China reacted with caution to the war next door in Afghanistan and yipped in the background about civilian casualties and the role of the UN, as "Daisy Cutters" incinerated or traumatized all Afghans unfortunate to be within a mile of the explosion. City...
Sweep ‘Em off the Streets
We all stopped and watched the balloon vendor as he scampered wildly to escape the cops. He insisted in keeping his balloons, chair and air pump with him as he escaped and I yelled (in English because I was excited) for him to forget that stuff and just get away. As...
Chinese Embrace Progress
It took me a long time to figure out what the banner above the Foreign Expert Building meant, but finally one of my more studious colleagues translated it for me: "The Falun Gong is an international antigovernment tool." Yes. This banner was hanging in the...
Risk and Promise
China is just days away from WTO membership and the problems forecasted by many analysts, including this young hack columnist, show no signs of disappearing on their own. Chinese peasants still rely on animals, ancient utensils and sweat to till their fields, urban...
Standing Aloof?
The major newspapers have been crowing about the negative impacts the 9/11 attacks and the ensuing War on Terrorism will have on the US economy and therefore the world economy as a whole. Already we are seeing these effects in the US: airlines have been bailed out by...
China’s Afghan Agenda
One thing I've learned here is to trust absolutely no one and to not believe anything anyone tells me. I have friends here with whom I often go out and drink. These friends of mine never tell anyone their real name. I don't know their real names. When I ask why, they...
Afghanistan and Chinese Power
Not many countries are developing as swiftly as China. After 50 years of foolishness, despair and acute poverty, the 1980s and '90s came as a thunderbolt for most Chinese. As a result, the development is most uneven, with the latest Benz honking furiously at...
New War May Reveal New Superpower
On this 52nd anniversary of the founding of this magnificent nation, not much transpired. Girls dressed up as they always do and pranced around this or that stage. Men toasted each other, bought stuffed toys for 200 yuan, pretending to be rich. Pink ballons were the...
A Chance for a New Friendship?
For traditional rivals of the US, the tragedy in New York and the ensuing "War on Terrorism" have provided a chance to wipe the slate clean and establish a New World Order. Russia and the various -stans, especially Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have offered up...
Watching the Disaster
A few hours after the disaster on the 11th, Chinese CCTV was carrying the news. The Twin Towers burned, people fled and gaped and planes blew up against the side of the buildings over and over – in slow motion and at normal speed. My Taiwanese friend Ol' Vic...