6 posts tagged “china”

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/07/business/7tradefw.php

Folks,

I'd like to congratulate NZ for being the first developed country to reach a free trade agreement with China. But here's a potential source of irritation for Kiwis who share Peter Brown's take on Asians in general:

"The agreement also calls for up to 1,800 Chinese to enter New Zealand each year to work in areas such as traditional Chinese medicine, language teaching and food service," the news report said.

Personally, I know that there are a heckuva lot more Kiwis who aren't like the tosspots in the NZ First and National Front parties.

More power to those Kiwis.

Ninja

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/brown-blasts-rudd-over-tibet/2008/03/17/1205602246804.html

Folks,

There are some people in politics for whom everything is a zero-sum game; the "you're either with us, or against us" bullshit.

Which is why it shouldn't come as a surprise that I find this latest rant by Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown a smidge stupid.

To accuse Rudd of double standards just because he urged China to show restraint on Tibet instead of going harder, is tantamount to China closing all diplomatic channels of communication with Australia. And pray tell, what and where would that leave Australia apart from temporarily salve some high-minded social conscience that the extreme left would like everybody else to have?

Burma is a separate issue altogether. That regime couldn't care less if it talked to anyone else or closed its borders for eternity. Going totally hardline against those sorts of loonies wouldn't cost anyone anything, and frankly who'd miss them?

But China... now there is a delicate line to be walked here. Sure, nobody in their right mind would agree to what's been happening to the Tibetans. Ditto about the innocents who were given a crash course in gun-barrel diplomacy at Tiananmen Square not so long ago.

If we want China to do what we perceive to be the right thing on this particular matter, then I'd suggest going at her through the eyeballs just isn't smart. People who understand how diplomacy works, especially when it comes to China, know that quality and quantity of back-stage discussions depends entirely on what happens on the front stage. When you hector and berate a powerful emerging world-power at first blush, you're going to hear the sound of silence for awhile. And then, what will happen to the issue of Tibet and the Tibetans?

And I'd give that idiot Bjork a serve here as well for her no-brain antics on stage in China recently, when she screamed "Tibet! Tibet!" to close her show.

Sometimes, it is too dangerous to give idiots a morsel of brain to do these things with the understanding of a gnat.

With China, especially on the issues of human rights and Tibet, you need to keep all doors open so that dialogue can continue. There are no short cuts. Imagine what would have happened to the whole issue of the IRA if the British Government had only cared about looking tough and uncompromising during its stoushes with them for the past 40-odd years? That's right, there'd be no peace accord in Ireland today. Maybe people should start thinking about and dealing with China the same way the IRA was approached.

There are many ways to skin a cat.

Ninja

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=374905

Folks,

This will be very interesting. Can you imagine the whispers in the corridors of corporate and political power from the US to the UK to Australia, if China decides to completely outsmart and outspend BHP to buy Rio outright?

China has an equal right to secure her strategic needs as much as Washington has to secure its strategic interests in the Middle East. But somehow, methinks it will always remain even more highly contentious when China flexes its financial clout to do what the US or Europe has done for the past few hundred years all around the world.

I think Rio Tinto will ultimately end up being taken over as the players in the highly-competitive resources market jostle for top dog position. How the carve up will end up looking is anyone's guess.

With Chinalco now in the mix, it won't be a cakewalk for BHP by any stretch of the imagination. The next few days will be worth watching because BHP has till the end of this coming week to declare its cards in the play for Rio Tinto.

Ninja

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/Intl_Business/China_to_build_97_new_airports_by_20/rssarticleshow/2733338.cms

Folks,

As a relatively frequent visitor to China, even I am astounded at this latest announcement by Beijing. I was stunned when the new Beijing airport - within 6 years of opening - has been supplanted by another new airport to be made operationally ready by the time the summer Olympics begins later this year.

And then, there's this news that heaps more airports are going to be built.

Amazing stuff.

Ninja

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22992286-643,00.html

Folks,

Most of you already know that I'm a road warrior and can usually be found in some back-block somewhere in the Asia-Pacific region.

These guys are the spearheads of Australia's push into Asia, particularly China, and have made the path a lot easier for people like myself.

In China, the rapid pace of development is a sight and experience to behold. But the early years of liberalisation there (from the 1970s onwards) must have been fraught with numerous, unseen obstacles to business.

These pioneers saw and lived them all and thankfully, stayed instead of running away, to build stronger ties with a fast-awakening China.

There are still considerable challenges in doing business with China at various levels. Believe me, I know.

But I can assure you that it is a damn sight easier now compared to 30 years ago.

Ninja

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/309372/1/.html

Folks,

I find these "visits" to China by top Washington bureaucrats rather arrogant. Some might call them quaint; I just think it is arrogant. No question in my mind.

Imagine this: Chinese President Hu Jintao flies into Washington and demands straight answers from Bush, Cheney, Rice and that bagful of bastards... about what Washington's ultimate aim is in Iraq. I can guarantee you that Hu's going to get a polite, rehearsed and patronising recital about democracy and the need to stem the rising tide of Islamic radicals that threatens the free world.

Now, US Defence Secretary Bob Gates is trodding that well-worn path to Beijing, the latest in a long line of US political and military figures over the years, to seek answers about China's growing pre-occupation with its military.

If I didn't know it any better, I'd go one step further and call this interference. The only superpower who's actively engaged in pre-emptive military strikes and invasion is the US.

Dubya has got some nerve to ask Bob Gates to play this game in Beijing.

Maybe China should be sending this guy over to Washington to do a Gates.

Look, China has a few things to answer for. But then, don't we all? It's time people learned to butt out and stop being patronising to each other. The world's already full of nasty SOBs as it is, so there's no need to create fresh ones by the minute by being a prick.

Ninja