24 April 2006

Too Successful for Their Own Good? Chinese are Target in SI Riots

Above: Chinese refugees in the Solomon Islands.


Once again, ethnic Chinese are the target of looting and burning, this time in the South Pacific country of Soloman Islands. In previous years, the Chinese were targets of similar attacks in Indonesia, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Are the Chinese too successful for their own good? Overseas Chinese in Asia tend to be successful merchants who often control signifcant wealth in the countries they live. They also tend to keep to themselves and not socially mingle with the native populations. These factors often lead to ill-feeling among the natives who, in times of economic crises, resort to looting and burning Chinese properties.

The key is communication. The Chinese minority needs to integrate more closely into local life. They cannot be aloof vis-a-vis the locals. And the local populations need to forgo discriminatory practices and laws against the Chinese who contribute significantly to their national economic and intellectual lives.

Examples of highly successful Chinese-local integration can be found in the United States, Canada and Australia. In these instances, the pre-conditions noted above have helped to strengthen and energize collaborations between the two groups.

20 April 2006

Blink and China is Now the Second Largest Economy in the World















China's Gross Dosmetic Product, in purchasing parity terms, is US$8.1 trillion.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html#Econ

The United States's Gross Domestic Product, in purchasing parity terms, is US$12.4 trillion.

Ceteris paribus, the People's Republic of China will overtake the United States of America as the largest economy in the world by 2010...

Right-Wingers Plant Protester on White House Lawn to Embarrass Hu Jintao


Declasse. I understand that relations between the United States and China (see post below) are, at present, not excellent. But for Bush operatives to plant a heckler to embarrass the visiting head of state of the People's Republic of China is declasse at best and highly problematic.

We call for the resignation of the President's chief of staff.