Sascha Matuszak

I feel pretty safe in my little netbar across from one of the biggest vegetable/meat/fish/assorted goodies markets in Chengdu. I am surrounded by Diablo (the latest computer game craze to take China by storm) playing young fellows, dirty side streets, hot pot stalls and peasant construction workers tearing down the old city. If I walk … Continue reading “Crackdown!”

The culminating change in China’s 20 year transition from a communist country paralyzed by revolution and poverty to a capitalizing golden child of businessmen around the world is passing before us this month. Jiang’s era is ending and a new group of leaders – controlled by the Elders most likely, but nevertheless, new faces – … Continue reading “The Incoming Hu Era”

I, along with many other columnists and reporters, have had a good time poking fun at Jiang and his New Theory in the past few months. Jiang’s own bluster plus the solemn, blatant propaganda churned out by the Chinese media has kept us all laughing. A few have taken the theory seriously and tried hard … Continue reading “Jiang’s Theory Is a Smokescreen”

The flower pots lining the main streets of Chongqing and Chengdu are full of fresh lilys and roses, heralding the 16th National Congress. Most Chinese notice the flowers but ignore the banners flapping above touting the nation’s meeting of the minds. No mater how many foreign journalists scramble to get "the story," the outcome is … Continue reading “The Last Emperor”

Jiang Zemin’s visit to Bush’s ranch on Friday may prove decisive for US plans to wage war in Iraq. The Chinese government is thoroughly enjoying its relatively neutral stance throughout the War on Terrorism, while reaping the benefits of having its own “terrorist movement” in East Turkestan. Aside from deflecting the Bush Administration’s early attempts … Continue reading “‘We Make You Play Bad Card’”

Since Old Deng’s Open Door policy toward the world and the West in particular, foreigners have been pouring into China in greater numbers. Excluding the few years following the Tiananmen Tragedy, the number of travelers, businessmen, scholars and teachers arriving in China has increased with each passing year. The focus has been on the business … Continue reading “The Future of East-West Rapprochement”

Throughout China there exist dirty alleys and streets lined with decrepit old one-story houses harboring strange and amazing odors. A smorgasbord of goods are hawked in these streets underneath the shadows of new apartment buildings and towering Bank of China complexes: full goats, rice and spices, candy and bicycles, condoms and magazines, phone cards – … Continue reading “Lamenting Funk Street”

With all the anniversaries celebrated in China one conspicuous date remains forgotten by much of the population: June 4th. In the late 1980s, inflation, increasing corruption and rising unemployment contributed to several student led protests, with the death of reform politician Hu Yaobang in 1989, students all over China linked the mourning ceremonies with acute … Continue reading “Tiananmen’s Legacy: The Forgotten Rebellion”

On the anniversary of 9/11, newspapers throughout China ran front page photos of the burning Towers – many with an inset depicting mourning Americans. Articles focused on America’s War on Terrorism, the anguish of the victims’ familis and the few Chinese nationals that died in the attack. The newspapers tended to be very sympathetic toward … Continue reading “Deciphering the Chinese Smile”

I‘m sitting with my good friend and owner of my favorite “Western Bar” in Chongqing, Mr. Ma, when suddenly he jumps up and whispers to me excitedly: “There is someone you must meet!” This someone turns out to be the Head of the Economic Security Bureau in Chongqing City i.e. the Chief of the Bribe … Continue reading “Why China Can Disregard US Anger”