Migrants Becoming Marginalized

We spent time this semester studying the growing migrant worker movement in China. People from the countryside seeking opportunity in the growing cities of China but who do not develop permanent residence in the cities. Most of these workers do not intend to become migrants according to this article . They flock to the cities looking for opportunities and means to establish themselves but often end up living on the outskirts of the cities in non-permanent communities and returning to the countryside to be with family.

These workers represent the "dream" in China. To become incorporated into the web of wealth and opportunities the expanding Chinese market offers is their goal. However, as this article points out, traditional city dwellers look down upon these migrant workers. They live on the outside looking in. In many ways, they are casualties of the changing Chinese market. Oftentimes, their farms have been displaced by China's progress and so they turn to progress as a means to support their families. In some cases, their land has been desimated by China's environmental problems, usually resulting from a lack of usable water.

Like many capitalist societies, its easy for the have-nots to grow further away from the haves and China is experiencing this change. China has made it difficult for many of them to make permanent residence in the cities by denying them residency permits. The migrants continue to seek and search for opportunity. Some have turned to providing educational opportunities for their children as a means to end the cycle. China could do better to provide housing and access for those migrant citizens willing to take a chance on opportunity rather than forcing them to live on the outside looking in.

Sphere of Influence

By looking at a map of Southeast Asia it's easy to see the geographical influence China can extend within the region. Just examining the number of common borders between China and other countries is astounding, especially from an American perspective where we only border Mexico and Canada.

China, in terms of land and population has an advantage over many of her neighbors and historically maintained a system of tribute as the dominant country in the region. China's influence waned during the "century of humiliation" where China was occupied and only recently has China been able to rebuild these ties.

In the meantime, while China was on decline and then rebuilding itself, the United States has been extending its sphere of influence around the world, both through economic trade and military power. The United States, unlike most other countries in the world, maintain US military bases around the world. The US influence came in part from their role in World War II and has extended into the twenty first century. Countries seeking aid from the US, like those in Central Asia, have been inclined to accept US military presence within their borders. With such a strong U.S. presence in Asia, China is likely concerned over U.S. influence in the region that they deem to be under their sphere.

As a means to extend its interest, China has entered into trade and other agreements with governments that the United States either fails to recognize or has imposed sanctions against as a way to gain a strategic influence. While the United States can offer a "shame, shame" on China's decision, it must maintain diplomatic and trade ties with China. The United States has positioned itself, right , wrong or indifferent, as a global policeman. Whereas China, up to now, has been content on strengthening their market and earning the respect of their neighbors. The PRC's core ideological differences with the United States, namely communism versus capitalism, has dwindled. While the United States would encourage movement in China, as it does throughout the world, towards democracy, the U.S./China relationship is too important to act with any force.

China's mission in developing relations with her neighbors is out of economic gain and not for the purpose of spreading communism, as the U.S. would have feared in the 1950's. Therefore the United States needs to stick to its ideological reasons for suppressing ties with countries it deems in opposition to U.S. ideology and allow China to make its own decisions. China has a careful line to walk as it reaches out to its neighbors while at the same time desperately seeking world respect. If the United States and the UN find a country unfavorable, China might want to think twice before entering into relations if it wants to maintain its world status.

Mongolian Land Seize

A recent news story from Inner Mongolia has me questioning if there’s a difference in Chinese policy towards minorities like the Mongols. The story, is about Wu Bao-quan, a man from Inner Mongolia (some articles just referenced him as a Mongol, which from what I can tell refers to his ethnicity) who has been tried and jailed for what the government deems slander. Wu has learned through a friend that the people in the Habagexi village and Zhaizida village within Ordos Prefecture of Inner Mongolia had their land appropriated by the government at a rate far below the national standard policy. He further alleged that while the people had only received 250rmb per mu that the government was able to turn around and sell it for 820,000 RMB per mu. Wu felt that people needed to know about this and published an article on the internet condemning the practice in the hopes that the attention would push the local government to properly reimburse the people.

Instead, Wu was arrested and tried. He was convicted of “’fabrication of facts and slander’, and ‘creating a malignant influence on the people of the area and the area itself, and threatening local development.’” He was sentenced to one year in prison which, he appealed. He was granted a new trial and the people from the villages came out to testify on his behalf. Despite the official court records citing that the ‘’facts are unclear,’” his sentence was re-imposed and extended to two years.

So, this begs the question if this is just the normal corruption rampant in China, or have Wu and the people of Habagexi village and Zhaizida village been treated differently because of their ethnic background?

