An Anecdote About China's Countyside

This anecdote about China's countryside came from Chinese writer Wang Meng's (王蒙) book titled 我是王蒙 (or I am Wang Meng, Tuanjie Publishing Press, 1996).

In Sichuan province (四川省) in the 1980s, a villager succeeded in convincing every one in the village that he was emperor. In no time at all, countless villagers "surrendered" their daughters to him as "concubines."

Initially, the Party secretary in the area opposed the move. But when they saw villagers kneeling down to pay respects to the "emperor", they did likewise.

So what was Wang's point?

That rural China still has a long way to go in eradicating illiteracy, backwardness, and its feudal mindset.

The Chinese Communist Party

I picked up the book titled 有话跟党说 (or I Have Something to Say to the Party, Tongxin Publishing House, 2001), expected to be swarmed by endless Chinese communist propaganda.

I was not disappointed.

Published on the 80th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the book is full of inspirational accounts of countless ordinary party members who had devoted or even sacrificed their lives to live up to the various ideals of being a CCP member. These include total devotion to work, to the masses, and to the cause of the Party.

Sure, the book was full of endless praises and adulations about the CCP, as well as the noble and altruistic acts of Party members.

But yet, it touched me in a least expected way. Or at least I had mixed feelings after reading it. Or at the very least, I actually read many parts of the book carefully, instead of simply flipping through it and moving on to the next book, which was my original intention.

Certainly, the various accounts of self-sacrifice, whether of time, energy, and resources by CCP members in assisting those in need, and in devoting themselves to their communities were touching, even inspirational.

But I have mixed feelings about attributing these admirable human qualities to the "mission, guidance and far-sightedness" of the CCP. After all, there will always be a noble edge to humanity, and to attribute that edge to the CCP is to undermine the depth and intensity of humanity, and to over-elevate the importance of CCP.

Yet, in a country as vast as China, the CCP did indeed serve as a unifying factor, arguably more so in the initial days of the New Republic. This unifying factor came in the form of fighting external forces, inculcating a sense of idealism, making a difference to society, extending a helping hand to those in need, maintaining close ties with the masses, and creating a more equitable society.

These are ideals which have made a difference in the past, and despite what some see as gradual erosion within the CCP, is still alive in some segments of the population, especially among the older generation, and rural dwellers.

The older generation had witnessed how the country and their lives had been transformed, generally for the better under the CCP. Rural dwellers, on the other hand, whose lives have been positively transformed by the CCP are often grateful to the CCP not just in the past but also for generations to come.

I guess the point that I am trying to make here is - sure, the CCP has become corrupted, decadent and out of touch with the needs and thinking of the masses. This is an accurate depiction of CCP, but it represents merely one side of the coin.

The other side of the coin consists of CCP members who are uncorrupted, idealistic, and actively doing their best to make a difference to the lives of those around them. Whether it is the retired party member who spends all his free time guiding traffic on the road and not accepting any payment for his work, or a party member who helps the sick and elderly by raising funds to pay for their medical bills.

How the CCP will transform, or even survive, will depend on which side of the coin will prevail.

My own sense is that the stronger and corrupted side of the coin is more likely to prevail, though the weaker side of the coin might play a role in stemming the rapid decline and deterioration of the Party.

Korea's Anti-U.S. Sentiments

The ongoing South Korean hostage crisis had triggered off yet another round of anti-American sentiments.

Many Koreans are now questioning the benefits of being an U.S. ally, and wondering if the country should continue to dispatch troops to Iraq to support America's war efforts.

Incidentally, Brad Glosserman's analysis on anti-Americanism in Korea is still as relevant today as when it was first written in 2003.

Glosserman noted that much of the resentment on the part of Koreans stemmed from South Korea's status as the junior partner in the U.S.-Korea security alliance.

Glosserman also wrote that anti-Americanism is political, economic, cultural, historical and even psychological. It is also the product of "deep-rooted factors and trends", and triggered off by specific events. These include the death of two schoolgirls accidentally run over by a U.S. army vehicle in 2002, and the snubbing of former President Kim Dae Jung during his summit with U.S. President George W. Bush in 2001.

Glosserman wrote: "The most depressing analysis - offered by a Korean - suggested that an anti-American attitude was an "inseparable part of the Korean national psyche."

Another observer noted that anti-Americanism was the outgrowth of the maturation of Korean democracy.

After all, "it is easy to forget that anti-Americanism was illegal in Korea until only a few years ago, under the National Security Law." Hence, anti-Americanism should be seen as "a perfectly natural response."

Black Hair and Korean Politics

According to a JoongAng Daily writer, hair dye is widely used in South Korea.

Why? Because the elderly regard white hair as a sign of helplessness.

How did Choi Jie-ho know it? Well, because his 76-year old grandmother said so.

"Having white hair on my head makes me feel out of my mind, I have to dye my hair in order to think straight," the grandmother reportedly said.

Indeed, even (or especially?!) politicians dyed their hair regularly. These include former presidents Kim Young Sam and Kim Dae Jung, as well as Lee Hoi Chang, the former presidential candidate who narrowly lost out to Roh Moo Hyun (pictured*) during the last presidential elections.

