Asia and the World

[Anonymous]

Appearing in the Newsweek dated July 25, 2005 on page 25 is a cartoon referencing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Ping Ling, the CEO is sitting at the desk. I’m assuming he’s some market big shot in China but I couldn’t really find him on-line. If anyone can enlighten me I’d appreciate it. Anyway, the American says to the little kid while pointing back at Ling, “Willy Wonka’s gone. The Chinese bought it…” The cartoon tone is rather matter of fact; shouldn’t it express some “fear?”

[Anonymous]

Originally appearing in the Jamestown Foundation’s China Brief, an essay by Wenran Jiang sheds more light on this attempt by CNOOC to acquire Unocal. Unocal is the United States 9th largest oil company and Chevron is also trying to purchase it (the #2 oil company in the U.S.). There is a lot of suspicion with regard to the aims of both countries.

China maintains that it is only trying to prepare for future oil needs for its country. Apparently, Chinese foreign oil consumption is now 42.6% up from 6%. They project the amount of oil needed by China in the next 10 years will double. The United States of course is suspicious and not so eager to sell off a prime piece of American energy real estate to China. Perhaps many view it as another step toward Chinese world domination.

Conversely, the Chinese are suspicious of the U.S. whose actions it could be argued are trying to dominate the energy reserves in the Middle East and parts of Asia. China will be unable to access those markets or if so, at an inflated price. It’s like “cloak and dagger,” and makes one mistrustful of the motivations of either side.

[Anonymous]

At the Asia Media website there was an article written by Jung Sung-ki appearing in the Korea Times on Wednesday July 27, 2005 discusses the new proposed laws to restrict any notion of monopoly by Korean newspapers. Among its highlights, the government could subsidize smaller newspapers that comply with all the regulations. Any newspaper controlling over 30% of the market or it the three largest newspapers control over 60% of the market they will be sanctioned by monetary penalties and considered a monopoly. A lot of the hoopla stems from a perceived unequal treatment of the newspaper business as compared with other businesses in Korea. It appears that the government has much stricter rules for newspapers.

From my western capitalist perspective, less regulation is better. I don’t even think that 30% of the market share sounds like a monopoly – maybe more like 50 to 60 percent. The government should treat this business like others in the area of market share control

[Anonymous]

You'd think that pop culture is, to some degree, a beast that marches to the random beat of fad. In China, however, that might not be the case because cultural trends and buzz are monitored and controlled. An article in the Christian Science Monitor discusses it:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0614/p01s02-woap.html
The party will decide when something is too popular, how much media saturation is needed, and what makes the cut and misses the cut. The article makes a definite connection between a fad's stamina and the propaganda supporting it. As soon as something becomes too political, the plug is pulled and something new quickly fills the space. I think it is amazing that things Americans take for granted as being universal and irrepressable, like rock music and forms of expression, can be given and taken at the whim of a panel. I think this article would resonate with students because they value individuality so much. Also, to see modes of preference and expression controlled would give them some perspective of the life of a Chinese teen.

[Anonymous]

Stacy, Check out the following article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050802/ap_on_bi_ge/china_cnooc_unocal;_ylt=AqiAte75yXd2uJXU3o8O12Cs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-

"China's CNOOC withdraws $18.5 B. bid for Unocal."

In this article, CNOOC states their reason for withdraw as "the political environment in the US."

Basically, the concerns of critics and congress were that China's purchase "might imperil US energy security". Whic is true, of course... because as the populations of both the US and China are growing, so is the consumption of oil, as well as the eventual inevitable scarcity of it.

Also, I think it is interesting how surprised/shocked that CNOOC seemed to be about the US's reaction, I would think with a proposed transaction this large and of this nature(seeing that 70% of CNOOC is owned by the Chinese government) , the concerns and opposition should almost be expected.

Whatever the case, this can't be good for US-China relations.[Edit by="bklank on Aug 3, 1:42:49 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0728/p01s03-woap.html
After 26 centuries, is Japan finally fit for a queen?
This article states that, due to the lack of a male heir, Japan is faced with the decision of whether a woman can rule after 2600 years of male rule.

"After months of deliberation and official hearings, an advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi recommended Tuesday that women be allowed to ascend Japan's imperial throne." (Quote from article)

Hmm... Will the United States have a female president first, or will Japan have a qeen first?