Progress in China is measured in terms of GDP and development. The land that was taken was to be used for the Kangbashi New District, a new modern city to be a model for progress in modern China. Similar projects have affected people, especially those in rural villages, around China for projects such as the Three Gorges Dam. However, the Chinese government established a proper rate at which people whose land was claimed should be reimbursed. Irrigated land should be paid a rate of 25,000 RMB per mu, dry land 20,000 RMB per mu, and uncultivated land should be paid a rate of 10,000 RMB per mu. However, Wu and the people of Habagexi village and Zhaizida village contend that they only received 5757 RMB per mu of irrigated land, 800 RMB per mu of dry land, and 250 RMB per mu of uncultivated land.

It is easy to assume that these people received less than the standard simply because they are Mongolian. However with the rampant corruption, especially at the local level, across China this could just be another example of a policy that takes advantage of the powerless. Wu’s imprisonment emphasizes the lack of power the people have to seek justice.

Coal Miners Lost Voice...

“We don’t have the grass-roots democracy; we don’t have independent labor unions; we don’t have checks and balances; we don’t have any system of official accountability.” -Hu Xingdou, economic professor, Beijing Institute of Technology

An article published this week in the New York Times addresses the issues of worker safety and government cover-up surrounding coal mining in China. This article ties together much of what we have learned in class about life in modern China.

China's quest to turn into a global economic power has consequences. China's communist party has abandoned the basic principles of communism.... the quest for equality among the classes... in favor of a capitalist approach to economic growth by encouraging foreign investment and holding even state owned enterprises accountable for economic success. In my opinion, this is fine. I would argue that in no state in the world should the government be expected to provide for its people. The role of the government should be to protect and defend its people and it's here where China is letting its people down.

Governments should establish laws that protect the people. In order for government to protect the best interests of the people, it needs to be also formed of the people. Here is where modern Chinese government contradicts the new freedom expressed in modern Chinese economy. A one party system, where only the party has a say in who leads and how they lead can only lead to corruption. There is no system of checks and balances. No means for other thought to challenge the prevailing thought or offer counter-thought. Modern Chinese "socialism with Chinese characteristics" is merely a catch phrase to justify authoritarian rule through threats and corruption.

The coal industry in China is a perfect example of the issues surrounding modern China. China's economy is growing and it's reliance on energy and electricity grows with that same fervor. Modernization in today's global economy means technological advances and these advances rely on energy. For China, coal has been the answer. It's the most abundant fuel source in China and the means to create energy from coal were the most affordable to implement. Just like other enterprises, China's coal industry is made up of state and privately owned mines competing with each other for production and wealth. And just like everything else in China, the most disposable commodity seems to be the Chinese people.

Where China lacks in fuel sources, food sources and natural resources it does not lack in population. So while it may seem like the sheer number of people could stand up for itself, that's not always the case, not in a one party system that controls the people through fear and corruption and where for the great many, opportunity has grown. The Chinese people seem to be relying on the hope that they too can achieve success, if not for themselves then for their children because for the first time they see opportunity around them, even if for the individual it appears completely out of reach.

Here is where the Chinese government can change. In order to fully integrate into the world economy, they need to not only accept a capitalistic approach to production but also to government. By allowing the people a say, they can elect people who will represent them, not just look out for the best interests of the party or like many tend to do, the best interests of themselves and justified through the party by the means of corruption. Remove the corruption and worker's conditions and safety standards can improve. As it stands now, the people lack the voice because they are expendable and the party simply doesn't care.

清明節- Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day)

104 days after the winter solstices marks Tomb Sweeping Day in China which falls either April 4th or 5th (depending on Leap Year). Traditionally this is a day to visit the graves of your ancestors to pay homage to them. People would leave gifts like favorite foods or paper gifts and recently burning paper money to remember the dead. An article online at China View addresses how the celebration of this event is changing.




Celebrations of the festival can cause traffic issues as people flock to cemeteries. The government and others have encouraged people to celebrate "cyberly" by leaving virtual memorials on websites as opposed to visiting the cemetery. As China's younger generation has fully adopted the internet there was an influx of people using the internet to memorialize their dead ancestors. People were able to leave picture messages of traditional tributes like food or flowers in a blog like format. They could light a virtual candle to honor their dead.

This is just another example how China, lead by its youth, is becoming increasingly hi-tech and progressive even in how they handle very traditional events like Tomb Sweeping Day.

Global China?

