Jibran Ahmed
Chinese Migratory
Throughout Chinese history they have never had a population problem, especially in their farmland. However, in the last thirty years, may of this agrarian population has been transferring to the cities to new found jobs. While this has worked wonders for the Chinese economy, there is now a counter campaign to send workers back to their locality. Signs in China now read, “RETURN to your hometown to work and care for your family." Many companies now do not need a port to operate and are establishing themselves inward. A new demand is now needed in inland China
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j_HhxY3ppyIRpHb00fhLwClXiA2w?docId=CNG.cb6705c56c264b48dcf4d1eed61206af.441
China's involvement in Syria
China recently sent an envoy to work in connection with the Arab league to arrive at a solution to the issues in Syria. As China was under pressure from the west after blocking a United Nation's resolution to condemn Syria. Personally I thought this was very interesting that China was clearly appeasing the West by working with the Arab league to find a solution in Syria. Apparently, China has a six point plan to end the conflict in Syria that dictates that Asad talks to the opposition and they work together through dialogue.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsindex.php?id=651766
China rethinking nuclear involvement
According to a deputy of China's top legislature, China does not look to deter their nuclear developments. Although many of the world plans to halt their nuclear development, Xue stated "The development of nuclear power matters to national welfare and the people's livelihood." While Xue stated that China is to have safe nuclear sites. The Chinese government will soon examine and approve new nuclear projects to be built this year.
Aditya Ravindra
Bonds That Last
Bonds That Last
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/3/14/business/10911016&sec=business.
In an attempt to unite the premier economies of the developing world, China has granted Japan access to buy their bonds. The Pacific neighbors initially agreed on the deal back in December, but real talk and the purchase of the bonds did not occur till recently. Though China has always refused investors to buy off their government bonds, the move to finally allow Tokyo to buy off Chinese debt both is a great way to relieve economic pressure and unite the two historical enemies. This viewpoint is shared by the Finance Minister Jun Azumi, who states that the initial 10.3 billion dollars is "an appropriate amount for the initial purpose of strengthening bilateral economic ties".
Though China has incurred a major trade deficit in February, economists state that the yuan is still foreseen to raise in value. Although the strengthening of the yuan, leading to more expensive exports, would help China reduce their dependence on low-margin export goods, the People's Bank of China Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan is pessimistic at the strengthening of the renminbi (the formal name of the yuan). Understandably, Zhou is basing his opinion on the current supply and demand in China, and he has observed that China has had a 31.5 billion dollar trade deficit(the largest monthly since 2000), while the yuan has depreciated a half a percent since the beginning of 2012. Although these have been the numbers, some recent statistics have supported bank analysts such as Wang Tao, stating that there will be a raise of 2-3% (lower than last year's rate but still significant).
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204781804577272522034223182.html
China Power Investment Corporation is currently attempting to convince the Myanmar government to resume the 3.6 billion dollar hydroelectric dam. The majority of the dam power would be going towards Chinese government regulated energy, which would produce a a 70% increase in the government's revenue after being completed in 2018. The dam drawback: Thein Sein halted the project in September because it is against the people's will since the dam will be taking out many historical sites. The dilemma is an eternal one: the conflict between morality and revenue will never really have a true winner, and I think the dam, built or not, will always receive criticism from either the ones attempting to improve the Chinese economy and those who are preserving history.
Yuanna Hint?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450004577276410346641148.htmlThough China has incurred a major trade deficit in February, economists state that the yuan is still foreseen to raise in value. Although the strengthening of the yuan, leading to more expensive exports, would help China reduce their dependence on low-margin export goods, the People's Bank of China Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan is pessimistic at the strengthening of the renminbi (the formal name of the yuan). Understandably, Zhou is basing his opinion on the current supply and demand in China, and he has observed that China has had a 31.5 billion dollar trade deficit(the largest monthly since 2000), while the yuan has depreciated a half a percent since the beginning of 2012. Although these have been the numbers, some recent statistics have supported bank analysts such as Wang Tao, stating that there will be a raise of 2-3% (lower than last year's rate but still significant).
