China in the eyes of Americans

Welcome to this week's Field report from DC.

How china is viewed in America? In a poll conducted by worldpublicopinion.org, Americans’ perceptions of Chinese domestic systems are quite negative, but the Chinese economic miracle has drawn considerable attention and some admiration in the United States, as well as in the rest of the world. (See for example the 22 nation poll conducted for BBC) .

In the poll, Chinese leader get low approval ratings from Americans President Hu Jintao is rated unfavorably by 63% of Americans (27% favorable).

Aids in China

UNAIDS, an UN agency releases annual report on world AIDS status. while the most affacted area in Afria, such countries such as Kenya, the situation is improving, the infection rates of AIDS in the most populas countries, China and Indonesia, the situation is getting worse.

"Aids prevalence is notable in some countries, such as China..."

Globally, in 2005, 4,100,000 new cases of Aids, 2,800,000 people died. The trend is not stopping, but it is not quite peak like the late 1990s.

News Roundup

• China and South Korea cancled one day before a joint military drill with Japan, the US, Canada and Russia. A part of Proliferation Security Initative(PSI) activities proposed by the US, especially former undersercetary John Bolton, the drill is to prevent countries like North Korea from exporting WMD. (Asahi Shimbun)
• If you think desert sands make Beijing look like a Gobi city, cigarette smoking produces more long lasting smokes and harms than the nature.According to a report on smoking released by Chinese Health Ministry today, 35,000,000 people are estimated to smoke cigarette, it is about one third of total World smokers population. What’s worrisome is not only the number, but an increase in younger people smoking. As tobacco industries provides much needed jobs and economy for Chinese poorer vast middle and western areas, there is no sign that awareness of risk of smoking will be raised in China soon. (Yomiuri Online)
  
• As Animation movies tops Hollywood box offices, and Japan's Manga gains more popularity and artist from Thailand, US and Frence are drawing their mangas, Japan Times ask, in a Sunday Feature Story,"Do Japan's world-conquering cartoons have to be created by Japanese to be the real deal?" ( Japan Times)

The Summer Palace: no Cannes award

59th Cannes Movie competition closes the curtain. The only Asian movie that is competing-The Summer Palace by Chinese director, Lou Ye, didn't win any awards.

The next fate for the movie will be, Will it ever be showing in front of billions of Chinese moviegoers? Since it was sent to Cannes without obtaining a permission from Chinese movie authority (it might not able to obtain one as it includes both students on the Tiananmen Square in June 4th, 1989 and bold sex sences). People have been speculating what kind of publishment will be handed to director Lou upon his arrival to Beijing.

Chinese Movie on anti-Japan war

While Chinese movie Summer Palace (YIHEYUAN) is still competing at the Cannes festival, last year, China released a movie about Japan's invasion, the timing of the moive is to fit the 50 years of V-day, and the big budget, heavy CG(computer graphics) involved movie has received multiple domestic awards, including a college student movie festival awards.

Movie Mountain Taihang (Taihang Shanshang), is to showcase former Chinese leader Zhu De. Just like other Chinese war movies, it is emotional. And interesting enough, the casting crew includes actors from Mainland, Hong Kong and Japan.

It was only showing inside China, but you can take a look at the trail at here. (You tube)

Soccer brings World Peace

In less than 2 weeks, the Soccer World Cup will oepn in Germany. To make it possible for everyone to watch the games on TV, Iranian government orders schools to finish school terms before June 9, the opening date.

Iran, the possible target for UN sanctions as it aims to get nuclear weapons, can make a big deal out of soccer mania, cannot anyone in the world make peace as well?

Team of Japan is also set to go to Germany with a big goal to achieve more than last one joionly hosted by Japan and Korea in 2002. Chinese soccer team, who failed to qualify, has to wait in the sideline.

How about other hot spots, Sudan, Venezuela, don't we all share something common, if not long, but at least for a month or two during the World Cup period?

Will Bush rise Yasukuni Issue to Koizumi?

The White House just released that Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Koizumi will be Mr. Bush's guest on June 29. According to the release, the two leaders will discuss, "on the war on terror, defending freedom and democracy, promoting regional security and prosperity in Asia, and enhancing closer cooperation on global economic issues. "

In terms of promoting regional secutiry, there is no doubt that tense bilateral relations between the two biggest powers, Japan and China concerns everyone in the region. Will Bush take ASEAN countries' suggestion into consideration, and rise Mr. Koizumi's Yasukuni's visit?

Kurt Campbell, an expert in East Asian security issue, said in my previous posts, that Bush should rise the issue during summit talks with Chinese President Hu in April. It is not clear weather the very issue was raised or not, but there is no better chance for Mr. Bush to discuss it with Mr. Koizumi, a close ally and friend.

