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TheChinalssueBroader Perspectives ispublished by School ofThought420North BridgeRoad#06-32, NorthBridgeCentre,Singapore 'l 887 2 7, www.schoolofthoug ht.conr.sgrcl +6 s 633 4 a7 7 3. f ax + 65 6337 24 3 4Subsciption rites for 2009$45 (l 0 issues, Januarytooctober)Forsubscrlptionenquirlesandbacklssues, email:broadercerspect ves@school-of -thought.comThe Broader Perspectives teamEDITOR-lN-CHIEF Elizabth Konliz@schoo -of-thou9 ht. conrCREAT VEDIRECTOR Shiao YinKLrlky n@schoo -of-thou9 ht.comSALESMANAGER YeeTongyee@school-of -thought.comDEPUTYEDITORCONTRIBUTINGWR TERSJoselinBa!,Joash Loh,BaeySh Chen,Nadjal,lahINTERNSSon a Kwek, Kerina Leong,AmelliaRazakDESIGNASS]5TANTPR NTER

SOLEDISTRIBUTORRighteouslnternationa SubscrptionSeruces,71 UbiCrscent#05 09 Singapore40857ltel:+54 6323I833 fax:+65 6323I838ema :mlchael chunq@r qhteous. com.sq

BROADERPERSPECTIVES thechina issue


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Once to express his disinterest in travelling and goinganywhere, Philip Larkin, a British poet, said "I wouldn'tmind seeing China if I could come back the same day."Contr!ry to how far Chnra must |ave scemed to i.artjl tlrc.. C|ila to.lal is a mere slone-s lhrow nwa!.You car.ot travel anl'$,here iD tlie e,orkl aDd lot(ome up agrirNt China aDd her refrescntatir.s ands]mbols $'hcth.r it bc hcr d]nanric and diverse dia ora,lre.b sidess inLerests and goods, he. pirtrershirrs and anl, her lansuage aDd hc'r {ood. Chnra hasrch an outsized presence nr t{xla) s \orld that youcaDnot cscapc hcr influ.nc. .v.n ilyoD i{anled lo.And with a Drorc thaD donrinant sho\ring ri tie O\mficsandhiyingp.oveno theecononiclrontthattherounhr' can no loDger be mistrkeD as "the sick maDof,\sia . Nhat will chnra do norv? HoN $ill she actas t|c hrgcst .conomt in r]]e $o.ld? Ol those tradjnil links, ho$ will sh handle accordant deDands forhumaD rishts fron nstern Dattuns and hoi{ rlill shelikcxisc d.al $ith thc oiti.ism oy.r |.r ties \it| dnbioLrs.aLions olnote? How $illshe coDtinuetofeed a

biilion l)eople salel) and salisty their increasiril cnesfor nio.e int.tngible reeds? llo$. rvill she placate aburseonfis n*l.Ue class and her rehrniDs nisrants?Hor{ cxactly will shc come to grips with ihc rcaiisalion t]]al sie is.eallI no longeran jsolalionist ration,.l'r \rr sur.l -rhli' iur.l'l\-"ub'l r-p-1 r.iulthat hayc to b. balanccdaith hcr iDicrnal conccms ofstabilit] and contl'ol?\\it .r., t,,rJ\' r|r, irr' " r'.1^r ri.l' .r,r8n8world leader when sbe stirts assertinil beLselfnrore aLthe globrl tables of decision'nukirs or ilill it be thesaDrc old indccidrcrablc intransiscnt bchaliour thati{e have seen belbre? Ilens Xiaopins once declared.Rr"r (hin"', c"nJ -e\Llr:on lL s-ll Le i!terestiDg to see if cliim $'ill surprise us aDd enb.acercal r.fonn orinturiatcus as she rcturDs to old dcfcn-


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18 CULTURE V'ATCHTHE OITIENT EXPIIESS(ED)'lh trendscllrs trom the East.20 HOV/ r'OGET A FAI(E BAGv/ho! behind the supply chain olpir!cv?06 2L

COMPREHENSIONGO\TERNMENT PO\\TER\x/hy we mustsurrende. power to th strt.

29A MATTER OF OPINIONSHOULD ECONOMICINTERESTS TAI(E PRIORITYOVER EVERYTHINGELSE WHEN IT COMES TONATION.BUILD]NG?A Shenzhen nrdustrialist arrd a 6shernunfron the lree corges Dam face off.

34 LOCAL/GLONALSINGAPORE " BEITINGfte tale ola curious frieDdship.38 ESSAY MAI(EOVERTHE BRAINSTORMConque rg the fiNt 20 minutes ol phnnnrg.45

SPOTLIGHTUNHAPPY ANNIVEIISARYWhy ivlarch 10 matters to China dnd Tib.t

s THINGS 1'O I(NOWFIVE MOST UNDERRATEDCHINESE EXPORTSNIeet the best ofthe chinese diaspora

FEATUIIE AIITICLEENTERDRAGONHow China can becomethe superpower the worldneeds her to beON 2ND THoUGH'IRETHINI( CHINESE FREEDOMh China as closeted.s we blicve?

WHAI"S'I'HE POINT?PRIDE & PREJUDICEandshlt they reveal about our cultu re

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MostUnderratedChineseElports

5 THINGS TO I(NOW

rr SHIAO-YIN I(UIKYes, China is the Fnctory ofthe world, churning outeve4.thing under the sun textiles, cars and nore.But we think the most underrated Chinese expofiis its diaspora of pcople and what a surpdsinglyunique diaspola it is.

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5 rHTNGS IO r(NOW

Cost-EfficientEntrepreneurs

hifk Chjf."s h.st lJbnxr c\f.r1s xrc

II I I]STRATION CREDIT

*

liniicd to drc stcrcot}l)ical si{cat} masscs of undrfaid laundl) workers, chop sLre) deliver!bo)s, Naiterc and laclo._v lnre l)ro kels'l WhileChnia js .enoe.ne.L for havins an endless supplyol cheap persant labou wilhis to do the dir!i{ork rrc all disdaiD, wc fors.i how D ch Dior.sot|isticatcd thc Chnrcsc cconomy has gro\r.China\ conhibutioD to t|e global labour nrarkelis tar mo.e dne.se thnn we thinL lhis is madeobvious when we study the provnice of Zhejirng,hailed bI economists as a trailblazing casc studyof ndcr-thc-radar Chincsc cntlcprcn.urship.Gcosraphi.al\' hemnred in, Zhejians dismissedtredictions ol povelty. lurlring lo privaLe businessaDd overseas trading long before Beijjns otiiciill]ddopted economic .efonn in the r98os. Zliejirnsindustrialists arc Dorv nwing thcir factorics andoutsorrcing th.ir p.occsscs bqoDd ChiDa iDtoCelhal Asia, Vietnanr, Bangladcsh and Nigeria.Zhejianss enr.epreneLrrs hale also ma.ased lokeep winling contracts by lieeptrrg cosLs down asChinese expatriates are wilhg to live a far moreslartan lifestvic than Wcstern cxpatriatcs cxpcct.\,\, Ic,It-rar /.1'"tJ18-' ' r ^\,I ' t, tr, Lr.r iness lbod chain, LLrning nom simple manuhclL(irg to buring irto WesLern businesses n|d p.ovidiDg sophisticated srrjces. As tlie locaL :Jiion goes:wherever Zhejiarg goes, the rest ofchina follows.

&:TaF;gtectedlinl. known fi.r,bolr al,inr is rlr.riris lhewo d s nosl popLrlar avenLrefor prospectile ado!live !a.erts.intemtional adoption is r politically scnsitive nnicfield and Chin{ is

Nary of attracting cvcn morc cdtjcismor humrn ghts is$rcs. Blt {..edsith an extloding l)ofrlalion andlimitd resources, Chha has alwalsfrvoured irternrtional adoption.wh) is Chin{ rch a pre-emiDentsourcc couDirt ior adoptions? Fnstlv,there is an abu.dancc of]].ltht babr'''gjrls abando.ed lo o.pha.ages due toChnras one child poljc). secondl),and more eDcoumgiDgll adoptioDis a highlr centraliscd an.l tishtlyrcgulatcd process iI C|iIa. Beijilgfollows Lhe .ecomnrendalions ol LheHague Conlenlion so as lo discoil.ase corruptior, babt butiDg anl kidnappiDg problems that plague othersource counties like Guatemxla rndIndia. Arncricans havc trov.D to bcChinas biggesl cuslo e.s in this indust.r siice adopLio. js parliculaJlr dillicull inthe States. lD 2oor- 8()% ofChiriese child.er putup for adoptioD ivere t{keD ni byr\nericaDs. Snice2oo7, Beij s sot clen stricter, forb dtus adop-tions by t cnts who $'.r. silglc, Drar cd for l.ssthan 2 yenrs. di\orced nrore tha. 2 tlnres, homosxual, blnrd, taliing nredicnres to lreat menlaldisorders o. possessinsabod) nuss ir ergrealer

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5 THINGS TO I(NOW

BST und-snffitltt aftfatF"rrtistesport is gettnrg nrorc cosmopolitxnard cteveloped world teams are becomins pine examples c,f gLobalisatioD, cobbliDg together their line upwith thc bcsi plavers aDd coaches

from the delelopnrg world. Evcry couDtry has its.p '.. lh rr'r ( hind j .o,,.riT rl ' r, rl.r rlbasketball, table-teDnis and gymnastics. Beijinssill al$'a)s invcst in her spo.tiDg talents espe. i l-t w,rl' tr", ,,nl r'.il nr , -Lpri:'nr\rp ir , n o..playing al e!er! Ohnpics. Bcijins lus alive-year plan lo put a baskeiball courtaDdtablelennis set in every villaile sowc caD eapect more Yao Mings

plus facto. going

hrnks to the poDula tv of Bruce Leeduing the r97os, Holllaood hasbccn boDo$'ing \rhole scenes. cnrematographic resthetic and actiontechniqucs pioneercd by the Chinesefiln industry. While Westerncrs coDstruct light

"c" r- ,- slr"s. r.e' or hr rre li^.ds ,, d, h" cl,i-ncsc sho$Gse the elegance ol the body in motioDand Lhe spiritual ansle beliDd the vjolence. 'l'hehyperkinelic fluny of blows ard balletic use ol

.oom surhces to fighi that yot sa\r iD theMatr trilosv? Thafs thanks to directorWATCH THIS

ENGLISH (2009)

of thc i{orld's popula-tjon, meaningthai shc hasthe richest and rnost diverse po.rl o{ natural physical talent to groom. The only

Yuen wo Ping, now ihc ubiq itonsfishr scene choreographer on call

in Hollrvood. That noble lone$'olf warior destined toseek vcngeaDce aDd spiritual efiphany you lovedin (tl1 Bill? That's theWu Xia waniorurhctl De thrtp r.^ r""..r r,.I o\cr :jnon ycJrr: in C|incsc literature; and has been up-dated beautifully byTsui llark, tutg l-eennd.lct Li Slow m.tionromanticisaiioD of death

by gunplay anongst a broiher'hood ofkillers.s seen in Wdnrcd and

way sialler cotrnt.ies can evenhopc to conpete in the world arena side by side with a sjant like thatis to lure Chinese talent o!cr. The BeijinsOljmpi.- *.' ra":l:ng ir l\F \nr' n glm-nastics finals between China and U.S., t}e younssnnnasts ofboth sides wre .rverseen by Chinesecoachcs i similarly, the womeD's table tennis finalswas essentially a China vc$us china face-offwithLiJiawej wearingSinsapore's colours.whicheversidesot the sold, China sas thewinnr.

t The Departedt Delinitel)' inspired bydnector John woo ard his charismaticrlu"r ( hus \ ren Fllr ' Lodt "-'\' r{. S" [,r. r"

l\.".pa'-' I'r..'rlFmprFC lo r,r!l'.a1. r\".\rra^=dinary fusioD of slapstick comedy and \iolencedone by ,Iackie cha! aDd Stephen Chor!. but wecnn definitelv anticipate theni t.-ving.

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10/48BROADERPERSPECTIVES thechina issue


11/48DEMANDAEROADERPERSPECT VI:


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FEATUREARTICLE

\Vithout China, lhe lrorld rlouldliler.llv not he the sime S relv illrhis nrrkes nn-. lood.,seforchin,

asthe Srperpower ofthe 2lst ccnturr?

