Loading
Oct 08

minipost-Update: McCain injects Presidential Politics into U.S. – China row over Taiwan Weapons Sale

Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, News, politics | Tags:, , , , ,
27 Comments » newest

McCain seems to be getting a little desperate.  He seems to be pulling all stops (including going negative and aggressive against Obama) and most recently also trying to inject some foreign politiking into his campaign. Continue reading »

Oct 07

minipost-Update: China cancels military, diplomatic contacts with US over Taiwan arms sale

Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, News, politics | Tags:, , , ,
68 Comments » newest

According to a late AP piece , China is “furious” about the arms sale and has canceled serious senior contacts.  Here is an excerpt: Continue reading »

Oct 04

US arms sales to Taiwan “a slap to Wen Jiabao’s face”?

Written by: Nimrod | Filed under:Analysis, News, politics | Tags:, , , , ,
301 Comments » newest

In a surprise move to some, the United States reactivated a $6.46 billion Taiwan arms sales proposal and sent it to Congress for approval yesterday. (As late as September 28, the proposal was said to be frozen by the White House even as Taiwan lobbied Congress.)

Some Chinese now believe China and Wen Jiabao were “played” by the US: “Premier Wen had just said to save the US markets, out came $6 billion of arms sales as a slap to the face,” reads a typical comment online.
Continue reading »

Oct 02

minipost-Beijing’s New Air Pollution Control Measures

Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, aside, culture, Environment, General, News, politics | Tags:, ,
13 Comments » newest

Whatever your views on the proper role of government in societal, cultural, and economic affairs, few would argue against the government’s role (if not duty) in helping to confront the myriad environmental problems facing modern industrialized societies. Continue reading »

Sep 25

Shenzhou 7 Spacecraft Blasts Off

Written by: Nimrod | Filed under:News, technology | Tags:, ,
39 Comments » newest

This morning, the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft carrying Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming, and Jing Haipeng successfully took off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and entered orbit. This is a major event in China, as a space walk (the first for the Chinese space program) is planned on this 3-day mission (on the 27th).

Shenzhou 7 launched by a Long March 2F rocket

Here is a full version.
Continue reading »

Sep 24

minipost-(translation) Soy Milk Demand Rise After Powder Milk Incident

Written by: guest | Filed under:-mini-posts, News | Tags:, , ,
10 Comments » newest

Source: Nanyang Daily, 9/22/2008

On September 19th, 2008, Sanlu company announced product recall of infant formula made before August 6th contaminated with melamine, which can cause kiney stone, renal failure, even death. Continue reading »

Sep 19

Let’s Talk some Cross-Strait Politics

Written by: Allen | Filed under:Analysis, General, Letters, media, News, politics | Tags:, ,
148 Comments » newest

It’s been almost four months since Ma Ying-jeou has been sworn into office in Taiwan.  After the first few weeks of euphoria, there hasn’t been that much published about Taiwan in English sources – partly because of the Olympics, and partly because not much concrete has happened. Continue reading »

Sep 18

minipost-2008 Beijing Paralympics Ends

Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, General, News | Tags:,
53 Comments » newest

Without too much fanfare in the West, the 2008 Beijing Paralympics has ended almost as fast as the main Olympics events had rushed onto the world stage.  It’s hard to imagine that in a little over 1 month – the whole hoopla that is the Beijing Olympics has officially ended Continue reading »

Sep 15

The Next U.S. Administration and the Future of US-China Relationship

Written by: Allen | Filed under:Analysis, Letters, News, politics | Tags:, , , ,
63 Comments » newest

Several bloggers here have asked that we start a discussion regarding which of the U.S. presidential candidates might be better for China – or at least, better for a solid U.S.-China relationship.  Continue reading »

Sep 15

minipost-(Letter) Chinese Netters react to Voice of Germany Suspending Chinese Editor Zhang Danhong

Written by: guest | Filed under:-mini-posts, media, News | Tags:, ,
53 Comments » newest

Chinese netters have reacted to the suspension of Voice of Germany’s veteran editor Zhang Danhong for comments that were “too pro-China”. Here’s the backgrounder. Continue reading »

Sep 14

minipost-Can democracy be the solution to Malaysia’s ethnic problems?

Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, News, politics | Tags:, , , ,
35 Comments » newest

In a previous discussion on Malaysia’s ethnic politics, I was surprised (and dismayed) to sense the depth of dejection some ethnic Chinese in Malaysia may feel toward the political situation in Malaysia. There however may be hope. Continue reading »

Sep 12

Tainted baby formula scandal blows up in China

Written by: Nimrod | Filed under:General, News | Tags:, , ,
72 Comments » newest

The brand is Sanlu (三鹿), one of the best known domestic manufacturers of milk products in China. sanluThe scandal involves babies falling ill across the country with kidney stones after consuming Sanlu brand baby formula that have since been found to contain melamine, which can boost the apparent protein content of the product in quality control tests. How did this happen? Sanlu says it got a tainted source of milk; nevertheless many people still speculate — based on similar “black-heart food” incidents in the past — that for reasons of profit the manufacturer knowingly kept a closed eye on doping in its food processing chain.

