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Home › Forums › Core Seminars › East Asia Origins to 1800, Spring 2021 › Sessions 3&4 - April 10
Deirdre Harris.
Richard CateI have been giving the historical and other current context much thought. One area we didn't cover was the exploration and control of space, from Earth orbit to Lunar and Mars colonies. The US won the space race over the Soviets of course, their economy could not maintain the cost of a wide focus of space exploration. While we have been piggybacking their space program to take crews and supplies to the International Space Station, Soyuz is technology developed in the 1960s. They have fallen out of competition and their place has been taken over by a VERY aggressive space program directly challenging the United States.
it was pointed out in the 1960s that whoever controls the Moon controls the Earth. The military implications are enormous. Using Maglev rail launchers you can mine the Moon and of course asteroids and launch mountain sized rocks into earth or lunar orbit for processing for raw materials or launched as a weapon to Earth itself. A hydrogen bomb without radiation. There are a lot of rocks in space.
There is another Asian player. From the other side of continent, the UAE has become very active in space and other infrastructure projects. They control a great many of the West's port facilities, are into telecommunications, have one of the world's largest medical research school/ hospitals, and in a great many other areas. They realized early on that the world will move on from oil and they needed to diversify. Their just announced space project is to team with the Japanese Space Agency to launch a Lunar robotic Rover. They do work with NASA but are active in the development of launch vehicles as well that are independent of US interests and control.
we need to be aware that the little guys are teaming up in response to the current lack of confidence in the US whose divisions will not be solved anytime soon and leaves us as a country that can no longer be depended upon to maintain world order. Perhaps it will be a good thing that there is a realignment of power. It will not a comfortable time for the US finding itself as an untrusted competitor in the scramble for resources and markets in the this new world order. Perhaps we can ask Britain what it is like to go from the most powerful country in the world who makes all the final decisions to an also ran that fights for the illusion of being important. We sure didn't learn from history.
hopefully I've given you something to think of and debate.
Miguel DiazI always encourage my students to venture beyond their comfort zones, more specifically, I encourage them to look across borders, to explore the past, to look beyond the shores, and to learn to analyze and to synthesize information in order to invent a new future.
On David Lampton’s presentation on China’s efforts to create an inter-country railway system:
I would use David Lampton’s presentation to encourage my students to engage in comparative studies of large-scale infrastructure projects from past and present. I would encourage my students to make objective comparisons that appreciate and value the contributions of various societies from various times and places. I would encourage them to test their biases and to challenge their conceptions of which culture, or cultures, have contributed “the most” to the advancement of humankind.
On Jessica Liao’s presentation on China green mercantilism:
I would use Jessica Lioa’s presentation to encourage my students to study alternative energy sources to coal powered plants. More importantly, I would encourage my students to conduct in-depth studies on the difference between the interaction of Western powers (past and present) with the developing world, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
On Dru Gladney’s presentation on Xinjiang:
From a historical perspective, Dru Gladney offered an extraordinarily interesting historical/ archaeological presentation on Xingjiang. I would encourage my students, again, to make comparisons of early peoples from across the globe. I spent nearly 20 years living in China. I visited Xinjiang in 2002, mainly because I wanted to visit a museum that was purportedly housing the mummies of Westerners, purportedly mummies of Europeans. This statement was always interesting to me, because there are people in the west who believe exactly the opposite.
Richard CateThere are many questions as to what the goal of President Ci is. I make the assumption that he is the real driving force behind Chinese expansion in the multitude of directions he is moving. I don't think any but his closest confidants, if even they, know the full measure of his ambitions for China and himself.
Is Xi simply a believer in the greatness of China and is working to return it to the respect and power of China before the coming of Western Imperalism, and the diminishing of China. Is he an egotist trying to place his name among the greatest leaders in China's long history? Is he in such a hurry because there is no one prepared to succeed him and carry on with the ambitious programs? Perhaps a bit of each. He is one of the most farseeing, ambitious and skilled world leaders of our time.