Prize wi ning nlathenaticjansand scientists like fibre optics pi-

oDee. Clurles Kao aDd thc invcD-tor of AIDS aDti rctrcviml iherapvDrDa\id Ho; t| e biggest ove rall hauloln)edaLs through Ol)'n1pic history,second onlv to Anierica.

Wliatever field of human achicvcmcnt you arc looking at govenlrnent, mathenalics, arctriLecture, thearis. science, military you caD betthat iD the 5,ooo years of their exist-erce, Chinese nrgeDuitl has beenilere,nd don.th.t

China ca not run a!!ay from th on going jmpactof her ambitious struggle towr s greahiess on theworld. Though slie nuy righttully clajm Dot to be asupcrpolecr today, shc dcfiDitcly has thc makings ofone iomorow \rhether shelranis to publicly adnit itor noi. What the world can expect fron the hegenon in waiting'rvill be.evealed by her cur.entpoljcies

I RED ALRRT ] But the picture.rfli.rw ton.r.row'slperyower mry behave has not ahvays beeD fLatteFins. chnu's cconomic ambitions and dcmosmphic

prcssurcs havc led to a voracious nccd for resources.Sometimes theverlnations that possess said resoLrces are dobious. lhis lact has mauered liule Lo Chinnsince slie has alwals been adamantly agaiDst the ideaof allo$'ing foreign powe6 to inte.fere in donestic af-fairs. Chinahcrsclfhas alivavs $'antcd to bc lcft aloncto disci ine |er own enant separatht sekirg chill-ei -aiwar liL," anr I.nti ng Lik" olhpr A,.dnden.,cracies, she has also disapproaed of liberalWstern critics slamning he. approach to coDtroilingpolitical dissidents ard fieedon ofspeech.

^s clira fights for her right to be left alone bv thei{orld to handlc hcr oM "family affairs", so $ill shenoi rneddle in the affairs questionable as they areolsone oftheir most unsavoury friends. ln 2oo4.when the lnternatjonal Monetary l.und stalled a loanto Angola because of suspected comption, it wasChiDa that posted g2 billioD nr credji nrstcad. l\'hilcthe $'orld's press corps were roasting ZimbabweanPresident Roberr Muitabe for massive homan rightsviolations, China was qrietiy sendjng aid, t.ade andweapons do$'n the pipeliDe to the dictato.ship. -^fterchina sisned a $16 billbn contract {ith Ira! to bu}', l.r'al B ..id d' \. ^t.i 6,lds. lj"n"d'lu..i.rla stand off against Anrerican and European bids touse economic sanctions against Tehran. x{ost corllro\pr'Jlll c,.'idn i. Ircn.l) h- Iirg-sl '-.-i\-'of Cliinese inlestor nonies atrd in erchange, a state-oMed Chinese compaDl has control of4.J% ofthe oilrcscncs in southcrn Sudan.China's defence of her silence about Srdanh statespoDsored genoci.te in Dartur is that she prefe$ to.r- p-J'rhrlr.'l"r'lr1Frl\ n$lhr br,""r rnlimi-dation to corncr Sudan's lcadcrs. Siill, Chnrak re'fusal io use her considerable cloui to ann t$jst herpariah friends to abide by lhe world's rules rankles,especially ivhen she continues to use her p.rsitioD asa permanent member on the U.N. Secuity CouDcilio lrater do$D aDy resolutions secking to prcssurcthcn to chansc. Bcijins's political backins and policyo'io, ila1pr l,or'. d plau.iL,lF rpd.or h\) AL'. n

I fII NOT A SUPI]RPO\VER, I JUST LOOK LII{E ONE ] BUtso far, Beijinit has shied ar{ay tion the sLrperpowe. mantle. ln a 2oo8Arcurs&re.i article, Premier $ren Jiabio declared, "China is not a su-lerporver. Althotrgh Cliirla lias r population of 1.3 billioD...fairly fastecononic an.t social developmeDt, China still has 8oo millioD farmersnr nml arcas aDd ac still havc dozcns ofrnillions of peoDle livins intolctt. T|at s whywe need to focus on our own developnenl and onour efibrls to inrprole people s lives.'Wen has a poinl. A quick comparison with America reyeals China sstruggie with poveft\': while ihe cu.rent superyower's GDP per headis $42,ooo, tlie would-be futue superpoNer's fisrres rank a disrnal$1,7oo perhead stead.lvhcn Chnra takcs carc ofhcrselfwell, she isdircctlvtakiDg carc of 2(]% ofthe world's population \ll. And she hasmuc| cleanils upto do in hero$'n household belbre $epuLs international affairs n t the top of her agenda. l he Sanlu poisoned niilk scandalshowed that co.ruptioD remanN a Dation-wi.te issue that undenninesthe he.Llth, rvealth aDd interDatjonal retutation of thc Chincsc- Bcijingstil caDnot create cnoughjobsto fccd aD urban labourrnark.tburstingat thc scarns bccause of rnigration from poor rLrral qLrarters. Chinasair, waterand sreen spaces are some ot lhe most polluted in the world,threatned by ranpant urban sprawl and uncontroLled industdal prac-

A USSR s\'lc lrelidown ofChina would be disastous lor all olus becausc of the sheer si?e ofherfootprinl ofinnuence and how intricateliinierwolen her econonic interests are with alL other econonies. Iorone, she could bring down the U.S. with her being the biggest owDerofU.S. Treasrry borlds. The fall{rut {o dbeinnneDse: a rctuscc crisisof unthinkablc prof ortions, prolifcraiion of anns of all sorts includnrgnuclcar$'eapons on t|eblackmarket and a Chinese civil war that maypossibly sweep her Eas( Asian and even Southeast AsiaD neiglibours

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13/48

dictato$hifs mnrain unrepentant .nd e rboldencdto igDorct|. !vo.ld s calls for rclbrnr.I CRLATING A N u\\' \IORLD ORD l.:R I Surcl].CliiDa does not lrop up rnsavourl regincs for rhesakcof projnotnig elil it o.lr, does $ forth. greatcr Sood' of feednrg C|ina s i dustrl ih. rcsources jtneeds, lteeping jis .oDnlrv allort and at peace. It isaD equrl optortuDilv policv ofpragnralis r:evenoncwilling to tmd. thi. .esourccs should be c ltiyar.das a fricnd. $hether you arc a liberal denocra.y liteAustfalia or aD ethnic cle.rosing intcmational paih like oii-ric]r srdan o. htdroca$on ch tslrnia.China is onlv pra.ticing wliai cvcn, other .esourcc-st.:ipped or c.ononrically tcstcd count$, has bccnforced to do rcept China is doing it on a frrlargerscal. and hence is nuc ofen to pubhc criticism.Ls, r p."r. - tr.n..-i...:r8u pr,r t1,r'..^rur r.,.nccds orer denioc.atic ideals is not nlite lh atti,tude the Obana adrni.istratioD has shown to$'ardsBeijjrs hersclt Shockins hunrn ights activists thcwortd ovcr, U.S. Scretary of State Hillary CliDioDponrtcdlv declare.l iD hcr Fcent risit to Deijnrs dralhlnran rights cannot inte{ere nith rcsolurion ol rlieslobal crjses causcd bv .rirket meltdorrn and climrtechuDge rnd it might be better for Washington aDdtleijingto agr.e lo disagree on su.h iss!s.I trNL{sY l.rr]s lIItr HEAI)'lHAl l\,'trARSTHT CRo\\ \ |s,il. lpir.Lr,r,'Icor',1run.:.-ins high morals for pragnatisnis sake will Dot tioldirater for long especially if China $ishes to bc ac'.{d d lF a./-,1.l'. .... rprt-iv ri'rvaiting. l he good Dei{sist|al Chinahas incrcasiDsl.,sloi{n that she is nell .ware thrt her Dational i teres ls rnight be Druch bet tr seFed b) \orl


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ON 2ND THOUGHT

RethinkChinese FreedomHow far exactly has Chini gone in the llghl Ibr human rights? by JoSELIN BAII

"China hasbecome .,,more open:

TO SAY THAT CHINA HAS PERFECTTJD A SYSTEMn. pprF'.'..ana rF.lr n l:... o, rnl lurlh.n edi. i isevere urderstatement. Too manyrePorts ha$e beensrittcn about the sothisticated and all'encompassing Great Fire$'all olChina that restricts all unwanted informaiion from beins circulated or publishedCortrol obsesscd china has an amazing multi-stePapproach to censorship that enables itto rapidl)' andefficjeDtly shut dom entire websites orblock access

Yet, in recent r,ea6, seeking lo control niedia freedom has becone norc challen8ins and at the sametinie. raised even more inplications for China andher citizeDs. Chnia plals host io 7(] million blossersand has the largest number of rcgistered interner n+ers in the world at 3oo million. The advent ol newmedia, the spread ofihe internet and the use ofthenobjle phone a.e overcornirg s.rme ofthcsevauntedcontrols. The sliaring and dissemination of informatioD has never beeD

fasicr or easier. Sawierinternei useN have alsobeen able to circumventsome of the internetcoDtrois imposed by theThe ral\'ins power ofsn.h nedia is also a

SI-IGHTLY.BUT TIL{'I' IS A,S FAR AS IT GOES.

to indi\idral intemcipages - like Annestvlnternational, tlie I'ilun Gong aDd the BBC.Ke)vord nlters or "netnanDies" are enployedto zoom in on wordsljke democmct", DalaiLana and 'Tiananmenprctests so that more

IMAGECREDITsjtes can be weeded out. When thai fails, comPliantintemet podals and seNice provideN (even mulii-national oDes) practise self-censorship rather lhan.isk losins thei. operatins liceDce. Finally, tliere arethousands upon tho sands ofsuNeilLance monitorsand paid cornmentators who trawl counlless num-bcN of blogs, foruns and postirss e!rydal eitherto repoir on intemet users that cross the line or poseas ordinary users to counter critjcisrn of the govern

g.o$'ing phenomenon. The internet has become aptrblic forun for a growing activist movement- Thisspread of visorous debate, unheard of a decade aso,has persisted dcspite vigorous no toring and polic-ins- while officials nal' stand by when these protestsare dirccied against couniies like Japan and America, the fcar is how easily ihe same popdar angercan be unlcashed at intmal iargets and haveunn yrcpercussions. ln recent years, otiine debates mdanontmous text messages havc been responsible for

I "*ooor* or^rrra-,urs rhechina iss!e


15/48

ON 2ND'I'HOUGHT

rousing demonstrations even inthe fac of clcar sovemnent dis

The fact that these elents arc hap-penhs and reported on sensto indicate a snall step forward.If you take a quick scaD of currnt sto es in ihe Chinese nedia,there seems to be some looscniDgof press controls. Chinesejoumalists hare been pushing the ourof-bonnd markers with expos6son controversial subject matte.sand scandals. They have drs npdirt on corrupt local officials, andgiven testimony to appallirg environnentdl problenls and scenes ofsocial iDjustice. Even ofticial media has made reports on riots thathale broken out in China. Amaz-ingly, sone of these stories havcinvited ofiicial investigation andthe punishment of wrong doers,hclping the central governmentrein in ermnt local ofiicials.ls this shift from an immediateclampdown to a more open tolerance of nedia stodes a sign ofb.iter things to come? Some ofthis nelv'found tolerance may be aleftover fton a relaxation of nlesrstricting the activities and move-nents of joumaLists granted during the ol,mpjcs aDd mal alsobe attribuied to a post-O])mpicsmood where officials are less trp-tight no\r that the spotlight oftheforeign media is not so closely fo-

But local journaljsts very quicUyrealise that there are limits io tlissllpposed laxjty of coni.ol- Thc 10-cal press still has to deal with n!ierference and directives tuom theConmunist Parry's PropagandaDelartmeni. Pcmissjon m st stillbe sought to cover sensitive events.Repo ing on Tibet rquirs a per-n1it. l'ood sa{ety stories cannot beptrblished until official approlal

is granted br thc Prcpaganda De-partment, the foreign ministry,and even then, only Xinhua, thcofficial nervs ageDct, is allo'1ed tobreak the Dervs li.st. Journalislsand blossers are routinely sackedor detained for thc vaguest of rea-sons. Such evnts only rennrdwhoerer is Leli thal the cenhalsoverDnent is ever vigilant and