Speaking of Roh, he too, reportedly darkens his hair "whenever the mood strikes."

As Choi pointed out in his 2003 article, "perhaps image is everything." Or maybe it's because people are sick of the "nursing home look" that dominated Korean politics in the last 25 years.

Choi added: "Perhaps voters are tired of grumpy old salt-and-pepper-haired men. Black hair - and the blacker the better - means youth, vitality and maybe even some distance from a scandal or three."

As a 75-year old housewife who had been dying her hair for over 30 years noted: "If you hair is all white, it's like you've given up on life."

Note to the next Korean president - don't say you haven't been warned.

* Mr. ECP. Flintstone, sorry to include a photo of your favourite g**d**. And speaking of grumpy, hmm, doesn't that sound, er, vaguely familiar?

China and the North Korean Nuclear Crisis

In view of ongoing efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem, and in light of China's efforts in doing so, the following comments from Yu Bin made in 2003 might be worth bearing in mind.

The senior research associate from Shanghai Institute of American Studies wrote that:

1) If the Korean War of 1950-53 held any lessons for China, it would be a) the country should not get involved in a conflict that it did not start, and b) China should intervene only if there was a reasonable chance of success.

2) The U.S. is out of touch with a profoundly changed Northeast Asia, where the lines between Cold War friends and foes have "significantly blurred in the past few decades."

3) Throughout the Korean War, China fought and suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties. Yet, post-war North Korean propaganda scarcely acknowledged China's role. Moreover, Pyongyang often played Beijing against Moscow, and vice-versa.

4) Unlike his father, Kim Jong-il was born in Russia and seemed obsessed with that country. Kim Il-sung, on the other hand, was educated in Manchuria, spoke Chinese, and joined the Chinese Communist Party. The younger Kim had also, since the 1980s, "systematically purged his regime of anyone with strong links to China."

Former Chinese Politburo member Li Ruihuan

With the 17th Chinese Communist Party Congress coming up, perhaps it might be good to take stock of what transpired during the last Congress in 2002.

Or at least what happened to former Politburo Standing Committee member Li Ruihuan (李瑞环, seen left in the picture with former Chinese foreign minister Qian Qichen, 钱其琛, on the right).

Li was put in charge of propaganda work when he was first appointed to the all-powerful Politburo. But he also managed to stir up much controversy every time he spoke.

For example, he once said that the student protesters and masses who took part in the 1989 demonstration should not be faulted entirely. The Party instead, should bear the brunt of the responsibility. He also noted that former party general-secretary Zhao Ziyang (赵紫阳) - who was ousted after the demonstrations - should not have to bear full responsibility for the incident.

Such talk brought Li into direct conflict with other Chinese leaders. So much so that an internal directive was issued barring state media from quoting any of Li's remarks that were not in line with the official position. Li was later stripped of his propaganda position, and made to head the powerless Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

In early 2001, Li repeatedly called on the old guards to step down to make way for younger leaders. He also publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Jiang Zemin (江泽民) for cultivating a personality cult and for Jiang's intolerance of dissent.

At the end of 2001, the party's discipline inspection committee received (surprise surprise) piles of letters accusing Li and his family members of corruption. Li was also accused of leading a lavish lifestyle, including getting the Tianjin Sheraton Hotel to reserve a suite for him during his tenure in the city. He was also alleged to have close links with a top actress and a Hong Kong socialite said to have made her fortune after acquiring several plots of land in Beijing through Li's help.

Faced with such evidence, Li had no choice but to agree to step down from the Politburo.

Following Li's admission of guilt, Jiang submitted a proposal to cap the age limit for Politburo members at 68 - Li's age that year. But the catch was, an exception was made for Jiang himself, even though he was over 68.

Some apparently, are still more unequal than others.

Chinese Economist Li Yining

Chinese economist Li Yining (厉以宁) was one of the first in China to suggest that the most urgent task in reforming the Chinese economy lies in the reform of ownership.

Back in the 1980s, policy debates were mainly centered on whether priority should be given to price reform or to the reform of ownership. Li argued strongly for the latter, despite being heavily criticized.

But it was not until the latter half of 1997 that Chinese policymakers realized the importance of ownership reform, and spurred the growth of non-state owned economies.

As writer Liu Yong (刘勇) recalled in his book Media in China (媒体中国, 2000), Li's comments were viewed in the 1980s as "just one of many views put forth by academics", or in other words, theoretical and impractical.

Liu noted that shortly after 1986, Chinese authorities had just passed laws stipulating the number of workers that private firms can employ - "beyond a certain number will be deemed exploitative." Party members who were engaged in private businesses also had to resign from the party, and ditto for those who hold public positions.

Of course, Li's perseverance and steadfast belief in his position meant that he was eventually proven right. He is now one of China's most well-known and best-regarded economist.

He is now professor and dean emeritus at Peking University's (北京大学) Guanghua School of Management (光华管理学院).

Li recently pointed out that the Olympic Games which will be held in Beijing next year will result in a post-Olympic bubble or economic downturn.

How Many Mao Badges Are There Out There?