Where does China fit in globally? On the world stage, China accounts for approximately 20% of the world's population but only accounts for 6% of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Which ranks the per capita income 104th in the world. Internationally relations are increasingly being driven by economics and China continues to be a major player in the world's economy. China exports 70% of everything it makes. Because China is able to produce goods cheaply, the rest of the world is eager to consume them. For example, the average wage in China, including benefits is $1.25 USD, whereas in the United States it's somewhere around $16.00. Americans, eager to spend their $16.00, are happy to consume Chinese produced goods at their local WalMart. Walmart in the US makes a huge profit. Walmart in China is still operating at a loss. The Chinese people lack the means to purchase the things they make.

China's primary natural resource is its people. China imports raw materials from around the world. Land in China is so dessamated by pollution and overuse that it only provides 6% of the world's farmable land. 6% to feed 20% of the world's population increases China's dependence on the world's economy.

So, what does all of this mean for China's place as a world power? In terms of military potential, China possess the manpower, but lacks the technological and economic resources to be too great of a threat. China is seemingly aware of this and so they seem to want the world to become more economically dependent on China as a way to exert world power. China has opened up and welcomes world investment. China has worked very hard to secure this position and increasingly finds ways to maintain it. China's currency is valued against a grouping of Japanese yen, US Dollars and the EU's Euro. China continues to buy up world debt in terms of bonds. China is tying its future to that of the rest of the world and because of this, they have to be included.

How much of China's economy is secure is yet to be seen. Government run industry is disappearing and in some ways, that serves to weaken the Communist Party because people are increasingly less dependent on the government. Those who can make money in the world economy are comfortable and secure for the moment. Those reliant on government assistance lack a universal voice and are held in check by government censorship. Business is allowed to exploit Chinese resources, both its people and its environment. China's government does not seem willing to take a stand in this regard.

In an increasingly global economy, it will take global influence to change China. Global pressures are felt by all governments, including world powers. Thus far, China has been willing to sit back and welcome foreign money and in some ways increasing foreign influence (China in recent years has backed down from military threats against Taiwan due mostly to world opinion, at least in my opinion). China's economic reliance on the world makes them vulnerable to pressures from the world on global issues like the environment or military ventures; while at the same time, the world becomes increasingly dependent on China to furnish the goods for mass consumerism. In this way, China cannot be ignored as a world power. China can likely continue to be a power whether or not the communist party remains in power based solely on economic ties.



Many of the details of this entry came from : CIA.gov

Depicting Reality? What does art say about Modern China?

The closest thing I had previously come to "Chinese entertainment" was at my favorite Chinese restaurant in Williamsburg, VA. The owners of Peking had installed TV's that showed Chinese videos of landscapes and circuses to the locals and tourists who frequented their buffet (which has grown to include Mongolian as well as Japanese style dishes). If my family was going out to eat growing up, which was infrequent, but odds are we were going to Peking. The restaurant had grown from a small sit-down establishment with a menu of traditional Ameri-Chinese dishes, to this giant restaurant which in the strip mall had consumed the once occupied spaces of a pet store, dance studio and shipping store. The owners seem to be living out the American dream, but I'm not sure how "American" it really is. From my readings on the history of Modern China I have learned about the various movements in the socialistic cycle that took place following the revolution: The Great Leap Forward, The Cultural Revolution, The Four Moderns. It's one thing to read about this from a historical perspective, it's another to understand what they meant to the people of China. In the movie To Live, directed by Zhang Yimou and the book Life and Death are Wearing Me Out written by Mo Yan we are entertained by works that bring to life the second half of the 20th century. Both works parallel the tubulent history with different perspectives of that time as seen through the various characters. They incorporate Chinese cultural traditions, the puppets in To Live and the concept of reincarnation in Mo Yan's work as virtual characters in the stories. The audience gets to see how these artists perceived the effects of the different movements in Communist China.

As artists, they are allowed certain liberties in their story telling, and these are especially employed by Mo Yan. Mo Yan's switching through narrators can be confusing at times, I found myself having to stop at the beginning of each chapter to figure out who was doing the talking, but it also made the book interesting. The style of writing was also different from what I am used to in Western works, but made the book interesting. I found myself very consumed with the stories, especially when they were being told from the perspective of the animal reincarnations. It was through these reincarnations of donkey, pig and dog that the author could really offer a commentary on the times and even at times, the animals could become just as caught up in the various movements.

While these artists can employ artistic freedom, as the audience I felt their depictions serve to give the modern audience a better understanding of the times.