Thus, this curmnt assertivenessand relatile toleranc ofihe nedianay turn out lleeting. The currenteconomic do$'nturn is slarlinilto have serious repercussions forChina, sowins increasins socialunrest and protcsts across thecountry. These protests havc Dotsnorvballed into ilider novemenisand do not as yetrepresent a threatio thc central govemneDt. IIo\tever, given that Chinese repoftinghas become bolder ovcr the yearsand infumation harder to controlin this nodern era, the Chinesegovenmed's pa.ticular lears ofsrowing instabilitv and dissent isleaning torlards olcuealousDessin protecting its control and pre-venting forther opportuDitics forotrtrage or anger to spread.So this peiod will actually seenore censorship oler all kinds ofinformation perceived as trouble-inducing and an increased repres-sion of what is deemed politicallysensitive infonnation and discussion. This tightenirg of controlover the nedia is usualy trnderthe pretext of euphemistic ration-ales. In January, local and foreisnintemet companies were warnedihat their china websites $'ouldbe shut do$D if they failed to keepa handle on the dissemination ofpornography on then ebsjtes.conveniently, these popular por'tals also host countless nunberof btogs and postings that havebecome magtrets for news that are

Chinese leadersare all too aware thatthe countrv is too bie.too unwielilv to nlav"'fast and looie with 'its control tactics.offlinits in ofiicial media. Hencethe pressure to self-censor on moral srcunds can easily sas rll othercontroversial tofics at the saDe

Yei, caD grorving access to the iDternet be completely managed inthe usual rnaDrer that Beijing isused to? RestrictioDs or not, tlisera of new media has brckeredmore unparalleled debate aboutthe need for more media freedom,less govemnent secrecy and morepublic consultation on issues. Aburgeonjnit middlc class and anincreasingly disgruniled \orkinsclass are startingto agitate againstthe pa.tv's insistence on positivcpropagaDda" in the press. Even amernberoftherul sPotitburohaswarned that aDy more attenptsto suppress information that putliles in daDger may start an otin-ion quake lake", a relercnce to thcnistability of the area atter the Sichuan earthquake last year.Still in the short temr, with seNi-tile anniversa.ies just on thc ho-rizoD and a deepening economicfallort, nobody should e\pect China to flay an)-thiDg but defensiveltith itsmedia. Chnlese leaders areall too aware that thc counht' is toobis, too unrrieldy to play fast andloose with its control Lactics. Bci-jiDs {ill continue to c.ynically uscthe iniernet as a managed pressurcvah and balance that againsr itbeing used as a iool forunderminins stabiLitl and central auihorib'Nle - all rvithout allowins for realand pernuneDt change. Any sigDihat signals even a tentative begin-ning ofan cm offiee speech isjustr false dam. (M

REPIORTEFSsa{s FRoI{'IERESE[E!6EI@IRIPORlTNSuollDtRs

RELIGIOUSrN CHINA

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECT VE t5


16/48

ONzND THOUGHT

- "Chinahas"becgmerreer.

NOT XVTRYONN RE\IEMBERS NO\,V, BLIT \\iHENconpeting for thc ighi to host the OlvDpics in 2oor,China said thai bcins awaded hosling rights wouldbc an opponrnitv to bolster he. relorm rnd open-ins". So now lhal (he tseijing OlFlpics are oler, hasil lorlhered the caus ofhuman ishts in chiDa? Didjt play the srne politicrl role that it playcd in Scoulin r98U, pafins thc lray for democratic reform?Thc run upto the Olympics played out in a less(han ideal nuDner. As aprotest-free games i{asthe priorit\, thcrc i{asa crackdorn on dissension $ith human rightsacti\ists detained onchaBes of sublersionand sent to 'rc-educa-tioD tliroush labour" if

RELA.TIVE TO ITS O\VN PASI'AND NOT NTORF, A NA'l'I I\I I] SOON.

Ifthere are slight improvemerts to the stat oflreedon1 in China, it is onl) in cornpaisoDto tlie reprc$sive China of the 198os and 9os. Gmntcd, thcscjmprovemeDts are secD in ro Ddabout ways, inocmeDtal change for thc bcttcr rncans that not all Deoplc dccncd sub\ersive are inrmediately detained.Simila.ly, Chinese troops do not always shoot onsight and civil protsts can actually take place {ith-out arybloodshed. Fnrallv, tlicrc has bccn rnorc dis

closurc of gov$nnrcntintbnnation and soneloosen ing ol au thoritarilrn controls over civil

Thus, a rcfolt card onthe state of tueedom i.China ca be a mixedbag of gocds. A quickscan of china's hrv an.t

IMAGECREDIT

there $'as anv agitation tbr fibet, the l.alun GonS,Xinjiang or prolests against Ctira's dubious links\rrl5uri1rndI'1.Jrri'..M. ,I -rl ilIgn r...ricLi ,|. a.. inu.l . Jr .l p br.rC| n , dra Jr d r.iror. \u br lu pr-\Fr'' turrl ' r r.g.,i\! prF., d r-', "the OLympics. The Amncsry hriemational report lbr2oo8 ackno$'lcdses no rcal lasting inproverneDt ofthc sihation with a depressing laund.y list of peo-ple inrp soned, ha.assed an.l torlured, sroufs rcp.essed and peNecuted {ith no justice to bc foundin the lgal system, an.t a continlliDg ban on the formation of any opposiDg Dart!'.

the constjtutioD shorvs that tliere are rights gmntcdto thc common pcoplc to suc govmDnrcnt deDartmcnts and rights that protect personal lreedom.There has been a sradual lrend losards media andpoblic supervisjo! ol authority to olersee the erercis of state power. ln 2oo.l, rn anendnient to theConstitutioD eren stated th{t the state respects aDdprcseNcs humaD rights. But somc icrnN and definitions coDiinue io remain v.gue .nd obscLrre and as'$.\q t-,P i,plp,., I\. e,d.n.problenatic and inefiectual.

BROADERPER5PELTT\, ES lheLhrna bsde


17/48


18/48

CULTURE'WATCH

The Orient Express(ed)tven during lVlarco Polot days, China was alreadv a trcr, d setter with its beautiful porcehinboruls, lush silk dresses and delicate string music. Today, China renains a polr'er-ful inlluenceon all folns of modern day artistic exPrcssion. NADTA MAH introduces some ol ChinRlsmost significanl aesthetic icons.

LtsllN To Ttlls

(1996)

kThe Musicians'l AN DUN (Born in Changsa, based in Ncw York)Nlodern music composer. WoD an oscar for compos-ing the scorc io Crorchin! Tiget, Lli.lden Dtaqatlcu npo\4d rh. I.tst l: np.nt. -r uorr' .ri-"i IPlacido Domjnso-L\\'c LAN(, (Boni ni Shenvans, based jn NewYork) Vi.troso pianist. coDsidered one of Peopl.\4.g.zr ,-s {F\ips( \l' n ' 2uo8 Pq br ."1Ll,rr.nBEeijing Olynpics opening ceremony. C tics dubbedhin thc 'ihe J. Lo ofthepiaDo".The Dancers The StarsD:\I ru LIAN (Bom iD Trinidad and Tobago, passedarlav ni Beijing in 2(].J6) Pioneer and founde. .,Imodem Chfiese dance. cons e.ed on of Chinaspremier dance icons for intcgmtins Chirese .thnicfolk dances $nth modern Wesicrn st)le. Danced toraise funds lbr China's war ellbt asainst JtPan during wo.ld wa. T$'o. Vice-chairman ofUNESCOh lnterDational Corlncil for Dance.T,L\ YUAN I.LIA\'(Borr in Shanghai,based in SanFmncisco) x{uLtiple a$'ard winning principal dancerwith thc San Francisco Ballet. Mosl cdiically ac-claimed ballct dancer 1io tn ChiDa. Bmrd ambassadorfor van Clecf & Arpels and Rolex. cover person forTIMD Magazinc, Asiat Heroes 2oo4.

The ArtistsAl wElwtrt (tsorn aDd based in Beijins) -^rchitcl,cumtor and artist. Consulted on the desigD of the"Bird s Ncst" Beijing Olltrpic Stadtum. Son of clina s nrost revered nodem poet, Ai Qing, r'ho waspe$ecuted duing the Cultural Revolutior.c,u GUOQL{NG (Bo.n in Fujian Prorince, basedin Beijhg) Nlulti award ivirxrins allist. Chi as re!rcseDiative in the Vcnice Biennale of1999 rnd 2oo5Orsanised li.eworks show for openins of Beijing Ol

ZIL\NG zl !'l (Bom in tleiiiril. based ni New York)Star of Croucitrg Tiger, llidden Dragon, LI.'to,1/. ra.i \ y' u G, rs/,o. \lo.l ." ld n.d "nlF::o4FAI-E \\''ONC (Born ard based in Bcij s) Singer,song rniterand actress ofCnungling txPress, Eero,Merrots o/d Geishd. Nrost acclaimed role: Ciung'LONG LI (Bo.n in l.iaonnrs, Based in Nc$' York)Best Acless Ar{a at the 49th VeDice intemationalFiln Iestival, bccoming the first Clinese nainlandaciress to win an irterDational a{2rd. AifadedKnight ofthe Legion of Honor in Fmncc. X{embr ofthe Oscar coDrmittee and elected chair of the judginspinel for the 5oth Be in IDternational Film Festii'al.Most acclained role: fte stora of Qiu Ju (1992)

]u*ooomo,*rr.a- u., thech na ssle


19/48

mWREADTHIS

The'WritersHA JrN (Bo.n in Liao.ins, based in Boston) Arthorrnd poet. EnigMted to USA aftcr thc TiananDrcnSquar protcsts. ulritcs novcls aboui China ir English for English spcakins audiences. Co \droLe TlilF st Er?crorwith:r'AN DUN. Most fanous novel:l.{dtltrv (r999).l)Al SUIE (Eorn iD Putiar, base.t in Pais) Autliorrnd lilm directo.. SeDt to .e-edrcatior canp as achild dringthc Clltuml RcvolutioD- Wdies novels inFrcnch for iDtcrDational audie.ce. Nfost famous novel .nd nrovie: Bal,oc and the Liltle cninese Sedm

ZIL&NG \aIMOU (Born in Xi'an) Director. Hall1 .' 1. ' I l i. sol: J nrb ,l:. .olu r . .'n,l -. :li-l -olChinese people in face ofhardships. I{ost fanousworks: ,/udou (1990), Rdnc .ie Red tdrren (199i),thc Bcijjng OlyDrpics 2oo8 Opcring cer.mony, Hcrol2oo2). C tse aJ tfu Goldc, FloLrcr {2006).I{ONC I( R rVN (Bom in Shang|ai) Dirctor.H.llnrarks of his irorks: erpressionistic colours,nood pieces, burden of !ieno.), rnelaDcholy loveamong rnislits, aDd Tony Letrng and }laggie Chc ng.Nlost fanous i{orks: Ddys ol Beint wild (1991),c'irnsfti?r./ Evress (1994), ID .ne Mao.l fot Lor.(2ooo). 2o.,r.j (2oo.1).

The DesignersITI'IENNE TANI {Bom ir Cuangzlou, based inNew York) Fashion de-signerind authorof China Chic",a book orr Chinese stJle.I.M. PEI (Born ir Guargzhou, based in New YorlaP.itzer Prize ivinDing architect. No$' a Daturalisedlnierican cjtizen. CoDsidercd ihc last mastcr ofhighmodcDist architcctuc. Halhnarks ofhis Lo*s: abstractforms. stone. concrete, itlass, sleel.

