Great Hall of the People, II

Yes, I know I used that one before, but I’m in a recycling kind of mood.

Now let’s use this open thread to solve all of the world’s problems.

The Discussion: 127 Comments

How can we ever believe in you now? You told us that once you use a name, it can never be reused.

What has this world come to?

August 1, 2005 @ 7:03 pm | Comment

I really don’t remember promising a new name for every thread, but maybe I did. If so, I am ashamed and contrite.

August 1, 2005 @ 7:04 pm | Comment

Danwei has a new list of banned words for blogcn, incuding the name of SARS whistleblower Dr. Jiang Yanyong. Fucktards.

August 1, 2005 @ 7:09 pm | Comment

What ever happened to all those Chinese communist and Japanese right-wing history revisionists? They were providing so much entertainment.

August 1, 2005 @ 7:24 pm | Comment

To be all inclusive, what happened to all the hillbillies from the States?

August 1, 2005 @ 7:27 pm | Comment

Prowler, they’ll be back. Just make a provocative statement about the Nanjing Massacre and it’s like flies to honey.

August 1, 2005 @ 7:38 pm | Comment

richard,

you friend jerome keating has a new article about PLA and general zhu:

http://tinyurl.com/96xtm

taipei times are full of funny stories like this, my favorite newspaper to relax for a few good laughs

August 1, 2005 @ 8:13 pm | Comment

“Great Hall of the People, II”

Wiseguy!

August 1, 2005 @ 8:16 pm | Comment

Gordon, I did it just for you.

August 1, 2005 @ 8:38 pm | Comment

And now for Part 2,354 of a billion-part series: “Mono Thought with Bingfeng.”
Actually bingfeng, that article is not “new,” it is the same one that was posted on this site July 20th.
Glad to see that you are taking the time to read and consider others’ arguments and ideas, hehe.

August 1, 2005 @ 8:52 pm | Comment

really, that article is not new at all. what a fool i am!

btw, glad to see kevin is learning some sense of humor. when are you going to call kofi to replace china with japan?

August 1, 2005 @ 9:12 pm | Comment

just give me the number, i’m sure he’d be receptive

August 1, 2005 @ 9:31 pm | Comment

Yes I am going to replace China with Japan. What tipped me over the edge was all the spit around China’s desk.

August 1, 2005 @ 9:35 pm | Comment

I think we should take China off the Security Council and place them in charge of the human rights commission.

August 1, 2005 @ 9:51 pm | Comment

Let’s make UNSC a fun club of American (man).

August 1, 2005 @ 9:57 pm | Comment

See what wonderful contribution American (man) did for the world peace so far.

August 1, 2005 @ 9:59 pm | Comment

They definitely will do more without those dirty Chinese.

August 1, 2005 @ 9:59 pm | Comment

Huh, “posted at” certainly has a lot to add to the dialog.

Not.

August 1, 2005 @ 11:25 pm | Comment

I think we should take China off the Security Council and place them in charge of the human rights commission.

Posted by Gordon at August 1, 2005 09:51 PM

————

sure, as soon as china is in charge of the human rights commission, the first thing to do is to prevent US be kicked out from the commission again

August 1, 2005 @ 11:28 pm | Comment

here’s a question:
“hehe” when typed by someone chinese:
is this to be pronounced as pinyin or as english?
been puzzling me for ages.

August 1, 2005 @ 11:29 pm | Comment

Let’s make UNSC a fun club of American (man).

Posted by at August 1, 2005 09:57 PM

————–

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA!

(why USA ueber Alles, see this photo:
http://tinyurl.com/a4qbf)

kevin, how about replacing Kofe with G.W.

August 1, 2005 @ 11:36 pm | Comment

mama is a pinyin AND english

hehe, too

just wonder is US back to the UN human rights commission?

August 1, 2005 @ 11:38 pm | Comment

kevin, how about replacing Kofe with G.W.

George Washington?

August 1, 2005 @ 11:39 pm | Comment

re: “hehe”; I mean I wanted to make sure it’s *pronounced* as pinyin?

August 1, 2005 @ 11:42 pm | Comment

KLS,

hehe is pinyin, feels something funny, no bad intention involved

heihei, while also feels something/somebody funny, have some bad intention involved

hen hen, to think something not worth doing

August 1, 2005 @ 11:47 pm | Comment

chen shui-bian – a-bian

hu jin-tao – tao-ge (literally, brother tao)

wen jia-bao – wen zong (literally, general wen)

GW Bush – G.W.?

