Sascha Matuszak

I posed this question to students and friends this week: Which is more important to you, China hosting the Olympics or shooting a man into space. Most answers revolved around questions of economics, pride and China’s increasing contact with and role within the international community. Virtually, all answers were given with the qualification: I have … Continue reading “To ‘Patriotic Fervor and National Cohesion’”

I spent this past week smiling and clinking wine glasses with a multi-millionaire from the town of GuangYan – roughly two hours north of the capital by highway. This particular boss is one of a breed of new rich that rule the “small” towns and cities outside of the major hub cities such as Beijing, … Continue reading “Chinese Big Bosses Rule – with the Backing of Beijing”

How much more foolishness from the Bush Administration can we expect before next year’s elections? US Treasury Secretary John Snow’s visit on the heels of the DPRK talks was a failure. He met with a few toadies and was sent on his way amidst a hail of protest from Chinese and foreign economists who see … Continue reading “Mao Exonerated – by Chinese Capitalism”

It is significant that US Treasury Secretary John Snow arrived in Beijing on the heels of the six-party talks concerning peace on the peninsula. Snow arrived to discuss the undervalued yuan, which may be held up during next year’s elections as the dead rat fouling up Sino-US relations. The yuan is pegged to the dollar … Continue reading “Let’s Hope Nobody Calls the US’s Bluff”

This week the North Koreans and the "coalition" have agreed to talk more and to talk soon. The negotiations had a high note when the DPRK and US reps chewed the fat for a bit in the corner while (assumingly) the other five other delegations pretended not to notice. There wasn’t a lot of complaining … Continue reading “The Best Possible Course for North Korea”

A plane incident of a different sort is quietly being played out between the Chinese and US governments even as The Six Nations gear up for talks that may lead to temproary peace or disasterous war on the Korean peninsula. As one of the 124 Consulates and embassies around the world with Marine Security Guard … Continue reading “Crouching China, Paper Tiger”

All across the world economic ministers are asking themselves "What are we to do about China?" Everybody wants to sell their goods here, but inevitably, Chinese goods break through what trade barriers are left in place in the 21st century and swamp the market, putting locals out of business and sending consumers away smiling at … Continue reading “Adjust or Fall”

Not many countries have benefited as much from 9/11 as China has. For almost a year, China stayed off of the US Most Wanted list and stayed on the Best Places to Put Your Cash list. While the US economy faltered amidst scandal, the Chinese economy gained strength from the executions and imprisonments of top … Continue reading “What Military Might?”

It was good to be home for a while. I was given the chance to witness the legalization of the "abominable act" of same sex marriage – which of course will lead toward Hell and the rampant practice of sodomy and oral sex. And the introduction in Minnesota, the 44th State to do so, of … Continue reading “Americans Are Crazy”

Next week the Chinese Communist Party celebrates yet another year in power. The Party has evolved since its inception, it claims, into the benevolent, progressive Party we see today: capable of discussing such radical concepts as "intra-party democracy." Ahh, yes, the CPC’s idea of democracy differs a little from what, say, Europeans are used to. … Continue reading “Democracy with Chinese Characteristics”