anna-louise simpson power in the asia-pacific area of study focus: china
TRANSCRIPT
Anna-Louise Simpson
Power in the Asia-PacificArea of study focus: China
Issues facing China in 2011
Maintaining economic growthControlling separatist groupsSocial harmonyHuman rights Responsible global citizen?
Maintaining economic growthStability and survival of CCP depends on
continued economic growth2010: 10% GDP growth, world’s largest exporterGlobal concern over RMB currency valuationChallenges;
increasing domestic demandsustaining job growthreducing corruptionlimiting environmental damage & social strife
linked to rapid industrialisation inflation
Controlling separatist groups
Controlling separatist groupsUighurs
Ethnically dissimilar to majority Han-ChineseBeijing has executed a ‘crushing campaign of
religious repression’Destruction of KashgarKadeer: Jasmine Revolutions given hope to UighursGuantanamo Bay detainees
TibetansEthnically dissimilar to majority Han-Chinese Lobsang Sangay elected new political leader Dalai Lama retired but remains spiritual leaderKirti monastery, Sichuan raid
TaiwanNaval buildup
Social harmonyJasmine Revolutions in Middle East have worried
Beijing that similar riots could occur in ChinaSpate stabbings in April & May 2010Crime rates increasingInflation fears over price of food and housingHigh costs of health and education‘pent-up discontent could easily burst out... and
spark mass conflicts’In response:
PM Wen declared public should voice more of their criticisms
Government is at forefront of technological innovation to limit use of internet
Human rights‘fools errand’
Liu Xiaobao detention & awarding of Nobel Peace prize
GoogleInternet censorship
Human rightsAi Weiwei high-profile detention
“will be judged by history, but he will pay a price for his special choice,”
Responsible global citizen?“to take physical control over oil and gas by buying up equity stakes or long-term supply
contracts in producing countries”Iran; 14% of total oil imports; $40bn
investment in Iranian gasoline, $100bn arms transfers 2002-05; Resolution 1929
“a useful hedge against a hostile United States”North Korea: “little real influence”Libya: "give peace a chance"Cyber espionage: desire to move from ‘made
in China’ to ‘innovated in China’
Questions?