Sascha Matuszak

Jiang is putting the pieces into place to solidify not only his legacy, but the ideas of Old Deng and the position of his protégé, Hu Jintao. The 10th National People’s Congress this month was a showcase for the New Generation of leaders and Jiang’s Three Represents Theory. Lawyers and accountants sit in the Chinese … Continue reading “Soft Power Moves Abroad”

Expats strike rueful poses over their brews and noodles here in Chengdu. Its easy to shake one’s head at the Bush Crew’s follies and swap estimates of the Arabic/Islamic (World?) backlash whilst basking in the Sichuan spring sun, miles and miles away from Iraq. Yesterday at a meeting the Ministry of Propaganda held to discuss … Continue reading “The Safest Place in the World”

There are a great many constants in China, especially concerning contact with foreigners – one of them being the 20 questions and the 20 answers to those questions. I have learned the questions as well as the answers by heart. Every so often a new question is added – and all Chinese are notified through … Continue reading “A Curious Absence”

Slowly, collossal China has shifted its weight and taken somewhat of a stand on the two rogue nation vs. superpower crisis currently holding the world’s attention. China’s stance, inevitably, has placed it in opposition to the superpower – but not exactly pro-rogue. China has backed France and Germany (and Russia, to a certain extent) in … Continue reading “Sliding off the Fence”

It is hard for many people to imagine the size and scope of China, especially with the big seaboard cities taking up all the limelight and only the occasionaly Xinjiang flare-up, Three Gorges study or Yunnan pictorial bringing the rest of the country into the world’s focus. It is also difficult to imagine a country … Continue reading “Villages in Transition”

It is now clear – if it wasn’t during the Cold War – that the only way to keep your country free from invaders and despoilers is to maintain a nuclear arsenal and a large army. Missiles and cruisers are important as well, to kill the enemy from afar and threaten his cities. North Korea … Continue reading “Smiles and Nods and Handouts”

Two important delegations arrived in Beijing this week – both hoping that China can help defuse a crisis. First, US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly is looking to the Chinese to exert pressure on North Korea and relieve the tension that threatens to result in chaos and death on the peninsula. After the DPRK … Continue reading “China: Straddling the Fence Just Right”

Bush keeps hoping either China or Russia will step in and persuade North Korea to calm down, put away the nukes and let the US go about its business in the Middle East. But in recent meetings the two nations made it clear that they believed it was Bush’s big mouth that started the problem … Continue reading “Don’t Count on China”

The past two days have been (yet another) excuse for Chinese to flood the streets, discos, karaoke bars, Western style bars and various plazas with Santa hats atop their heads and – for some reason – plastic hammers which are used to emphasize a "Merry Christmas." True, most Chinese know little about the whys and … Continue reading “Merry Christmas from China”

Assistant Secretary of State Lorne Craner is headed to Xinjiang after a couple of "very productive" days chatting with Chinese Human Rights counterparts. Craner plans on investigating alleged reports of abuse and oppression by Chinese authorities following the US announcement that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement was a band of no-good terrorists (possibly) funded by … Continue reading “Don’t Believe the Hype”