Today's Links: China v. North Korea, Xinjiang and the USA

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  • Why China might turn on North Korea [CSMonitor] "China has long seen its national interests served by the status quo on the Korean Peninsula. According to a cold-war perspective about strategic balance and a post-cold-war emphasis on internal development, Beijing prioritized maintaining a buffer state and preventing North Korea's problems from spilling over China's border. While Beijing retains these priorities, the chances of it getting tough with Pyongyang are low. However, the China of today is not the China that came to Pyongyang's aid during the Korean War - its national identity has evolved over decades of rapid development and international integration. The ideas of communist solidarity and laying low to focus on modernization are becoming obsolete."
  • Beijing Always Wins [NYTimes] "THE riots in the Xinjiang region, the home of China’s Muslim Uighur minority, will affirm to many analysts outside the country that social unrest is a direct threat to the continued rule of the Communist Party. If officials don’t take a long, hard look at how to avoid such uprisings, this argument will run, the government could eventually fall. If only Chinese officials saw things that way."
  • Shenzhen Mayor Under Investigation [eChinacities] "Xu Zongheng(许宗衡), 54, was removed from his post as mayor of Shenzhen and is under investigation into allegations of corruption and graft that have stretched to include a former Olympic gymnast and several actresses. Xu became mayor of Shenzhen in 2005, advocating changes in the city’s bureaucracy. Many view Xu as partially responsible for the subsequent collapse of Shenzhen’s real estate market. The allegations revolve around bribes received for awarding government posts and bids."
  • Chinese police chief urges tough crackdown on gangsters [People's Daily] "China's chief police officer on Tuesday asked nationwide police authorities to take proactive measures and crack down upon mafia-like groups for the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Meng Jianzhu, state councilor and public security minister, made the remarks at a tele-conference Tuesday, urging police authorities to master the movements of gangster groups."
  • Internet plays key role in China's latest unrest [The Associated Press] "The brawl between Han Chinese and Uighurs in southern China was scarcely covered by state media, but accounts and photos spread quickly via the Internet and became a spark that helped ignite deadly riots thousands of miles away in the Uighur homeland. Even in tightly controlled China, relatively unfettered commentaries and images circulating on Web sites helped stir up tensions and rally people to join an initially peaceful protest in the Xinjiang region that spiraled into violence Sunday, leaving more than 150 people dead."
  • Sex, Drugs, Weapons and Cash: China vs United States [Aimee Barnes] "While real GDP growth and foreign investment are two recognized indicators of which country may come out on top in the end, other less discussed factors like socioeconomic development and the informal economy exist as compelling forces that hold a fair amount of influence over a particularly country’s rise. This post is an homage to these powerful shadows and draws comparisons based on the latest available and relevant data, drawing from 2007-2008 figures in most cases."
  • Ethnic Tensions, Mad Libs, and other dysfunctional relationships [Jottings from the Granite Studio] "In response, the Chinese government is calling the only play they know how to run: Propaganda as Mad Lib: (MINORITY GROUP) and the Han Chinese have long historical ties dating back (ABSURD AHISTORICAL NUMBER) of years. Since the opening and reform era began, economic development has brought prosperity to (RESTIVE REGION) including schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Unfortunately, outside “splittists” led by (ADJECTIVE YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOUR FIST WIFE) + (NAME OF EXILED LEADER FROM MINORITY COMMUNITY) will stop at nothing to destabilize China and spread ethnic discord. We resolutely stand in support of a harmonious stable society, the union of all Chinese nationalities and (ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CCP PABLUM THAT NOBODY REALLY BELIEVES MASQUERADING AS RHETORIC)."
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By Elaine Chow in on July 8, 2009 10:15 PM Comments 1 Likes Like

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