Sino Japan News Roundup

1. Curt Campbell, senior vice president of CSIS, an influential think tank in DC, spoke at a Tokyo's forum. Mr. Campbell said, for Japan's own interest, Yasukuni should not become a problem. Mr. Campbell also that, that ASEAN countries blame the United States for not criticizing Japan (for visiting the Yasukuni Shrine). (Asahi Shimbun)
2. A Xinhua News reports that a nuclear reactor in a Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)Fukushima plant has a minor leakage, no injuries reported. Obviously as China is building 10-15 nuclear plants in the near future, the safty issue is a big concern. As Japan is leading in nuclear power techonology, it is no doubt that the two countries are going to have to coopreate more closely.
3. UN Secretary Kofi Annan urged Chinese leaders to improve ties with Japan. Mr. Annan showed his concern over worsening sino-Japan relationship to both Chinese President Hu Jintao and Primier Wen Jiabao. (TBS news)

ProChina Japanese Minister blackmiled

Toshihiro Nikai, Japanese minister of Industry and Economy, received a blackmail with a razor included. It is also included a piece of paper saying, Since Minister Nikai is selling Japan's interest to please China, he'd better to commit suiside. (TBS News)

Minister Nikai is known for promoting Sino-Japan friendship, in the year of 2000, he planned to set up memorial stones to celebrate 30th anniversary of normalization of Sino Japan relations, however, the proposal encountered strong local resistance and had to be scrapped. Regards to Japan and China's disputing over natural gas exploration in the East China Sea, Minister Nikai opposes Japan's Foreign Minster Taro Aso, who took a strong position against China.

Two taboos broken in the "Summer Palace"

Mad love affairs along with sexual experiementations, Tiananmen Square in June 4th, 1989, two taboos that are not allowed to be subjects of public discussion and debate in China, are two highlights in the Chinese movie, "Summer Palace" (颐和园), selected to show in the ongoing Cannese Movie Festival.

The two and half hour movie, is about a chinese young educated woman's journey to love and freedom. From a remote area bordering North Korea, Hong Yu came to study in Beijing, the nation's capital.

The two are compelled to jeopardize this love with dangerous games of sexual experimentation and one-upmanship. These sexual freedoms, the film implies, spill over into political unrest and demands for freedom and democracy. As students flock to the square in 1989 and flout social order, the film and the relationships of Yu, her lover, her girlfriend Li Ti (Hu Lingling) and her boyfriend Ruo Gu (Zhang Xianmin) boil over.

(Reuters)

After the initial showing in the Cannes, the "Summer Palace" received mixed response. Some critized it as long and overstreching, some hailed it as Chinese verson of Gone with the Wind.

While in China, the movie has been sent to the Cannes without approval of Chinese authority, Director Lou Ye said, he felt the movie belongs to everyone, and to make it more possible to be showing in China, he is willing to make any changes.

Checked out this video, yet?

Enjoy Funny Friday, Have a good weekend!

Cannes turns bigger for Chinese

Cannes Movie festival opened last night. It features more movies from China.

"Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), is scheduled to be showing today, it has been under intensive scrutiny from Chinese Bureau of Movie and Broadcasting. Until it has been sent to selection committee and is scheduled to be showing, Beijing insists that the process violated its rules.

Besides, Hong Kong director Wang Kai-wei will be the chair of judges, and actress Zhang Ziyi will be one of seven judges.

Everyting about Japan and China in DC

Welcome to Field report from DC! Here are what's going about Japan and China in Washington DC:
Woodrow Wilson Center holds a discussion on "Japan's Pop Culture: from Anime to Robots and Beyond". Paricipants include Ron Morse, CEO of Japan Entertainment and Gaming Associations, etc. If you didn't go, at least you can take a look at the event summary.

Chinese is the third widely spoken language in the US. Next to English, Spanish, about 4 millions speak Chinese at home, 1 millon more than people who speaks Indian language. And, Asian owned firm is booming in DC area, rose 30% to more 45,000 firms. (washington Post)

Youkoso, Japan

Chinese and Koreans tourist guides who conduct tours in Japanese will be able to get citified by Japan ministry of transportation.

As more Chinese take tours to Japan, and only 9% of current tour guides who speak Chinese, Japan aims to get more Chinese tour guides to conduct tours in Japan.

The certifying exam will be conducted in four cities including Beijing and Taipei. It is the first ever for such a certificate test to be conducted outside of Japan.

New Bridal Training: Ear Unplug

IN a Japan Times' arcitle, a new type of Tokyo Salon, Mimi Kurin (ear clearning) offers to clean ear wax has been doing very well.

