China...the beautiful

The very, very hungry China
By SAP



With an explosive economy year after year, China continues to impress and awe anywhere from Buenos Aires to Berlin. There are but a few indications that the metaphorical “dragon” will rest again soon. Instead, it is undergoing a metamorphosis, much similar to the children’s story The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In the famous story, a caterpillar indulges its insatiable demand for food by eating apples, pies, meat, etc. etc. In the case of China, you can substitute those food items with just about any raw material you can think of (except for democracy, if that applies). Look at how steel prices are soaring due to China's high demand. In the story, the caterpillar ends up becoming a beautiful butterfly. Will that also happen to China?

All over the world, Chinese culture has proliferated at an amazing rate. From blockbuster movies such as “Hero” and “House of flying daggers", to thousands of foreigners who now travel and study abroad in China; it is now obvious that China needs to do little to attract attention. Is that “beauty” -- to attract such attention? Many cover page models might not be beautiful to everyone, but at least they are famous – does that not suffice? Or at least society has constructed the idea for us that they definitely are beautiful.

Today we start to see China’s involvement all over the world. In African oil endeavors, in building infrastructure in South America, and many other project which would not fit in this account. It might be seen as greed, but with investment and new business opportunities for developing countries in South East Asia and Latin America, the proverbial “spilling over” of both capital and culture (two important C’s) seems like a viable option … much like with the United States today.

This is not necessarily to illustrate that China will threaten East Asia or the current world order. Instead China teaches us that even though a civilization is greedily eating away anything in its way (like many European empires of the past), it may have a dynamic future. Just like the caterpillar. It may thus restore the splendor and art of the Sung and Ming dynasties, which though romanticsm has created and constructed the very ideas and perspectives which today are ingrained in our tastes and preferences -- to once again appreciate china as 漂亮 or “beautiful”.


Your comments are highly appreciated

Soccer: Bad day for East Asian teams

It was a bad day for the East Asian teams in the 2006 World Cup qualifyer.

South Korea - Saudi Arabia: 0-2

North Korea - Bahrain: 1-2

Japan - Iran: 1-2


Rumor says, that North Korea has "players of mass destruction".

Unfortunately, two fans were killed in a stampede in Iran after the celebrations of the surprise win over Japan.

Soccer: Bad day for East Asian teams

It was an unfortunate day for the 3 East Asian teams in the World Cup 2006 qualifyers on Friday.

North Korea - Bahrain: 1-2

South Korea - Saudi Arabia: 0-2

Iran - Japan: 2-1


To make things worse: Following Iran's surprising victory, the celebrations after the game cost the lives of two Iranian fans who were killed in a stampede.

"Intentions".....

Property of Korea Herald

The words North Korea was so interested in hearing, were finally uttered by the "loyal" Secretary of State:

"The United States has no intention to attack North Korea"

According to the Korea Herald:
"U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday urged North Korea to make a "strategic choice" to give up its nuclear weapons, and repeated that the United States has no intention of attacking the North.
"North Koreans know that the United States said repeatedly that we have no intention of invading or attacking North Korea," Rice said at a joint news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon before leaving for China on the final leg of an Asian tour. She came here after visiting India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Japan. "

By Lee Joo-hee
Article Link


Well... they had better not. The US cannot afford another war. Look at the numbers -- the US is in red ALL OVER. While George W. Bush wants to help the future generations in his quest of ideology, he might help the children of Afghanistan and Iraq, but he is certainly not doing much for the unpriviledged Americans...

What do you think?

Is Rice doing a good job?

Keeping in mind its role as a common staple in East Asia, "Rice" must have been a success :)

China growth theatens the Mekong

"For countless generations, fishermen along the Mekong River have passed their lore and way of life from father to son: the rhythms of the water, the habits of the many kinds of fish, the best nets and traps to use to survive and prosper."

By Jane Perlez, The New York Times
Article Link



Yet, things will not carry on as smoothly with the Mekong in the future... that is, if China's insatiable demand for energy continues.

Will China be able to bridle its very high demand in power/electricity?

Would "clean" energy sources (wind, solar, wave, etc.) help save East Asias natural treasures?

