UNDERSTANDING CHINA
There is a new book out that should form part of the canon of those who wish to combat the simplistic urges of the Marxist-Maoist movements in this country with inconvenient facts and common relationships that help sort out fictional fantasy from reality on the ground.
The author of China House, Lawrence Klepinger, explains:
The self-proclaimed desire of the Chinese government to “crush” the current Tibetan uprising is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The horrifying effect of 60 years of Chinese communist rule is just now beginning to unfold. From unlawful land acquisitions and unfathomable slave labor working conditions to forced abortion, outright murder, rape and pillage by communist officials themselves, the world is only now starting to open its collective eyes. When it finally wakes up it will be horrified at what it sees.
As one reviewer, Dr. Michael D, Kruse, puts it: "China House is a straightforward, non-technical, popular attempt by an ex-resident of China to show us the dark side of the latest and possibly greatest of capitalism's glittering prizes. Using anecdotes, personal examples, conversations with Chinese people and, where available, documentary sources, the author makes a compelling argument for holding the "New China" at arm's length. He systematically exposes the government and business corruption, the failure of the health, education and (communist) agricultural and industrial systems, the "cosmetic" laws, the rape of the environment, the lying and cheating that seem endemic even in everyday business transactions, the suicide of children under unimaginable examination stress, the abuse of women and ethnic minorities, the lack of personal and political freedoms, in short, the utter betrayal of the people by the party and government that swore to protect them, and links all of these evils to blatant justifications in the wording of the Chinese Constitution itself.
"However, China House is not a racist polemic against the Chinese. The author is scrupulous in his efforts to show that the greater underlying evil that spawns this welter of lesser demons is a familiar one and not at all as exotic as the oriental locations. It is the greed of multinational (but mostly Western) companies, in the guise of "globalization". The author lists dozens of Western companies (and he names names) that have their snouts deep in the troughs of cheap labour and enormous markets that make the "New China" so attractive to the foreign investor. He paints a broad canvas showing how Western multinationals collude with the "communist" authorities to exploit both the Chinese worker and the Chinese consumer. It is a disturbing portrait. It is the reason, he claims, that "all free democracies willingly divert their attention to the other side of the room. If China were to become democratic and free-enterprising at the same time, there would be no way that the USA, let alone other Western countries, could compete."
Another reviewer named Klaus Kaltenthaler disagrees in some areas: "In this respect the book is a good eye opener and should be read by anyone getting ready to deal with China in any official way. However, many other publications should be consulted to afford the uninitiated student of China a more balanced view.
"The author, coming to China with all the Western values we have have come to expect and even take for granted, shows great compassion with the Chinese people in the face of the official abuse by their own government.
"However, I do not share the author's view that multinational corporations are in China to exploit the cheap labor market in order to produce ever cheaper products for the unsatiable Western world. Many companies have been trading with China for more than 100 years and are now investing in industrial production sites in China in order to serve the ever growing domestic market which otherwise could not be supplied with continuing imports. In the process of industrialization China not only acquires new and previously unobtainable expertise, but also obtains companies that are managed in a modern and worker friendly environment with individual incomes much higher than are achievable in a purely Chinese state-owned or even private company. Thus international cooperation and the exchange with other countries, training of employees abroad, et cetera, are possible. They can be the seeds for an admittedly slow, but steady improvement of the working conditions for all Chinese companies while at the same time benefiting the Chinese economy.
"Given the mutations of China throughout the millenia and centuries, adjusting to the ever changing world around them to survive and gain advantage, I do not see the possibility of an imminent downfall of the Chinese communist party system, but a continuing change and adjustement whenever China sees advantages for their long term goal of proving their own superiority to the rest of the world."
Nothing less is expected of, We the People, of the United States of America, writes Klepinger.
I tend to agree. And despite the fact that an ashcan of experts argue that untold number of even more experts are required to understand an alarming situation, I agree that an informed public is vital to a fully-conscious American citizenry. Fantasy is for children and intellectual misfits. Cold reality among the bold sandbox bullies is far more harsh a consciousness, but right preferable especially in critical and crucial times when the lives of millions of families are at stake like so many marbles in what is shaping up to be yet another geo-political slugfest.
