China’s Ethnic Policies

Jenny Zhu Posted in China, Uncategorized, learning with ChinesePod, news,Tags: , ,
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Ethnic tensions brewing for decades culminated in bloody riots recently. I came across a good article in Singapore’s major Chinese paper 联合早报 (Lianhe Morning Post) which provided some good assessment of the very complex issue. The article addresses a key problem as laid out in the title ‘the most generous ethnic policy in China results in clash’. Generous indeed. This is the essence and problem of the policy. Xin/jiang has received many favorable policies in economic development, education and employment. It’s not too dissimilar to affirmative action in the US, which has created somewhat similar problems. Neither the Uighur nor the Han Chinese feel the system is fair. Taking employment as an example, state run enterprises have a quota that stipulates they must have a certain amount of Uighur employees. Since it is not based on merits but ethnicity, some Han Chinese feel they are denied of a job that they are more qualified for. Quite often, this can create a culture where Uighurs do not work as hard because their job is secured by the favorable policy. It in turn creates a biased thinking amongst Han Chinese that Uighurs are lazy employees. So private businesses don’t hire them. Of course, that further perpetuates prejudice and tension. But it’s flawed to think that the tension is caused by Uighurs disgruntled over the Han Chinese’s grip of money and resources. In fact, the central government has poured money to the region and the majority of Uighurs are financially better off than in the past. What they are really concerned about is the restriction concerning their faith. Although mosques are prevalent, preaching is censored. There are also other restrictions limiting the role of religion. But this is an area that Beijing is determined to keep its control over. Thus the article makes the argument that the biggest mistake of in the policy is equating faith to benefits. They think by creating wealth in the region, people will be willing to pay the price, i.e. religion. Now, policy makers have to bear the consequences.

After reading the article, it got me thinking about the give and take game. Why does it work so well with the Han Chinese though? Why are we so pragmatic? I guess the lack of faith for a lot of people is a key condition. In the absence of a higher being, we answer to ourselves and loved ones. After many decades of turmoil, we are primarily concerned with stability and comfort. The price we have to pay seems small compared to what we could have. But the future generations who are born into prosperity and wealth might aspire to something different.

Boosting Employment: Don’t Leave School Yet

Jenny Zhu Posted in news
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Some of China’s policies are downright maverick. This week, authorities in Shanghai started a campaign to encourage graduates to delay graduation and stay in school for anywhere between 6 months to 2 years. Under the plan, the city will finance certain universities to provide vocational training during the extended school term. Students who complete the training will be awarded a pseudo ‘post bachelor degree’/ 学士后/xue2 shi4 hou4.

Many students have already chosen to do a postgraduate degree right after their undergraduate studies, which was largely how it was done in China even before the recession. It seems universities will soon need new dorms to house all these students, which works well with the government’s efforts to boost infrastructure spending . Harmony?

Equal Pay: University Graduates and Migrant Workers

Jenny Zhu Posted in news, observing
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How are we coping with the global recession in China? Take a look at CCTV’s appropriately named news program ‘China, confidence’, you will know the anxiety and fidgety hope spread across the country. Last night’s program was particularly interesting. It featured two largest job seeking groups in China: university graduates and migrant workers. This year, there are 5.5 million students leaving college while millions of migrant workers are out of work in the midst of factories closing down. It was never likely that these people would cross each other’s path. But when interviewed, some graduates have lowered their salary expectation to around 1500 RMB a month considering the economic situation and an over supply of fresh graduates. On the other hand, migrant workers, especially experienced ones who’ve lived through the boom and now bust are demanding more. A few interviewd said that they were making around 1500 RMB -2000 RMB a month and that’s the lowest they could accept. If they couldn’t get that kind of money working in the city, a few said they would return home and start their own business. A reverse demonstration of humility and confidence, and one of the many fascinating contradictions in China.

‘Olympics for Farmers’

Jenny Zhu Posted in news
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Albeit an economic slowdown and a series of food scares, there is also non-stop festivities in China. This time, it’s a sports competition for farmers, i.e. 农运会/nong2 yun4 hui4. Not only are all the contestants farmers, the events are also inspired by agricultural life such as the planting race you see in the clip. Other events include shot put (instead of a piece of metal athletes throw a bunch of crop) and dragon dance, which originated in the countryside. 

I don’t know how applicable those events are to farming. But the contestants all seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, maybe to an even greater extent than Olympians. Also a dose of optimism in a dire time. 

China’s Space Program: More than National Pride

Jenny Zhu Posted in musings, news
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China’s spacecraft Shenzhou VII,神州七号 blasted off last night, carrying 3 taikongnauts ( a term if I remember correctly was coined 5 years ago when China sent its first astronaut to space. Taikong/太空 means space). On this mission, one of the taikongnauts will conduct China’s first space walk. Therefore, this mission has been marked with extraordinay importance.