Gordon – A-Don ? Don-ge? Don-don?

August 1, 2005 @ 11:54 pm | Comment

do you have a chinese name, gordon?

August 1, 2005 @ 11:56 pm | Comment

Kofi Annan the Super Zero

August 2, 2005 @ 12:00 am | Comment

thanks bingfeng.
so I could say, “look at his big nose, heihei” ?
what about insults — eg “ri ni ma, heihei” ?

not sure about hen hen …

August 2, 2005 @ 12:08 am | Comment

so I could say, “look at his big nose, heihei” ?

———–

exactly correct

if somebody says, “look at his big nose, hehe”, then s/he just kindly make fun of you, nothing else

August 2, 2005 @ 12:12 am | Comment

Yeah, I have a Chinese name, but it’s not one of those silly ones that sound like the pronunciation of my English name.

The fortuneteller who advised us on the date of our wedding also helped me to chose a name from the book “Yi Jing”, but using my birthdate and other personal information.

August 2, 2005 @ 12:15 am | Comment

a-dun sounds not bad, a lovely fat boy

dun-dun is too childish, usually to name a panda or something

dun-laodi, dun-ge, dun-lao … need creative imagination

August 2, 2005 @ 12:17 am | Comment

日你妈 is a pretty nasty thing to say to someone.

August 2, 2005 @ 12:18 am | Comment

Yeah, I have a Chinese name, but it’s not one of those silly ones that sound like the pronunciation of my English name.

The fortuneteller who advised us on the date of our wedding also helped me to chose a name from the book “Yi Jing”, but using my birthdate and other personal information.

Posted by Gordon at August 2, 2005 12:15 AM

————

nice, thanks

you should have a “hao” name

if you don’t know it, consult with lisa

August 2, 2005 @ 12:19 am | Comment

Do to the extra weight that I’ve put on here in China, my wife has started calling me 胖胖.

August 2, 2005 @ 12:20 am | Comment

is it *really* nasty? I can’t exactly remember what it means, although the sense is obvious.
used to hear “shenme shenme ni ma” so often (not usually directed at me, I must add) that they start to blur into one.

August 2, 2005 @ 12:23 am | Comment

you know gordon, actually A-dun (dun) means “lovely fat”, usually chinese call fat boy as “pang dun”

in sichuan dialect, it could be “dun yazi” (fat little boy)

August 2, 2005 @ 12:25 am | Comment

I think we should take China off the Security Council and place them in charge of the human rights commission.

It would probably be an improvement. Who’s in the chair today, Syria or Libya?

August 2, 2005 @ 12:26 am | Comment

I always thought that 操你and 日你 were basically the same until one of my Chinese friends told me that 日你 is much worse.

日你 = 操你?
操你妈 =日你妈?

I’m still not sure why one is worse than the other, then again, they aren’t words that I use either.

August 2, 2005 @ 12:29 am | Comment

Thanks for the Chinese lessons, bingfeng. My wife calls me li yang. Depending on who I talk to, it means something nice from abroad or “crazy foreigner”. Something like that, so I stopped asking, because I might not really want to know.

August 2, 2005 @ 12:30 am | Comment

I’m still not sure why one is worse than the other, then again, they aren’t words that I use either.

Posted by Gordon at August 2, 2005 12:29 AM

————

when as a little boy, i was good at all these bad words, but i won’t explain them to you here

hint: the differece is with or without violence

August 2, 2005 @ 12:33 am | Comment

BingFeng,

Thanks for the clarification. My wife started calling me that as a joke because that’s how I referred to myself one day.

I think it was in my Chinese class in the University that my professor told us sometimes you can “soften” the meaning of a word that might be considered an insult by repeating the word. i.e., 胖 = 胖胖. At least, think that’s what she said..it’s been a year and a half ago.

August 2, 2005 @ 12:38 am | Comment

If you want to avoid a knife fight, it is best to not use “cao ni ma ge B” in Harbin…

August 2, 2005 @ 12:44 am | Comment

Wow, I’ve learned something new tonight!

