Liberty - a human right?

Recently I visited Philadelphia, a beautiful city with enormous historical significance: here the first ideas of an independent United States were voiced, which led to the declaration of independence, the revolutionary war and the first constitution of the United States. The leaders in this period were enlightened for their time - and would probably be so still in our age - they believed in the power of the people and liberty. Liberty, such a simple word, so many interpretations. US History can be proud of its independence and its constitution, but what does it mean to live in the land of the free? What does freedom mean to the Americans? And is it so different to what freedom means to others? How about China?

There are many monuments to Liberty in the Eastern US. The Statue of Lady Liberty and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia are probably the most famous.

There is a famous poem on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty by Emma Lazarus, called The New Colossus, which inspired me to think about this topic:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates she shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips, "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse from your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Philadelphia's famous father of the city, Benjamin Franklin, said They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. I learned a lot about Benjamin Franklin and some of his famous colleagues from the revolution, such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Richard Stockton and so on, and it opened my eyes to some fundamental US values, that are universal, but were voiced out and acted upon in the US before anywhere else in what I would like to call our modern age (I guess starting in the 1600s until now).

So what does it mean to live in the land of the free? For many years, it was a haven to immigrants, people starting anew, building their own fortune, this we came to know as the American Dream. However, not all achieved the dream. Nowadays, especially in the large cities, I see a lot of poverty and bad health. I also see charity, but is it freedom to be homeless?

What about China? Up to the 19th Century China was ruled by Imperial Dynasties. Most Chinese were farmers or merchants, few were officials or civil servants. Liberty in this period is hard to judge for me. In the later Ming Dynasty (16th Century) the first Westerners came to China, leading to trade without trust and understanding and to two Opium Wars that left China defeated and humiliated. In 1912 the Chinese Republic was announced under leadership of Sun Yat-Sen and later Chiang Kai-shek. This was a turbulent time, with a growing communist revolution, a Japanese invasion and a civil war that ended in the so-called Liberation by Mao Zedong. What the Chinese people had to live through since the late 19th Century was nothing compared to the hardship under the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. In 1976 with the death of Chairman Mao an era ended in which the people had been at the whim of Emperors, War Lords, Presidents, Invaders, and Tyrants.

The Great Reforms of 1978 allowed farmers to sell above quota produce at local markets, allowed farmers and workers to conduct economic activities and start businesses and allowed foreign parties to trade in Special Economic Zones. A beginning was made in what we now have come to know as the Chinese Miracle. To become rich was more important than sharing poverty. Wealth has brought freedom to many Chinese people, although those who have built the economy - the farmers - are again the poorest and least free in China.

The differences between the rich and the poor are enormous in modern China, most urban Chinese who have a medium-high level education and a job will say that they are free - free to spend their money, to travel, to eat well, to be healthy. Freedom means that they are less at the whim of their rulers, who have outsmarted their people with a successful sunshine policy. Nationalism is on the rise, the Olympic Games took away many basic rights from the people in Beijing - such as driving a car three days a week and a crackdown on civil activities and journalism, however, on the surface no Chinese complained. Those who did either had to move out of China, send secret copy to blogs and foreign newspapers and were labeled dissidents. For most farmers, this was of no interest, they combated drought, flood or illness and their voices are not heard.

But what to do about it? The rich are the powerful, they all accept the status quo, they call themselves free, because they have a better life than their parents, they close their eyes to the poor and the ill and share in the nationalist pride of the Olympic Games, the Asian Games, the Shanghai Expo. I do believe that for many Chinese this is really all the freedom they need, but...

...is it fair, that if you want something else? If you want to write about atrocities, about crackdowns on minorities, about civil sorrows, health care, and above all corruption, that you will not be able to do so without consequences? The US are the foremost fighter for the free in the world (even though this has meant invading sovereign countries in the past...let history judge their actions) and they are being ignored by an ever growing China, a China that wants to keep the power in the hand of the communist party above all.

And is that bad? Do we want a China that loses control? Do we dare to risk world stability to that? I fear that we are close to a US - China stand off. This stand off is not wanted by the American people, it is not wanted by the Chinese people, it is not wanted by the people of the world.