The Film-Makers The ModelsIll Jl \\'tsurnir(l.rrg,-i'Rrlrrl-.1 b 1,. p---rl - .rorr .n l,r "' cr] n". i ^d' I i ,8 I"r A-r,i , . I.lcan'Paul Gaulticr, Roberto Cavalli and Louis Vuit r)\\r),r !, \\ r\ton. Cover girl l]1 20()6 IIMC Sille&Desiitr issue. n'\ rlili\lL rltrRanked no. ,6 on n,oders.com. a.d on rist orworrd " ]il,:ll:ll,lilllilil op 50 Strper llloclels. Fornier Miss ChiM 2(r o3.l.tt iht ttttne lo l i'.\ \\ 'Bur' r, Ji.",;\.r l-J l Irnudr. r'. 1.honeditor turDed in{gc iNtrnctor. Was considcrcd thc r,, "ri r I ru,tr.rr ."Ugly Duckling ofChinese nrodels tholgh s|e was a rurlll,lrr. rg'rr5very l',pura, nroder in pa.i". ii'illllilli'llll: l:ll,ll, qd rlr. rh.:'iL,.r

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTVE'I9


20/48

HOtf TO...Get a Fake BagIn China, $16 billion o1'counterfeit goods are sold every year makinllChina a signilicant part ofthe global piracy problem that costs U.S. companies $200 - $250 billion and the European Ut]-ion I00,000 jobs approximalcly every year Who are the usual suspects that make up the supplychain behind this massive illicit industry? Br N,lclj.r NllhThe RoeueCraftsfran The CorruotOfficial The The The GuiltvTransporter

The Dirated baas have tobe scnt out to wholesaldhtibuiors ir ciq cent.es in developed nationsIke Snrgapore, USA andlialy. Ihe fakes oay Ieshipped alongside rcalbags, seni throtrgh lcgiti-mate shipping companieslike Fed Ex, snuggled in.n ihP n,.ks of individuals or sokl onljne directbfrom thc factory to cus

Snakehead Customer

al \rith prostitltion,

Based oD designs sto-len or copid by a roguecraftsma!,a supercopy"of tbe larcst It Bag" isdeveloped. lte bass areeven sometimes prodtrced in tle very samfactorics that produce thelesal bass. $trile china,victnam and Thailanda.e comnon souces iorfake bags, South Koreais the sute.copy ' caDitalof the vorld, prodDcinga million pintcd itenrs a

for items to be shiDpedfrom mandacturer todistributor, they nnstget Past custons oficersand polt althorities whocheck goods for points ofodgin and ddtination.Quality control ofi.ialsfrom the govenmentwould also che.k facto-nes to ersnrc thet arc notnaDunfacturing illegalgoods. A simple g.easingof the riahL Dalms wotrld.over. multihrde of sins.

Like any business, somc-one has to linance thewhole operation, growthe b$iness and nanagedre profits. Big snake-heads are chinese liviDgoutside of china who arethe shddosy investorsbehind thc opemtions.Liti:le snakeheads operate wlrhin China, workingfor the bis snakeheads bysoorciDg for .ustone$,screenins then aDd col-

No bnsiness cd oDer-ate snccesfully witloutloyal c$tomers and dreillicit tnde of fake bagshave plnty of supFrters among upriglrt,lawabiding citizeDs" who seenothing woDg in lookingfashionable for cheap-would we stop if we knewour "imocent" purchaseswere actually lilling tlecotrers of terrorist net-works and tdads wlo

lidg?

i'0

'd'6i6"

56',5'0"ti6'

3'6'3'0'

ILLUSTRATION CREDITShi,n Yin KuikBROADERPERSPECT VES thech.a ssue


21/48

CON4PREHENSIONGovernment Power

I]FMANDABROADFRPFRSPFCTlVF 21


22/48

Government PowerFor well over a generation, the trend in the development of world politics has been to weaken thepower that governments have over their people. This trend came about for both practical and eco-nomic reasons. l\,4any states in the twentieth century were too powerful: they tyrannised populationsand committed aggression against neighbours. Those that were not dictatorships nonetheless im-peded economic growth and accumulated a variety of dysfunctions and inefficiencies due to exces-sive influence they had over all areas of life. The trend therefore has been to cut back the size ofgovernment sectors and to turn over to the market or to civil society, functions that had been improp-erly appropriated. Simultaneously, the growth of the global economy further eroded the autonomyof sovereign nation-states at the same time by increasing the mobility of information, capital, andlabour therein augmenting the power of individuals, corporations and other non-government institu-tions to make a difference for themselves.

These changes were, by and large, argued io be beneficial for the common good and the agendaof reducing the scope of influence of governments still remains a popular one in many parts of theworld. Historians have shown us that we could not trust the so-called visionary management of ihepublic sector. They showed us how once-powerful Asian economies like Japan suffered stagnationduring the 1990s and how the social security crisis that had begun to emerge in many Europeanwelfare states was linked to an excessive degree of regulation and government intervention in theeconomies of these countries. The govemment machine was considered to be way too clumsy foran entity as powerfully dynamic as the twenty first century as technology gave unprecedented au-tonomy to each citizen to act in their own interest, and in the interest of others.

Yet global terrorism was really the catalyst that turned these arguments on their head, almost unani-mously returning authority back into the hands of governments, and starting a global debate on thenecessary powelS qovernments needed to maintain security. Today, the chief issue for global poli-tics will not be how to cut back on state control but rather how to build it up. For individual societiesand for the global community, the withering government is not a prelude to utopia but to disaster.Ambitious new countries inspired by the liberal and free-spirited mantra of more experienced deceniralised states threw legislative prudence to the wind. A critical issue facing the same new develop-ing countries now, no doubt exacerbated by their initial impetuousness, is their inadequate level ofinstitutional development, which blocks their possibilities for economic development. lronically, thiswas something which could have been avoided had the presence of a strong legislative body beenpresent. States do not need to necessarily bestow absolute power to governments, but they do needto give a mandate to a strong and effective one that possesses at least a limited sphere of influenceto fulfil necessary staie functions.

10

15

BROADERPERSPECTIVES thechrna s!ue


23/48

And the devastating effects of eroded government power do not stop there. States throughout theless-developed world are notoriously weak, and increasing levels of political and economic turbu-lence have led to the emergence ofa band offailed and troubled states from allcorners ofourglobe.These weak states have posed threats to international order because they are the source of conflictand grave abuses of human rights and because they have become potential breeding grounds for anew klnd of chaos that can reach into the developed wodd. Strengthening these states through vari-ous forms of nation-building is a task that has become vital to international security but is one thatfew developed countries have mastered. Learning to build up governments, or restore governmentsto power, in all countries is thus central to the future of world order.

While we do not want to return to a world of clashing great powers, we do need to be mindfuJ ofthe need to ass:gn power to governrnents. What only states and states alone are able to do is ag-gregate and purposefully deploy legitimate power. This power is necessary to enforce a rule of lawdomestically, and it is necessary to preserve wodd order internationally. Those who have argued fora sunset for sovereignty" - whether they are proponents of free markets on the right or committedrnultilateralists on the left have to explain themseives. What will replace the power of soverejgnnation-states in the contemporary wodd? What has ultimately filled that gap that has been createdby emasculating governments? ln the place of a strong body of governance today is a disembod-ied collection of multinational corporations, nongovernmental oaganizations, international organiza,tions, crime syndicates, terrorist groups, and so forth that may have some degree of power or somedegree of legitimacy but seldom both at the same time. ln the absence of clear answers from thismotley crew of'governors', we have no choice but to turn back to strong arm governance and toexpedite its reinstatement.

Even as I argue that we return to this relnstatement of state power, it is important to make cjearhowever that the kind of traditional military power we associate wtth holocausts and evil regimes hasbeen gravely misunderstood. The gravity of these times necessitates that governments be empow-ered with the ability to instil discipline and order in an era than seems to have forsaken responsibilityand ernbraced self-interest. Contemporary social academics are not entirely wrong that there areforms of soft power, like nation-building, that count towards being a successful means by which tocontribute to g obal stability and security. But this soft-power is toothless if it is not coupled with anequal capacity to come down hard should states once again get out of line. Make no mistake, theyears of simply invading a country and adding it adrninistratively to our empires are over. But in orderto promote democracy, self-governance, and human rights, then our ambitions must be based onmore than jusi ideals, but also appropriate action. Democracy and freedorn is here to stay. But withit must come the ironic surrendering of power to the state so that our security and long term stabilitywill never be compromised.

40

45

55

65

60

Fxltacted dltl e(krytedJbr tlrc rcq ienrcnts afthe cC[,'A' leDel Getlerdl Paper tIorrirdhonJi o Skilt Buil(Iit1g: Gotetnatre a1d Wotld Oftler in tlt TuetlhJ-First Centu LJ" blt Fra .it .ilklltana

i,,EMANDA BROADER PERSPECTIVE


24/48

Comprehension QuestionsAccording to pamgraph 1, why did we weaken the influence governments had over their peo-ple? Use your own words as far as possible. (3)

What is the author irying to suggest by using the words, 'so-called visionary management'(line 14)? (1)

2001 I Qn 2

2006 I Qn 2

According to paragraph 2, explain how the 2'1st Century made it even more difficult for govern_ments to manage their countries- Use your own words as far as possible. (3)

using materialfrom paragraph 3 to 5 ofthe passage (Lines 21-55), summarise why, accoldingto the author, we need to return power 10 governments. Write your summary in no more than150 words. Use your own words as far as possible. (10)

2004 I Qn 4

2004 i Qn 5

l r^ooor* rr*rrualu., thchina issue


25/48

6 With reference to lines 47-50, what was the writer trying io suggest? (2) 2004 / Qn 1

7 Explain in your own words as far as possible the irony in tines 66-68. (2) 2000 / Qn 2

Comprehension QuestionsWhat does the author mean by a 'sunset of sovereignty' (line 47)? From paragraph 5, explainone of the arguments against sovereignty. [Jse your own words as far as possible. (2)

Give the meaning ofthe following words as they are used in the passageWriie your answer in one word or a short phrase. (5)augmenting (line 10)dynamic (line 19)wilhering (line 25)central (line 42)camprcmised (line 68)

Fukuyama argues that we need to reinstate power in governments to ensure ourfuture slabil-ity and secur ty.How conv ncing do you find his views?Drawing from the author's arguments, how much power do you thtnk governments shouldhave? Support your answer with examples drawn from your own experience. (7)

SIIMILAR TO

QUESTION

2007 / Qn 8

orro"oor*ooor^ororraa-,ua ] r,


26/48

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L*ooor*rr*rora'u* thech na ssle

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27/48

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t uD / t00z

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(Z) atse66ns ol 6udrt relu/ eql se,l,\ ]eqM 'Oq-1t saurl ot acuelater q]!M 9

(g) :r ttda,ered auJ

'suotsnap olea ipAnselaa leLll sdnoJ5lsaalut pue suaq-nltlsut la dnor6 asraNp e trq pecelda eq llt/A slueaureâe AA 4tddns pue puewep uo tptndpaseq 4fiuapuedeput llLls ]eql setLuouoaa iq paceldar aq M slueaureôe :peseqd edZ(D @t auD stslpaletlltnu pejltuaa. AA(L)(baun)staryewaa4loslueuodold:peutl^luelnclod ut (a/L) eutpap I^ e/D ettu ^fiuapuedap& ol Awouane ffi] teql sueaa )oLlne aql(Z) e qrssod se rel se sproM u,r o rnol esn ^]Lt6raraôs isuteoe sluaLt]nbre eqllo eLtoureldxa '9 qder6ered urorj a(1t aur ) ,Ilu6teraôs lo lasuns e Iq ueeul roqlne eLll saop leqM

-s\reur nJ pap)eMe aq / slutodzLûv,bf euu) saoLls slt lltJ ue. uaitnltlsut )eLllo au tueururaôb ueLfi raqlo

@, euu) h|tqets pqao ol salnqutuac an|deql {Mqe$ slqfbt aut) Ilenos ut tLtxreue lueâd 01slqt op alpeau iaqt

(gf autt) taâd etnqulstp pue a.uepq ue. slueuureô6IluO( :9 qder6eled uuj(6d suoBat elqels ue\e al peerds uec uo|enlts sronl/nalrj s/ql

be/tt eu!t)'suetJJnq lsute5e pavawoa sentcotle ol peal snql pue 'lpAal pue ua/suessp peatq ieql seUt auu) Ilttqels leqol' esLuatduox pnac sale$ elqelsun asaqJ

bt eutt) 6utsderca satlapas rBtI al palseLl eluls pt.ueulJ pue i tqe$ut e^4etst6alG aut) doa ueAe slueLuuhô6 6uo4s la luawaoeueu aql peeu seulunax taload

NOt-LS3nOo.L tvtlllls

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lDEMANDABROADERPERSPFCTIVF I 27