Are the Chinese trying to create a Pan-Pacific economic zone with China as the primary power? Or, is it an effort to control the water, mineral resources or markets that make an economy run? Is it means to spread out pollution producing industries into distant regions in order to say we are green Otis others polluting. They may even be able to convince themselves they are nearing perfection by hiding the imperfect far out of sight and mind.
the Romans, British and Americans all used infrastructure to become the dominant nation in it's century. China is set to take their place with those nations if they can overcome the large number of internal problems that they face. That can be a task that proves much harder to accomplish than the road and belt projects. China's lack of being able to admit fault, loss of face or just facing a ingrained system that covers up mistakes rather than facing them. That was a major factor in not gaining control of COVID-19 when it could have been eradicated.
the dominance of China is a fact the 21st century will deal with as a partner or a adversary.
Todd RutleyMy last note said that ethnic minorities were being repressed for the following reasons.
This note provides a positive interpretation of the minority situation to understand both sides of the controversy.
Introduction/Context
The PRC/CCP now recognizes that China’s Autonomous Region System for “managing ethnic populations”, based on the USSR model, led to many problems in the USSR and the PRC. These problems contributed to the USSR’s 1991 collapse.
To avoid the problems inherent in the USSR model, China is acting to improve the situation in the Autonomous Regions by increasing their integration with the rest of China in terms of education, language, employment, transportation connections and economic development.
How China Is Helping, Not Hurting, Ethnic Minorities
The 1950s era Autonomous Region policy (ARP) treated ethnic people differently than Han Chinese. The ARP can be viewed as a type of ethnic segregation. This policy reinforced differences rather than emphasizing common interests. As a result, it reduced national harmony.
Since 2012, Xi Jinping has been leading China towards the Chinese Dream (中国梦). The Chinese Dream includes developing a global Community with shared future for all mankind (人类命运共同体). This future includes all the people in China and abroad that share the Chinese goal of mankind’s progress.
As a result of great progress in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of Xi Jinping (中国特色社会主义), the ethnic policy has been reconsidered and new actions are being taken to overcome the past problems with new solutions.
Five examples of this progress are noted below.
Conclusions
There are at least 2 sides to every story. Both the US media and the Chinese media reflect national and cultural biases. Therefore, it is necessary for informed people to recognize and understand other perspectives.
Americans are only about 4% of the world’s population and I hope that future generations will better understand the other 96%. That is the challenge we face as teachers.
I wish you all inspiration in dealing with these challenges. Let’s all work together for a better future for China-US relations. As Xi Jinping says, let’s work towards a global Community with shared future for all mankind (人类命运共同体).
References
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/01/28/china-signals-roll-back-minority-languages
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/language-07282017143037.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_regions_of_China
https://www.readingthechinadream.com/
Anastasia BrownA few years ago I had read a article on how China was helping Nicaragua build another canal through its country. Just like the Panama Canal with the United States creating that. I haven't heard about it since first reading about it. But the one item in the article that caught my attention was that this project was being built close to the volcanoe and the quake zone. After listening the lecture the fact that China is involved in all these activites it remineded me of imperialism. Except now its China's turn to try and expand their influence not just in Asia, but in Africa, Central and South America. There have been other articles about China especially in Africa. One that caught my attention was the way China was treating the people or workers from the country, Nigeria. The workers were getting paid less than the Chinese laborers and demanding more from the Nigerians than the Chinese and the treatment of the workers Another power colonizing and exploiting the native populace. I shouldn't be surprised about how China is now extending their tentacles in countries considered 3rd world. If they are truly serious about the environmental issues there is a lot that they need to slow down on. From the lecture hearing that China is realizing that there are legitimate concerns about the environment and in halting the projects that they will not rust to complete them but to find a different way
Tara CorralIt's so interesting to learn that China and BRI are attempting to be more environmentally friendly in whatever term that may mean to them. In the articles its points out how the term is used loosely or not enforced properly and business decisions that bring in more revenue seem to take more of BRI's focus. I had wondered if the China's decision to no longer take in the U.S.'s recycling was apart of BRI decision to go green. Where does this place china who is a huge exporter of afforadable goods to other countries.