So maybe we should accept our interpretations of liberty for the time being. Let us foremost be free of worries and strive and whims of our leaders. That is true liberty.

Politics: Guanxi and Sponsorship

I visited Washington DC for the first time end of December. I toured the Capitol, visited the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and of course had a look at the White House. I toured the national Air & Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian and the Museum of National History.

Visiting Washington DC was quite an eye opener. Such a city, such importance, such political and state history (albeit a short history). The White House is actually quite smaller than expected - I guess the name and the office are so great, one would expect the White House to be some kind of grand palace, it is no more than a very big mansion.

So, politics. Trying to fit American and Chinese politics in so many words on this blog. I am quite sure I don't grasp everything, especially about American politics, but some things are not so different as they seem. In the US it is very expensive to run for a government position (senator, governor, congress, president) and maybe just as expensive to stay in office. You need many funds to run campaigns and to inform your voters and the public on your efforts to represent them in Washington or in the respective State Capital. Also, through sponsoring organizations or companies can be part of a campaign or political development. As far as I can see there are very few limitations to sponsoring campaign, representatives or political parties, although there are some, especially with regard to foreign funds. (See this article about an Indonesian Sponsor to the Clinton Presidency in today's Washington Post).

In China many important decisions from local to national level are also influenced by many actors and stakeholders, often referred to as guanxi (关系). Chinese politics and lobbying can be far more subtle than the American capitalist approach, especially because as soon as funds are exchanged one talks about corruption, which is in many cases a capital offense. The problem of corruption is big and real (in both the US and China) and the thin line between influence, endorsements and extortion, corruption is not easily defined.

Then, what really is this guanxi? Many Chinese, researchers and other experts have tried to explain this before. I like to give my contribution as well:

Guanxi: Linguistically in modern Chinese one can translated it as "relation(s)". The word consists of two compounds guan and xi, which I would describe to you meaning "close; inside" and "ties, bindings". It binds two people to what was discussed behind closed doors or it ties a group of people to each other as if the belong to the same 'house'. In modern China most of the results of guanxi that you see are polite exchanges: if you do something for me (i.e. pay for my dinner), I will do something for you next time (i.e. pay for your lunch). My opinion is that Chinese have a very strong sense of obligation towards people (friends, family, strangers) that have supported them in any way or have promised support for a future moment. If you have a good relationship with a Chinese counterpart, it is good to know that they always keep their word and will go out of their way to help you if you have provided support in the past (or promised your support in the future). This can make dealings with China somewhat complicated - you should really keep track of your guanxi. It can help you, but misused it can work against you!

Now, on a larger political level, the inner chambers of Chinese politics are also governed by guanxi, combined with any relationships that your family members or other friends have. A lobby through guanxi offering an important status or success can be just as valuable as outright corruption. Of course, paying somebody off or extorting somebody also establishes guanxi.

I am looking forward to learning more of the American guanxi system over the next years or so!

Difficult choice

I have a difficult time choosing my next topic. Why? Because both topics are dark and subtle and I would so much like to write about the fun and straightforward things that China and America share! Anyway, spending so much time choosing the next topic, resulted in no writing at all, which is a pity.

One of the topics that interests me is the fine line of interpretation between endorsement/sponsorship of political candidates in the US (be it a township mayor, a state senator or the president), Chinese Guanxi (关系) and Corruption. That will be my next article then!

The other topic I was thinking about was currently raised in a blog on www.nytimes.com and is about Racism. Four expert commentators on the blog react to recent commotion in China on police harassment charges by African immigrants in Guangzhou and online discussions about the finalist of the Chinese Idols competition Lou Jing who is the daughter of a Chinese woman and African man. In the blog the questions are raised how and if increased immigration by foreigners to China is influencing the Chinese perception of race and how from a historical perspective the Chinese community has dealt with ethnic differences.

Unfortunately, all four expert commentators give a very analytical and similar interpretation on race and ethnicity in China. The following 8 pages of comments by readers are far more interesting to read. At least, the readers speak out and really contribute to a debate that has generated more than 190 comments so far!

Reader comment number 78 summarizes the discussion nicely and comment 77 just before holds up a mirror for all of us Westerners who feel that being stared at is the worst that can happen to you!