28/48

I uo / t00z

GA uwor, pllsnput )eLynl 6u!êqoe wa4 welll paveârd pueGz/gz) '\eaM arclA w l pelehda sauunoc )tetll !.lc!tlA^ wul erructuls ttseq aql aJaldaLll puv

@Z eux) iueuu@Aab ao4)ohod 6utoaal u Llsa ool aJaa Aaql(/2./gz. auu) yeauraôb tnaqlM eluado al lltttqe laql peleatlsaraô seUvnoc 6ulopell

(92 euD [celpJ e st luewuoô6 )ol paau aL lnaqlm pqo^ lcelracl VEz eult)'eles ale suaztltc FqJ drsua oJ sdals tessoJeu aql a4el al ie6od aql peeu sluawuteAoe

(g) :t: Llderqued aorJ(01) elqlssod sE rei se sp.loM Lr,1 olnol asfl sploM 091

ueql erour ou ur fueLLrurns lnol ell-lM slul,riureô6 ol laMod unlal ol peeu M'loqlne eq] ol6urprocce Iq/\^ sueluLlrns '(99_LZ sellll) ebessed aq] ]o I ol e uder6eled Luo4leroleu 6ulsn

'ebeuew ol l\.llilp ita^ eue.eq stLll pue (Z/D aoJeqleê ueqt k/, illuepuadepu arou pe ol atdoad po'u\a e (Z/L) sua\eôuut pue sualluaû!MeN \uueddeq ehM teqt (Z/D sebueLlc ptdu pue lse^ eql epueq ol (Z/L) awostequncpue Mals aol aq ol pelapguac setl (z/D pele.todo sluewuraôB leql iet eql :pesuLldeEd'uazltc q.ee ol (a/L) ûauolne (z/L) peluapaaeJdun oê6 (Z/L) i\olouqcat se funuac $r!J tluahl eIll se (Z/ D ctueuip ^ ry)a[ad seiltlue ue ro! (Z/L) Is',,np ool ê^ eq ol paeptsuac seft (Z/D euqcew lueauaôb eqf :palltl(0) alqrssod se rel se spron uMo rnol asfl salriunoc lleq] a6eueLU ol sluaLu

-ureôb rolInaUJp eroLu uô I epeL! funlu6S lsLZ eq] Moq uleldxa'Z qdel6eled ol6urploccv

'e/L) Pae)e66exapue peprlaô aaq (z/D palq'E ,!e] 6ueq sluaaueôb Jo swep ]eql lsa66ns ol 5utful s! oH

(l) a(tt au!l),luau.raoeueur fueuotst^ peile3 os, 'splo/\^ aql 6ulsn Iq lsa66ns o] 6u rl roqlne eql sl lellM

k/, sletlrew aqt pue fulsnput ut ssel'dd pap)ela asle 4aLll (Z/L) setcuod e^4.npo1dunpue (Z/D asueuraô6 otleuelqdd al an] seulun@ Jaqla spJeôl (Z/L) luda5uPq etea puee/D etdocl rtoLfi passdddo ieqf e/D 5uleutaop ilre o da6 sluawureâ9 :pasuLldued

'a! ]a seete e )eAo peq \aql oxuan u a&sseaxe al onp (z/D saouapqJou! puek/D suoll.unJsip Jo heue^ e papnwn.xe pue (Z/D qwd6 ataouo.a papadat ssoptllouousdltlsrolet.p lau araw leq esoLlf A/1,) slnoqLl'Eu Jsuteqe uolssa]fqe pelluwoc pue (Z/L)suauendod pestuuery'] iaql :e/D nPaMod ool a.1aq lllnlua. qp4ue6J eql u! salels :peA!1() alqlssod se re] se sploM uMo rnol esn eald

-oad ioql reô peq sluauuJoô6 ecuanuul aq] ue)eaM ai plp^q,4^'L tlder6eled o] 6ulprmcv

n ua I na1z

z uo / 9002

z t)o I la1zNOtrslno

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sraMsuv uotsueLlalduoJ


29/48

A MATTER OF OPINION

ffiWtrqII\,4AGECREDII

Ikrw would r\rr- lNl)LtSTRlAl.lSr FRO\l SHI\Zl ItNlllL I HllEE ajOlt(;1-S REajiON respond to this qlrcsLion,siLions in thc socio-econor-iic food chain? Our u,rilers get

ilnd i\ I ISHllli\iAN Irltoi\lconsidcring their dilTirent poundcr their skins to find o i

Should economic intereststake prioritv overeveqrthing else w-hen itcomes to nation-building? N()

h_h.ErqaG,..-

Itisap.rennialiss .:fbranationtobuild anefficicntand troiilic econoDrr,, iL needs to maxinise its use ot..our, . th., hFn | -j I t,"" rFu .rur I ., , r\ rL-rment - skics grcu. dark ftonr.ir lollutrnts sF$ed outbyfrctodes, tbrest.d land is deDld.d to nralte $,ay forurban growth and rvate.s are empti.d o1 lish to fc.dncw appetites. Pragnratjsts lrill foi r out th.r lhecconorny should nreet the currcnt 'reds aDd l,anc ofthis preseDt gcneration - rDd leL rhe ncat gcnerarioDtend foritselt r,ryjronm.ntalists wo ld disis.ee, citiDg thrt lookiDg {ftcr the earth's intcresrs, ultimatc\,looks atter evcrybody's intercsts, both the fcofle oftle p.eseDt as wcll as tlie flrturc to come.

E)'AMPI-[S USED IOROPINION PItrCtrSL Tic srrl! tainted nrilli scancLal: sho$case of in.vitability of prcnt driven coTorarioDs' disrcga ot!ublic wclfare or a oncc'offscandal easily.onrained?l. lhe Thrc. akiryes Drn.onl, orerrr: necess \ soctu ccononLjc uphca!.] lor suFilal s salte oriust anothcr nationalistic !an jty !roj{:ct?3 Chnri s letcldcn( ,fi corl for tucl: cost,.ficie.rsolutioD or suicidal path to fuclling ChiDa's growrh?t. l Ie sahagiDg ol lrerihg. sit.s: poirtlcss senrirnenior nc.cssa.] prescFation c,Icult al riches?5. Ch'na s budling iltcFsl j,r !re.n t..hdoloit\ r.s.Tir.iur rico-Cit\ prciect: real sohrtion o. pipe drca'n't

29ET4ANDABROADERPERSPECT VE


30/48

A NI.\|TER Of OPI\Io.\

Should economic interests takepriority over everything else whenit comes to nation-building?sc.

i: rr1'

'I HE TIIRLE

A Fisherman fi'om theThrce G()rges Ais\'r'crsconct'r tcl bvIOASH LOH

There is no doubt about it - China is thenen' workshop of the lr'orld. rhc g.otth or o rn!Li.n can onh lr. ilcscril)cd wjth one \!o : stunn;rg" Llesfitenn,c| trlk lbout lh. (o.oDrv o!{ 1ealing. our cconom} ultiilthe rc.cnt sloltl liJr rDcial .isis hasbeen gro$idg ^t st'xd! donble d igit perc.ltt3es rnnr,r ll] Llul w. ha\ ' to rsk 'rrr\el\"s:bo$'long irill this hst?,\.. we killiDg otrrsehes rDd sxcrilnring ourtut!,. ir Lh. hole of rerpnrg ben.its kdrv? l' n a) s shrinknls world' lvh't we do is \LroDgl\ lirlki

to e'.er:"ihe*' cise. uucli ...ds lo b. doir', shoul'l i{e \!rDt to hrve an\lhifg ]cft fo' our (hil'tren aDdtht (l,ildrcD oltht \!o d at lirgt\\i|' rn' all nothitrS lrut co!,s in tlie .rononic machine L|'t is (l'iliDg Chirr lirNa it seerls' The stxttwill do.!cr\th!r;ir itsPo{d to ftnnlits nr'ib f')r unc and nt)re c'oDonii' stre'sth a'dconr'roDpcople t;kc n,s,'il uilt bc rui olrr Lrl this e'roDorrii' brllloTcr' l' its tal(c' rhc rLr " (lr)r g's D'jnr hrstl;sllaced rt lcrsr r.r nlllloD leoPlt iom the strroundnrg 'r, \!ll'rc te ind o!f dceslors ha!'' lne'lfor'L,rrturies,tcndingtotfr.hndThttun:cdnrjgr'tioirofthel)copleiDthercgidihrsledLothet'1('irPlt)\sol.]i\elihoocL'I.]lctltllingfiOnr]i\'illgs|r(elolalllitrgarldnshjngspatt$'i]Lb.olel.dnl]isdrewater lclc]s risc. N,)l ont ol thc 13 milLnr olushrd{si}iDtliis!ull'r'

EROADFRPER\IE T \,E5 thF! h NA '5UE


31/48

A J\lA T fER O}'OPINION

On a nrorc maoo level, t|e ri,lr l,islon olthe lan(L js also bciDg rbaDdorc(i for ccoDornic gro(th. (rre frimecxamflc is t|e Stone Treasure |orl.ess irr the countl ofZhongxiaD, r\.hich according to lcgcnd b'is to nedlrom the dropped stones ofthe co.ldess N wa alD \as ljxins a holc iI the sky. Thh villise used to be thenrurrgholl ol the Deng c] D, but is no$' tdn doM, and its rcsidents chased away. So e Lemples, like the oDededicated to the frnous seDeral ofthc Thrcc Kingdonrs re od. Zhang fi. are bejng tor do$r brickbybrickto be rebuilt sonewhcrc clsc. Th. greatest loss !llinately wilL be to the scenic laDdscrpe, .lescribcd iD tbco be rebuilt sonewhcrc clsc. Th. greatest loss lllinately wilL be to the scenic laDdscrpe, .lescribcd if thc