My mother currently works as a Warehouse Manager for a job that currently exports cheap goods out of China. They make dollar items or so and sell it in your local drug stores like CVS and Rite-Aid. She's in charge of keeping track of the imports coming in at the port and sometimes containers of items will be flagged because of specific chemicals found on the product or in the packaging. That means that China is currently still exporting things that are not FDA approved into the United States and we are flagging it as hazaradous. So my question really is are they going to implement this decision through out all of Companies from top corporations to small businesses. There are times whole containers need to be sent straight ot the landfill despite the product being perfectly intact and thats due to chemicals or other things that are harmful to us or the environment.
I love the idea that China has made this decision for green mercantilism but I still think of it more as a cash grab at the moment for the country rather then a thoughtful decision. And I get it, if your at the top especially at the point the article was written the US was not apart of group, China had a chance to become number one world power in a sense. I personally would like to see more follow through. Sure they stopped taking in our recycling but what more will they do?
Guadalupe MorenoWith its global-scale Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and railway-building exertions in Southeast Asia, China is now arguably the world's largest builder and proponent of big infrastructure. This is shown in thier new Railroads which have drastically changed travel time and dropped from about four hours to about one hour in only a few years. China created competitive high- speed rail industry. Some of the resoans Lampton presents is thier abvialbility of "cheap capital", excess capacity in steel and cement, the ability to focus resources on champion industries and projects, and a surging tide of PRC engineering and other talent. Some even play into politcial culture and the origins have also played a part in this powerful "machine". Rather all these capabililtes is pushing outer countries to partake in the situation so China does not become the center of PRC.
Guadalupe MorenoAll roads Lead to China by Masood, was such an intresting read. I find it very facinating how he connected the Silk Road of the past to the sharing of science. Just as the Silk Road influenced the world in the past, today science is reshaping the world. Chinese leaders see scienece as a central element in building bridges with other conuntries. Thus providing many the opportunity to study and research, China is giving over 1,300 graduates from dozens of countries to execute research to help solve scientific problems. Some of these problems are issues that occur in the countries the students belong in. In realitity, the Chinese Academy of Science is helping these student better their countries.
Guadalupe MorenoTara, I find it facinating learning how the exports system works. It sheds a light at what is still occuring and being importated from one ouf the biggest manufatures. Even though you believe the decision for China to become a green mercantilism is to make more profit, it is till benefiting the green movement. Hopefully these leads them to continue to improve other areas within thier country and production, enhancing the quality of life and products.
Guadalupe MorenoI found the concept you brought up as to why China believes it is an appropriate partner for those countries. I too would understand the concept of trying to relate with them and help. It seems as those who critize China might be looking out for what benefits them the most rather than the other countries. If China continues to build allies it can be come a powerful nationwhich is something the UN does not want to occur. It is almost a term of fate onto who will accept which concept.
Guadalupe MorenoI too found the Silk Road comparison to be intresting. Not only does accomplisment such as the high speed infratstructure bring opportunitites for the Chinese people but other countries as well. It is been thought of implementing high speed infratstructure within the United States as well. Little by little China is changing the way of travel not only in their country but in others as well.
Bin HeDuring the epidemic, due to limited fiscal and domestic policy capital expenditures, loans to the "Belt and Road Initiative" have stagnated, and commercial investment has become more targeted.
In the first six months of 2020, the value of new construction contracts signed by countries along the "Belt and Road Initiative" decreased by 5.2% year-on-year, and last year it increased by 33.2%. However, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that despite a 4.3% drop in total investment, non-financial overseas direct investment in countries along the "Belt and Road Initiative" increased by 19.4% in the first half of 2020.
Constrained by the domestic economy and the global economy, and investment from China subject to stricter regulatory review (especially in Western markets), it is expected that China's total overseas direct investment will drop sharply this year.
When the epidemic broke out, and the country was lockdown, Chinese workers could not go to construction sites in countries along the "Belt and Road Initiative." The "Belt and Road Initiative" project mainly relies on China rather than local materials and supplies. Therefore, the interruption of the Chinese manufacturing supply chain also hinders the progress of the project. To this end, Chinese companies now seek to build production capacity in neighboring countries to hedge against the risk of supply chain disruption.