The author of China House, Lawrence Klepinger, explains:
The self-proclaimed desire of the Chinese government to “crush” the current Tibetan uprising is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The horrifying effect of 60 years of Chinese communist rule is just now beginning to unfold. From unlawful land acquisitions and unfathomable slave labor working conditions to forced abortion, outright murder, rape and pillage by communist officials themselves, the world is only now starting to open its collective eyes. When it finally wakes up it will be horrified at what it sees.
As one reviewer, Dr. Michael D, Kruse, puts it: "China House is a straightforward, non-technical, popular attempt by an ex-resident of China to show us the dark side of the latest and possibly greatest of capitalism's glittering prizes. Using anecdotes, personal examples, conversations with Chinese people and, where available, documentary sources, the author makes a compelling argument for holding the "New China" at arm's length. He systematically exposes the government and business corruption, the failure of the health, education and (communist) agricultural and industrial systems, the "cosmetic" laws, the rape of the environment, the lying and cheating that seem endemic even in everyday business transactions, the suicide of children under unimaginable examination stress, the abuse of women and ethnic minorities, the lack of personal and political freedoms, in short, the utter betrayal of the people by the party and government that swore to protect them, and links all of these evils to blatant justifications in the wording of the Chinese Constitution itself.
"However, China House is not a racist polemic against the Chinese. The author is scrupulous in his efforts to show that the greater underlying evil that spawns this welter of lesser demons is a familiar one and not at all as exotic as the oriental locations. It is the greed of multinational (but mostly Western) companies, in the guise of "globalization". The author lists dozens of Western companies (and he names names) that have their snouts deep in the troughs of cheap labour and enormous markets that make the "New China" so attractive to the foreign investor. He paints a broad canvas showing how Western multinationals collude with the "communist" authorities to exploit both the Chinese worker and the Chinese consumer. It is a disturbing portrait. It is the reason, he claims, that "all free democracies willingly divert their attention to the other side of the room. If China were to become democratic and free-enterprising at the same time, there would be no way that the USA, let alone other Western countries, could compete."
Another reviewer named Klaus Kaltenthaler disagrees in some areas: "In this respect the book is a good eye opener and should be read by anyone getting ready to deal with China in any official way. However, many other publications should be consulted to afford the uninitiated student of China a more balanced view.
"The author, coming to China with all the Western values we have have come to expect and even take for granted, shows great compassion with the Chinese people in the face of the official abuse by their own government.
"However, I do not share the author's view that multinational corporations are in China to exploit the cheap labor market in order to produce ever cheaper products for the unsatiable Western world. Many companies have been trading with China for more than 100 years and are now investing in industrial production sites in China in order to serve the ever growing domestic market which otherwise could not be supplied with continuing imports. In the process of industrialization China not only acquires new and previously unobtainable expertise, but also obtains companies that are managed in a modern and worker friendly environment with individual incomes much higher than are achievable in a purely Chinese state-owned or even private company. Thus international cooperation and the exchange with other countries, training of employees abroad, et cetera, are possible. They can be the seeds for an admittedly slow, but steady improvement of the working conditions for all Chinese companies while at the same time benefiting the Chinese economy.
"Given the mutations of China throughout the millenia and centuries, adjusting to the ever changing world around them to survive and gain advantage, I do not see the possibility of an imminent downfall of the Chinese communist party system, but a continuing change and adjustement whenever China sees advantages for their long term goal of proving their own superiority to the rest of the world."
Nothing less is expected of, We the People, of the United States of America, writes Klepinger.
I tend to agree. And despite the fact that an ashcan of experts argue that untold number of even more experts are required to understand an alarming situation, I agree that an informed public is vital to a fully-conscious American citizenry. Fantasy is for children and intellectual misfits. Cold reality among the bold sandbox bullies is far more harsh a consciousness, but right preferable especially in critical and crucial times when the lives of millions of families are at stake like so many marbles in what is shaping up to be yet another geo-political slugfest.
Labels: China, communist, globalism, industrialization, markets, multinationals, oppression, rape
posted by Gabriel Thy at 8:08 AM
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