" i:, .1poctry of oDc of our most hnroLrs poels,l.iBii. Wlile sorne pht sical laDilscapc crnbc salvagcd nrucl.tnir -D; e,tihiston and ourrootsas a t)eople $illbe lbreve.lostto the rising i{aters ol thc daDi. Howmuch rn Nen,FtH p, - rt; j:to lose i. our quesl lo be an ecoDornic rperpo\rer?Our ccononic .llelopnreDL seens lo b based on the exploitation not onl! ofthc lan.l, btrt also ol Lhe tF. ,lp 1 :of China. Tle quest lb. prc1it has eroded a$.a) aDr social conscicncc. onc of thc clcaresl era.rples ol Lhis i:' tlllhas to be the rerent nelaniDc milk scrndal. Thc Sanhr corrpaDy, t|e one Chinese dairr giant that was mostinvolved in this lood satetl disastcr, bought ott.ornplaints ro cover up Lhe rrassire health problems thri had r;t'::tt'::: 'beeD caused b) tticir unscrutnlons corporation. wi ll su ch deep .ooted corNption, b) thc tiDc thc a tlro tics ,1,1-1ald the $'orld got $ind of thc frobl.m. thousands ol babies had alreadt beer rffected, ilith somc ofthcn d)-irrg from developinit lidrev s l o nes. Whit was needed to prerent this. accordiDg to a scDior food satet) e\Derl '' ';.. 'with theWodd Health Orga isation (WI IOJ, is r culture of opcnncss and qrick rctotnrg. .\.ctlv t he o ppos ite 4tt '::.:,i:! 1.;::i,olwlrat China has. Moret, mostly iD the fomr of bribcs to thc locrl autlorilies and Inedia, is (lL3r rLcllnl tu ?r" "" ,)doi{nllay problens so that iDdust cs can bc lcft to their olvn ,f ln.'51 rl \ rl . r'4!:'. . f.rhe rapi.r econonic srowth or our grorious countn has siven Should this trend of prioritising.ise to aDother problcn: ponution. ro.r.v, 80% or ch;.a s roi{ the economic imperative above .er is sencratcd though .o rn\!.r slNriojN, Lhe .l,eJL,r,\i but ever],thing else continue, ,llT'iiilXliili'ilii,'Jil;llliiii':l,L,lT:ili:.];]i,il china Giiiead the wortd in a wliills crops and destroF a.abLe hDd. 36,()(l(r squarc kilomctrcs faCe tO the bOttOm.of lard has beer lost to .teserlificatioD fron thc )car 1990 to2ooo. Likewise, Dot all nidustial scaagc bcing dumped intoBeijnrg s rivcr istrcat.d.Itjs Dosultfiseihen lhal less Lha halfofChnia s.iter$'ateris useable. Tai Hu Lakchas bccn rcndcrcd a cessDool ol algae, nraliirg all lo.ns of use, inchdtug drnrknrs, irrisation aDd 6shnrg.0seless. All lhis pihts a verv bleak pictue of the fnturc for us, as prcscDi fishnrg and farnrnrg itrou.ds ircrnde.ed uselss in tlie ilr'ke ofthe econonic machinc's foMard charge.'Iheconomicgrowth lhat rve supposedly enjoy has beconr hjghly sclf dcstructilc. Alrcad),3 to 7% olChina-sirdusLrial wo.ldorce js wasted due to $'o iers dcvclofing rcspiratory problcrns slDrmi.g di.ecll! liorn ai.lolhrtion o. ilhesses h*ed to wat.rpoisoDiDs. I m suc nrrnvIrle ieard olrvhol villages dlnrs ofcarce. becaNe ofirespoDsiblc factory o\r.rs tumping untreated was(e into riren. lt seems dear to me that as Chinacxfloits .csourccs rv.ilable to her, she is also rt the lery sarne tine destro]iDg hcr potcntial capital and h$futurc. \Vith ihis. s'e can see lhat everyone stands to lose jr tlie brttle forcconomic grofih thai Chnra s.cks.It should bc madc knosn that dre Fople ol Chinn a.e not all willirg participaDts rnd rre trl-iDg thcir bcst tomakc thcir yoiccs knorvn. I n 20 o"1 alone, 5o,ooo protests took place in ChiDa, nostly in r.latjoD to cnliroDmenlal issLles and the.esultant health probleDis tliat sten fron it. Thjs \rs a 3o% dsc from t|e trc\ ioirs \'ca,Mosl of these protestors are educated, rlticrlatc and $'cl] organiscd indiliduals who a.e getling l, c.ea! niattention despitethe statek coDtrol ovcr thc medir.l1 has been said that the apocall"se will come not ihrough a Divin. hand. but by Man s sell destructjve tendencies. Shor d tlis treDd ofprioitising ihc ccononric imperative abole erer)thhg lse continue. Clina wilLlerd the rvorid iD a rac. to th. bottorn. Untilt}c Chinese people have a biggeryoice i! hoi! the ecorum\ is run,ChiDa rill tlurgc hcadlolg lnto e.vilormental and socio poiiiicaL destruction. Tlie ecoDonic naste$ mayslolt sightedly dismiss our warnings as Dere bhrd prnic- But aheady, evcm'hcrc Nc iook, $'c can scc th.results olour$,a ton econonic actions.It seens the inhe.itancc thatwc arc lcaving for ou c]rildrcn is nothingdesirnble, as i{e are alrcr.ty dmxins fLom thcir accolDts. fltt

ii,-;H#f.

ISSUESLINI(ED

3l

1()0"..:3..,r.i._,

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECT]VE


32/48

A N,IATTF,R oF OPINION

Should economic interests takepriority over everything else whenit comes to nation-building?An Industrialist fi:omShenzhen Answersconceived byBAEY SHI CHEN

I am tired ofhearing people condemnthe profit motive. rhe profit notive is thc ptrFsuit of legitimate sain fiom one's productio!, and jt is ore'srisht to pursue happiness through economic endeavours Atits best, the profit motive seNes the interesis of all. It givesentrepreneu$ incentive to use their knowledge and resources

to satistr the denands of consumers. The resulting competition oftencniure. Lhd. lherc is in.1ovat or o sood. ard s, ruic...Moreover. the increase in a countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP)senerated from pursuing profit can brins about imprcved standards oflivins, such as the better availability of food, housing and health care.As a countrf of 1.3 billion people, economic development is inevitablvan impmtive for us.Admittedly. China does not alwals have the best track record For x-ample, tle Sanlu tainted mjlk scardal, with iis tale of sreed and high-level cover-ups, has been a national embarrassment Many have pointedthe finser at capitalism and its 'evits', but I wouid like to point out thatthis is an instance of questionable norals rather than a definite indica-tion ofthe inherent flaws in the pursuii ofprofit.It is unfotunate that the perpetmio$ succumbed to ihe ienptation ofprospering thmugh gi-rich-quick schemes that played witl people'shealth, but it is simply not fair to tar everyone ith the satne brush Weshould not let these black sheep deter us from creating a better tutureihat the devetoped world is enjoying tlrough economic development.

!HCNZHEN

BROADERPERSPECT VES thech na ssue


33/48

A MAl'I'IR Of OPINION

l\fthemrorc, these scaDdals .re \nptomaiic of aneed for jnculcatirg greato pe.sonal respoDsibililv"d r .t', r ,", ;nr T.,'" I I r i i, L u "d'', rlF 'ribchaliou, ol errant conrpanies. Thus, th. pursujt ofproill shoukl notbcbla.red sotelyfor r|es scaD.lals.

ln receDt).ars. our drive towards economjc dcv.lopment has also bo.ne the brunl ol blaDle for its threarto histodcal presenatioD as nrore cultn.rl b.,iirgcsit.( rn ,le,rolidrcd to maiie wal forthc processes ofn$anisation aDd indxstr.ialisation.i{hjle thcsc are legitimat. concens, I stand bv rhopinion thal econoDijc dcvcloporent is thc besl $,alfonvard. As lhe Drost potulous countn nt the rvorld.our atprcach to\r{rds ensu.irig r dcccnt siardard ofliving lhat each citizen is entitled to nrusL necessuilt beresourcc intensiye. Therc is therelbre rneedfollhe buildrf olne$ ffrastNcture such as tmisprLatioD nctr{orks, ofticeb ildirgsardfacto cs ro securer riable fuLu.e fo. our nation.Voa n r.,',r r,, r'r'a r,lion s cities and its interDrtional inrage.lfwe nanitoportrar China as a modern counlrl and a globalforcetubc rcctooed with, i{c c..not keeplilingin lhe past.\{']rilc it is irnpoftaDt for plaorers to dcsign s I ruchuesthat encomp{ss local aeslhetics aDd a modern spi trathe.lhan pluDg. headlong irto thc real estate mcc,it i! essentirl forthe old to makcnay lbrthe Dci{.Lci us noi lorget tlut our recent t.iumph fiom host-ils the 2c)08 Beijnrs Oh.rpjcs $'as dcp.Ddent on tlicconstn,ction ofnc$'siles such as tbc Nationnl "Bird's\p r r'.,Jr r',-,1,-.pun".",.ort,pt ,.INew irftastNctu re { as rlso built to accommodric r| einlhu of athleles ud lisjtors into our countD,. iheOIrDrpicsIas undoubtcdly enhanced our inte rarjon,al r.!ut, and this in rurn, attmcts more investmenttial creates morc otportulities for our polle. Th s,whil ourhjstolicrl roots:[enndoub(edl).inpoftaDi,we cannot afford lo be blindllscntimental aboutt|enlnnd Nn thc dsk.,lblockins rnodern developrnenl tor

Perhrps the rnost co tentjous issue wirh regrrds toChiras lush for econonic d.lclopment peftanN rothal of enlironmental degradation. lt is undcniablthatthc thrcc Col!.s lhIr hlic.t has causcd considerablc social aDd enlironrnental upheaval. Hoi{ver,ilhile iL appears t|a {e have sacrificcd a lor for eco-nomic progrcss,I urge people to tale a lo ger\ie$'onthis issne, as it is onlleconoDric sLrccess thatwill overcorne oy prcsenL challenscs and ensu.e our surivalin th. fnturc. Besides. sctbacl(s and risks are lo be

expectcd \r|e. projects ofsuc| s(.lle are undcfrken.llso, just as \{iter pollution ir Lh YaDgtzc Rivcr a d'I r" i .r,r, r^1 ,-- ,,n.iDi..a,..',,.,:,,.thcir (hemicai Msr. nrlr) rhe i{atcr, r|. ptlLrtion isalso an nrelitablcb! productofthc ind ustdal lroccssdue to incfficicnt o. ilaclcquri. tcchnologr'.Therclorc, I believe thrt thc solutioD lic's nr d.\'eki)irts 'r 1, -lr'u,A. I.lo ,Irl-i I l",A.ruriand en\ironmental inre.ests are muturllt exclusive.While it rpperN t|al elyjronm.nralism is rlliiDg abaclGert in i]ris l.oubled linancial cllnate. the \o dneeds a n.w ilro$.th nrdusna to iu rpst{fi rhc .cononv.I bcliere ihrtthe cDyironneDt isthc bcsr place to...n..r.,1 { ., r.,.. I t.J. I'F r.,. b: I.,rg 8-.",. i.novation to gain a cornpetitile edgc. Thus, nor onh isthe environncnt prclected, thc grc.n industry wouldserve as a n.1{ eogine for gro\th in rerns of cxtorr.evenDc and job creatioD.PFsentl}' we arct}c!o d's secondlarycst connunerofoil, and we arc h..rih , eljrrl on corl t.\., r,lnDls.However, wc can e gjneer chanse by usjns {staiDable, eDe.g] efilcient methods such as constructingwjnd fanns. sc,lar pow.r plants and prcdrcing ecofri.Ddly ca.s witho t con[rorlisnis our standa.d ofliving o. our economic drive. Tire Tirnii. l.i) (liL\is a perfect cramfle ol tlijs iDitiativ.. With plars to|arnss solar and wiDd po$,er, rcqcle rai${lter aDddesali sc s..wale.. it seNcs as rn ideal tenplat. forthe citi.s ol our lirtlreThus, .ather tiraD disnrissirg the profit motive as un-sourd rDd blaming its ffects oD th. envircnrlent, \ccan beconc fioneers ir the nov international Sr.cDeconomr. Thercf.,re, just as .conomic iDterests mrtposc a potenLial problcn to the environmcnt, ih.v a rc.morc imirortaDtlv, thc onl! answer that can presenti , . ,

'u ' . ' i , , " l p I " . , i ' , ul ri,r sj' l" Fr .' rin;better social and polilical futurc for oxr people.

t $'ould iikc to reite.ate that I do not blieve that it iserro.cous to lurNe $,calth as long as it is coDnncnsumtc to nerit and ihc cffort ihat is epeDdcd to ac|ie!eit. BesnLes, jt worid be htpocritical io s.ythat l1lotrevand a reasonable slanda..l of living .r.e Dot irnpor-tant. Nhrcoycr, sinc ClhiDa opcncd her doors to thcworld, i{c hale had the otporturil\ Lo maxinisc ourindilidual poteDtjrl and to prospe. iri \!ars thai $,o.rthnrkabl oriy a f.$'gcnentiors rgo. I do not see

ry we shoukl not stfi,e Lo su.ceed in cam.sr. nor doI thinkthata'. s|ould alologise foL it. l(!l

to THIS

:{ .:axgEgreSl*'1 t*

1(}o:,.i,,.i

r*

:]'I:.