Just to set the record straight, Richard did originally say that he never wanted to use the same name for an open thread twice. I remember saying that I thought “Great Hall of the People” was such a great choice that I nominated it for permanent open thread name. But maybe Kofi might object…

August 2, 2005 @ 12:49 am | Comment

If you want to avoid a knife fight, it is best to not use “cao ni ma ge B” in Harbin…

Posted by kevin at August 2, 2005 12:44 AM

————

no way, you will get involved into a knife fight even you shut up all the time

hehe, i am kidding

the first time i visited a US city is terrifying, gun shooting all the night

August 2, 2005 @ 12:50 am | Comment

Hey, we limit our gun shooting these days!

August 2, 2005 @ 12:53 am | Comment

I remember saying that I thought “Great Hall of the People” was such a great choice that I nominated it for permanent open thread name. But maybe Kofi might object…

Posted by Other Lisa at August 2, 2005 12:49 AM

——————

how about “the United Ducks’ Security Council”

August 2, 2005 @ 12:57 am | Comment

So, ermm, is the “日你妈”的意思 something like, every day with your mama? Or is it one of those untranslatable idioms?

Oh, never mind, I don’t really need to know.

我中文给我汉语的名字是“丽莎”

August 2, 2005 @ 12:59 am | Comment

ooops. For some reason, “老师” did not make it into the above sentence.

So that should read “我中文老师给我汉语的名字” etc.

August 2, 2005 @ 1:01 am | Comment

the first time i visited a US city is terrifying, gun shooting all the night

haha..where were you, Gary, Indiana?
Always make sure your car has plenty of gas if you have to drive through that city after dark.

August 2, 2005 @ 1:01 am | Comment

So, ermm, is the “日你妈”的意思 something like, every day with your mama? Or is it one of those untranslatable idioms?

Are you joking about that, Lisa?

August 2, 2005 @ 1:02 am | Comment

Enough of this foolishness! Now I am going to replace the ENTIRE Security Council with Japanese anime characters!
Kimba the White Lion will have a permanent seat.

August 2, 2005 @ 1:02 am | Comment

No, Gordon, I actually don’t get it, and I hadn’t heard it before. But you don’t have to explain if it would embarrass all of us!

August 2, 2005 @ 1:06 am | Comment

“Who’s the greatest animal in Africa?”
(“Africa!”)
“Who’s the one who brought the jungle fame?
Who’s the greatest animal in Africa?
Kimba the White Lion is his name!”

August 2, 2005 @ 1:07 am | Comment

Sorry Lisa,

I wasn’t sure because of the way you included “日你妈” in quotation marks instead of the whole phrase.

I know 日你妈的意思 has the same meaning as “日你妈”, but I’m not sure how “的意思” affects the meaning.

August 2, 2005 @ 1:16 am | Comment

Oh, I mean, “ri ni ma” de yisi – in other words, is the meaning of that phrase…?

August 2, 2005 @ 1:20 am | Comment

Lisa, You’ve got mail.

August 2, 2005 @ 1:27 am | Comment

moon cake season is coming

August 2, 2005 @ 1:28 am | Comment

Gordon, so do you!

I love mooncakes! Really!

August 2, 2005 @ 1:30 am | Comment

Speaking of Japan and China, today’s SCMP:
————————————————–
Japan worried about China’s growing military spending

Japan’s defence planners expressed concern on Tuesday about China’s military spending, saying Beijing’s defence budget was expanding to a level that drew questions about its intentions.

“China, which is steadily growing as a political and economic power in the region, continues to strengthen its military capabilities. Such trend draws attention from other countries in the region,” the white paper said.

“It is necessary to keep paying attention to these modernization trends and to carefully evaluate whether the modernisation of China’s military forces exceeds the level necessary for its national defence,” it said.

China said its defence budget for fiscal 2005 would be 244.7 billion yuan, or more than US$30 billion (HK$233 billion), a roughly 12.6 per cent increase from the previous year, the white paper said.

However, actual expenditure could be bigger, it said, noting that costs for equipment procurement and research and development may not be reflected in the sum.

The white paper said Japan’s close alliance with the United States, which stations more than 40,000 troops in officially pacifist country, was important ”in maintaining peace and stability” in the region but that China seemed “wary” of Washington.
————————————————–

August 2, 2005 @ 1:47 am | Comment

I was going to paste another good article from the SCMP about a large protest by PLA veterans in Beijing on Army Day but Kevin in Pudong has blogged about it:

http://kevininpudong.blog-city.com/

“Hundreds of ex-servicemen marked yesterday’s 78th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army by protesting outside a PLA office in Beijing. One witness said he saw many people being taken away by police. The petitioners, who were seeking action over economic woes caused by a lack of social security, gathered as PLA garrisons nationwide held Army Day ceremonies.”

