China Meiguo

There aren't many American movies in theaters here in China. Usually, you can find one (maybe 2 or at most 3 in big theaters). There also isn't much variety in American movies shown in Chinese theaters - they're almost always blockbuster action films. Last week was no exception when I happened to walk by a theater on the campus of nearby Chengyi College and noticed this poster advertising  The Expendables 2 which was the only English-language film in this theater.

Here's the second in my series of Chinglish photos. This photo graces the front of a small store on the campus of nearby Chengyi College at Jimei University in the city of Xiamen. Being the only foreigner around, I surreptitiously took this photo, wondering whether the Chinese college students inside were scheming to somehow help resurrect Mitt Romney's presidential election campaign after he alienated at least 47% of the American (non-taxpaying) public. 

Here's a grass jelly drink (not sure whether its FUBO or not)

Things have been pretty violent throughout much of the world lately and sadly China is no exception although things are still much safer here than most countries in the world. One relatively good thing (at least from my perspective of self-interest) is that, unlike much of the world, here in China the violence isn't directed at Americans. Instead, young Chinese are venting their anger at Japan. When I visited the city of Xi'an in the past, I stayed at a hotel near the Bell Tower, a busy but pleasant and peaceful area. Here's some photos of this area during a recent protest showing Japanese brand automobiles turned over and set on fire.

Protests like this have been going on in many Chinese cities lately. Some have been peaceful demonstrations (as in the city of Xiamen where I'm living), but others have gotten violent with Japanese owned businesses being looted and the Japanese embassy in Beijing being assaulted by a crowd throwing rocks and eggs (fortunately I don't think the violence has resulted in any loss of lives as has tragically occurred in recent anti-American protests).

What is causing all this anger and violence? Well, that's probably a complicated question to answer. The simple answer is a group of small, (until lately) uninhabited islands in the South China Sea - the Diaoyu Islands if you're Chinese and the Senkaku Islands if you're Japanese. For a good explanation of the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands as well as a dispute between China and the Philippines over some other islands, see this NPR article.

To an extent, the dispute is also being fueled by politics. The Japanese government recently escalated the tension by purchasing the islands from private Japanese owners. Not surprisingly, this further incensed the Chinese to the extent that lots of young, hotheaded Chinese boys want to declare war and go kill Japanese. The Chinese state-controlled media are playing up Japan's actions and encouraging Chinese nationalism, possibly to divert attention from rumored internal discord over the presumptive soon-to-be new president Xi Jinping and the future leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and government.

Shanghaist has posted some video clips as well as photos of the protests here. 

The feelings of Chinese people toward Japan are probably unfathomable to most Westerners who are largely ignorant of history in this part of the world. In fact, while Chinese are clearly angry about Japan's assertion of control over the Diaoyu Islands, I believe that the anger rearing its head in protests today has much more to do with the past than the present. It is due in large part to justified resentment of Japan's invasion of China in the 1930s and horrendous atrocities committed by the Japanese army (rivaling their Nazi allies in Europe). However, modern anti-Japanese sentiment is also fueled largely by state propaganda which programs all young Chinese to hate Japanese. From what I've heard and read, the current protests have been, to some extent, encouraged by Chinese government and law enforcement authorities. While I'm sure the Chinese government doesn't want these protest to get too out of hand and violent, what better way to keep the Chinese public from protesting anything that might be occurring in China than by giving them a foreign enemy to protest against. 

China will soon have a new president. Unlike the United States, there's no election involved and therefore no political campaigning going on (from what I've been following back in America, that's a blessing!). While Obama, Romney and all their campaign mouthpieces are slinging mud around, China's political scene has been very quiet. Chinese politicians are actually very smart about this - by saying nothing in public, you can't really say anything stupid, be misquoted, or have what you say misinterpreted. 

VP Biden (and other American political candidates) could learn from VP Xi

It is, however, possible even in China, to go too far and be too quiet and invisible. Assumed president-to-be (and current vice-president), Xi Jinping (习近平), has apparently realized this after a 2 week disappearing act that would make Houdini jealous. He even blew off visits by foreign diplomats including Hillary Clinton. The Chinese blogosphere was consequently filled with rumors of what had become of Xi (from heart problems to assassination) until the Chinese blogocensors tried their best to eliminate such cyber-speculation. 

It turns out, at least according to the unofficial government story, that Mr. Xi has simply spent the last 2 weeks in bed, a perfectly logical place for a Chinese vice-president to be shortly before he is expected to be announced as the new president. Apparently, Xi hurt his back swimming and was ordered by his doctor to stay in bed. Nothing at all suspicious about this - as we all know, swimming often leads to back injuries requiring 2 weeks of bed rest. This must be why Chinese people don't swim, unless they're in the Olympics - in which case they promptly go to bed for several weeks after competing.

And of course, its also perfectly logical that the Chinese government made no effort to inform the public of why Xi disappeared. The health of government leaders is a state secret that must be protected. This does seem to counter Communist doctrine under former leader, Mao Zedong, who made swimming a huge public spectacle when he braved the waters of the mighty Yangtze River to show off his health and leadership strength.

Anyway, staying in bed seems to have worked since Xi finally made a public appearance yesterday in Beijing and, according to one observer, he looked healthy. Although I haven't found anything to corroborate this, I'd bet that his doctor also ordered him to "drink hot water" since that's the Chinese cure for all ailments.

Obama, Biden, Romney, Ryan and all related cronies - please go to bed. Set your alarm clocks for the morning after the election takes place. Think of the benefits - whoever wins will be well-rested, whoever loses can just turn over and go back to sleep and America will undoubtedly be a better place as a result.

Disclaimer: This post involves sarcasm and satire. While I believe in democracy and the American election system, I also believe that presidential campaigns have become a joke and (almost) believe that the Chinese system is better (in some ways). I'm also glad that Mr. Xi is ok and respectfully encourage him to stop swimming in water and keep drinking hot water.

While in Beijing recently for a conference, I visited the 798 Art District (798 艺术区),  an interesting area of eclectic galleries and shops housed in some interesting old buildings.

Strange art in Beijing

While recently attending the 2012 East West Center International Conference in Beijing, I heard U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke's keynote speech. Overall, Locke's speech was very diplomatic, urging cooperation between China and the United States and I agreed with almost all of his points in that regard. However, Locke made one statement that struck me as a serious exaggeration - indicating that everyone is in agreement about the U.S. military presence in Asia being positive for the security of the region. Locke may have been referring to the United States' role in fighting the Japanese in WWII which many Asians may be appreciative of, but that appreciation doesn't necessarily extend to the U.S. military presence in the more recent era. Two days after hearing Locke's speech, I went to the 798 Art District in Beijing and saw the following artwork in one of the many galleries.

Chinese girl pissing on American aircraft carrier

Ambassador Gary Locke at East-West Center Conference in Beijing

I'm in Beijing for a conference hosted by the East-West Center and Peking University which started this morning with a keynote speech by U.S. Ambassador to China, Gary Locke (the first Chinese-American ambassador to China).