DEMANDABROADERPERsPEcT]VF J33


34/48

LOCAL VS GLOBAL

Singapore " Beijittg\\rh,v one o1 lhe world! smallest countriesis liiends with the world! largest.bv SHIAO-YIN I(UIK

rgzo: En route to Marseilles to study Western poli-tics, a 16 year old student found himself on the Brit-ish colony of Singapore. His assessment of this littleThird World island was blunt: "American lackey" and"a lousy place".r 9i8: The boy retums a nan, 58 rcaN older and far more powerful, bearing the titlc of Vice Premier of thepeoplc's Republic of China. IIe is asiounded by the progress made by the little statc and tells Singaporc'sthen pdmc MiDister le KuaDYew so.Inretum, Lee olTers lin a striking prediction. urhateve. we can do,you can alo bctter. We a re the desce dants oftlie landless pcasants ofsouih anjn. Ynn l,v.iiem.ndarins.the rvrilers, ihethinkers and all the bright pcople You can dobetter."This tiDle, Deng Xiaoping leaves impressed and conviDced.Urban lcgeD.t goes lhai it was on this vcry visit rhat Deng saw the flture ofChina and coDcluded indefinitelythat it was never goilg io be built on Maoist doclrine Barciv a month later, Deng tumed the course ofChina-s history - and arguably, the world's as well on its head bv pernanentlv parting thc Bamboo Curtainto the wodd

] "*noor, ,a*roralua, thechina ss!e


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I r\ PROFIT,\BLtr FRTENDSHIP ] Singaforcand China sharc a cu ous fricndship. uibv shouldo,4, I t-,4 hoid, s.,al-p,, rr d ro rrq"qr .o 11 i".be sirgled out by one olthe wo.ld s biggest a d oldest civilisations for emulation? And whI rvould amtrltj-eihnic, liercely i ependert aDd anti-Con-mrnist nation state be so keeD to keep up dialognewith : nronolitli. Comnnrnist sr.ls'nrr?Thcrc arcmaDlpractical rcasons forth. tao Dationsto get along largcly because the two nations have'on p-F, '4- rrr r\"r l\'n.o,nye,i eF.o, o,;F .Singaporebegan asa resourceless entrepot city ivithno choice but to play on its sirategic geographicalposition to bc the middleman ofailtradtug nations.Even as ea v as the lith century, SingaDore had.mF,gar " , rf'd nr . ptliro\lonefo .' 'to distribrte goods to Southeast Asia. Beyond location- Singapore begaD to offer sophisticated tech-nology, skiils, market and iDdustial nuDasemeDtand a kccnncss to sharc all ihat it had lcarnt aboutmodemisatioD to her Drorc po$'.rf!l tricnd. \liircnBeijing discovered oil in the r97os, i( leleraged onsiDgapore s erpertise as the second laryest oil-refiD-iDg centre in the world to upgmde its oil productsto meet the st ngent requirements of inteuational

NlanNhjle, China has whaL Sjngapore does not:rich natural resources, cheap land and an abur-dance of cost-efficieDi professioml, semi-skillectand skillcd labou. Thcsc factoN havc bccn lital insustainnrg continucd gro$'ih in Singaporcan industries. like life sciences, infornatior lecbnolos!-, labour intensive light industries etc. Chinese workersare the largest component of the oDe million stroDgexpatiate worker coDtjngent tliai makes up almostone'third of Snrsarrore's workforcc.Todav. SinsaDore is one ofBeijing s toD ten economic pa.tne.s in the areas ol lrnde and inlestment.China is also key to Singapore's need to decrease herdclcDdencc oD the ArnericaD and JapaDese econo-mies. China will b. instrumcntai in Sinsaporc'stlaDs io build a multi lateral ftee hadc area in theAsia Pacillc lo rival tbe European Union.dreadv, china has becone sinsapore's third larsest.r.'d:

'g tJ 1 ,. . . r.l i ,g ir :' roh.r r S\o: l,illrol r'trade in 2oo8 a nurnber that can o.ly climb furthcrwidr the frce hade pact signed betwee. ihe t$o nalions in the same year. While Singapore s pioneerinvsto.s like Capitaland, Breadlalk and Hrllux

havc caNcd outthcir slicc ofthc Chincs. fic. Chinahas rnade similar inroads into our island rctubli..A1 leasl r5o Chinese companjes are lisLed o. ourlocal stoclt excliange.I BL .CK Cr\T AND \glUT]] Cr\T ,\T PIf,\Y ]But it is also Singaforc's tolitical stabilitl and thcrnutual rcsfect i)ctwccn stat.sm.n Dcng and L.cin the i97os rhat lvas the cornerstone of ovcr 30years ol highly Lucrative Chha Shgapore relatiors.L' Li L,Ll"l D-nbup-l.-,.1,-l.u. rnp -.i 'leader he has err mct aDd lis constaDt interest irchrJi d,\.1.1'rIn .',d11nnlJ,r'r.t't,ithroushoutthc rg8osto 199os accrucd him rcspcci

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tioD t|e Chinese media Lrsually reserved lbr their o{n elder

i";1,']"-il,l;":T,lj:.: p|ofossioilal.semi-skilled I\,,dsr..i.rn,,,.r.,s.r J,d and skilled labour. I'| ^ri.5 nfJ-^1 rr, t,. J, ^-., ICoo- "rw.gpr,4il\{rn n. \^- tl-.dt' IlLn li.dl, a.rira. i '" t',i.n|ri,r'.r\nr' I( 1, n-.. 'lun.- .i, .,.,r lorFi ..,I o.i c:r.p I o al 1 Ir"ri.h.r's rf irr]rDuii. l u.r.ufb-i.,^lIt,,tr,d ]h.-t dr-1rn -r\... I.F,. 1r.r rJiu t. Icl r,,.t.^tulat ^,1 ,lJ \..uldlJ., dr...^,ll,J II p os, r'r oril |,ot,r ". ^n. \l-1"\ r' ld I rd, IAJ 'J e''|l"lp ''r^1t,.,.-:,r.

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IMAGECREDIT

pore always iook care to renind tseiiing (and her neishbours) from tine to time that shehad hcr oi{n opinions. For st{Dce, though Singaporc has backed Bcijins's "one chnia"stand, Sirgaporc has also coDtinned cultivatiDg close ties with Taiwan and cautioDcd Bci-iing about ber overt threais to invade Tai$'anese soil.To BeijiDg, Singapo.e has piled the way by beins a srcat exanple ofhow an Asian nationcan succeed under tlie rule ofa single parly r{ithout adotting WcsterD liberal democracy.Likc SinsaDore's People's,\ction Part],, the Chinese Comnunist Partysccmsto sharesimi-

To Beijing, Singapore haspaved the way by beinga great example of how anAsian nation can succeedunder the rule of a single partywithout adopting Westernliberal democracy.

lar ambitioDs ofbalancing the need to block opposiiion partics fromcorning to to$'cr lvith the need to {in the trust of iLs citizens througllincreasingly transparent, clcan aDd effective sovenment. Singaporesrcupling of a liee market wiih thc rulc of law, controlled media andstabie macroeconomic policies lools likc a practical and effectivemodel for Beijins to steer its poLitical strateryby-Nowonderthai in his landmark 1992 Southern l'our, Deng cited Singapore as an orderly and Ncll manased country that China not onlyhad to learn from brt had to supass, ihus sfarkins a "learn fiom Sin-gapore" plienomenon in China that has not abatcd- Since 1997, sin-sapore s Nanyans Technological Universitj has been dubbcd China's''ovcNcas cadre school" because ofthe nunber ofChinese officials andmayors flocking in io attcDdits e\ecutive and poslgraduate courses focusing on Sirgapores anti gmftsystcm, folitical leadership, manage-ment of state assets and crjsis management. Dcngk clarioD cal waspicked up again in 2oo7 by Guangdong's Connunist Pady sccretaryWang Yang who uryed cuangdong to surpass Singapore's siandards.On their oM accord, ShenzheD ardYtrnnan s provincial governmentscontinue to organisenajor study tours to learn from the little Republic.Thoughthere are runblings amongsone that there is litileelselcfttoleam from thc tiDy state no$'that China can do things bjgger, betterand faster, thcrc arc maiDlaDder critics who caution that China mustgo beyond adoptins Sinsaporc hardlvare to leamiDs from Singapo.e

Accordins to Professor LuYnanli ofShenzhen Universiws Cenirc forSi.saporc Studies, ChiM ilould niost benefit liom adoplingthrceelemeDts ofSinsaporc's success fomula. Firstly, Singapore s high levelol transparency and crcdibilitythat has sustaired investor con{idenceand built a credible market economy. Corporatc dishonesb renanis

a bis issue in ChiDa. Secordly ard tliirdly, whiLe the Communist Pafy adrnircs the PAP'Sadherence to sinsle paltr rulc, ithas $orked in Snisapore so far because of t$o elnrents:talent recruitnent o[outsiders raiher thanjust rebiDg on the elite within to eopeD politicaL ststem and the coupling of graft frcc golernaDce with politicaL competition.Single-pafty n e oDly works ivhen it coe\ists hiih a rcasoDable Dumber of elements foundin other nore libeml systems. l\ough much can be arsued about ho{'PAP mairtains itspolitical domnrancc iD Singapore, tlie fact .emains that PAP s long tem rulc was carnedlegiiimately th rough a provcn trackrccord and tlie xiDning ofsuccessive elections againstnultiple opposition political parties.

J r*ooo.* r.*rrrar u., thechnaissue


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I GOOD TIUtrS, BAD TIMES ] No discussionofSino Singaforean relations can conc.lude without rnention of lhe infa rous Suzho( lDdtrst.ialPark (SrPl debacl thrt cost sinsapore's statu-tory bor.ds and goverDnentlinked conpaDics apretty penDy of $147 millioD nritiallv blrt mckcdup a princclyUS$77 rnillion ofaccurnulated lossesat thc cnd of2ooo. Enlisioned as an ulLramoderllSinsapore sble induslrlal rownship that $,ouldhost lbreif,n NNcs hophg to set up jr china aDdserle as r role Drodel for other Chincse cities. tircsiDgapore consoftiun ended uf $'ashing its handsoffthe project by reducing its initial 65% st.ke to

\Mrat was to bc a fotcnt 2() year lonit. Usll2o bilIo '.rr -'o-, i5 ro 5 nsdpu, 4'onomi, r'.., ur,nded up as expe sive aDd ego-smashnis ess inrt-F to, . !r.t rl,- (r /\uI ,1, br. t- Jff- r r,\n. ts | r5-cant lessors abort tlie .eality of Sino-Singaporcan

Firsl. what is decided b) Lhe cenlral governnentofChina may be ignored or underniDed easilybyprovincial, municipal ard distict gov.rDDrcDts farfron Beijfis's influ.Dcc and coDilol. Sinsaporenay bc uscd to bcins ruled bi lar:' and obe.rhgtle top but China is .ruled br nen and used tochaos frolll the bottoni. So even if PreDier ZhuRoDeji and PresideDt Jians ZeDrin had fcNonalll sworl to Sirgaporc that SIP \rould be gilensfccial tiority staius, the] could do little lo keeps /l'. r' 15, i ls i^ , or o.', e B' iii, t. I q'.p utush tne SIP projecL and p.omoting their owD rts\dlind'. lr.J.!,drl..Sr/l,uJ\,{ Di l , 'j\D. r-stead. To Srzhou. this $'as all aboutold fashioDcdpricc-cuttins compctiiion and Beijins s Dolilicalplioritics mattcrcd littlc.Secondlt, Singaporeans nin) sha.e a senetic andlinguistic heritage wirh the Clirese, but iD esseDcc.h ) .,r . ILrFits, l. al irJ J n\ w. tpr.Fr..r'.li ,s rl ' i. ,r, ""p d^4s ro pq , l" lo .onmDnicating the same c ltlrai values, attitudes orxpeciaLjons. Even I-ee Kuan Yew admitted thatin his negotiations witli Suzhou, 'l nude thc Dris'take ofspeakiDg in MaDdarin. My Mandain is notr' ur cl, L8\ l. .n ,\.\ 't. I t -ci, r " of i, r"r ,

Singaporean businssner tliought their ChinesecouDterpr.ts were shockiDgly nrefficiert and of-feDsively opaqle aboui thcir practiccs aDd cthics,r.riSrlg.nl.rnr ,\.s L, lr-",lrl,n o r\F.l ,rthc irst tla.c. They nrade il clear LhaL a y hopenl -.llc'ri,s lp.o''ola n, -l:.:anr(inupore.lacbine itl chxu $,as pointless. Tlie chinesemeanwhil felt siDsrpo.eatis were tuflexible and.trrosaDtlr dismissive of tlie necd io adjust to analieD busnress cuitluc. The Nationil Universitvof SiDg.pore's InteDralional Business Institute[n,r,rorr r\'rSi1. fo, d.r. lnu$1,,8 ur {,inak cuhure, mentality and busiress practices wasconside.ed ever rvorse tliaD '\nericans or Euro-

\fhat is interesting is (hat despite handjng overthe .eins ol SIP to Suzhou, Singapore still Diain-tains an interst in how SIP is Nn aDd today, SIPlias turned arornd its loss to profit. This has bccncreditedto Suzhous dccision io cnd thc compctition frorn its o$n SND rs i{ell as thetact that Sinsaporedidbuiid in Suzhou x lirst ciass,ligh qual-itt i dustrial park with great custoner supporland reliable nifrastructue as pronised. Tho shSuzho! Nns SIP Doi{, SinSatorc siill plcdgcs tostrppoft and tain hcr Chinese couDterpats sothatthcvcan rnn whaihasbeco e China s SiliconValley \rell. r'le fact that the two natioDs .ljd trotallow the Suzhou debacle to runr years offricDd'ship aDdstill rcnainedopen enoush to k.cf hcbiDg cach othcr and $'olking together is comnrend