August 2, 2005 @ 1:49 am | Comment

Re: Your post on Japan.

If China doesn’t want Japan to rearm itself and become a military power again, maybe China should stop provoking them.

Between China and North Korea, it’s no wonder Japan wants to remilitarize.

August 2, 2005 @ 2:08 am | Comment

China are also driving Japan closer to the US which I’m sure is not in their long term interests.

There was a feeling in the 90’s that Japan wanted to move away from the US, much like what we are seeing South Korea these days, but that all stopped when China started, as you say Gordon, provoking them.

Now we have a situation where it’s the US that are quietly urging Japan to do away with Article 9 (pacifism clause) and re-arm and, in some cases, go nuclear.

Japan is certainly turning into the Great Britain of Asia and this will always serve to thwart China’s regional ambitions.

August 2, 2005 @ 2:28 am | Comment

Martyn: I’m no expert on military spending. But 12.6% increase is a significant rate. China’s catching up with Russia very quickly. Do you have the statistics to show what % of GDP is used in military expenditure in China?

August 2, 2005 @ 2:44 am | Comment

Another China Daily headline of the day:
AIDS experts: ‘Mobile men with money’ risky

August 2, 2005 @ 3:47 am | Comment

I like a little gun shooting in the afternoon.

August 2, 2005 @ 4:43 am | Comment

Shulan,Have you ever read FEAR and Loathing in Las Vegas?

August 2, 2005 @ 4:52 am | Comment

Fat Cat, there weren’t any GDP/military expenditure figures in the SCMP but I know the cia has a military expenditure as % of GDP in its world factbook.

I also read a brilliant globalsecurity.org article last month called “China’s Defense Budget” which was the most definitive single article I think I’ve ever read on this subject. It summarizes the reports from many international organisations–and– like all great articles it has an ultra-cool spreadsheet at the bottom! The chart includes % of GDP figures.

This is the link to the article:

http://tinyurl.com/7vo22

August 2, 2005 @ 4:54 am | Comment

Xena: No, only saw the film. Great. Reminds me of the good old days.

August 2, 2005 @ 5:13 am | Comment

Actually I was a little perplexed by the film.I am reading it again now.I HIGHLY recommend it.How you doin?

August 2, 2005 @ 5:15 am | Comment

Fine, thanks, despite the fact that I have to get back to work. Was too lasy in recent time

August 2, 2005 @ 5:26 am | Comment

You can be lazy on your 5 month’s a year German Holiday. Now get back to work!

August 2, 2005 @ 5:32 am | Comment

I’m off.
Besides. Have a new post on family planning. Seems these problems not only affect us families.

August 2, 2005 @ 5:40 am | Comment

Martyn, Assuming China has new technology,what is their capability to use it properly? As a long term China “guest” I see nothing but incompetence at all levels of society.What are your views?

August 2, 2005 @ 5:58 am | Comment

I can only guess that my attempts at going legit have been struck down.

August 2, 2005 @ 6:25 am | Comment

I am much more comfortable in the underworld anyway.

August 2, 2005 @ 6:26 am | Comment

You are alright, AM

August 2, 2005 @ 6:36 am | Comment

A turtle without shell is still a turtle, just without shell.

August 2, 2005 @ 6:36 am | Comment

Bing,Have you ever been gang raped by a bunch of Japanese businessmen? Cause I have.

August 2, 2005 @ 6:40 am | Comment

Bing,I’m going through a hard time right now. My wife’s (favorite sister) is dying of cancer.My (favorite) dogs got some kinda weird debilitating eye disease and my mom is ,well, my mom.I am, Apparently ,not dealing with it all too well.Other than that it’s all normal. But we shall move on.

August 2, 2005 @ 6:47 am | Comment

Sorry for what you have suffered. Must be an ordeal. Or might not be that bad if you had a taste of masochism.

Fortunately, I have neither your luck nor your attraction.

August 2, 2005 @ 6:50 am | Comment

Amerika Mann, is Yoshi Masumotomikiyakonikikokito another name you have used here?