The article also cited a lady who has over 20 years experience in cleaning guests' ears in a Shinjuku Hotel in Tokyo, who said, many women have told her they wanted to learn how to remove earwax to please men, and she was thining to start classes to teach women ear cleaning and massages as part of their bridal training. (Japan Times 3/25/06)

Sino Japan News Roundup

1. As Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi is going to visit Washington next month, US congressmen Henry Hyde and hosue Speaker Dennis Hastert sent a letter asking Mr. Koizumi not visit Yasukuni Shrine, Mr. Koizumi showed his unhappiness towards the letter. (Asahi Shimbun)
2. “drinking the water and remembering the well digger”, (饮水不忘掘井人),Chinese ambassador Wang Yi visits Museum of former Japanese Prime Minister Ohhira Masayoshi in Kagawa Prefecture, saying, China is still remembering old (dead) Japanese friends. (xinhua)
3. Dollar slides as China lets yuan strengthen, exchange rate between RMB yuan to US dollar is now 8:1, compared to 8:27:1. (Reuters)

An Apology

It hasn't been easy for the updates. Because of a publishing problem, I haven't been able to update the site for nearly a week. I apologize for the problem, and will try to catch up with all the news that is going on in DC, Tokyo and Beijing.

At the same time, please send in your comments, suggeestions, etc. Thanks.

for Chinese Graudates:Job, Job, Job

Every May, when American college graudates are ready to pack up and head to wherever a job takes, most of their Chinese countparts still wait to get a job offer, and most likely they can't and won't get one.

According to a recent survery, 6o percent of Chinese students who graduate this year can't find a job in the second half of 2006. the reason, "The number of graduates will increase by 22 percent over the previous year to reach 4.13 million while the job market can only soak up 1.66 million new graduates, down 22 percent on the previous year", accroding a reported cited by Xinhua News Agency.

It is not unusual for a college graudate to find a warehouse job, or to work as a clerk for a "10 yuan" discount store. Even college students wonder why the road to a career gets narrower and narrower?

Sino Japan News Roudup

District of Chaoyang in Beijing sets up a training base for pet dogs, in an attempt to train 32,000 dogs inside the region. The district government put out a fund to train the dog owners Free of charge, and also provides free taxi ride for both owners and dogs. Dogs are being treated better than people……(Xinhua)

India is working on free trade agreements with China, Japan and South Korea as part of a concerted effort to strengthen its regional ties. (Reuters)

At China's request, first China-Japan-South Korea Latin American Dialogue was held in Beijing. Energy, Natural Resources, etc, China is strengthening ties with South America to counter Washington's traditonal role in this area. (Asahi Shimbun)

Taiwan's leading party is considering a date to celebrate victory over Japanese invasion in 1896. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Wen and Koizumi among Time's 100

Wen Jiabao, Koizumi among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the world. Other world political and opinion leaders include George W Bush, Pope Benedict, US senator Hillary Clinton, Condi Rice, Bill and Melinda Gates. (Time)

Japan’s growing Insularity

Robert Dujarric, a visiting research fellow at Japan Institute of International affairs, speaks at a discussion in Washington DC.

Japan, with more people traveling overseas, and more foreigners coming to study or work, is becoming more…, Isolated?

One example is its security issue, compared to its gigantic economy, security in Japan is “handicapped”. Japan’s foreign policy towards Korea and China makes it more isolated. And also a shortage of people who understand Korea and China also contributes to the problem.

Another example given by Mr. Dujarric, is Japan’s lack of confidence in relations with other countries, especially its most important one, with the United States. Japan heavily relies on “friends of Japan”, such as former deputy secretary of state Armitage. When Armitage exit from the Bush administration, it has caused concerns in Japanese side.

He also mentioned other facts such as less Japanese professors teach in the US or UK colleges. Mr. Dujarric proposed “Mansfield program” as a model to improve Japan’s internationalization process.

Visit Mr. Dujarric's Blog on Japan China Economic Relations.

Sino Japan News Roundup

• Japan’s reducing children and thus population in general may partly to be blamed for lack of OBGY doctors. High demand, risk of being sued, stress all contribute to New Pains Suffered at Childbirth. (Washington Post)
• First ever railway to Tibet, which all rails have been put on place today, will be offically opreating on July 1. Tibet, which is called "the roof of the world" will be accessible through rail for the first time. (Xinhua News)

• Japan's 2nd ranking diplomat visits Beijing, to meet his counterpart, Chinese Deputy foreign minster Dai Binguo, in a refreshed effort to open a door for Koizumi-Hu Jintao summit. How Chinese side reacts is not clear, but Mr. Koizumi's Yasukuni visit will still be a biggest obsticle for such a summit. (Asahi Shimbun)