Politics & Economics

China's Contrasts

administrator — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:03:02 +0100

I have now lived in China for one year. It is a truly amazing country and I am in admiration for the achievements of the past thirty years in which 400 million people have been lifted out of poverty. The creation of a more open market in China has resulted in consistently high levels of annual economic growth (averaging around 10 per cent per annum since 2006) and a concomitant boom in consumption, especially in China’s urban populations.

Chinese Global Brands?

administrator — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:22:26 +0100

Here is a mystery: how is it possible that an economy which is now officially the second largest in the world has consumer and industrial brands with such insignificant international presence? Could it be just a developmental stage that has not yet been realised in China's rapid industrialisation and consumerisation? Could it be related to the rote learning educational methods of Chinese education in which creative expression is limited? Could it be culturally related, or, more specifically, language related?

Chingerland and the Chinglish Challenge

administrator — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

"Beckham!" extolled the driver when I told him I was from the UK. Last year there was even an encased waxwork model of Beckham in Nanjing Road East in downtown Shanghai. I'm not entirely sure who most Chinese will be supporting in the World Cup - but judging by the England track suit tops and T-shirts and the fact that it is the number one selling football strip in China I think England will get strong support.

Yuan - US$ dispute....continued

administrator — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:11:22 +0100

Following on from my Blog of 16 February, there is new news on the US-China dispute on revaluing the Chinese Yuan. In March, China posted its first trade deficit for six years: $7.2bn (£4.7bn). And the US Administration has postponed its decision (originally due this month) on whether it would treat China as a "currency manipulator" or not - much to the chagrin of many US Congress members. The March deficit has been very timely from China's point of view (I expect we'll see a large April trade surplus).

Enforcing the one-child policy

administrator — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:01:40 +0100

China's one-child policy is bringing its own social consequences: an ageing population and a gender imbalance of 120.56 boys to girls against a world average of 103-107. One of the causes is referred to here as "female feticide" and the result is 32 million more boys than girls. In Shanghai the government has relaxed the law to allow parents who are both an only child to have two children. I had gathered that the stricter penalties imposed on erring couples had been relaxed - but not in Puning City, Guangdong Province it seems.

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administrator — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:12:57 +0000

Limited Comment: I cannot speak about politically sensitive issues and this is a big one and I want to respect the contract I have at CEIBS. My individual rights to speak, as with Chinese citizens, are subject to the human rights of the society as a whole.

Why China doesn't want appreciation...

administrator — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:34:15 +0000

of the Yuan The grinding message from US and EU politicians and media commentators is that China, by pegging the yuan to the dollar, is putting up a trade barrier. China has the trade surplus, US and the EU have the trade deficit. The US and the EU want China to revalue its currency to make Western imports to China cheaper and Chinese exports to the West more expensive. When the position is stated in such simplistic terms the proposition is laughable.

Chinese Economics and Democracy . Part Two

administrator — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:20:14 +0000

In Part One (27 November), I reflected on the Chinese political system and the economic development during the 'openning up' period of the last 30 years inaugurated by Deng Xiaoping covering political, economic, social, and cultural reforms under the achievements made at the Third Plenum of the Eleventh National Party Congress Central Committee in December 1978.

Googledygook

administrator — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:56:22 +0000

The Chinese press are now in overdrive attacking the US administration's support for Google over accusations of cyber attacks and controls on internet freedom. Leader and opinion columns explain that China wanted to keep the dispute as a legal matter but now the US is "damaging" relations between the countries.

Mr Wen wants "mutual trust" with Canada

administrator — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:22:35 +0000

Stephen Harper, the Canadian Prime Minister, left Shanghai the other day after a visit to China. The FT says that Harper has been a "strong critic of human rights abuses in China and has received a diplomatic scolding during a visit to Beijing." (FT Asia 6 December).