The AIDS Criminal

Everyone BEWARE!!! There’s a new type of criminal on the prowl, the AIDS criminal! They brandish syringes while carrying out stickups and threaten to stab police if pursued; at least that’s what a Chinese state-owned weekly paper is warning ( The Economitst ). This is representative of a larger fear of the disease and a lack of education about it as well. While China currently has only approximately 650,000 citizens diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, this number is increasing at an annual rate of 11% ( UNAIDS ). With such rapid transmission, the issue needs to be dealt with head on.
A 2005 study by Horizon Research showed that over two-thirds of those surveyed believed AIDS could be contracted through even indirect contact, like using the same toilet or bath. This type of ignorance is fueling the country’s panic.
In order to calm the situation and fight the spread of the disease, the government must overhaul their entire approach. Currently, the policy, as confirmed by Hao Yang of the Ministry of Health, is to test all prisoners for HIV and segregate the positive testing inmates. A UN report in 2006 however, argued that fear of HIV/AIDS put HIV-positive prisoners at risk for, “increased risk of social isolation, violence, and human-rights abuses from both prisoners and prison staff” ( UNAIDS ). Therefore, this policy is serving only to further isolate HIV-positive people and further engrain false stereotypes. Instead, the government must take a more open approach with education at the forefront.
As prostitution and drug use is rapidly increasing in China, the situation is becoming dire. Immediate action must be taken.

Political Deprivation Does Not Equal Democracy

I’d like to refer again to “Socialist Democracy,” as Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had used to describe China’s political system. He said, “This must include the right to democratic elections, democratic decision making, democratic administration and democratic supervision” ( New York Times ). I find it striking that every day in the news seems to appear an article reporting on an event that entirely contradicts the existence of such a system in China.
On April 29, an American-based Chinese activist was released after serving five years in a Beijing prison after being charged with illegally entering the country and spying for Taiwan. Dissident Yang Jianli initially fled China to the US, because of his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen protests. Now he is waiting to see if Beijing will authorize him a passport so he can return to his family in Boston. He is however, waiting in silence. Upon being released from prison Yang is still required to remain a year in China without political rights, including speaking to the press ( Los Angeles Times ).
Being denied your political rights in such a way does in no way seem democratic and I have to argue that China lacks any such “Social Democracy” as Wen describes it.

Domestic Torch Travel

One nation... two nations... one nation, two systems? This has been the long debate between China and Taiwan. Up until recently however, the topic has been somewhat pushed aside as both governments attempt to work on a more integrated economic level. The 2008 Olympics though, have resurfaced supressed sentiments and the conflict rages again. On April 26, Beijing announced the longest torch relay in Olympic history, lasting 130-days and covering 85,000 miles ( New York Times . This journey includes passing through Taiwan, which is designated as part of the domestic route. Within hours however, Taiwan rejected the plan, stating that the torch would have to enter from and go on to countries other than Mainland China, separating it from the domestic route. In an attempt to resolve the situation, the Olympic committee has established that the torch will enter from Vietnam and leave Taiwan for Hong Kong. Yet, Taiwan still rejects this proposal and has stated that if the Beijing government does not change the torch’s course, Taiwan will boycott the Olympics ( China Post ).
While this situation seems extremely problematic, it is only a glimpse of the difficulties that lay ahead. If the torch does pass through Taiwan, Hau Lung-bin, the mayor of Taipei, says that it will be carried, “past the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park, which the government wants to rename the Democracy Memorial Park” ( China Post ). With Chiang Kai-shek being the head of Kuomintang party, and having lead the party in the Chinese Civil War against Mao Zedong and then fleeing to Taiwan and refusing to relinquish the island to communist forces, resulting in the situation of today, I’m sure the Beijing government will be thrilled. Events like this are bound to be numerous and how they will unfold will be an interesting process, which I am excited to witnes..

Myspace China

"Create a private community on MySpace and you can share photos, journals and interests with your growing network of mutual friends! Some people have 1,000s of people in their extended network!" ( Link ). This is how Myspace describes their service; doesn't it seem like something the Chinese would be aching to take part in? Especially with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao recently stating, "We must ensure the people are entitled to the right of democratic election, decision-making, management and oversight." ( Link ) This is an excellent means to ensure the dissemination of political thoughts and promote such democratic ideals. HA! Yeah right.
While Myspace has launched a text version of its new China service, it will be a Chinese-owned company with only backing from MySpace Inc. The company has decided to follow its predecessors like Yahoo, Ebay and Google, to ensure a smooth entrance into the Chinese market, without running into political obstacles and "heavy weather." ( Link )
This Chinese oversight will guarantee censorship, with strong legal repercussions if "subversive" material is propogated. "Subversive," however has been defined as any activity which “endangers state security” (Amnesty), and has resulted in the arrest of at least 260,000 individuals and their being held in ideological “reeducation” camps for indefinite periods of time (U.S. State Department . Hmmm, ideological reeducation camps, sounds very democratic.
If the West is ever to influence China's democratization, providing the state with more censorship opportunities is not the way to do it. US companies are instead ensuring the enduring repression of the Chinese people.

Selfish Environmental Policy

Following China's "indefinite" postponment of a climate change action plan on Monday, the international community has made bold criticisms. However, China is proving inflexible in its environmental decisions and refuses to seriously acknowledge it contribution to global warming, instead blaming it on the west. They cite statistics demonstrating their contribution of less than 8 per cent of the total emissions of carbon dioxide from energy use since 1850, while America is responsible for 29 per cent and Western Europe for 27 per cent. They also argue that while China will soon overtake the US as the top emitter of CO2 (this year according to the International Energy Agency), its comparative emissions for the average person are far below those of wealthy countries. UN figures show that the average US citizen is responsible for at least 20 metric tonnes of CO2 pollution each year, compared with China's 3.2 tonnes and the world average of 3.7. Beijing has also made the point that much of the growth in China's emissions is to produce goods exported to the West Link .
This defiant postion however, is irresponsible and reflects poorly on a nation that is struggling to create an improved international image. If China is to become the regional leader of Asia and a dominant international actor, they must revise their environmental policy, setting a better example for following nations.

China vs. India

Since India and China's economies exploded, an intense power struggle has ensued in the region. The two countries vie for political influence with surrounding countries, as well as in international treaties, conferences and negotiations. Here's an interesting video posted on The New York Times website by Nicholas D. Kristof http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=111c852f7c4c8dfef62dca3a791df9a4aa9ba49d, which thoroughly explains the competition.

Really Now?

Just after I made my last post, China went ahead and "indefinitely" postponed their climate change plan. Oh how typical, and yet still so frustrating. Richard McGregor just reported in the Financial Times that although, "China is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, it remains opposed to accepting mandatory cuts in emissions, which it regards as interfering with the country’s right to develop." Just when does their right to develop impose on others' right to live? Doesn't it seem that they've already reached that level? China's development mandate is reaching its end and they need to be made aware of this.