Politics - Silk Road International (Page 2)

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Politics

A collection of 79 posts

Thai Economic News...Worse Than Expected...ouch!

Thai Economic News...Worse Than Expected...ouch!

Worse than expected? That must be really bad!Really, with all the bad news about the world economy lately, how could anyone be surprised by bad economic numbers from anywhere at this point? The numbers out of Thailand are indeed “dismal” and the fact that things are going to get

“To get rich is glorious!”

First, It’s no surprise that Human rights and the environment are taking a backseat to economics. This is point of the 3rd world’s whole argument with any US/EU sponsored HR and Green legislation—“we’re decades behind you in terms of economics, we need to feed people

Post CNY Review--Thailand, China and the Hopelessnes in the US

Feb 6 UPDATE--Like I said. "6.8% growth might as well be 0." And guess what? It actually was (more here)!___________________________________________________________I purposefully tried to avoid Asian news for the CNY Holiday. A change is as good as a break, right? It was nice to spend some

Article Pass-along

Two excellent articles on China from other sites.First, China in the context of the world's melt down--it's not only not going to save the world, it's probably going to make it worse. This is a great piece--if you don't

One More Day of News Links

Since I've been at factories and solving project issues all week, I've not had time to write a "real" blog--so here is another of my (usually) tri-weekly news links list. Enjoy.1. China on President Elect ObamaFirst, be careful on Taiwan. Second,

News Round Up--The Best Links of the Last 48 Hours

I collect news links to read as I travel back and forth to factories. Here is my edited list of hightlights from Wednesday and Thursday. I thought it was especially good reading so I'm sharing. You're welcome.China stocks continue to drop, and while you can’

Will Hutton’s: The Writing on the Wall: China and the West in the 21st Century—BOOK REVIEW

This book, The Writing On the Wall, by Will Hutton, is just great. It’s only flaw is that it’s at least 100 pages too long—and there is a specific 100 pages that could be cut out with nothing lost.Chapters 1-8 are as good as any

Much of what you see in China is planned/fake to some degree (updated 30 Sept)

Update 30/09/08: others are noticing the contradiction between walking in space and the disasters on the ground in China. Many are saying that the solution is increased accountability within the system.____________I've said more than once that much of what you see here in China is

What does the milk powder scandal mean for you, an SME, doing business in China?

I was interviewed by Public Radio’s Market Watch segment yesterday and their focus on the general economic conditions (downturn) headed into China got me thinking that there are certainly going to be more rather than less problems in the future. Specifically, Scott Tong asked me, in regards to the

Things like this come in 3's

Like Junior Soprano claims, “things like this come in 3’s.” Maybe it’s true.For the first time today I saw a Bangkok license plate on a car in China. (I can't upload the photo for some reason, you'll just have to believe me that

Yeah! I'm a llama again!*

So now that it's all over, what's next?First a couple of comments on the 0lympics and then some application to doing business here.I’ve said for 8 years—this will be the best Olympics ever—and it appears that it was. Was there any

Finally, it's cool to be an American

If you've read this blog for any amount of time, you know that I love basketball and the US. (While at the same time choosing to be fat, eat chocolate and live in China. Go figure.) Mixed in with numerous Jazz home games over the years, I saw

The China Fantasy—BOOK REVIEW

If you’re not ready to face the reality of China’s future and your involvement in that future, don’t read this book. If you’re comfortable with the idea that China is not “changing” in all the ways that the western democracies would like it too, don’t

Is this really news? It's not new!

Is this really news? It's not new!

There is a fine between news that caters to the LCD and just a waste of paper. The headlines on this morning’s Drudge Report cross that line. Seriously, how is this news? Is this really cause for “shock and dismay,” Senator Brownback? Has no one heard of the Great

Book Review-What Does China Think, by Mark Leonard

I have to say the introduction of this book scared me. Mr. Leonard prefaces his writing by admitting that he knew so little about China that he hoped a trip or two could help him “learn the basics” and then allow him to go home. But maybe the lack of

Beijing "Wecomes" The World to its "Coming Out Party! Oh, The Irony!

As if visa restrictions and embassy staff weren't discouraging enough, from the NYT today:"...when an American called the China Travel Guide Tourist Agency last week, a sales clerk even discouraged the person from visiting Beijing during the Olympics.“You really don’t want to go there,

Which is worse for the future of the US Chinese relations?

Not sure which is more foreboding for the future of the US Chinese relations.The fact that the Chinese publicly don't think that Obama can handle the pressure or make any significant change (smarter than we give them credit for, eh?).OrThe fact that "it's

The Joys of Living in China, Part II

The Joys of Living in China, Part II

More events today and some more on yesterday's hullabaloo. Start Reading Part I, here.The landlords were all agitated about the upcoming destruction of the fishpond scheduled for today. We planned to stand arm in arm, old people in front, women second and men in the back (seriously)

The Joys of Living in China

The Joys of Living in China

Yup. Woke up this morning to the SZ police force outside the gates of our apartment complex, Zhonghai Huating. They brought 6 riot vans and two busses full of police to make sure that the housewives, maids and others at home wouldn't disrupt their appropriation of land for

What will the earthquake cost outside of Sichuan?

China Economic Review notes that labor prices are going to rise due to so many workers from Sichuan going to home. Richard, at All Roads Lead to China, had some immediate post earthquake thoughts on economic impacts too. China Herald noted two weeks ago, before the earthquake, that prices were

"Working Toward a Civil Society"

"Working Toward a Civil Society"

In the spirit of being fair and balanced, since my public cursing out at the hands of torch watchers, I have to admit that I have really been touched by the generosity of the millions of everyday Chinese people (and foreigners too) who are taking action, spending their own time

Foreigners not Welcome

It's not just Beijing, either.In the morning was talking with a friend in Shenzhen about the relay going through town and he expressed the desire that everyone just let China alone and give them a chance to have a nice day in the sun. I didn'

Mekong Meetings

In 2001, when I was running a tour company, I was warned by an industry insider “If you want to go anywhere in the world you’ve got about 10 years to go before everywhere will be completely run over by Chinese tour groups.” If you haven’t experienced this

One More Note on (Chinese) Politics

Last political stump, I promise. I've avoided the incredibly huge white elephant in the room over this last week simply because I want to stay on line. But I need to say something. These two posts are concise but thought provoking; compare this about Ta!wan to this

Just a typical white guy

I try not to be purely political on this blog, but who will be the next president of the US will affect my business over here. Not to mention that these comments are stupid and offensive. This single comment will live on in political infamy much longer than anyone will