[Natalie Sanchez]

This is interesting that you mention China's relationship with Myanmar. Recently, Myanmar has been accussed of human rights violations against the Rohingya Muslim group and have been pushed onto refugee camps in Bengladesh. I wonder what China's stance is on this issue?

[Natalie Sanchez]

A colleague and I created a lesson using a portion of the Black Mirror episode Nosedive to discuss China's social credit score. It was interesting to hear what the students had to say but they were in the general consensus that they would not like to be scored on social issues. Some said that people that may not like you would be malicious and try to drop your score intentionally, and we saw that happen in this episode. Also, based on your score the students said people may stop talking to certain people and again we saw that in the episode as well.

For the lesson, we started with a short article for the students to have more background knowledge, had a short discussion about China and the social credit score, watched the first 13 minutes of Black Mirror: Nosedive, then had a short discussion about our society and culture and whether that would work, finally brought it back to whether thsi is something that can slow China's development. 

[Natalie Sanchez]

Many developed countries do fear China's rapid expansion and view what China is doing with the BI is to create a new "silk road." So while the United States is pushing away less developed countries by name calling, China is embracing the opportunity and is investing in these less developed countries by building infastructure like roads and ports. It's hard to say what China's ultimate goal is but many countries are seeing China as a new opportunity for them to succeed.

[Natalie Sanchez]

Lin, that is one of my big questions I still have and have to wait and see. WIll government intervention slow Chinese growth? We saw with early industrialization in Great Britain and the United States part of their success is because of support for innovation and little government intervention. Places like France were slower to innovate and industrialize because the government was so controlling and beauracratic. The was one of the news clips we were asked to watch and the questions was posed; can capitalism ever marry communism? 

[Natalie Sanchez]

It has been such an honor to have been included in the Contemporary China online seminar. Every lecture kept me glued to the screen and I was able to take portions of some of the lectures and share the information with my students. The readings were always relevant and I appreciated the regular round table discussion about current events. It really helped to keep me informed and more aware of where I can go to find more information on topics like the economy and society in relation to China. The topics inspired my teaching and helped me create and recreate some lessons. I feel so much more comfortable teaching more topics about China to my students. I feel so much more confident about China’s geography and landscapes. I’m also more informed about the many ethnic groups China has and the language dialects too. China has been industrializing and developing at a rapid rate and my understanding is that people are also developing when it come to economic, political and social issues. I’m still interested in researching more about China’s political institutions and how that works in relation to societal structures and hierarchies. I still have many questions about how the government will grow with people expanded freedoms while still keeping control of some aspects of life. I still think about the United States being a country of industry and the changes that have occurred since then. Will China go beyond the factories and pass the industrialization process? Will China outsource labor once labor becomes too expensive?

Not only did I take away a lot from the discussion with Professor Dube but all of the other educators in the class were a wealth of information. That is always one of my favorite takeaways from these type of professional developments is the stories people contribute and all the knowledge they have to share.

 

[Natalie Sanchez]

My husband and I like to travel and in the last 15 years we have noticed a significant rise in Chinese tourists. Two years ago at the Palace of Versailles our tour director said that three of every 5 busses are Chinese tour groups. Two weeks ago while we were in Italy, there were also many Chinese tourists who are enjoying more travel freedoms. 

[Natalie Sanchez]

With the rapid diffusion of technology more developed regions have experienced a decrease in the need for internet cafes. However, in countries with less developed regions like rural China, many still rely on internet cafes. For many, smart phones are too expensive to obtain. India is working on making internet more accessable to its poorer population by beginning to provide internet hot spots and looking at developing more cost friendly smart phones to get into the hands of more people. 

[Natalie Sanchez]

It has been interesting growing up in the San Gabriel Valley mostly Monterey Park and San Gabriel and seeing the transformation of dress from the United States. I remember in the late 1980s and early 1990s men and women walking around with uniform like clothes that were always dull colors. As a curious child I asked my Dad why mainly the older generation of Chinese people dressed that way. He explained to me and I started to watch and take notice of peoples attire. In the last 10-15 years I have seen much less of the older generation wearing the common “uniform” and see much more choice in the attire that people wear here in the San Gabriel Valley. I just found it fascinating to see the effects of the Cultural Revolution here at home.

[Natalie Sanchez]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/China_hidden_camps

 

BBC has put out an interesting expose about the “hidden camps” in China. The website shows aerial views of some of these camps, which tend to be mostly in desert areas. It also follows the investigative journalists as they go out and try to locate the camps, the people working in them and the people detained. Something quite frightening is a section where they detail the mistakes that have been made in misidentifying some people as being ethnic Uighur when they are not and placing them in these hidden camps. Regardless of the ethnic group this is an example of how China has continued to violate some groups basic human rights.

 

[Natalie Sanchez]

Again, the filial speaks to the parent and child relationship and the sacrifices a child will go through to keep their parents happy and safe. This filial is also an example of a person’s true character showing when they act and think no one is watching. When one does a good deed out of the kindness of their heart they will surely be rewarded. I do agree this story is one of virtue and sacrifice as well as integrity.

[Natalie Sanchez]

I have learned like in many other cultures, in Chinese culture, it is very important to serve and respect the elders. Fillial # 5 is an example of how a child may honor their parents. It shows that however far one may be from home that family is first. Even with the loss of ones elders, there still may be ways in which to honor them.

[Natalie Sanchez]

Christine,  ever since I was young I've noticed protesters in different parts of Los Angeles that are trying to get issues of human rights acknowledged in regards to China's government. I mostly see people that practice Falun Gong showing what the Chinese governemt has allegedly done to followers. I find it hard to see China moving toward becoming a more developed country as long as so many freedoms and ideals are oppressed amongst the people.

[Natalie Sanchez]

There was an Morning Edition report earlier this week that talked about the importance of voice over work. Today many box office American hits are actually making more money in other countries. China is an example where recently the Avengers made more in China than it did in the United States. However, many viewers prefer to watch the movie in their native language rather than watch subtitles, so there has been a spike in the need for voice over actors.

[Natalie Sanchez]

Meng Wanzhou, CFO of Huawei, has been arrested under the suspicion that she had knowledge of ties with a company dealing around the Iran sanctions. She is caught in Vancouver, Canada and faces extradition to the United States. However, China is calling for her immediate release. Wanzhou is the daughter of the companies founder and part of the elite in China.

[Natalie Sanchez]

Based on some of the articles I have read in the past few weeks I would say that for the most part China at the moment has good relations with less developed countries (LDC). The less developed countries see Chinese investment in a positive light especially when it comes to infastructure. Countries like Panama and El Salvador have recently cut ties with Taiwan in an effort to attract more economic trade with China. There is the case however at a Greek port where some say the Chinese investors have too much power there. On the flip side it seems as thought at this time more developed countries like the United States are having some issues with China's rapid economic growth. Some leaders in the European Union are at odds with China as well. The perspective will really depend on the state of the countries economic situation.

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