Who knows how many Mao badges were produced since Mao Zedong (毛泽东) was revered as Emperor-God?

In her book Mao Memorabilia The Man and the Myth, Lynn Pan estimated that 4.8 billion badges were churned out.

She added: "Based on the amount of aluminium it takes to build one MiG-21, no fewer than 39,600 planes could have been produced with the metal the badges consumed."

Hmm.

Influence of Overseas Chinese?

Chinese writer Wang Qijun (王其钧) suggested in his book 苦乐移民路 (The Bittersweet Path to Immigration, 1999) that emigration will help ease China's over-population.

He also believed that with the increase of more overseas Chinese, China's international position or profile can be further strengthened.

I find it hard to agree with both of his views.

First, no matter how many Chinese choose to emigrate, the numbers will never be overwhelming, given 1) the difficulties and high economic costs involved in doing so, and 2) China's continued economic growth and opportunities.

Besides, there will also be reservations on the part of foreign governments (mainly the United States, Canada, Australia, and other western countries) in opening their doors further to Chinese immigrants, especially those without strong professional or academic qualifications.

Furthermore, there is now a strong tendency among many western-trained Chinese professionals to return to China, given the abundant opportunities in their home country. Also, given China's relative stability, and apart from a handful of obvious political activists, it will be hard for Chinese to claim political asylum.

As for Wang's second assertion that more overseas Chinese will help raise China's international profile, I find the claim highly questionable. Wang suggested that Israel's strong growth is partly due to its strong network of overseas citizens, while Russia's "failure" is due to its dearth of such a network.

There has always been large numbers of overseas Chinese for several decades now, but this has done little in raising China's international profile. This is mainly due to the poor calibre of earlier overseas Chinese (laborer, workers, people with little education, etc), as well as the bickering and disunity among overseas Chinese. As some observers have pointed out, whenever there are groups of Chinese, there is bickering over power, influence, recognition and resources.

But most pertinently, the inability to raise China's international profile by overseas Chinese is due to China's internal political situation. Changes can only come from and dictated by those wielding political (and increasingly, economic) influence WITHIN China, and not those residing far beyond its shores.

For proof, just witness how much "influence" political dissidents have after they are deported from China. These political dissidents mainly engage in 1) speaking out against China, 2) bickering and slandering other political dissidents, or 3) business. But beyond that, they do not have much of an impact, let alone influence on developments within China.

Happy Birthday Mr. ECP Flintstone

Dear Mr. ECP Flintstone,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to yoooou!

May joy and happiness, peace and contentment, more golf and less constipation, be with you, now and forever.

A Chinese Impression of Singapore

A Chinese who had migrated to Canada wrote a book titled 苦乐移民路 (The Bittersweet Path to Immigration, 1999). In it were trials and tribulations of the lives of both himself and other Chinese immigrants after they had migrated to Canada.

Recounting the experiences of a fellow immigrant who had once lived in Singapore, Wang Qijun (王其钧) had this to say about the island state:

"In terms of geography, Singapore is half the size of Hong Kong, and has only half of Hong Kong's population. Apart from a zoo, there is nothing fun to do. My friend had visited the zoo with other friends a couple of times, such that the birds living there already recognize him."

Hmm, not sure if Mr. Wang's friend had confused the Jurong Bird Park with the Singapore Zoological Garden. But well, it is indeed true that Singapore is not generally associated with being a "fun" place.

Wang also added: "Singapore's model of management is a combination of authoritarian control and free economy. Even China's political climate is much freer than Singapore's."

Wang also noted that Singapore is not suitable for those who prefer to live in large countries where "taking the train requires a few days, and where taking a plane for a few hours does not necessarily mean that you have to get out of the country."

Liang Xiaosheng on Japanese Women

I have always liked Chinese writer Liang Xiaosheng's (梁晓声, pictured) Cultural Revolution stories and have associated him with such. So it was refreshing, even somewhat hilarious, to read about his observations of Japanese women.

In his article published in the book 中国人与外国人 (Chinese and Foreigners, 1997), Liang's puzzlement and bewilderment with Japanese women can be summed up as: "What is wrong with these Japanese women?"

According to Liang, it is ironic that Japanese women who are repressed at home and submissive in society can have no sense of unease - even no sense of shame - when it comes to 1) talking about their sexual experiences in public, and 2) doing things in public that required the, er, abandonment of female modesty.

Recounting the several television shows he had watched when he was in Japan, Liang recalled his amazement when countless women, when approached, volunteered to strip down to their bras and panties in public for inane television programs that are (naturally) geared towards male gratification.

According to Liang, many had no qualms about stripping, and did it almost happily and without a second thought. They even had no problems being interviewed after their stripping sessions, and answered questions on how many sexual encounters they had ("over 300 times" for one) almost as unabashedly as answering a question on what they had for breakfast.

Liang was even more amazed after watching a young female television presenter wearing a bunny outfit approaching passersby on the streets and asking them questions. If the questions were correctly answered, she'd press a button and the two flaps covering her chest will be "flipped" open to reveal her breasts. Ditto too for the two flaps covering her posterior.