August 2, 2005 @ 6:53 am | Comment

Bing, I AM attracted to you. IF I could only see ONE photo of you in a compromising pose? Seem….. Distant to me…….Unattainable…..

August 2, 2005 @ 6:54 am | Comment

We seem to attract the leeches.

August 2, 2005 @ 6:54 am | Comment

Alright, Bingfeng you can work my balls! OH,Sorry, Other Lisa

August 2, 2005 @ 6:56 am | Comment

Bingfeng, I still loves your subtle wit.

August 2, 2005 @ 6:57 am | Comment

Fengster, Did you notice how Lauren Bacall dissed your homie?

August 2, 2005 @ 6:59 am | Comment

Fengster, You win, the Goon Squad just busted in the door….Oh Well, Back to Ohio for me…..

August 2, 2005 @ 7:01 am | Comment

Bingfeng, I still loves your subtle wit.

Posted by Xena Phobia at August 2, 2005 06:57 AM

——————–

I …. loves ….

are you really an Amerika Mann? how many childrens do you have? do you live at the US or africa? do you say English or japanese? i is confused.

thanks you!

August 2, 2005 @ 7:03 am | Comment

I’s confused toooooo .But seriously, Bingfeng for how long can we both disrespect each other? We are all bothers my friend!

August 2, 2005 @ 7:14 am | Comment

sorry, i shouldn’t make fun of your language skills.

it’s unavoidable in an international family consist of Deutsch, zhong-guo-ren, Americans, perhaps Indians, nihong-jin and Kalalunidusians

August 2, 2005 @ 7:14 am | Comment

I’s confused toooooo .But seriously, Bingfeng for how long can we both disrespect each other? We are all bothers my friend!

Posted by Xena Phobia at August 2, 2005 07:14 AM

——————-

seriously, i didn’t respect you, i only made fun of Amerika Mann, a fake guy in TPD. never mind, i am not intended to offend you, the REAL guy behind Amerika Mann

August 2, 2005 @ 7:16 am | Comment

Know’s you makin fun o’ my som’ hows’ an’ shit’ Don’ be playin’ dat wid’ eyd’ shit’ on me’ mutha fukre’!

August 2, 2005 @ 7:17 am | Comment

Bingster, You all right! Biyahhhtch!

August 2, 2005 @ 7:19 am | Comment

BTW ,I’ms from Da Newaark, N.J.N’ Shit. Only White Boy Fer Miles.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:21 am | Comment

seriously, i didn’t respect you

——————-

correction: you know what i want to correct, right, Amerika Mann?

August 2, 2005 @ 7:23 am | Comment

No Shit!

August 2, 2005 @ 7:23 am | Comment

announcement:

i didn’t DISrespect Amerika Mann

August 2, 2005 @ 7:24 am | Comment

Bingfeng, as usual ,I am a Ting bu dong mutha? What the fuck are you talkin’ bout Biyahtch….????I would love to unerstan yo shit but it scapes me…..

August 2, 2005 @ 7:25 am | Comment

Bingfeng,haps in Rode Iland?

August 2, 2005 @ 7:26 am | Comment

Bingfeng, as usual ,I am a Ting bu dong mutha? What the fuck are you talkin’ bout Biyahtch….????I would love to unerstan yo shit but it scapes me…..

Posted by Xena Phobia at August 2, 2005 07:25 AM

——————-

i respect you, i loves you!

August 2, 2005 @ 7:28 am | Comment

As long as it aint no G thang.Knows what Im sayin’ B?An Mar tin what up lo? Is trin my shit wit you but you all coll an shit.Yeh.whatever.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:30 am | Comment

Amerika Mann loves “shit” very much

August 2, 2005 @ 7:34 am | Comment

i learned a lot of english dirty words from Amerika Mann Laoshi

thanks you! i loves you.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:36 am | Comment

Bingfeng, The Chinese ” House N****R” must Always Feel Good To be Accepted by His Peers. Now, Keep on Being Ridiculous and Don’t EVER Change. You are nothing more.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:37 am | Comment

Bingfeng, The Chinese ” House N****R” must Always Feel Good To be Accepted by His Peers. Now, Keep on Being Ridiculous and Don’t EVER Change. You are nothing more.