Is the world going to end once China is fully industrialized?

What can "the West do"?

We need your input!

Hyundai - the turning of the tide!

Cookiesap is back, after a long period of non-activity on his behalf (due to computer problems). Thank god, Chin-Fu posted so many intriguing articles!

Being a Koreaphile, he would like to share with you an article about the Hyundai and how the tide is turning for the Ulsan Automaker.

LINK to the Article (www.marketwatch.com)


Do you think Hyndai is closer to a wheel-barrow or a standard saloon/sedan?

Should we invest our entire retirement savings in Hyndai?

AFP: North Korea's Kim says nuclear talks can resume 'if conditions met'

(AFP & AP)

"BEIJING (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il said six-party talks on his country's nuclear drive can resume "at any time" if certain conditions are met, Chinese state media said."


Kim did not, however, specify what the conditions are.

Full Article

Is Kim trying to take advantage, and try to appear "in control"?

Will the 6-party talks disarm DPRK?

Does Kim have the bomb?

China military buildup threatens US forces: CIA chief (AFP)

"...Testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Goss also highlighted threats to the United States from North Korea (news - web sites), which he warned could resume missile tests anytime after boasting of its nuclear weapons' might last week.

"Beijing's military modernisation and military buildup could tilt the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait," said Goss, who took over as CIA director in September.

"Improved Chinese capabilities threaten US forces in the region," he told the committee assessing the main security threats to the United States.

Goss said that China was stepping up efforts to "develop robust, survivable nuclear armed missiles as well as conventional capability for use in regional conflicts....."

Complete Article

Seoul Doubts N.Korea Has Nukes, Despite Claim (Reuters)

Here we go again.......

"SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's top policymaker on North Korea said Monday North Korea's claim to have nuclear weapons was unproven and Seoul's controversial engagement policy with the North would remain, at least for now.

North Korea explicitly said for the first time last Thursday that it had atomic weapons. The reclusive communist state also said it was pulling out of six-party talks aimed at ending a two-year impasse over its nuclear programs because of what it called U.S. hostility. "There is no doubt that North Korea has 10 to 14 kg (22 to 31 pounds) of plutonium, but there is no evidence that the North has turned it into plutonium bombs," Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young told parliament Monday. "

Reuters via Yahoo!News
Complete article

Is Mr. Chung having a point or trying to comfort a worrying nation?

Does North Korea have the bomb?

Any North Koreans out there (either in or outside of the hermit kingdom) .... who wish to comment on this?

The North Korea Bugaboo and the Seas

SEOUL - North Korea issued a strong warning to South Korea on Saturday over what it claimed was the South's repeated intrusion into its waters, saying the alleged infringements could lead to a 'very serious disaster'.

A statement reported by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said: 'The South Korean army perpetrated military provocations by infiltrating a battleship several times into the North Korean waters.

AFP in the Straits Times
Full Article

With an ambiguous maritime border and with North Korea's re-ignited brinksmanship, are we closer now than ever to a breach in the 1954 armastice agreement?

How can the South Korean people help prevent an escalation in the crisis?

Kim's New Claim: We have nukes!!!! ...... really?

The New York Times Reports:

North Korea declared publicly on Thursday for the first time that it possessed nuclear weapons and would refuse to return to disarmament talks. That left China, the United States and its allies to debate whether diplomacy could still persuade the North Koreans to give up the nuclear option.

Feb. 10. 2005.

Full Article

Do they have nuclear weapons....really?

Might they have a nuclear 'bomb', but without the missile capability needed to threaten other countries, such as Japan and Fiji?

Should Tokyo's mayor be as audacious as always?

Can Rice salvage the situation?

Beijing invites Tokyo to talk

BEIJING-China has asked Japan to enter a bilateral ``strategic dialogue'' on the vice foreign minister level concerning regional and global situations and economic issues, diplomatic sources said over the weekend.
Beijing has recently urged several major nations to enter into special policy dialogues.
While India and the United States have already entered special talks with China, Tokyo has yet to respond.

Asahi.com. Full article.