Then there were the countless programs on TV detailing how much Japanese women had grown over the decades. And again, women would almost spontaneously volunteer to strip down to their undies, and have their vital statistic measured in public. They'd even have no qualms if the TV hosts (usually male, but of course) touched, pinched, or caressed them.

Did Liang wish that Chinese women can be more like their Japanese counterparts? Dream on, he said, as Chinese women are strong-minded, stubborn and unsubmissive.

Chinese Suppleness Versus Strength

An ancient Chinese philosopher who was at the brink of death once summoned his students to his bedside and asked: "Do you see my teeth?"

His students replied: "No, they are all gone."

Philosopher: "What about my tongue?"

Students: "It is still there."

The moral of the story? Anything that is soft, flexible and supple is more enduring, and has better chances of survival, than something that is hard and impenetrable.

As Zhang Xiaofeng (张晓风) noted in an article published in 中国人与外国人 (Chinese and Foreigners, 1997), all Chinese instinctively understand the concept 以柔制刚 (using suppleness to overcome strength).

Zhang wrote: "That is why despite having been ruled by the Mongols for 90 years, and by the Manchus (pictured, Manchu Emperor Yongzheng) for 260 years, the Han Chinese had not lost anything. If anything, it was the conquerors who had fallen in love with the Chinese landscape and culture, and who had even assimilated themselves with the Chinese."

Chinese Racism?

Former Chinese Culture Minister Wang Meng (王蒙) once recounted his conversation with an Australian Sinologist.

In his article published in the book 中国人与外国人 (Chinese and Foreigners, 1997), Wang recalled how an Australian scholar was offended by Chinese reference to westerners as 大鼻子 (or "big noses").

In defence, Wang argued that no malice was intended. But the scholar asked: "How would you feel if we refer to the Chinese as 小鼻子 (or "small noses")?" Wang was stumped.

The Australian scholar next turned to the lyrics of a popular Chinese song 龙的传人 (Descendants of the Dragon), where reference was made to the physical features of Chinese - 黑眼睛黑头发黄皮肤 (black eyes, black hair and yellow skin).

Taking affront at the description, the scholar asked if anyone can imagine white people singing songs with lyrics like 白皮肤黄头发蓝眼睛 (white skin, blond hair and blue eyes). "We'd be accused of being Nazis!"

Again, in defence, Wang suggested that given China's backwardness and humiliation at the hands of imperialists, the song was intended to boost the morale and national spirit of the Chinese people. But of course, the scholar was unimpressed, let alone convinced.

John Fairbank

According to Linda Jakobson's A Million Truths A Decade in China, no profession has a worse record than China-watchers who try to predict the future of the country.

Even the revered historian John K. Fairbank wrote in 1967 that "the private automobile age, just dawning in Russia, will never reach China."

But it did. And Fairbank was still alive to witness it.

A safer course, according to Jakobson, would be "to follow the parlance of a weatherman: "Mostly clear and sunny, with possible rain and thunderstorms."

Wang Shuo

One of the most popular and controversial cynics in contemporary China is Wang Shuo (王朔), whose novels depict the "hooligan" (流氓) culture of smooth-talking loafers, schemers, womanizers, small-time criminals, and alienated urban youth.

Unlike their elder brothers and sisters, former Red Guards once driven by ideological mission, they reject any talk of ideals. Hypocrisy and cheekiness are Wang Shuo's hallmarks.

Foremost on the minds of Wang's heroes are sex and easy money. But though they live on the edge of lawlessness, they are not driven by evil. For instance, they will give up their seats on the bus to old ladies.

Wang has tens of millions of fans who relish his coarse language and his masterful use of revolutionary slogans to depict the absurdities in contemporary China. In one of this books, a prostitute defended her profession by claiming that she was merely "serving the masses."

Wang is as critical of the intellectuals as he is of the authorities. "I hate people with a sense of mission" is one of his famous quotes.

China's Lost Generation

During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, about 12 million youths were sent down to the countryside.

Now, at middle age, some of them wistfully reminisce about "the solidarity and innocence of their younger days."

One of them was Guo Hairong, who noted that "the nostalgia has nothing to do with the monstrosities of that decade."

Quoted in Linda Jakobson's book A Million Truths, A Decade in China, Guo added: "Many of the so-called lost generation feel as I do. It makes us cringe to see the extent to which materialism is revered today. Sacrificing oneself for the good of a noble cause is an unknown phenomenon among the youth of the 1990s. Simplicity and purity are alien values. It's very sad."

Sad it may be. But contrast that to Guo's own generation who faced the East every morning and recited Mao Zedong's sayings. Who studied Marx or Engels and discussed Mao Zedong thought. Who "did not fantasize about romance" or knew anything about sex. Who believed "in the revolution with all our hearts" and "were overjoyed that we were allowed to be a part of it."

Not to mention the final realization of this lost generation "that our entire lives were based on a huge lie" and that "everything that we had believed in was an illusion."

Possible Book By Lee Teng-hui In 1994

According to a book titled 宁静中的风雨, 蒋孝勇的真实声音 (or Wind And Rain Amid Tranquility, The Real Voice of Chiang Hsiao-yung, 1997) former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui (李登辉) wanted to write a book in 1994.