Posted by Xena Phobia at August 2, 2005 07:37 AM

——————

bye-bye

August 2, 2005 @ 7:39 am | Comment

Sorry AM, if what we did makes you crazy.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:42 am | Comment

My sympathies for your sufferring and thank you for your entertainment.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:45 am | Comment

Bing , As I said ,you’re alright! As for your friend. I”m sure he’s a nice guy.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:46 am | Comment

Amerika Mann wants fun, and Amerika Mann gets fun. that’s it.

he wants respect? ok, look how martyn, richard, other lisa, sam_s receive respect from others, learn from them

anyway, i really loves Amerika Mann

August 2, 2005 @ 7:47 am | Comment

And in my state of (relative) Calmness. I say good-riddance see ya soon. Big mouth! But the Bing-ster is not without his charms!

August 2, 2005 @ 7:49 am | Comment

As for your friend. I”m sure he’s a nice guy.

————-

i am not bing’s friend, and i am not a nice guy.

we all loves you.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:49 am | Comment

What’s bing-ster?

My Bing is probably a different word in Chinese from that of bingfeng.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:51 am | Comment

BING, I still think YOU are a cool guy .Reject me and I will DIE!

August 2, 2005 @ 7:52 am | Comment

Wait!………… the whole idea that an Asian Man is DIFFERENT…………. than ANOTHER ASIAN””” beyond me!””’ S.No not sorry. I LIVE IN CHINA!( Even Bingfeng will get a little laugh.)

August 2, 2005 @ 7:57 am | Comment

Hi guys,

Long time no see ah. It’s no wonder they say, 士别三日,刮目相看.

Good to see you guys still kicking and screaming.

This forum has changed a lot, increasingly filled with strange people and weird opinions now…

Things like 排排坐,吃果果;my dad’s richer than yours + my dad can kick your dad’s ass.

Can’t say educational but nonetheless entertaining.

August 2, 2005 @ 7:58 am | Comment

Hey, Dude…. Tetsuaki,….Whats up dude?…….. Long time no see.It’s all cool and shit but these Squids have moved on to actual language(at times an’ shit) and have moved beyond your High School-isms,now,I have know doubt that your a handsome confident Asian -male but this is not our purpose.Our purpose was to dispell the MYTH of Asian superiority.Can you help me?

August 2, 2005 @ 8:17 am | Comment

America Man, you are a weird duck. We love you, but you are definitely weird.

August 2, 2005 @ 8:18 am | Comment

Is Tetsuaki another shell, AM?

Go on.

August 2, 2005 @ 8:22 am | Comment

Isn’t that American Man adorable?

August 2, 2005 @ 8:28 am | Comment

I like Joey.

Can I call you Joey, AM? He’s an actor too.

August 2, 2005 @ 8:28 am | Comment

See what happens when I go to sleep?!

August 2, 2005 @ 10:57 am | Comment

Action ,Action 123 ,Action

August 2, 2005 @ 11:14 am | Comment

Welp, What we have here is an issue !Most country’s just kill people that annoy them!

August 2, 2005 @ 11:36 am | Comment

AM – firstly, I’m terribly sorry to hear about your sister-in-law. I can’t even imagine what you wife is going through now.

Also, the dog and the eye disease. We have a superb Taiwanese vet in Guangzhou, really good. Do you have anything similar where you are?

August 2, 2005 @ 1:01 pm | Comment

AM said: “Assuming China has new technology,what is their capability to use it properly? As a long term China “guest” I see nothing but incompetence at all levels of society.What are your views?

That’s a big question. China long ago decided (quite rightly) that it’d be faster to use (and abuse) existing technology in order to make the quantum leap needed to catch up with the developed nations.

It’s still in transition now and I don’t know about using it “properly” but it does use the technology transferred (and sometimes stolen) quite well to manufacture and generally make money.

“Incompetance” as you mention, is true enough in a lot of cases but, I think, it’s just part-and-parcel of China making the transition from inward-looking communist nation to a free-market, capitalist country.

Despite the glittering sky-scrapers of Shanghai it remains, in a lot of cases, a desperately poor country, as we residents all know. The majority of people are not getting gloriously rich.

Also, as everyone knows, there isn’t only ‘one’ China, there are many. Shanghai/Zhejiang, Guangdong, Beijing, the northeast, the inner provinces, the west etc which complicates matters even further.

August 2, 2005 @ 1:02 pm | Comment

Class dismissed. New thread open above.

August 2, 2005 @ 5:32 pm | Comment

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