Those Dam Talks Don't Stop!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204781804577272522034223182.html
China Power Investment Corporation is currently attempting to convince the Myanmar government to resume the 3.6 billion dollar hydroelectric dam. The majority of the dam power would be going towards Chinese government regulated energy, which would produce a a 70% increase in the government's revenue after being completed in 2018. The dam drawback: Thein Sein halted the project in September because it is against the people's will since the dam will be taking out many historical sites. The dilemma is an eternal one: the conflict between morality and revenue will never really have a true winner, and I think the dam, built or not, will always receive criticism from either the ones attempting to improve the Chinese economy and those who are preserving history.
Ralf Voshtina
Need 4 Speed
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304537904577277200065540834.html
The collapse of a section of a part of a high-speed train’s track demonstrates the hazards that come with intense modernization. China’s has been industrializing at an incredible rate so that it can interconnect its vast nation. This is not the first accident of its kind, but luckily this was before the train had begun to carry passengers. Accidents such as this are inevitable when construction is done at such a rapid pace that the security of the construction is a secondary thought.
The Dirtiest Campaign No One Knew About
The smear tactics currently happening in the campaign in Hong Kong are being censored so that they are kept out of the public eye in the mainland. This promotes a sense of unity and portrays an image of political stability to the rest of the nation. Censorship is still very prevalent even with China moving towards a more democratic public forum.
The Ancient Modern Land
This song examines the rapid movement towards a modern society and as a result the abandonment of traditional thought and culture. Currently China is caught in a conundrum because the nation is very modern in some aspects but much of the country still lacks modernization. There is concern that as China tries to catch up to the rest of the world it will abandon its past.
China may be experiencing rapid economic growth, but taking a close look inside their social structure reveals how bottom heavy their social pyramid actually is. China has the 2nd largest amount of billionaires, behind only US. However, it also has 100 million still living on a dollar a day. A Washington. A McChicken’s worth of money. This can only leave one to believe that China’s recent is merely superficial and that this weak structure can collapse very easily.
CHRIS PARK
Case Over China’s Rare Earths
Rare earths are used in a wide variety of products, from flat-screen TVs to pertroleum, and China produces 97% of all rare earths. China has recently created export restrictions on these rare earths, causing the U.S., the EU, and Japan to file a challenge with the World Trade Organization. Both sides of this argument provide their separate arguments. Obama states that by creating these export restrictions, they are “going against the very rules that China agreed to follow”. In response, China has stated that these restrictions are made to address environmental issues. Now the question is whether China is doing this to gain power through restricting access by other countries to this much-needed resource. This issue serves as an example of one of many that are arising as China develops in the world economy.
China Eclipsing America: Fantasy or Truth?
For the past half-decade, the fear of China shadowing over America has grown. The truth is that China has experienced a significant growth in their economy. Paired with the U.S’s slow growth, a fragile fiscal situation, and a beleaguered middle class, it is understandable how many fear China’s alarming rate of growth. For now, it is still a bit of a stretch to say that China will eclipse the U.S, but it is simply undeniable that China is making larger economic growths recently than we have.
The Bleak Truth of China’s Social Cleavage
Chris Dickens
Black Prisons in Red China
The Chinese has certainly loosened restrictions on many things regarding the economy but that does not mean it is not keeping a close eye on its citizens. Any citizen suspected of having evidence of any information proving government corruption or information that could hurt the state can be taken to black prisons. Black prisons are essentially illegal secret kidnappings in which citizens are held against their will.
While new law in China has set out to prevent these secret arrests and making notifying the families required the government will most likely do whatever it takes to ensure protection of their reputation.
Not sure how to imbed this video
In the Posted video the Parliament from China and the Communist party are undergoing severe changes within their structure. As would be expected they are trying to make these changes behind closed doors and with little transparency. The new members of congress are selected and given positions by a secret process done by a few hundred senior party members. The elections certainly outline how the people do not make decisions concerning government and most hints of democracy that can be found in China are small and insignificant. To stop average citizens from running for elections the government uses threats and even violence to stop them. The video captures the massive influence and control the Communist party has over the average citizen.
Some in China have developed more expensive tastes. The linked article explores the wealthy business people and politician’s particular interest in European wine and their desire to sell it to a growing demand. While China on average is extremely poor it also has the second most billionaires in the world. The social cleavage is visible as a great deal of Chinese are in poverty as others are investing in European wine. The demand for wine in China also says something about its economic state and growing middle class. It will be interesting to see as China is exposed to great foreign influence what effect this will have on their politics and economic policies.