Another round of good ol' Asian 'talk'?

What good will come of this?

Tests Said to Tie Deal on Uranium to North Korea

The New York Times Reports:

Scientific tests have led American intelligence agencies and government scientists to conclude with near certainty that North Korea sold processed uranium to Libya, bolstering earlier indications that the reclusive state exported sensitive fuel for atomic weapons, according to officials with access to the intelligence.

Full Article

Direct China-Taiwan flights start

What a great moment in the history of the Taiwan-PRC relationship. May friendship between the two chinas live forever!

What do you think?

China's economy grows 9.5 percent in 2004 vs 9.3 percent in 2003

BEIJING, Jan 25 (AFP) - China's booming economy grew even faster in 2004, expanding at a blistering pace of 9.5 percent after 9.3 percent the previous year, official statistics showed Tuesday.

Copyright (c) 2005 Agence France-Presse

China just keeps on getting richer, and bigger, and more powerful, and suddenly..... will it become the world's next "superpower"?

What lies ahead for the Chinese economy? a bust? An explosion? an implosion? political reform?

Japanese military deploys to tsunami-hit Indonesia

Japan's largest military deployment since World War II has arrived in Indonesia to help tsunami victims and improve the country's image in a region wary of its past aggression.
Other foreign troops are scaling down their presence in the badly-hit Aceh region one month after the disaster.
But the three Japanese navy ships carrying 950 Self-Defence Force personnel have dropped anchor in Indonesian waters.
AFP. ABC News.

Complete article

Perhaps this is the start of Japan as a regional "builder" towards peace and integration?
Is Japan going to really help Indonesia?
What is Japan's motive?

For Beijing Students Now, Protests Aren't Even a Memory

BEIJING, Jan. 21 - For Yu Yang, a mop-haired biology major, the small notice posted this week on Beijing University's Web site about the death of a former Communist Party leader seemed like an irrelevant historical footnote.

Growing up, Mr. Yu, now 21, barely knew about Zhao Ziyang, except that he had "played a prominent role in 1989." And Mr. Yu acknowledged Thursday that he barely knew about 1989. He knew students had protested at Tiananmen Square; he had heard that Chinese soldiers fired into the crowds to end the demonstrations.

But Mr. Yu, an aspiring scientist, described that as hearsay. "Rumors say so," he said of a bloody crackdown witnessed by a worldwide television audience outside China, "but I need a lot of evidence to believe it."

By Jim Yardley. The New York Times. 1/22/04.
Full article

Is the lack of regard for history as an "exact science" a problem for the Chinese population?
Would this impact the regional dynamics in the future?

Credit card use at highest level in two years

Credit card usage during the fourth quarter of last year was the highest in two years, card issuers reported.
The companies told the Ministry of Finance and Economy that consumers charged 44,865 billion won in the October-December period.
That was a 10.6 percent year-on-year increase and the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2002, when shoppers put 45,825 billion won on their credit cards.

The Korea Herald. By Kim So-hyun.
Full Article Link

Will the high rate of credit card debt become a potential downfall for the Korean economy?
Rational exuberance?

Beijing greets 1.3 billionth mainland baby

Chen Zhiyong writes in China Daily:

The 1.3 billionth Chinese person was greeted Thursday morning in Beijing.
Just two minutes after midnight, a boy of 3.66 kilograms drew his first breath and uttered his first cries at the Beijing Hospital of Gynaecology and Obstetrics.

Complete article

What do you think about the one-child policy?

Should it be discontinued?

What is your experience with this policy?

Hasn't capitalism moved past this law, since rich families can afford the fine for having a second child?

Is it psycologically damaging to not have any siblings?

North Korea prepares for war with US

The AP writes (in The Sydney Morning Herald):

North Korea has ordered its people to prepare for a protracted war against the United States, issuing guidelines on evacuating to underground bunkers with weapons, food and portraits of leader Kim Jong Il.

article link

Is there anything new here?

Hasn't North Korea technically been at war for the past 50 years?

What can the evacuation of Kim Jong Il's portraits tell us?

Did you hear that North Korea contributed with $150,000 to help the Tsunami victims?