China Translated

Wen Jiabao’s trip to Davos, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, and London marks a definite thaw in  EU China relations.  But in an article published on the WSJ China’s web page I argue that the EU may be able to realise greater benefits by adopting a coherent approach to relations with China.  You can see the article here.

EU-China Relations

With China’s internet users pushing toward 300m, online discussion boards and blogs are becoming increasingly important as a vehicle for consumer and citizen action.  In a short article published in the latest edition of Business China I review cases of online activism and the impact on corporates, foreign relations, and China’s domestic politics:

• As the baby milk scandal unfolded, an online lynch-mob called for severe punishments for the executives of Sanlu - the company at the center of the scandal
• French President Nicolas Sarkozy found himself the target for online criticism after his decision to meet with the Dalai Lama.  One internet user mocked that ‘France is a second class nation trying to exercise first class nation influence.’
• Domestic leaders and policies have also come in for criticism.  One blogger mulled over new applications of the odd/even license plate driving restrictions around the Olympics: ‘on odd days, China Mobile can only collect fees one way, on even days they can collect fees both ways.’

Social Policy

On the campaign trail, Mr. Obama won over the hearts of US voters with a message of hope and his catchphrase: “Yes we can.” In an op-ed published in South China Morning Post on the day of the inauguration, I argue that the real answer to the questions, can we protect US manufacturing jobs from Chinese competition, can we force China to allow the yuan to appreciate, and can we end the US reliance on credit from Beijing, may well be: “No, we can’t.”

US-China Relations

As details of the government’s RMB4trn stimulus package become clear, it appears that health care and education have once again lost out to capital expenditure.

In an article in the January edition of Business China, I argue that whilst progress has been made on providing free compulsory education and extending medical coverage into rural areas, more will need to be done if the government wishes to reduce the level of precautionary saving and free up households’ resources for consumption.

The complete article can be purchased here.

Social Policy