The basic story is here (in Chinese) and has seeped into English-speaking media also, for example here. But it is still a rapidly developing story with new information/rumors coming out every minute. At this moment it is the top discussion item pretty much everywhere in Chinese news and online forums.
Continue reading »

Sep 11

minipost-Malaysia’s Ethnic Politics

Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, Analysis, aside, media, News, politics | Tags:, , ,
172 Comments » newest

Malaysia over the years has been known for its share of ethnic violence against Chinese and other minorities. Most recently, Ahmad Ismail, a district chief in the United Malays National Organization ruling party, has been quoted to pronounce: Continue reading »

Sep 10

Netizens vote for sparrow as China’s national bird

Written by: Nimrod | Filed under:Analysis, culture, Environment, News | Tags:, , ,
36 Comments » newest

America has the Bald Eagle, a powerful symbol of might, individuality, and freedom — even if Benjamin Franklin thought it was a bird of “bad moral character” inferior to the Wild Turkey.

sparrowWhat does China have as a national bird? Well, it doesn’t yet.

The house sparrow, so common in China, and named one of the four vermin during the 1950’s (and killed en masse), has received a plurality of votes among ten birds in an unofficial online poll for China’s national bird. This has stirred up a conversation online about what constitutes a national bird, and more interestingly, about the national character and outlook of the common Chinese people.
Continue reading »

Sep 09

Thailand’s political turmoil

Written by: Allen | Filed under:Analysis, culture, education, News, politics | Tags:, , , , , , ,
27 Comments » newest

The recent political turmoils have received relatively scant coverage in the Western Press.  Nevertheless, many of us here at Foolsmountain think the events in Thailand are important and interesting because they touch upon so many interesting issues – including the rule of law, democracy, class warfare, public education, and the role of military – all of which are also pertinent to China. Continue reading »

Sep 09

minipost-(Letter) One Person One ID Number

Written by: guest | Filed under:-guest-posts, -mini-posts, News | Tags:
 1 Comment » newest

China has just decided to fix the ID number for the Taiwanese who use Mainland issued travel document Tai Bao Zheng, to travel from Taiwan to Mainland. This travel document is the only valid legal ID document. Continue reading »

Sep 06

minipost-(Letter) Follow up on Yang Jia

Written by: MutantJedi | Filed under:-guest-posts, -mini-posts, News, politics | Tags:, , , , ,
6 Comments » newest

July 9th, Buxi posted a story about Yang Jia. I think many of us were hoping that his trail would have been public, would have been transparent. But it wasn’t. Rather it was done in closed session. Continue reading »

Sep 04

minipost-Uygur BBS back online

Written by: Buxi | Filed under:-mini-posts, News | Tags:, , ,
30 Comments » newest

Uighur-Online, a gathering place for many minority voices in Xinjiang that has often pushed the limits of political speech in China, is again available online (连接).

Continue reading »

Aug 29

minipost-An Imperfect Perfection – Follow up

Written by: Allen | Filed under:-mini-posts, culture, music, News, politics | Tags:, , , ,
54 Comments » newest

A few weeks ago, accusations and charges of fakery in the Opening Ceremony flew in the Western media like hotcakes when it was discovered that two Chinese girls had participated in performance of the “Hymn to the Motherland” in the Opening Ceremony.  We had a discussion here a few weeks ago.

Well – a few days ago, it was found out that the Australians also faked – not just one signer – but the entire orchestra!  I thought this would make for an entertaining read.

We don’t need to get into the politics again…  but I just wanted to follow up in case some of you missed the story…

Aug 28

Tony Blair’s New Op Ed on China in the Wall Street Journal

Written by: Allen | Filed under:Analysis, News, politics | Tags:, , , ,
59 Comments » newest

I thought I’d bring to people’s attention to a recent Op Ed from Tony Blair in the Wall Street Journal on the Rise of China and the Olympics. I think the piece is interesting as a genuine attempt by a Western Leader (or at least a former Western leader) to understand – in good faith – the Rise of China and the Olympics. Continue reading »

Aug 25

Farewell, Chairman Hua

Written by: DJ | Filed under:News, politics | Tags:, ,
25 Comments » newest

Overshadowed by the Olympics, the news of the passing away of a former supreme leader of China, Hua Guofeng 华国锋, on August 20, 2008 wasn’t particularly noticed by many. I would like to use this post to pay respect to Chairman Hua, as he was once called when I was in my childhood, and offer condolences to his family and friends.
Continue reading »

Previous Entries Next Entries