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Both China and Taiwan have claimed title to these Chinese imperial treasures.
Continue reading »
Continue reading »
Feb 13
minipost-Celebrating Valentine’s Day in China
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, General | Tags:valentine's day
1 Comment » newest
1 Comment » newest
The Chinese Valentine’s Day is on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese calendar. So this year’s Chinese Valentine’s Day is still a while yet.
In the mean time – how does one celebrate the Western version of Valentine’s Day in China? Continue reading »
Feb 05
minipost-Something to chuckle about #3
Written by: DJ | Filed under:-mini-posts | Tags:culture
197 Comments » newest
197 Comments » newest
One can learn something new everyday. I have known for a while that hanging a flag upside down is a sign of distress, but never realized it could be applied to the Union Jack until now. Apparently, the UK national flag can be distinguished in its orientation by observing the placement of the wider white stripes. Oh well, I feel sorry for the poor staff member who arranged the table for the ceremony with visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. One cannot help but imagine the symbolism of this gaffe.
Feb 02
minipost-A good title is half the battle
Written by: DJ | Filed under:-mini-posts |
45 Comments » newest
I just saw this title from Reuters: China, US shout to be heard in dialogue of the deaf.
Jan 30
minipost-Should Obama Learn to Engage the Chinese People through the Internet?
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, General, politics | Tags:freedom of speech, internet, obama, u.s.-china relations
106 Comments » newest
106 Comments » newest
President Obama has not exactly started out making a great impression that he will bring U.S.-China relations to a new high – what with unwelcomed vague belligerent references against communist and authoritarian governments in his inaugural speech, followed up by now Treasury Secretary’s Geithner’s sharp tone and use of the legally-loaded term “currency manipulation” in Geithner’s confirmation hearings (I don’t want to get into the “currency manipulation” debate here since we will have specific posts on those topics soon). Continue reading »
Jan 26
minipost-Something to chuckle about #2
Written by: DJ | Filed under:-mini-posts | Tags:currency, financial crisis, trade
27 Comments » newest
27 Comments » newest
Apparently, at least one of the columnists at the Washington Post reads this blog. Sebastian Mallaby, a veteran from the Economist and contributor to Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Prospect, the National Interest, the New York Times, Policy Review, Slate and the New Republic, and specializing in globalization, trade, investment trends, international development and economic policy, has apparently taken my advice for Tim Butcher to heart. Mr. Mallaby decided to follow up with Tim Geithner’s recent and much discussed comment about China’s “manipulation of currency” and penned a piece that’s not safe for your computer if you are drinking coffee while reading it.
Continue reading »
Continue reading »
Jan 24
minipost-Opinion: Dear Mr. Dalai Lama … please tear down this wall!
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, General, politics, religion | Tags:dalai lama, featured, serf emancipation day, tibet
486 Comments » newest
486 Comments » newest
On January 19, 2009, Tibetan legislators endorsed unanimously a bill designating March 28 as Serfs Emancipation Day, a day designated officially to mark the freeing of 1 million serfs from serfdom 50 years ago.
For many ethnic Tibetans, this day represents a celebration of freedom (from cast and class based oppression), economic empowerment, and social and political liberation that has been a long time coming. The day has been held hostage for so long partly because the government, in hopes of trying to convince the Dalai Lama to return back to China, had not wanted to mark the occasion while the Dalai Lama was still in exile. But one cannot hold back a celebration of freedom forever, and fifty years has been a long time… Continue reading »
Jan 20
minipost-Climate Change: Tibetan Plateau in Peril
Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, Environment, General, video | Tags:climate change, environment, tibet, tibetan people
7 Comments » newest
7 Comments » newest
Too often when we discuss Tibet, we reflexively focus our attention on the political spat between the CCP and the Dalai Lama. However, Tibet is much more than the current political spat.
For one thing: there is the people; the indigenous culture; the land – and of course the important environmental role the Tibetan Plateau plays in regional as well as global environment.
The following is a video from Asia Society on the Peril the Tibetan Plateau is under – as well its implication for all of us in light of global climate change. Continue reading »
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