What I miss in the NY Times blog and reader comments is a summary and basic analysis of the historical perspective of ethnicity in China. It feel it is too easy to say: China was and is a melting pot of different ethnic groups, was ruled for several dynasties by so-called 'Barbarians', etc. etc. In my opinion the ethnic groups and leaders always had to adapt to Chinese society - to the Han culture - and not the other way round. This is what makes Chinese history, culture and society carry a 2.500 year legacy (I am not going with the popular 5000 year history that Chinese government proclaims; I prefer to start a few hundred years before the first Emperor, when a substantial amount of writing was already collected on philosophy, culture, society and literature).

In the People's Republic of China I feel that ethnic minorities are more like circus attractions than regular citizens. They are mainly generating income for domestic and international tourism. The ethnic minorities are only allowed into certain positions to fulfil the Star Trek Quota [Just make sure there is an African, an Asian, a Russian, an Alien, a handicapped person and a Woman on the bridge and no one will complain]. So far the Communist Party of China has convinced many ethnic minorities in China that they have their best interest in mind, but with recent unrests in Tibet and Xinjiang, we know that not everybody agrees with the Chinese approach.

It is a fact that if you are born into a regular family of a Chinese ethnic minorities your outlook in life will be different from a Middle Class family in the Beijing region or the Yangzi and Pearl River Deltas. Economic opportunities differ according to region, also in China and inequality can be seen frequently even in this (so-called) Communist state. However, are Chinese Racist?

I will never be able to answer that question, however, I can only mirror it on my experience here in the US. A large country with unequal opportunities and equal rights (at least on paper). Of course, the background of the US and China is completely different on the immigrant chapter! Early immigrants came here in their pilgrimage from Europe, massacred the indigenous population, established slavery - leading to a huge immigration increase (although slaves were probably NOT considered immigrants then) and then, in the early 20th century many more immigrants came to live the American Dream fleeing war and economic downturn.

I can only speak from experience. I live in a small township in New Jersey. Most foreigners here are Chinese or Indian and they live in regular houses or in apartments, most of them working in the pharmaceutical industry, IT industry or retail. Of course, there are also the all American neighbors with Christmas lights and four cars. In our township I don't see many African Americans, if I want to see more of them I need to go to the State Capital Trenton. To be honest, people don't get the chance to be openly racist here, I feel as if society is segregated. However, the segregation is not only racial, but also economic. Of course, racial background & regional opportunity are related. Americans have many things to worry about: job loss, debt, war against terror, Tiger Woods...

I feel totally inadequate writing about racism. Raised in a stable family in Germany we did stand out a little bit by being Dutch, returning to Holland, we stood out because of our German stay, but never ever have I been discriminated on race (or on being a woman either!).

There is a very adequate Dutch proverb to describe what I would like to say "Ons kent ons" . We are all most comfortable in our own area, we don't want to step out of our comfort zone be it economic or ethnic. Of course, it is impossible to judge a whole nation (America or China) on racism, on history and on regional differences.

It would be nice if one could be more open to others (myself including) and step out the "ons kent ons" zone now and again.

I think that is a very nice New Year Resolution, I hope you join me!

Capitalist or Communist? Green ambitions on the rise!

Since the first moment I realized I would be moving to the US, I started to notice and gather similarities on China and the US. Some are quite obvious:

- Both are big countries
- This leads to big 'problems' (environment, infrastructure, governance, corruption)
- They have important roles to play on an international level
- They are focused on themselves more than the outside
- The people have a "Can Do" attitude, which is necessary to get where you want in this society
- Both countries represent a well-known culture, attitude or system: be it Capitalist, Confucianist, Christian or Communist (or all of the above?)

Anyway, right around my change of scenes TIME Magazine posted an interesting article on the 5 things the US can learn from China! I recommend reading it.

To summarize they are:
1. Ambition
2. Education
3. Elderly care
4. Saving money
5. Look over the horizon - the Chinese dream!

Now, I do agree that these 5 points are true, but I feel that TIME Magazine was making things a little bit too glorious for the Chinese in their article. I chose to pick on "Ambition".

