What America Can Learn From China
Here in China folks are a little sensitive about Americans carping on exchange rates. Prodded, they seem to acknowledge that the Rmb is undervalued, but they politely point out that its strengthening would not come close to solving America's economic problems.
They're right, of course. Every visit to China underscores how misleading it is to blame our struggles on others. Watching how hard people work, how seriously young people study, how fast businesses move, and how supportive of economic growth government is, reminds the traveler that the rebuilding of American greatness depends entirely on decisions we make.
The man in the photo is Mr. Lu Guanqiu, a legend in China, whom Americans first met on the cover of Newsweek in 1991. Mr. Lu has become a good friend, and now a co-venturer in electric battery technology with an Indiana firm to which I introduced him.
Starting from a bicycle repair shop in 1969, when those possessed by the spirit of enterprise were imprisoned or worse by the Cultural Revolutionists, Mr. Lu persevered and today remains fully engaged in running Wanxiang, one of the world's leading auto parts companies. Here we sit in Wanxiang's new all-electric bus, after a tour of the company's new e-car facility knowledgeably led by Mr. Wu himself.
It's hard to avoid thinking about the fact that Mr. Lu risked his life to create wealth for himself and others, at a time when the U.S. was the runaway world leader in invention and entrepreneurism. Today, it often seems easier to start and build a great business in other places, including his "communist" nation, than it is at home. Yes, we have work to do.
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Jun '10
Re: What America Can Learn From China
Jun '10
Re: What America Can Learn From China
Sitting here in Taipei would strongly disagree with that outlook as would even most KMT folks. Taiwan is a strong democracy. Just this morning outside my hotel two taxi drivers with DPP flags on their car were engaging a couple of dozen mainland tourists in banter over the election.
It is unjust to say the time since Deng in the 1980s have not been good for China when compared to it's history, but when we draw out too many comparisons we get into a "ifs and buts" game.
I am fully confident that within the next 20 years we will see a more open and free China than we have today. But it will not happen without the same effort that went into countering the moral arguments that were in favor of the the former Soviet Union.
The knee jerk defense of China, and usually the self-washing away of sins in dealing with the regime on it's terms, are not helpful.
Is China a better place than it was 20 years ago, of course. Is it free, No.
Jun '10
Re: What America Can Learn From China
Rebuke from Logo noted...
Sorry that Logo does not fully understand why I use the term fool. You see, I have six sports reporters who are not in the Asian games now. Because in keeping with being the "same" as Seoul, the Chinese have decided in their enlghtened ways that our newspaper, the largest paper in Hong Kong and Taiwan, is such a threat that sports reporters may upset and overthrow the regime.
So, while I understand and agree with sentiments that China has improved greatly in the last 30 years, it remains a fools game to equate them with a democratic regime.
Mitch Daniels will use this China trip in his presidential campaign. Is it too much to ask that we view his actions as those of a Presidential candidate.
Bottom line is Nobel Winner Liu Xiaobao sits in jail and Daniels went to China said nothing.
May '10
Re: What America Can Learn From China
I hear you Mark, and I don't even disagree strongly.
My beef is over talking about "Red China" as though that means anything any more. The first time I rode through Shanghai in a cab I was expecting to see Red Guards on every corner- which is why I suggest that people go there before getting caught up in 1970's or 1989) rhetoric. Liu is mistreated by authoritarians trying to hang onto power, not a war between capitalism and "communism." There are True Believers, sure. But they don't run the place, and most don't want them to.
And the best sign of the difference between 1989 and recent times is the reaction to the earthquake in Sichuan in 2008, when the government not only didn't act violently against the protestors, they rushed to calm them down- mollify, not subjugate. Why? People can communicate now, and the government is terrified of the possibilities. But they know they will never get the cell phone back in the cupboard.
And I always remind myself who on Taiwan (I love Taipei, BTW) are the the strongest proponents of "reunification", and the largest investors in Chinese factories- GMD (KMT).
Jun '10
Re: What America Can Learn From China
Duane, you are a gentleman.
Re-unification is a Chinese idea now, in Taiwan it is political death even for KMT to openly talk it. Although no doubt the old guard have visions.
China is everywhere here now, always has been I guess, but with tourists now coming by the hundreds of thousands it is more and more obvious. But we might be careful to note that in the eastern bloc the russians played with borders, sent armies everywhere, but the notion of nation was never swayed.
Former DPP president Chen, (now in jail) did one thing. He established a moral sense of dignity in the nationalism of being Taiwanese. He awakened the Taiwanese to the idea that for the first time in a Chinese run society no one feared a knock on the door. The Taiwanese understand the dignity they have in their democracy and the dignity they have as a free people.
Chen established the Taiwanese identity. (after this he and his family tried to rob the place, but what he awakened and forced debated has stuck).
May '10
Re: What America Can Learn From China
Mark, send me an e-mail address via message to me at Facebook, and I'll pass on an amusing little story about Mr. Chen! I suspect that he was substantially victimized by his wife, BTW- she played the sympathy card pretty effectively.
And, yes, you are right, his presidency was the first time that the indigenous Taiwanese got a stronger voice favoring independence, especially since the wholesale immigration of the Han GMD in 1949 reduced their share of the population. Of course, one could argue that that was a somewhat cynical move during the re-election campaign, just like the "assassination attempt"!