Since the Olympic torch came home in May, the swarms of people thronging to catch a glimpse of the “sacred flame” have borne testament to the patriotic fervor successfully drummed up by Beijing in support of this summer’s games. But the most remarkable aspect of the Olympic warm-up has not been mainlanders’ love of their […]
Category: Politics & Society
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China Buzz
US Senator Richard Durbin, pressing internet firms to justify their presence in China and other internet-censoring countries: “Perhaps it’s time for Congress to consider converting this moral obligation into a legal obligation.” Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, speaking at his inauguration on May 21: “In the light of our common Chinese heritage, people on both sides […]
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Mending fences
President Hu Jintao became the first Chinese head of state to visit Japan in a decade in early May. For both Hu and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the unofficial brief was to ease political tensions and reinforce bilateral trade ties. Perhaps the most significant development was a commitment to annual summits and increased civil […]
Top-level talks between China and the EU won’t cure economic ills or address political ones
The dispute came out of nowhere. Nan Wu didn’t even notice that he had tapped another car with the side view mirror of his own vehicle, but the off-duty police officer driving the flashy sports car doesn’t care. He chases Nan down, threatens to kill him with his gun and then, as a parting shot, […]