Exporting Women - What was Mao Thinking?

The Associated Press is reporting that Mao Zedong, during 1973 trade negotiations, offered Chinese women to US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. This was noted in recently released historical documents.

Mao complained that China had an "excess of women" and that "they give birth to children and our children are too many".

What a bizarre export offer! Was he really serious? Let's hope not!!! But it does keep with the theme I have noted of China doing what is best for China at the expense of the people.

("Mao offered US 10 million women"- CNN.com. Photo by AP Press)

Shanghai Skyline

"US visitors looked at the skyline and enthused that Shanghai had become 'China's Manhattan'" (Gittings p255)

Recent photo by Bill Thomas...see "Emails from the East" blog entry.

Western Influence: Not Always a Good One

I saw a report on NBC Nightly News on February 10, 2008 that reported a not so positive influence the West is having on China. It seems with the growing limitations and restrictions of smoking in America, the tobacco companies are targeting other countries. Not surprisingly, with their huge population, China has been targeted.

China now makes up one-third of the total population of the smokers of the world. A reported 350 million Chinese now smoke.

The report attributed the outstanding numbers to a good economy. The Chinese people have extra money to spend on cigarettes. It has also become socially popular with the younger generation including women.

Beijing will implement a "NO SMOKING" indoors policy in May. This is attributed to them being the host city to the 2008 Summer Olympics.

As with most things, the tobacco industry in China is run by the government. It is a $30 billion industry. But with 5 million Chinese dying every year, the reporter ended the segment by questioning whether the profit will continue to exceed the health cost. Unfortunately, sometimes Western influences are not always positive ones.

An Olympic Challenge

As we have seen in the readings of Gittings this week, the issue of democracy came to the forefront with the events of Tiananmen Square in 1989. The quiet rumblings grew into a peaceful (on behalf of the students) demonstration in the name of democracy. The unfortunate ending of suppression was a violent one at the hands of the government. One positive result of the massacre was the fact it brought the challenges of the Chinese people to the attention of the world.

These challenges may again gain national attention. With Beijing hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics, the question of democracy will be an added subplot. The government has already attempted to put on a good face by trying to improve the conditions of its workers with adjustments in over-time pay policies and social security in their favor.

The article "Whether at home or abroad, China is silent on matters of democracy" shows how the people of China are being conditioned to distance the issue of democracy from the games of the Olympics. Arrests (the classic form of Chinese political censorship) are still being made in attempts to suppress using the Olympics as a platform for democracy. Ironically the arrests may give a louder voice to their cause with the ears of the world listening.

Business in Modern China: Emails from the East

Bill Thomas is the owner of 40West. He has studios in the US, China, and Vietnam. He is currently working at his China studio. This photo is of the West Lakes in Hangzhou, which reminds him of home on Smith Mountain Lake.

He responded to my questions via email.

Describe your business in America:
Marketing Communications... we provide creative services, photography, branding strategies and video production. We seem to be best suited for clients who want something different.... a different look, a different method to communicate the message, a different message.

Where are your studios located?
Dongguan (city) in the Guangdong Province in China. One in Vietnam, but we want a presence in Shanghai, and possibly Hangzhou (that's why I have been there several times)

What were the motivating factors which lead you to open a studio in China?
The mass exodus of manufacturers (specifically in the furniture industry) who were coming here.

What challenges were you faced with in China that you did not experience in the US or did not expect?
Our name (40West) was a problem. The pronunciation of the number "4" is similar to the word for death... big problem. From what I hear, it is not as big an issue now, as it used to be. (I find this to be very interesting consider how the number four is repeated through Chinese history: 4 olds, Gang of Four, 4 Modernizations.) I think it only has to with the sound relationship to "death". As I noted, though, I have not heard or seen any reactions to our logo, and all the buildings I go in have a 4th floor.

The biggest issue by far is the language barrier. Unlike 'romance' languages like Spanish, Italian or Portuguese you can't get any sounds that might help you figure out what is being said. With writing, there are 2,000 characters, instead of 26 letters. They do have a written system using western letters, but it seems to be hard for people from different provinces to understand. (Bill’s office manager is named “Lucy” serves to bridge the communication gap.)

Were you faced with any political hurdles in China?
Everyone is very accommodating, but the paperwork issues and procedures for getting registered are taking time.

During your time in China, do you see past influences on the present day?
Oh yes, I call it the two faces of China. One very modern and forward thinking, and one still trying to break out of the last 40 years.

It really depends on where you are. You will see many historical influences in northern China (cities like Shanghai , Beijing, Hangzhou).

But in the south (Guangdong Provence) everything is new. When I came here 5 years ago, Dongguan (city in Guangdong) was just a small town with one main road. Now it's a city of 10 million, that you can drive for an hour (on a freeway) and still be within the city limits.

What are some of the major differences you see in Chinese and American culture? Business?
The food namely. They eat many vegetables, and several items that we in the west would not expect... or try. I have found, that if you try something and like it... don't ask what it is.

The Culture is very fun loving, closely knit society. It is not unusual for parents to come and live with the children when they get old. Their society is very young too. When I am in the cities, the average age is probably 25.... you just don't see many people over 40 (like US cities)

Business is very different. The blend of communism and capitalism is formidable. They don't discuss and debate what they want to do... they do it. They also are geared for large production volumes. They do not seem interested in short run, small orders. In addition, the labor pool changes the dynamic here incredibly. They will throw 1,000 workers at a project before they would ever consider buying expensive equipment

Anything else relevant to Modern China?
You may want to read "China Inc" by Ted Fishman, I believe. He did his homework, and was right on. I read it while I was here, getting adjusted and it was amazing.

I would say that I see a real sense of nationalism here. They are growing rapidly and have the world's attention. They firmly believe they will lead the world into the 21st century. The Olympics are a big feather in that cap, and I am sure they will be incredible.

One last thing, it is incredible how much they like our culture. People will come up to me and practice English with me. McDonalds is a huge hit here (and KFC) and it's the only place I know where you can find someone under the age of forty driving a Buick (GM has a big Buick plant in Shanghai).

Many thanks to Bill Thomas for the interview and the photo provided.

Democracy Wall Original Blog Site?

This November will mark the 30th anniversary of the Democracy Wall Movement. The Wall became a source of postings challenging/criticizing the government. The first post was by Wei Jingsheng through his offering of the “Fifth Modernization”.

Wei’s posting was in response to the Four Modernizations. As proposed as the goals of Deng Xiaoping they included: agriculture, industry, science and technology, and national defense. Wei felt the fifth element of democracy should be included.

One has to wonder if Wei was the original blogger? Similar to a blog site, the wall was a place for free expression. Maybe it is the fact I am new to blogging, but I found the similarity to be amusing.

Although the original Wall was “closed” after only a year, other ‘walls’ still exist (as seen in the photo) and are used for job information

[photo: Cao Zhongzhi taken at 1:30pm on January 21, 2005 from EastSouthWestNorth.com]