China's Role in Myanmar

China and the U.S. have a long history of political tension. In most cases regarding a 3^rd country, they take stands on opposite sides. Recently, however, China and America have been working on the same side of the Myanmar question to back Daw Aung Sung Suu Kyi and her democratic party in replacing the dictatorship of Myanmar’s current leader, Than Shwe. Leaked cables between China and the U.S. show that while China may not agree with the U.S.’s ideas on government, it does acknowledge that the current junta isn’t doing a good enough job of handling its nation.

China’s relationships with its bordering neighbors are strained, to say the least. Japan, Russia, and South Korea all lean towards the U.S. side of things; while the Sino-Vietnam war happened only a generation ago (the Chinese take pretty long to get over things; they’re still iffy with Japan even today), and the Sino-Indian relations have only recently gone from boarder disputes and skirmishes to a steady economic and military alliance. That being said, only Pakistan and Myanmar remain as potential powerful allies for China. That’s probably why China has taken such a vested interest in Myanmar’s government. The Chinese government actually asked the Myanmar government to release Ms. Aung Sung Suu Kyi from house arrest, and they did.

Clearly, although the U.S. and China may never see eye to eye, their handling of the Myanmar situation has proven that the two countries can work together to solve international political questions. The Commander of the US Seventh Fleet, Vice Admiral Scott Van Buskirk, stationed in Eastern Asia waters, says that America does not and should not consider China a threat and doing so would be largely counterproductive.

http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20110221/news_20110221_56_735432.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/11/world/asia/11myanmar.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=asia

The Social Security Question in China

Recently there has been talk about the Chinese government proposing a law that would require children to visit their parents on penalty of being sued. Seemingly an odd idea on the surface, this idea is actually intended to replace the nonexistent social security system in China with filial piety (respect for one’s parents). The nation doesn’t have social security, so the government is hoping that they could put this responsibility on the latest working generation. Certain cities, such as Shanghai, have their own social security systems, but they are losing a lot of money. Clearly, the Chinese government has not been living up to its responsibilities. China had social security in the past, but because it was a communist system, and nobody had any motivation to work, the government never really had enough money in the social security pool for it to be called a legitimate, working system. In 1976 the economic reform turned things around 180 degrees: before, nobody worked because everyone was paid the same, after the reform, only government employees received social security.

Due to the vast economic growth in China in the past 20 or so years, people had hoped that if they kept working hard, social security would eventually come. However, more recently, corruption, inflation, and the difficulty of making money have discouraged people and social security is a doubtful question to them. For example, the average college graduate in Shanghai starts off earning 2000-3000 RMB a month and eventually settles at 5000 RMB a month (that’s about the same as my grandmother’s monthly social security payments). They’d have to work for some 50 years before they could afford their own apartment. Luckily, many young people can live in with their parents, who bought their houses back when they were cheap. Unfortunately, some parents don’t have houses, and because they aren’t paid for by the government, they have to rely on their children for support, but their children can’t even make enough money to support themselves. The goal of this new law is to replace government responsibility with citizen morality, but unfortunately, most adults in China struggle to make ends meet for themselves, let alone support their parents. Clearly, if this law is passed, it would only serve to dig the population into a larger hole than they are in right now.

Although, if working adults were really in such a financial pickle, I doubt their parents would sue them over a measly missed visit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/world/asia/30beijing.html?_r=1

My Thoughts on Amy Chua

The article “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”, by Amy Chua, is now the most read on WSJ. There are opinions being thrown back and forth, and readers’ views on the subject are polarized. Some people have gone far as to threaten Chua’s life.

Chua was a star student from an early age, being super competitive; she always needed to be number one. She went to MIT and was the 2^nd ranked graduate from Harvard School of Economics 1984. She third best student from Harvard Law JD. During her school years she was the executive editor of Harvard Law Review. This title has only been held by students that exhibit model behavior and hold excellent grade, students like Obama himself. In 2001, Chua went to Yale Law School. She now holds the title John M. Duff Chair Professor. Her professional expertise includes international business trade, law and development, racial conflict, globalization and law. Chua’s publishing in US are well known, she has published 2 well known books. One is about the reasons behind the rise and fall of historical empires such as the Persian, Roman, Tang and Yuan Dynasties of China, Holland. The name of the book is Day of Empire: How Superpowers Rise to Global Dominance – and Why They Fall. Her other book is World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability.

Regarding “Tiger Mother” she admitted never thinking that she would strong reaction from readers regarding her memories and reviews about the way she raised her daughters. For example, she forced her daughters to practice piano until midnight without going to the bathroom or drinking water. At age 4 she made her daughters read the French existentialism of Sartra. Chua’s point is that not only Chinese mothers can be “Chinese mothers”. Western mothers can have that title as well, but must abandon the deep-rooted concepts of respect and self-esteem.

In recent years, the performance of American students in education has been gradually declining. This has drawn concern from many American educators. The rise of China has made the media place their attention on Chinese education. Some of these media reporters suggest that Chua’s parenting style is the solution for the American education problem. However, Nicholas Kristof, who is very familiar with China (his wife is Chinese-American), believes that the higher education in China is third rate.