TV stations ran hours of live coverage. When the spacecraft catapulted into space, it was undeniablly an inspiring and proud moment. But more than national pride, it would be truly wonderful if the mission would bring something else to China, to help us see our country as a little spot on earth, and earth a little spot in the infinite universe. That’s one of the greatest legacies of the moon landing, which inspired a new world view that helped establish environmentalism and global citizenship. Ancient Chinese philosophy sees human beings as dust in the universe. A few thousand years later, technology might help us understand that better.

Loss of Faith

Jenny Zhu Posted in news
16

The shocking revelations about dairy products keep rolling out in China. The contaminated baby formula produced by a major local brand, 三鹿/San Lu has caused tens of thousands of babies to have liver stones, and resulted in three deaths. The chemical melamine which makes milk appear rich in protein during quality tests is the culprit. This week, nationwide tests further reveal that most of China’s dairy producers use melamine to some extent. Even highly trusted brands like 蒙牛/meng3 niu2 and 伊利/yi1 li4′s products have been tested positive.

Recalls, apologies, sacking, arrests and pledge of free treatment dominated the news this week. China, unfortunately is no stranger to incidents like this. Toxic toys and dumplings caused major scare at diplomatic level in the States and Japan. Our response though has always been excessively defensive, like a cactus. Many see it as a loss of face and feel persecuted by conservative protectionist ’China detractors’.  The automatic response to quality issue is ‘false claim’. But in fact, many Chinese opt for foreign brands if they can afford them. The public response to the milk scare has been anger and utter disappointment. But like many past incidents, we seem to be unable to make substantive change. Our obsession with face and pride combined with corrpution and structural problems are fundamentally poisonous.

Loss of faith seems to be the global theme in recent weeks. And we are yet to find a way to restore faith.    

Chinese Soundbites by ChinesePod and Shanghaiist

Jenny Zhu Posted in learning with ChinesePod, news
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shanghaiist_SH0001pb.mp3

In the midst of a million significant events around the globe, today also marks the inaugural episode of Chinese Soundbites, a new weekly podcast about buzzwords in China. Amber and myself host the show. It’s a collaboration between ChinesePod and Shanghaiist, a massively popular blog about life and survival in Shanghai.

Of course, nothing is more buzzword-sy than Liu Xiang right now. In a bittersweet fashion, his pullout is the subject of this week’s show.

Reaction to Liu Xiang’s Withdrawal

Jenny Zhu Posted in news, observing
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While conspiracy theorists spin up claims like Liu Xiang is bought by betting agencies,  most people’s hearts go wholeheartedly to him. Commercials featuring Liu Xiang shifted gear from the full on cheer campaign to another kind of 加油 to give Liu Xiang moral support.

Why is Liu Xiang such a huge deal to us? (I love this guy!!!) Well, not only because of his winning performance, but also his personality. He is a rare find for Chinese man who is supremely confident but has the goods to back it up and never cocky. Hope to see that side of him soon.

Abrupt Ending to 1.3 Billion Dreams

Jenny Zhu Posted in news
6

 

China’s stellar performance at the Olympics has surprised itself. But what the nation has anticipated for the most is 刘翔/Liu Xiang, the defending champion of men’s 110 meter hurdles. He is China’s Michael Phelps if you will. Being the country’s first man to ever win an Olympic gold. But today, his dream and that of an entire nation came to a sudden and sad ending when he withdrew from the race due to injury.

The 24-year-old has been living under unimaginable pressure, carrying the hope of 1.3 billion people. As the 90,000 spectators sigh collectively when Liu Xiang walked out of the stadium, l hope he will soon walk into a normal life. 刘翔,好样儿的!

  

Gold for Gold: How China Rewards Athletes

Jenny Zhu Posted in news, observing
7

Honor used to be the primary drive for athletes in China. Of course there were material benefits such as housing and slightly higher salaries. But glorifying the motherland was the key motivation for sports professionals.

How things have changed. Now, Chinese Olympic gold medalists are rewarded gold, literally. A gold medalist will receive at least RMB3 million RMB (about USD 430,000) in monetary and housing benefits excluding the even more lucrative advertising gigs. If you are Liu Xiang, who wins a gold medal in an event that no Chinese has ever won, the official reward is RMB 1 million.

How does the reward work? Firstly, with multiple bureaucratic layers come with multiple rewards, from the central sports adminisatrion to the local government and local sports administration to even the neighborhood council. Property developer also jump at the chance to giftwrap free housing to athletes both as a reward and advertisement. The most quirky reward though is from a Hongkong tycoon whose fundation gives gold medalists 1 KG of gold and USD 50,000.

Of course, the pride and glory are still there. They just have a golden finish now.