(Blind) Ambition?
For instance, the author Bill Powell, criticizes the American NIMBY (not-in-my-back-yard) attitude compared to the Chinese IMBY.
Those Chinese who need to move from their ancestral homes because of urban or industrial development don't get to choose or to vote on these projects. Most choose the way of the least resistance, a new apartment in a block with other co-villages to keep them together and recreate their village feeling.
Although projects can take very long in the US (and even more so in Europe) at least proper Environmental Impact Assessment is done and the necessary permits and procedures around these projects are aimed at protecting people and the environment, instead of blindly following capitalist endeavors. If a project is sensible, project developers or governments should be able to explain it to residents, they owe it to us!

I have seen with my own eyes the kind of grand projects referred to in the TIME article. A new port here, a new urban center there, a new railroad, a new canal to transport water for more than 1500 miles! Oh, let's relocate 5 million residents...China is a big place, some projects are successful: Beijing was redone beautifully for the 2008 Olympics, urban development in general seems to work reasonably well so far. However, regional ambition and power hungry provincial leaders have endorsed all kinds of large developments in China's provinces that are dubious, daft and even dangerous!

Green Ambitions
Back to these large developments, however, we can also find ambition for sustainable development and corporate social sustainability. With lower labor and material costs, highly educated engineers and many "out-of-the-box" ideas China does show the ambition to become the leader of the "Global Green Revolution" or "Clean Revolution" (the technological and scientific development of a green and clean world economy).

Western companies are also riding the Green Wave in China, for instance Pepsi or DSM, and many more.

This ambition I do fully support. Go Green!

Climate Change

Inspired by Kenneth Lieberthal's lecture on "US-China Relations and Issue of Climate Change" that was held at Princeton University on Monday 30 November 2009, I am afraid I am starting with a difficult topic instead of a frivolous one.

This is what I am going to do. I will try to balance serious topics (environment, human rights, linguistics) with light topics (humor, food, people-2-people experiences) on America in China - China in America in my blog. So...Climate Change it is. I'd like to first summarize Prof. Lieberthal's lecture, I found it very enlightening and it sets the base for my own conclusion later on!

The topic Climate Change came almost as an afterthought in Prof. Lieberthal's lecture, not because it is not important in US-China relations, but because it is a recent development one can only grasp by looking at the whole picture! In a wonderful 1 hour lecture (plus 30 minutes Q & A) Lieberthal summarized US-China relationship into four well-known topics and concluded by giving us his view on the climate change issue in US-China policy.

The four topics mentioned by Prof. Lieberthal were:

1. Stability in and Control over North Korea
2. Cross-Strait Relationships
3. Trade Ties and Tensions
4. Human Rights

All of these points are of great interest in US-China relationships. I will get back to them for sure in one of my later "difficult" sessions.

Finally, Prof. Lieberthal pointed out that US and China seemed to have found a way to cooperate on the topic of climate change without making it a political issue (be it domestic, international or transnational) - let's call it Clean Energy Cooperation. Prof. Lieberthal calls for a more economic entity (more WTO than UN) to be established to tackle Climate Change Issues.

I think this is one of the best suggestions I have heard in a long time. Environmentalists have managed to bring environment and climate change onto the political agenda, which is important for development of a legal framework and awareness, however, as we all know politics are slow and discussions keep going on. Next week's Copenhagen Summit will not reach any grand conclusions apart from the one that more talks will be needed. Any emission targets that will be established will be worthless without US and Chinese support.

However, when the economy is at work, when enterprises (big and small), universities, scientists and governments can start to make money by joining organizations for clean energy and developing a new self sufficient energy sector (and thus....emission reduction and climate change) it will be a win-win situation for all.

Here's my pitch then!
I expect that on the level of emission targets and deadlines, as well as any collective statements the Copenhagen Summit will not bring great surprises and I can imagina that no grand support from the US or China will be offered in this summit. However, I opt for looking at more invisible successes. US and Chinese joined research programs to bring the world new energy sources that do not depend on fossil fuels, but on innovative technology, and a new energy saving attitude that rises from the current economic tide. Clean Energy is Hot! and in the years to come will contribute tremendously to mitigate Climate Change effects in the world.

So....don't be disappointed if on the political level the US and China will let us down over the next years in the field of Climate Change. I am sure that both the US and China will surprise us in their contribution in the energy sector over the coming years.

Looking forward to your comments!