From the Inside, Out - review of the biography of PRISONER OF THE STATE, The Secret Journal of Zhao Ziyang.

Explosive, and it backs up the Tiananmen Papers. The biography goes into details on what happened during the Tiananmen Square incident and how the decision was done and the inside politics. Very interesting on what could have happened if Zhao Ziyang had been listed to and stayed in power.

Labels: China's Government

www.halfthesky.org, a wonderful organization, has set up a fund to help with Earthquake. Please not in your donation it is for earthquake relief.

The Earthquake in Sichuan Province, China has resulted in almost 10,000 dead. The quake had a magnitude of 7.8, and was the biggest to hit China for a couple of decades. The San Francisco quake was approximately of the same magnitude. The Long Beach quake was only 6.25. The Long Beach quake destroyed many schools, but happened at 6AM resulting in few deaths. There were many improvements in building design after the earthquake. NPR has two reporters in Sichuan that are now covering the quake, there story today on the school that collapsed is heart breaking.

China's leadership is being very active in the quake areas to put the best face forward. Chinese leadership is often judged on how well they handle natural disasters, such as the storm during Chinese New Year. If not handled well, this is seen as an omen that a change in government is needed, since they have lost Heaven's Mandate. On that vein of thought, this is interesting - Tibetan tectonics triggered China quake I wonder how long till somebody connects the Chinese actions in Tibet to this quake.

Labels: China's Government

Recent stories in the US papers have mentioned how three spies for China in the US have been caught.

I am not going to argue the point if China has spies in the US or not (my opinion is they do). Much of it is Economic, such as copying Cisco equipment. Canada, Britain, and Japan have also had issues. I also have the opinion that Wen Ho Lee was innocent of the charges and treated dishonorably by the US (the judge even apologized to him).

What worries me more is the comments in this Wall Street Journal blog.

Labels: china's future, China's Government

LA Times has an article about a subject I thought about, but did not blog.

Devastating snow evokes China's stormy history Millions of Chinese are trying to return home in time for Chinese New Year celebrations this week. Natural disasters have helped fell dynasties in centuries past, which may weigh on leaders' minds in the ongoing crisis.

Key Points:
1. Historically, natural disasters are seen as omens that a dynasty (ruling class) is not doing a good job, since they are no longer in Heaven's favor.

2. Local government is not as responsive (often incompetent) since they are appointed, not elected. Federal government has limited power domestically due to decentralization (Emperor is far away).

3. This natural disaster won't be enough by itself to be a threat to the stability of the government by itself. But by happening during Chinese New Years, the most important holiday of the year and the only time many people visit their families it is high profile.

Related Information:
- Previous Post on Ice Storms in China
- Half the Sky is sending updates on the Storm's impact on orphanages in China. If you can donate to help them, it would be great!

Labels: China Politics, China's Government, chinese new year

Basically the US is caught in the middle between Taiwan and China. Historical reasons for this.

What is more interesting is the Chinese refused, last minute, to let the US Carrier Kitty Hawk visit Hong Kong during Thanksgiving. What is worse is many family members of the crew of the Kitty Hawk crew had flown to Hong Kong. The Chinese Government foreign office said is was a misunderstanding initially. This article says it's in retaliation for US arms sales to Taiwan. The real question is whom is running China's foreign policy? For the US carrier visit, it seems to be the Chinese military. Economist in an older article, with a great article has more details

Good-bye Kitty

Labels: China's Government

OpEd by David Brook that argues that China is being run on a meritocracy. Other arguments I have read are some areas are more favored than others. And it helps if you have the right connections... There is the slight issue of corruption.

Labels: China's Government