Cl ics can attribute this to pure practical eco-nonic necessig - {nd they havc a roiDt. SiDoSiDsaporean rclations $-iU bc a c cial fillar tbr' I r,i ASLAN . .1^rr'. p-i ior.. B I i r1-IDot be too far offto say that blood still does .unh'.r,pr I'ril rd ar I alrFFn .,r I +rr Jn I .rn '1.-rdragon. Some lirt ofthe possibilitv ofcreating asreater "fli'i.s drasoD" model that aill j oin Sinsaporc, China, Tai$'an, Hong Kong,llacau ard thervhole ethnic based Chinesebanboo neLwork thaLNns aroLrnd lhe world.As all chinese chiklren learr. wher faDilJ sticksluE .l'-' lu h..r' r r,.r.h .i, 1,.saiDcd froDr it all. (att

WATCH THIS

RESTLESS

RIAD T}US

CHINAS

CHINA'SrAMlflts


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ESSAY MAI(EOVER

TheBrainstormLlnclerstrndiili the firsl t$'enl) minutcs of,vour planiing by TONG YEEan iD the midst ofcollecting cssays for this veat's essav mxkeoter seclion, hoping to makeover .1 essavs that vour pc'rs !:ve Mitten andto write 4 articles lhat deal with root problems )on face T$'o vea$of writing the ess.Lt makcove. seciion has taughL mc ihat most ofthehclp needcdto inrprore lastcnoug| for tlie A'ievels is in skills Aboveall, argumcDtation skills are the difetrti.rting factor to doinil $'cllthe grertest nistake is iti rssumiDs that content. language ard norccontent Nill heh nnprove yourgradc ConteDt and sood languase certaiDly l.lD au!,meDt our perfonnancc, but $'hile saling that, wc alsokDow ofmaDy scripts lincludiDg ones thatvou mav have$ tten)our-selt that lail despile displaying krorvledgc ofcuncrt aIhiN and haYirg flrcrt and masterlitl laDguagc A nristaktn ()vet focus on content^rdlanituage is also cornpounded bvihe fact ihat for wcaker studcnts,content and languag. sliiLls arc uDlbrtunatelv notoiousl'v difficult toinipov. over a shoft van of time, liighlighting lhe cveD !'reate' need fo' competencr'in

aryuing:our points$'ell whilebuildiDg r strong overall argumentthat ansNeNthe questionUnlike imlno\ing contcnt anil lansuige, argunentation skills can bc lerrlt and applied quitequickivonce the ntionale behind each skill is clearlv erplaincdSo I liive dccided lo staft the ycar ivilh witing about ore ofihe mosiunderctated areas ofourslall developmert. l hc b.airs totm Too ofien s tu dcnts know that plannirg is iDrportant but donol unde.sland what is nrv.,lved in the planning proccss Deslite the emphasis of plann ing inchssroons, a quickscan acrcss the cxaminatbn hall shows studeDts $aiting thei' introduc-tion within 1o mnNtes ofthe exam. This phenornenon is slnptomatic ofsom sedous misconceptionsth{t I mustfirst address before we discNs the bminstonnfig/plan ngprocess'

Four CommonMisconceptionsaboutBrainstorming

'' /y'olh;hg ;5 .aa;h5 lo a;hJ as Z P/.ih So ZiL61 51ar1sh,.lenls n.edto differentjatc between luving nothingto\dte abontand not understardingho\.to erplore the lull pote.lial ofthe qucstion Granted, we wilL not be able to write full essar_s for all lhc 12 questioN olercd given the limits ofourknowledgc- Ho\tevcr' we necdtoat leastbe sure thatthe question vouli.allvcom itvoursellto is onethatvouknow enoughaboul and can dc'elop a good arilurnent lbr'ID order to help yourselt, lou need !o identib $hat th e cxacr problem is ls it a problem o l alac. 'l .,il 'r 'o,'r,rll ll:l.|.l o 'nrl rr' nr'noudnul h2\""no'pll'Fque'iur :nthe lirst place. Yor cannot sta$ an essavhopiDg lhrt the conient will come lo )ou lf)oufcelvou l oweuough rboutthetoljc, then halingnothing cometo mind as vou plan is genetallvdue Lo weak skills ir trlea generation stading $'iihout an arguDent or irdeed a conciusioDto the argument aludr' in mind is pure suicide as lherc is simplv no dircction and ptrrposcto n'haL is beirE \d itteD.

BROADERPERSPECTLVES thEChiNA iSsUC


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' 1, e --- - 71e ?r--- a. I ynoa r t1- ---' J--"2..,1 ,f, t/ -)t;tc 2l-. a ,zHafiDS eaamplcs or coDteDt aboLrl the chosen questjoD is irnportant but it is certaiDly Dotthc most irnpof.nt asfect in choosing a questioD. The essay paper tests our mastcry ofth.argument. noi the conlent. StudeDts wilo sinply choose a question and staft initiDg Iava mislal{en milrdset that tliis prper is testilg coDt.Di. So thcl' rcgl gitate evertthing the!_know aboul the gilen topic aDd not ryrisingly fail ihe quesiion. It js so inrporlant to understand iliat ihe initial plannng for our essa) does not involve e,riting donn rll orr i.teasand knowledgcbut mthcrthe strDctudng of a conlincing aryument.

" Th. '?rs1 7ani9rg./t is very izVorltinl so Z ausl J- ;1 De//the introductioD is i eed imlortant, but it is nrore jmportant to reaLis tlxtt the success ofthe paragraphhiDgcs ontbe argunrentre develop in ouressar body. A neak aryunrentatjonstNcturc in thc bodr ne.essadly nreans that our introductiorl nill so be rveak. Thc nostfainfui thing I expe enced was watching students \rrjte introdrctioDs that did not frcscntthe hsue or introdLrce an argunrent.It is paiDflrl because I kno$'that thc stndcnt is goingtolail iusl bt reading the lirst pa.ag.aph, as ii rcllccts rnisconccptioDs the candidale has l.ornthe.rDset. StartiDg an introductjon r{ithout an argument in mind js simply a lutile effort ofxords. So yes, a good introduciion is importanl, but only becatrse it is iDe!.icrbly linked toa sood arstrment- If vou do indeed have a clear argrunent iD nind, the iniroductioD shouldbc an casyand quict paraitraph to write.

" I reeJ lo slarl soon as I a,n rztnninS -ut -{ l;ae.tly {r;ends h.r/e .,/r"..Jy 61a|"JStarting irst or stalting quicl,ly nreans notlirg ni cP. This is a classic casc ofthc toftoiscversus the hare. People who start 1i.st without plaDDnrg will evcntuallv siow doM and getjamned lron th fourth pamgmph onwards. This haucnsyery often. T|ey may even contradict themselves in tlieir later argnmcnts or in the riorst case (bot common) scenario,n.jte paragraphs that do Dot address the qLrestion. Peopie who have the sense to Mite a$'.ll paccd cssa]' should keep this in mind. A good argunient needs about 5 paragraphs todevelop (not including intftductjon and conchsion). If tmtued prcpcr.h, a sood parasrap}takes about 10 ntinutes to ivrite. We shonldthe.efore srite our 7'pamgraph cssayin 70 minules.lea\ing a healthy 2(r niDutes to pl{n. Thcrc is no nced to start unduly soon.

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTVE I39


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How toBrainstormEffectively

The conecting ofthesc lnisconceptions puis us in agood position to bet-ter appreciate r,lh)'planring is c tical toihe succcssful execution of an aryunent.I am now going tooutline 5 importantsteps so you can better undeNtand rvhatyou need to do inorder io achiev pmductive and ellicientplanning.

lnaAtse lhe aae1l)n./zLast year (Issue +1 2oo8), we wrote an adicle helping students undersiaDdhow to anaLvse a question to clarih the rcquirements of argument and explo.e lhe full Potential ofscope that the question oiTos- In summary, thcse are the mostimpoftant things vouneedto do in your question analysis.DETERMINE forpurselfthe key focus ofthe quesiion lnnostqucstions (nottheoncsthat iDvolve comDlcx arsumenO tberc {ill be one $'old tliat needs to bc focused oD inorderio aDswerthe questioD. You ivill Decdto add.els the kcy focus in evervfaragraph.UNI)l.lRST-qND whether your question js a basic polarily qucstion or requires moreconpLer arguDrcDt. i.e. whetheryour question can be aDsweredvia a sinpleves orno, orlvhetlier you needto address litrtbcr rcquirements oftinie, assompiions o. extent Basic])olarix- questions do Dot iNer! e\1ra question requncments 1or vou like, 'no Lodger"\r'hen , too' or 'at the expcDse of. Il thesc arc inserted, you have ch.,sen a nore challenging question and should l)e caretul to address these extra pe mete.s of aryument aDdrssunptions while you plan.Exl'LORFI the possible scope vou caD adopt bv analysing the Possible vadables ofdis_cussionthat can emc.sefiom any gilcn word. You $ill be su.prised bvhow nianl interestins poirlts car be createdjtst by looknrs at eachvariable fiom dilfereni anslesFOR DXAMPLE:we huve placed too muchjaith in statis.ics. Discuss.

whethet ue lnre ploced ot not ptaced. Each p(lragtaph sl1oul.l talk about horr ue pl


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77.,k" thu eaSier stnJIt is tNc ihat in argumenlaLion any one side can be argued for.Brt it is inpo{anl to note that some sides are indeed easier toargte lbr as compared to others. lf asked wliether courtrics shouldbe more envi.onmentally friendl], i{hich sidc do )ou ihink sill win.the one sayins yes or thc one sayins no?The easier side ofargumentation is necessarily the one reith more examplcs or oidence. Nlake i( a practice to scan the globe iD you mind aDd gct a gcnmal ovenier{ ofwhat the global c.rDsensrs oD aDy given issne is. Ii is heirful to menronse key regionson the globejust to rscertain thc p.rspcctivc oft|ese regions and Lhen decide whit your

It js impoltant to urdersta d that people are often blinded by thejr orflr tosfcctivcs.The Singaporean perspective is for exrmple, a very blink.rcd pcrspective to have. Inmost aspects, econoDically, politicrllyand socially, Sinsaporc is an anomaly and 'nakesa good exception to the general Nlc of othcr nation states. Basing our sland on rvhatrve beliele as SnrsaporcaDs is thc.efore danse.oLrs ard we need to see things in r slobalperspcctivc instcad. Doinit so{.ill make iL easjrfor usto algue becarsewe ar$e for thcmore accepied pe6pectiye and can otrer abtrndant examplesto pror this.

Deve/aV V,>inls ,>n lolh sides. Cnlraliclic>nor ca///13;.,n i5 n:>l necessrtr;/y /aJ.Onc of the cudous things thil happen during the b.ainsto.mnrg process is thc multidclines ofthoughL that go through one's head duing thosc 15 minutcs ofthought. Ntuhittefocus groups have given us the data to show thai th.sc thoughts are not alwavs organjsed,logical orslsiematic. But more importantiy, it has shown us that the cortusion carbe easily resohed via thc use ofthese stlategies.ES lAlll.lSH IiOCIJS lrOR lllliARGUIItrNT.Obviouslt' the morc complcx thc argument is. the nore di icult it is to address tlie mul-tiflc lincs of argument the question requires. It still puzzles me how studeDts flock tocontent arcas lhaL the! are familiar with nhile ignoing thc complcx argumcntatioD thatcouldbe attachedto the questioD. Makcno rnisiakethat ii is hreasier to choose n q!stion that rcqtrjrcs you to only address a basic polaritl; making it easr to focus aDd re-rnain rclevant in allr,our points. W.itjng points in the fona ofx pros-vcNus-cons iablconlv worl(s well to. basjc polarity questioDs.

lo,EMANDABROADERPERSPECT !E


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DeveL>V a lhes;sWe ned to clarit \ehat a thesis is. For ccfiain it is rnentioned i! alnrost every classroom

across Singapore brt wheD I ask students shetherthey unde$tand what it

thechinalssue

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