Today's Links: Debunking myths, clashing generals and confusing Hummer facts

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  • China's founding legend may not be true [USA TODAY] "China's founding dynasty may just be a myth, say archaeologists. In a news report in the current Science, writer Andrew Lawler surveys a decade's worth of discoveries suggesting ancient China sprang from distinct regions, rather than possessing a single national culture some 4,300 years ago. "How China became China is no mere academic topic; it goes to the very heart of how the world’s most populous and economically vibrant nation sees itself and its role in the world," Lawler writes."
  • Beijing puts giant media marriage on the rocks [Reuters] "China's leading Internet portal, Sina Corp is likely to call off its planned $1.4 billion purchase of Focus Media's core assets if the government fails to bless the marriage by a September deadline. Since Sina unveiled the deal in December — the largest in China's opaque media sector — China's commerce ministry has repeatedly put off reviewing the deal, asking for additional documents, frustrating both Nasdaq-listed companies."
  • China: U.S. and Chinese Generals Clash [NYT] "A meeting on Thursday in Beijing between a Chinese military leader and a visiting American army general turned rancorous as the Chinese leader gave a sharp lecture on the failure of the United States to respect China’s interests, according to a witness at the meeting and a report by Xinhua, the state news agency. The argument took place when Gen. Ge Zhenfeng, deputy chief of the general staff of the People’s Liberation Army, met with Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the chief of staff of the United States Army. "
  • Xinjiang to 'raze Kadeer family homes' [AFP] "Relatives of exiled Uygur leader Rebiya Kadeer living in restive Xinjiang region have been told to leave their homes, which will then be demolished, a US-based activist group said on Thursday. Mainland authorities have blamed Mrs Kadeer, who lives in the United States, for inciting unrest between Uygurs and Han Chinese in the Xinjiang capital Urumqi last month that left nearly 200 people dead and more than 1,600 injured."
  • Ni Hao, GM: A Storm of Confusion Around China’s Hummer Deal [WSJ] "If China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery’s sought to boost world-wide recognition of its nameplate with its bid to acquire GM’s Hummer, it has gotten more than it bargained for. Since the deal was announced in June, incessant news articles and rumors surrounding the deal have lifted the profile of the Chinese heavy machinery company. But many of those stories are translations from Chinese publications lacking on-the-record sources, and the often-conflicting reportage could be giving Sichuan Tengzhong a PR black eye."
  • China has 3 mln under 10-year-old netizens [People's Daily] "In the past year, Chinese Internet users under 10 years old totaled some 3 million, increasing to 0.9 percent form 0.3 percent over last year, according to a recent report released by China Internet Network Information Center. The report says about 80 percent of primary school students have had access to the Internet before the age of 9, even some at pre-school age or one year old children."
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By Elaine Chow in on August 21, 2009 8:00 PM Comments 0 Likes Likes

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