At that time, Lee was seeking re-election as President. He wanted to compile a book based on his conversations with his predecessor Chiang Ching-kuo (蒋经国, pictured) when he (Lee) was vice-president. The book was supposed to be titled 经国先生谈话笔录 (A Record of Conversations with Chiang Ching-kuo).

But the idea was vehemently opposed by Chiang's youngest son Hsiao-yung (蒋孝勇), who at that time was the sole surviving legitimate son of Chiang. He had since died.

The younger Chiang opposed the publication of the book as he felt that Lee was looking for a basis for his (Lee) own political thinking, and was trying to create the impression that he was carrying on the former President's thinking and philosophy.

The younger Chiang reportedly said: "If Lee is successful as President, he can take the credit. But if not, he can always blame the former President."

Apparently the book was not written. Or was it?

Alternative Careers For Laid-Off Chinese Doctors

If you are a Chinese doctor who had been laid-off, fret not.

According to an officially published book titled 下岗怎么办 (What To Do If You Are Laid-Off, 1998), these are the following options you can consider.

1. Raise funds and set up your own hospital - A successful case cited was of a doctor in Shanghai (上海) who set up a predominantly mental rehabilitation center named 杨浦安定医院 (Yangpu Anding Hospital). The hospital was said to be a former health station belonging to a bankrupt state-owned enterprise. It was set up at a cost of 150,000 yuan.

2. Become a "hotel doctor" - With so many hotels all over China, and the likelihood that some hotel guests will fall sick at any one time, "hotel doctors" are said to be urgently needed. Apparently, all you need to do is to sign a "contract" with the hotel whereby you guarantee that you, or anyone from your team of doctors, will be available when medical attention is needed.

3. Become a "barefoot doctor" - The name "barefoot doctor" was derived from the days where gungho and passion, sans medical skills, were all that it took to treat patients. But now, it means to become a village doctor. Even though the ability of rural dwellers to pay is low as compared to urbanites, "the market is big, and the economic benefits should not be under-estimated, let alone the social benefits." "Social benefits" include bringing useful and relevant health care knowledge to rural dwellers.

4. Become a "migrant doctor"- Given the large numbers of migrant workers flocking to large Chinese cities, "migrant doctors" have become increasingly indispensable. Especially since migrant workers either can not or do not want to seek treatment at bigger (read: more expensive) hospitals. Hence, "migrant doctors" who charge lower consultation fees can fill a niche, and make a good living.

5. Open a family clinic in neighborhoods - This will make it easier for the elderly and handicapped to seek medical treatment. The clinics will also be helpful for those who either cannot visit hospitals during normal hours, or those who want to avoid the "bureaucratic procedures and long queues at hospitals."

Chinese Laid-Off Workers Finding A Niche

Chinese who are laid-off need to be creative and innovative in finding jobs, according to an officially published book titled 下岗怎么办 (What To Do If You Are Laid-Off, 1998)

How? Well, for a start, they should emulate "the Green Vests" (绿马甲) living in Beijing's Fangzhuang (方庄) estate.

Dressed in bright green vests, these former laid-off workers would make their way to the vegetable wholesale market every morning to purchase fresh produce. They'd then spent the rest of the morning washing, cutting and packaging the vegetables.

And later from 2 to 5 in the afternoon, they'd deliver the washed, cut and packaged vegetables to their customers, usually double-income families who were too busy to go shop for and prepare fresh produce.

Beaming with approval, the book's authors noted that such "vegetable cooperatives" required little investment and skills, but yet were able to meet the needs of both laid-off workers and double-income families.

China's Miao Minority

If a Chinese Miao minority man is interested in a woman, he would go to the woman's house to ask for her hand in marriage, according to the book 爱心无国界 (Love Has No National Boundaries)

If the woman's family is satisfied with the man, he will be served with two eggs cooked in water. This signifies 好事成双 (or "good things come in pairs").

But if the man is not to the satisfaction of the woman's family, he will only be served with one egg. This meant 一厢情愿 (or "one-sided liking").

Cross-Cultural Differences

A woman wearing a skirt is walking on the streets. A careless man carrying a pointed umbrella walks past and accidentally ripped off the woman's skirt.

Depending on which country/city they are in, the following are likely to occur.

1. London, UK

Before the man can speak, the woman would have covered her skirt with a newspaper. Red in the face, she'd ask: "Sir, can you send me home? I live not far from here."

The man takes off his coat, puts it on the woman, hailed a taxi, and sent her home safely.

2. Paris, France

Before the man can speak, the woman would have laughed, placed her hands on his shoulders, and said: "If you don't mind, give me a rose as an apology."

The man buys a rose from a flower shop, and invites the woman for a drink. Then two would then head to a hotel to further discuss about the contents beneath the skirt.

3. New York, United States

Before the man can speak, the woman would have whipped out a name card from her handbag and said: "This is my lawyer's telephone number. He will call you to discuss about the details of your sexual harassment. We'd see each other in court."

The woman then takes down the man's name and telephone number, and stomps off.