[Anonymous]

"The Missing Histories of the Hmong" by Angilee Shah is an article from the International insttitute website. http://www.international.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=25236

I took a class at UCLA through the international institute last summer, and we watched a video about the Hmong. It was an interesting look at another culture, especially the music and the courting rituals.

The article "The Missing Histories of the Hmong" is about the lack of recognintion that Hmong students were feeling at UCLA for their cultural identity and history. Sever Hmong students have gone about changing it by writing a syllabus for a class about the Hmong American experience and also by creating an "Association of Hmong American students" on the campus. This club also reaches out to hmong communities and has a yearly conference to discuss the experiences of Hmong Americans.

Hmong students have difficulty finding identity, because they do not have their own country. "Where are you from?" becomes a difficult question because the Hmong people have lived in China, and Laos, then many families fled from the Vietnam war and into Thailand...and now though 275,000 have come to the U.S., this is not a large percent of the population compared with other asian groups living in the U.S..

[Anonymous]

It is my opinion that Japan has a better chance of seeing a woman take on the role of Queen or Empress in that nation before the United States elects the first woman to the role of President of the country. Is it a matter of tradition? Japan had no problem recognizing the talent of writers in the early days of its literature. True, for years it has been expected that a male will take on the role of the head of the country (both here and there). Attitudes have been changing in both countries, and now we encounter such possibilities might lead to realities. Still, it appears to me as if we are sometimes afraid of change, and we do go back to safer (and at times more restricted) conventions.

It'd be wonderful to give opportunities to both sexes because wisdom is not a characteristic or a consequence of possessing a "y" chromosome. Let's go back to the ancient times and recognize, not forget those females who were in positions of power. Look at a chess game and see where the power is symbolized, and most importantly, let's look at nations who might in our opinion be perceived as "third-world nations" moving ahead of us in their appreciation of true qualification versus biases.

Who knows I might be wrong...

[Anonymous]

There is no dispute that China and India, with a population of abillion people each are the fastest growing econmies in the world. However their industrialization efforts are a disaster to our enviroment due to the green gas emissions. Interestingly together with USA, another big green gas contributer,have declined to sign the Kyoto conference to reduce pollution. At this trend, I wonder who will survive in the next 50 Years.

[Anonymous]

It's been 60 years now since the the Hiroshima and Nagasaki disaster that ended World WarII. This was the worst man made catastrophe in history. Diplomacy and reason should be given a chances to avoid anew and sure threat of another atomic: Nuclear. no World WarIII, I hope or all humanity will vanish.

[Anonymous]

Lao is for sure a forgotten country of Asia.This tiny mountaneous anmd isolated country has never known peace since 1945. Even the foreign aid never reaches the poverty stricken and hungry Laotians

[Anonymous]

An interesting article I found "Hiroshima survivors: 'never forget'" at Christian Science Monitor website http://

I found it interesting how the interviewee (Sunao Tsuboi, a survivor of the nuclear bombing) believes that the 9/11 attack is causing a new nuclear arms race, citing nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea as reference. "9/11 has changed everything," he says. "Since then, the US has even hinted at the use of nuclear weapons." (quote from the article).

The US has EVEN hinted on the use of nuclear weapons?

[clay dube]

Retired UCLA pediatrician Jim Yamazaki recently interviewed Shigeru Sasamori, a bombing survivor who came to the US through the efforts of Norman Cousins. You can read the text of the interview or show the video interview to students:

http://international.ucla.edu/asia/article.asp?parentid=20488

[Anonymous]

Its really interesting reading this article, "Memoirs of an Atomic Bomb Survivor: Shigeko Sasamori" because it is so personal, being an interview iwith a survivor. Sasamori is very descriptive about her experiences, and her burns and injuries, it is almost chilling.

Also... seems to make sense after you hear about the experiences why the survivors are so adamately speaking out against nuclear weapons and war. Wish this would get more attention from the press.

[Anonymous]

Now that's a name I haven't heard since I was a student in High School. I grew up in Central America, where for some reason we're taught more about World Geography than students in the states are exposed to. Right after I log out, I'm going to take a look at this neglected part of the world. The least we can do is to learn a little bit more about parts of the world tha are still remote and neglected. You never know what you might find.

[Author]

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