Bri Bri's Cultural 411

As it commonly said, "To not know one's history, you are damned to repeat it."  In the eyes of the Japanese historians aparrently the shame of the atrocities which occured during WWII were too great and despicable to mention to the youth of Japan.

The outcry of the Chinese people comes from the unmentioning of the slaughter of the Chinese people during Japan's "Manifest Destiny" movement throughout the Asian continent in the late 1930's.  Fortunately enough, the memories and stories of the victims throughout China have been preserved in great novels like "The Rape of Nanking". 

The escalation of the protesting against the Japanese has reached a national level.  This article talks about the Chinese governments role in maintaining social and economic stability between the two nations.  

I remember each of the first time I entered in to Beijing and Shanghai- China's two most eyed upon cities.  This was about 7 years ago.  The site of bamboo schafolding wrapping the new development in every direction made me realize how these were special times for this country. 

Enough reminising...I this article talks about the real-estate boom that is occuring throughout China.  My two-cents, keep your eyes on Chongqing (the capital of Chongqing province) and be weary of softening of the 19% increases in Shanghai...

Got Real-estate ?

Beijing has delivered yet another blow for Taiwan's aspirations of peace and independence.  The Anti-Sucession law which came into effect earlier this week authorizes military force if the "defiant" Taiwan makes attempts to become independent. 

I have learned and experienced many viewpoints from both Taiwanese and Chinese on this subject, which political correctness and sensitivity must be exercised.  Ask any mainlaind Chinese person about the independence of Taiwan and you will get a puzzled, confused look. Why? Because the mainland Chinese have been conditioned from the central government that Taiwan is China.  It would be like questioning the presence of gravity.  From the Taiwanese side you get a blend of answers...those who consider themselves Chinese others who fiercly oppose the authoritarian-style imposed by Beijing.  Regardless, both sides are Chinese.  Share the same language (granted slightly different dialects), same culture, and history. 

The bottomline, with the Central Government at the helm during China's most explosive growth period, they should carefully chose which battles should be fought.  Attempting to emerge as a humane and tolerant society with the Olympics in 2008 and World Expo in 2010, waging war now might now be the best time.

Yesterday I had a conversation with a business associate of my father.  He had expressed to me some of his concerns regarding the dependancy of the United States on the developing manufacturing giant of China.  I agreed some of his concerns, pointing out the inconsistency of "Buy American" campaign and the lack of cooperation of the consumer to accept the higher commodity price.  It comes down to simple economics, business culture here in America is all about the bottom line.  Manufacturing products in a country boasting such low wages seems like the logical step.  In addition many companies have "gold fever" when they think about tapping into the world's most populous nation.  Businesses must maintain ethical foresight into these matters of offshoring.  Personally, I have deeply engaged myself in the culture, language and way of life in China.  I've spent the good portion of the past 5 years learning the in's and out's.  It is from my experience that this culture seeks nothing more than aspiring to the same level/way of life as they see in the west.  Sharing this wealth of knowledge with the Chinese, although, seems ideal.  The backlash effect of these moves is devistating.  There is a sense of arrogence on the part of the Chinese.  Who think that they don't need the assistance of the west to progress.  It is with this mindset that we run into some pitfalls.  There are a thousand cases in which Chinese enterprises have counterfeited and reverse engineered many foreign consumer products.  Currently nearly all American defense companies (Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon) all have operations in China.  While not capitalizing in these markets would be economic suicide, sharing the detailed production methods and blueprints i.e. wing technology jeopardizes the edge of this country.  So where can one draw the line?  How do you stop corporations concerned with the bottom line-profitability and satisfaction of shareholders!

We live in a dangerous era, an era in which a few mad men in the world attempt to dictate with the power of fear.  Such is the case with the leadership in North Korea.  An insulated society with a propoganda machine which keeps the population on constant edge with the illusion of an emminent attack from the United States.  The bottom line is that our country can no longer afford to solely defend the world from tyrany.  International collaboration from other leading powers, especially from Asia, is vital to resolving this 50 year standoff.

Playing a deadly game