4. Tokyo, Japan

Before the man can speak, the woman would have bowed 90 degrees, and said: "I am so sorry to cause you trouble. I am sorry that the quality of the skirt is of inferior quality."

After saying that, she'd whip out a safety pin to fasten the rip, and hurriedly leave.

5. Beijing, China

Before the man can speak, the woman would have raised her hand and slapped the man.

She will then grab the man by his shirt collar and with venom in her voice said: "How dare you take advantage of me! Follow me to the police!"

6. Taipei, Taiwan

Before the man can speak, the woman would have laughed, and said: "Hey, how can you inspect the goods first before paying?!"

7. Seoul, Korea

Before the man can speak, the woman would have turned and kicked him in the face, saying: "Don't you know I have a black belt in Taekwondo?"

8. Bangkok, Thailand

The man would apologize profusely. The woman would then put her hands together elegantly, bow gracefully, and said with a sweet voice: "Sir, it is alright. Actually I am a man."

Top 10 Declining Chinese Cities

The following list of top 10 declining Chinese cities was compiled by a Chinese website, and later found its way into a Chinese newspaper in America.

1. Xi'an (西安) - Declining Index: 10

Located in Shaanxi province (陕西省), Xi'an (pictured) was an ancient capital for close to 800 years, but started to decline after the Sung dynasty. During the Nationalist period, it was regarded as an important northwestern region city, and in the early years of China's post-1949 independence, it was considered one of top 10 Chinese cities.

But now, Xi'an's GDP is not even within the top 40 in China, and has even been overtaken by Urumqi (乌鲁木齐) in Xinjiang (新疆). Xi'an had also fallen behind other major western cities such as Chongqing (重庆) and Chengdu (成都).

2. Nanjing (南京) - Declining Index: 9.8

Nanjing got its name (meaning "southern capital") only because it was thought to rival Beijing (北京, meaning "northern capital"). Indeed, Nanjing was China's capital during the Nationalist period.

But since the Nanjing Massacre, Nanjing is said to have lost all its internal strength. Its current GDP is overtaken by neighboring cities such as Suzhou (苏州) and Wuxi (无锡).

3. Harbin (哈尔滨) - Declining Index: 9.6

Located in Heilongjiang province (黑龙江省), Harbin rose to prominence only in the early 20th century. But it developed rapidly thereafter, particularly during the Nationalist period. With its predominantly Russian architecture, the city is also known as "Oriental Moscow."

But with the gradual decline of the northeastern region, Harbin's growth too had deteriorated.

4. Shantou (汕头) - Declining Index: 9.4

Shantou in Guangdong province (广东省) rose to temporary prominence after the Opium Wars. It is also the hometown of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing (李嘉诚). Shantou was designated a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) when China began experimenting with the concept in the late 70s and early 80s.

But since then, Shantou had reportedly not emerged as an economic jewel. Its economic growth is nowhere close to nearby cities such as Dongguan (东莞) and Foshan (佛山).

5. Wuhan (武汉) - Declining Index: 9.2

Wuhan was one of the country's few commercial cities since the end of the Qing dynasty. It was so well-developed during the Nationalist period that at one time it was even known as "the Chicago of the East."

But since the 1990s, its economy had witnessed progressive deterioration, and its income levels are considered low by Chinese standards.

6. Haikou (海口) - Declining Index: 9.0

As an SEZ and the provincial capital of Hainan province (海南省), Haikou benefited from many preferential economic policies. Its height of prosperity was attained in the 1980s, where it even rivaled cities such as Guangdong (广东) and Shenzhen (深圳).

But it started declining in the late 90s, and has even been overtaken by other Hainanese cities such as Sanya (三亚).

7. Lianyungang (连云港) - Declining Index: 8.8

Located in Jiangsu province (江苏省), Lianyungang is one of 14 coastal cities opened during China's reform and opening up process in the 1980s.

But despite over 20 years of development, Lianyungang had reported tardy progress. Among the 14 coastal cities, it now has one of the lowest income levels.

8. Luoyang (洛阳) - Declining Index: 8.6

Located in Henan province (河南省), Luoyang is one of the world's few ancient metropolis, and was capital to many ancient Chinese dynasties.

In the early years of the country's post-1949 independence, some National People's Congress delegates suggested that Luoyang should be made Henan's provincial capital as this would allow the ancient capital to be "revitalized." But at that time, Zhengzhou (郑州) had grown to be one of the largest commercial cities in the region, hence Luoyang lost the "bid" to become Henan's provincial capital.

Today, Luoyang is a city filled with heavy industries. Even though its GDP is fairly respectable, it suffers from serious pollution.

9. Xuzhou (徐州) - Declining Index: 8.4

Located in Jiangsu province (江苏省), Xuzhou has historically been a city "coveted" by military strategists. Despite years of battles and military upheavals, the city had remained strong and united.

But today, its economic development had stagnated, and is mainly reliant on heavy-polluting industries. Some had argued that when provincial boundaries were drawn during the Qing dynasty, Xuzhou should not have been included as part of Jiangsu province. Xuzhou's culture is different from other parts of Jiangsu, and is often seen as a "stepchild" of Jiangsu.