References:
Martha PaoIt was interesting to learn that building infrastructure, particularly outside of one’s own country, is considered to be a high risk proposition. Especially because a strong infrastructure has often been listed as a key reason that improves a country’s economy. In the case of BRI, China has devised some ways to recoup their investment quickly, such as high interest rates on loans or preferential use of ports, buildings, etc. But beyond that, it would be interesting to know how is risk calculated by China as they approve BRI projects. Might this be the best resource allocation for the country? Does it bring social stability in China and to those countries in partnership with China? Or perhaps it is a slightly haphazard process, as suggested by Professor Liao?
Jennifer MacchiarellaAs President Biden continues his support of Amtrak, and infrastructure in general, I find looking at the tranportaton opportunities and priorities in other countries useful. While the vast size and geography of the US make cross country plane travel more appealing, China is a large country with difficult terrain. Their train system can serve as a model for the US. Any improvements we make in the availability of energy efficient public transporation will help the economy and the environment. Here in Seattle we deal with ferries across Puget Sound and a slow-growing light rail that we could have used 30 years ago. In 2024 we will be able to take light rail from Redmond (home of Microsoft) to downtown and the airport. While I don't want a communist government, the ability to more efficently direct resources is something I admire.
Johnny WalkerGLADNEY’S Chapter “Central Asia and China: Transnationalization, islamization, and ethnicization”
Gladney’s chapter is such a valuable source to deepen my appreciation for a variety of influences and factors in China and its connection to the greater AfroEurasian continent. And, I’ll be able to use some of the content directly with my students.
When thinking about the spread of Islam in China, I had previously thought of the role of merchants on the Silk Road establishing cultural influence in cities such as Kashgar where Islam gained in stature. However, I did not think about the role of Islamic seafaring merchants who traveled along Indian Ocean trade routes as being effective vessels for religious influence at Chinese ports as well (page 6). Likewise, the statistic that China is home to nearly 20 million Muslims, “more than all in Saudi Arabia” is a staggering statistic, and one I will incorporate into my class.
Gladney also mentions that the Great Game of Central Asia that involved Russian and British competition for influence also included China as yet another imperialist nation seeking influence in the region. This fact surprised me. I had previously thought of China simply as being dominated by foreign powers (among them Britain and Russia). I did not realize China also played a role as an imperialist on its western borderlands. This lends greater complexity to my understanding of China’s dual identity in foreign affairs as both aggressor and victim nation during the nineteenth century. I had learned about Qing expansion west during the 18th century, so I suppose this continued expansion and administration of territory naturally placed the Manchus in competition with the expansionist Russian seeking to enlarge its borders and the imperialist British seeking to buffer the Raj.
I really enjoyed the historiographic argument Gladney articulates on pages 11 and 12 where he challenges the concept of “Central Asia” as being distinct from the AfroEurasian Continent. The quote, “Herodotus himself wondered why the old world in his day was already divided into three places, Asia, Europe, and Africa: ‘Why three names…. should ever have been give to a tract of land which is in reality one?” is a wonderful question to ask of our students.
Other valuable elements of the text include the photographs with their captions. Using just these sources, students could use primary sources and material culture to describe and explain methods of trade, evidence of cultural diffusion, and the transnational and transethnic nature of trade throughout AfroEurasian history for over two thousand years.
Gladney’s treatment of the Uighers is also a fascinating and in depth account of their mis-naming, changing religious identities, and internal conflicts, yet maintains their ancient continual presence in the region. The idea of establishing a new nation state of Uigherstan is a fascinating one- especially in the midst of Chinese genocidal policies of cultural eradication. Do the Uighers deserve their own state as Israel did in the aftermath of the Holocaust? What other such ethnic movements to establish new states in the world such as Chiapas or other independence movements relate to this idea? I enjoy challenging my students’ notions of permanence, especially with borders. As we’ve studied changing borders and names of states in the Americas, Europe, and Africa, I’m looking forward to engaging in this case study as well especially since the treatment of minority ethnic groups by a dominant state is such a common recurring theme throughout our curriculum as is identity and racism.