10. Changchun (长春) - Declining Index: 8.2

Located in Jilin province (吉林), Changchun was once the capital of Japanese-dominated Manchuria. After China's post-1949 Independence, China's earliest automobile factories were located in Changchun, Shenyang (沈阳), Anshan (鞍山), and Daqing (大庆). The four cities were collectively regarded as the backbone of China's heavy industrial sector.

But since the 1980s, Changchun witnessed a quick decline. Its share of the automobile industry had been overtaken by later entrants such as Shanghai's (上海) Volkswagen, Tianjin's (天津)Toyota, and Guangzhou's (广州) Honda.

Indictment of Mao

The following somewhat vivid indictment of Mao Zedong (毛泽东) came from The White-Haired Girl, Bittersweet Adventures of a Little Red Soldier by Jaia Sun-Childers and Douglas Childers.

"Thanks to you, Chairman Mao, to your three million Cultural Revolution deaths, your hundred million exonerated victims, and all the horrors of your decade-long geriatric madness. We close your Little Red Book of fairy tales, where the sublime and the absurd joined hands with a nightmare in a convulsive dance. Where we drank your myth and went mad together, and tore our world apart for your Great Illusion.

"Keep your struggle meetings and labor camps, your Utopian chaos, and your revolutionary apocalypse. We survive your mad assault on history and don't want any part of you now. We don't want to hear one more story that ends singing your praises. And we don't want to spend our future crouching in your shadow, swimming in your abyss, worshipping your sanitized myth.

"What did you teach us through all your chaos, your purges, and your class-hatred wars? To outsmart, flatter, and be slippery, and act dumb to survive. To gird ourselves in steel and wear ambiguous masks. To smell danger, to fear one another and pinch our throats against the truth. That friendship is a practical equation, a shield of flesh in a world of potential enemies, a back door to a better deal. That we are only a wink, a blink, an insignificant flash in the millennial darkness. That the only immortals are Taishan Mountain, the Yangtze River, and You."

Hong Kong Handover Coverage

Chinese television news has always had a "propagandish" element. And it is not as if Chinese journalists do not know it, they do.

For evidence is an account by Chinese Central Television (CCTV) journalist Zhu Yan (朱炎) in the book 回归的瞬间 (or The Moment of Reunification, 1998).

For a start, Zhu made it clear that "there is a long way to go for CCTV to take its rightful place as one of the world's leading TV networks."

For instance, on the coverage of the 1997 Hong Kong handover, Zhu said that virtually all Chinese reports centered on how the rain had "washed away a hundred years of humiliation."

But citing the angle adopted by America's ABC News, Zhu noted that the ABC team in Hong Kong interviewed a feng shui master. The master was of the view that "the heavier the rain the better", because in the Cantonese dialect, water also means "money." Hence, the rains were a good sign for the territory's continued prosperity. (As for the financial crisis immediately following the handover, well, that is another different story.)

Overall, Zhu made the following two points:

1) Chinese think that westerners hate to watch Chinese news because the country is run by a communist government hence the news is not credible. So overall, there is what he called "an ideological problem." But citing a western CCTV trainer, Zhu eventually agreed that TV news is like medicine. If it is well-packaged and presented, people will be persuaded to take it.

2) That there are many different ways of looking at the same story (but of course), and perhaps CCTV should think of alternative angles every now and then.

For suggestion number (2), like it or not, this will have to depend on changes within the country's broader political climate.

Hong Kong Handover - A Chinese Perspective

Maybe my memory is failing me. But all I remember about the handover of Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997 were:

1) The jubilation on the part of the Chinese,
2) The joy that another chapter of China's humiliating modern history had come to an end,
3) The pomp and pageantry,
4) The rain, and
5) Chris Patten, the territory's last governor, bowing his head, as if in tears.

But I was given a difference perspective of the handover when I recently read a book titled 回归的瞬间 (or The Moment of Reunification, 1998).

In it, Chinese journalist Li Nan (李楠) described how he felt after listening to Prince Charles' speech during the handover ceremony.

Li said he was shocked that not a word was mentioned about the Opium Wars, how Hong Kong was taken away, and how the lost of the territory had caused immense hurt and pain among the Chinese.

Li noted that there are not even a tinge of regret, let alone a semblance of apology, in Prince Charles' speech.

In Li's view, the tone in Prince Charles' speech was no different from someone who had to return a child whom he/she had painstakingly raised.

Li wrote: "According to Chinese customs, the child is now a fully-grown adult, and is at the stage where he should honor and look after his parents. Hence, it is hard to see him go. But it should be remembered that that the child was not even "adopted" in the first place. Rather, it was stolen at knife-point!"

While Li contended that Prince Charles might want to avoid any mention of the past so as not to stir up nationalistic feelings, he argued that given His Majesty's talent and wisdom, surely the Prince could have come up with something diplomatic.

Li argued: "If (Britain) does not want to talk about it then, is there another opportunity to do so in future? By not talking about it, it only created a sense of alertness among the Chinese - the sense that this particular part of history had not yet been fully concluded."

Li added: "When Prince Charles turned to walk away with no sense of apology, the Chinese had finally understood that the 100 years of humiliation cannot be washed away simply with a ceremony marking the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty."

Madame Mao

Mao Zedong's (毛泽东) third wife Jiang Qing (江青) must be one of the most vilified persons in recent Chinese history. And perhaps for good reasons too.

According to The White-Haired Girl, Bittersweet Adventures of a Little Red Soldier by Jaia Sun-Childers and Douglas Childers, Jiang was "the White-Boned Demon, hated by all, pitied by none. She had sat at Chairman Mao's feet, like Lucifer at the right hand of God. And she had stolen heaven and plunged our motherland into darkness."

Together with others in the infamous Gang of Four (四人帮), Jiang's "criminal excesses" flooded gossip vines.

For instance, Jiang reportedly "had a stable of male prostitutes serving her perverted whims day and night."

"To retain her youth, she had drawn blood from the veins of young soldiers and injected it into her own."

"She had fed exclusively on bear paws, live monkey brains, and rare green-haired turtles, and had sat to shit on a swan-feather toilet seat."

Were these things true? We will probably never find out. But given how much hatred she had generated, it perhaps comes as no surprise that people would rather believe the worst.

After Mao's Death

This account came from The White-Haired Girl, Bittersweet Adventures of a Little Red Soldier by Jaia Sun-Childers and Douglas Childers.

Apparently, there was "shock" that after Mao Zedong's (毛泽东) death, Beijng announced that the Chairman's body "would be preserved and set in a crystal coffin in a mausoleum to be built in Tiananmen Square."

Why "shock?"

Because since China was "liberated" in 1949, "the Party had called preservations and burial customs barbaric and feudal, and made cremation compulsory by law."

But then we all know that some people are more equal than others.

Who is Sir David Wilson?

One of the accounts that impressed me most while reading a compilation of articles about the Hong Kong handover was the "confession" of a Chinese Central Television (CCTV) staff.

The book in question was titled 回归的瞬间 (or The Moment of Reunification, 1998). It was a compilation of articles written by journalists, editors and staff of CCTV's English channel. All of the writers were involved in the live television broadcast of the handover.

The staff in question was Chang Yiru (常怡如), who was involved mainly in translating and editing.

But on the morning of 1st July 1997, she was asked to help a journalist from the station's Chinese section in conducting random interviews, as the journalist does not speak English.

Chang recalled that the journalist approached "an elderly westerner" who had silvery hair and was smartly dressed. "He seemed very distinguished," Chang recalled.

Chang added: "The face looked familiar. Where had I seen this man before? But with no time to search my memory, abruptly I asked the obvious question, "May I have your name, please?" He seemed a little surprised, and replied "you don't know who I am?"

"Feeling awkward, I hesitated. He went on, "if you don't know who I am, I won't answer your questions."

It turned out that the "elderly westerner" was former Hong Kong governor Sir David Wilson (pictured).

When Chang's memory returned, it was of course too late, as Sir Wilson had walked away. She blamed herself for having forgotten who he was "at the critical moment."

I do not blame Sir Wilson for walking away.

But I am impressed with Chang for admitting to the mistake and making it public. She is right that the appeal of television news "lies in its complexity and variety", that "curiosity and enthusiasm alone are far from enough," and that "there is no substitute for experience."

I am sure she has come a long way since.

Getting Into Chinese Universities Through the Back Door

Chinese students who want to study in top Chinese universities but who do not wish to sit for the entrance examinations can now pay their way through.

Payment can be made not to the schools in question, but to agents who can help them "purchase" foreign passports.

According to a recent article in China's Legal Daily (法制日报), a foreign passport is indeed a passport in gaining entry into some of the country's top universities.

Under the Department of Education's regulations, genuine foreign students who wished to attend Chinese universities need not sit for the nationwide university entrance examinations. While some may have to sit for examinations offered by their respective universities, others may not even need to do so.

Agents securing foreign passports for Chinese students usually obtain them from "smaller Southeast Asian nations" or "smaller countries that are not strict in passport management."

The passport costs US$30,000, or US$50,000 if it is "urgently needed."

The report noted that when admitting foreign students, virtually all top Chinese universities do not look beyond the passport. Only Renmin University (人民大学) stipulated that students need to have lived abroad for at least five years.

As for China's Political and Legal University (中国政法大学), the only examination that incoming foreign students have to sit for is a Chinese language competence test. And this is hardly a problem for Chinese students.

The report also cited an example of a student who is the only son of coalmine owners. He had always fared poorly in school. Hence his parents decided to secure a foreign passport for him so that he can enter a good Chinese university. Through the help of an agent in Shenzhen (深圳), the boy managed to obtain a passport from Nicaragua, and successfully entered an unnamed university.

The report also added that the identities of these fake foreign students sometimes get exposed in the course of their college education. But given the "protection" from the school authorities, most of them usually graduate successfully.

Analysts noted that the "protection" is due to the simple fact that foreign students pay higher school fees and other miscellaneous fees. So even though schools are not totally oblivious to the existence of these fake foreign students, "they would rather open an eye and close an eye."