By Elizabeth Economy, CFR
Editor's note: Elizabeth Economy is C.V. Starr Senior Fellow and director for Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. This entry of Asia Unbound originally appeared here. The views expressed are those of the author.
The Chinese currently stand second in the Olympic medals table – in both gold and overall – but you would never know it from what’s going on in their media. Of course, there’s celebration of the country’s athletes. Yet the flawless performances of the Chinese divers and spectacular achievements of the Chinese male gymnasts are in danger of being drowned out by a torrent of commentary focused on what the games mean for China as a society and for its place in the world. Some of the commentary is lamenting, some angry, and still other searching.
Some Chinese are concerned that the cost of an Olympic gold is too great, both literally and figuratively. People have reportedly calculated the financial cost of swimmer Sun Yang’s two years of gold medal-worthy training at approximately $1.57 million. Not a small sum in a country where per capita income still tops out at roughly $7,500. At the same time, the stories of Chinese athletes living away from their families for years – missing deaths, illnesses, and family celebrations – in state-run training centers also raise questions for some Chinese as to whether gold medal mania is a worthy substitute for the to and fro of daily life. Then, inevitably, there are those who are worried about the enormous pressure placed on state-supported Chinese athletes, such as the weight lifter Wu Jingbiao, the gold medal favorite in his event, who broke down in tears and apologized to his country after winning a silver medal.
Even more Chinese media attention, however, has been paid to what China’s Olympic experience signals for the country’s place in the world. As Caixin reports, many Chinese believe their athletes have been unfairly treated by the rest of the world simply because they are Chinese. There is anger over the silver-instead-of-gold finish by China’s amazing gymnastics rings master Chen Yibing; fury over the disqualifications of Chinese cycling and badminton teams; and outrage over the accusations of doping by the gold medal-winning swimmer Ye Shiwen.
Some commentators argue that these cases are simply one more example of how the rest of the world is attempting to keep China from assuming its rightful place as a global power. In a Global Times article, for example, director of the China Institute of International Studies Qu Xing argues, “It’s unavoidable that we will encounter jealousy and even unexpected obstructions during the process of rising, as is the case in other fields.” Peking University professor Zhang Yiwu further suggests, “What we can do is try to be stronger to let others acknowledge and get used to our power…It’s very difficult to change the bias of others, while we can defend ourselves with facts.”
More from CFR: Saudi women at the Olympics
Others take a more measured approach. Zhang Yun, in the People’s Daily Overseas Edition, compares the Olympics to China’s participation in the WTO and IMF, arguing: “As China develops, dissonance that grates on the ears will only increase. The key is still to hold one’s ground, to withstand the test of bias, and to listen to accurate criticisms. This is an international initiation that must be experienced for China to move towards renewal. Going back to history, every developed country experienced a similar kind of initiation.”
And a lengthy editorial in the China Youth Daily entitled, “It’s very tiring to watch the Olympics with a victim mentality,” argues that China’s experience is really no different from that of any other country, pointing out that both the Koreans and Indonesians lost outstanding badminton teams for the same reason as the Chinese, and that even the very unfortunate doping accusations against Ye Shiwen have been heard many times by many athletes from many countries. That doesn’t make it right, but it does make it unexceptional. Moreover, the gold medal-contending British cycling team was disqualified earlier in the London games for the exact same violation committed by the Chinese cyclists.
The China Youth Daily also offered a profound critique of those who see an anti-China hand behind every silver medal: “At the Beijing Olympics, what tested the Chinese people was how to be a host. After the Beijing Olympics, at the London Olympics, what tests the Chinese people is how to be an audience with a gentle attitude and healthy mind. Sports is not war, the Western world is not the enemy, patriotism does not cover up one’s errors, and criticism is not treason.”
The Olympics have encouraged wide-ranging discussion in China over the relationship between the Chinese state and society and over the country’s relationship with the rest of the world. Neither issue will be resolved by the end of the games, but both are evidence of a Chinese citizenry deeply engaged in open discourse and debate within itself and with the rest of the world. This is an achievement everyone should celebrate.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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china is not a free country... the machine that is the population is harvested regularily of it's most potential specimens to serve a life in the role of ambassador to it's human developmental abilities... why genetically clone when population control is proving so manageable
In all honesty, your comment is idiotic.
SVeritas, You are an idiot....China = liar, cheater & thief.
And Collin, you = racist, coward, & bigot
The original message of the Olympic Games has been totally ignored: to promote peace and understanding among the people on earth. The whole event has become a spectacular, a lavish production offering commericial opportunities and moreover a political forum. The obsession of winning gold victimises a country's athlets for national prestige and political gain. Have they won, they are treated as heroes, Otherwise they will be looked down on. It's a shame that one has to feel ashamed for letting the nation down.
j von – what country are you talking about?
The day I start viewing China with sympathy is the day China allows a Falun Gong athlete to compete in the Olympics instead of running them over with tanks.
EAT MORE MOON-PIES!!!
The cold war is still going on, this time is not between US and USSR, but US and China. Media from both counties attacked each other constantly.
I agree with you, there is a lot of uneducated idiots in this country.
OH Jacko boy, that is a bunch of hooey and you know it.
China and the USA have never had such a good relationship as now. Albeit it is China and the USA we are talking about.
China would be trusted and respected more if it DID NOT TRY TO USE ITS POWER AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
Imagine if you had a child that had the strength of a fully grown man, but the judgement of a 5 year-old child. The child would get angry often when it didn't get its way and it might use its strength to make others agree with its wants and desires. But while it had an adult's strength, it would never have respect because it does not know how to avoid using its strength at inappropriate times. The child should not fight over small details, it should keep its voice down and respect others, even if they are younger and smaller.
America is not a free country anymore either. We have become mindless unskilled workers..thinking that we are fighting for 'worthy' causes. China is just visible not free, America is becoming less free by the minute
hexdrus:
If you truly feel the USA is no longer free, then try a stint in China, or lets say Iran? I hate those who choose to run down this country while milking it for all it gives and has
Well said. It is hard for many citizens of the free world to realize how China's athletic program is still run like North Korea's and former Soviet Union's as a gulag for children of poor families. Their only ticket to freedom is to win medals. How about some media focus on those kids who did not demonstrate athletic prowess yet lost their childhood at the state "training" gulags?
Great point - let's get some detailed media coverage of what exactly it takes in China to become a succssful Olympian. Would be fascinating to contrast that with the U.S., where it takes sacrifice as well but where the choices are led by the individuals, and scholarships and sponsorships support the way...
Apparently, you really don't know much about China. I encourage you to dig it up, not just from the US media, most of which are significantly biased. One thing I can assure you is that the athletes are not forced to get trained. People are actually working their best to get the opportunity because it's state sponsored and you don't have to pay.
Right, kind of like the social and religious conservative base serving as fodders (sheeps) for the GOP ruling elites and the corporate paymasters running the show behind the scene.
Nice try. Go troll somewhere else.
Yes. Enough of your trolling.
China is becoming more free and the economic status of 100's of millions is a poverty we can not comprehend. On the other hand, millions are rising out of poverty under communist rule. In America, many are falling out of the middle class under capitalism. Which system is better. My guess is that they will be pretty indistinguishable in 100 years.
China will become free when the government of China fails to delever the constant rate of economic growth it is providing today. No economy can continue to rise forever, they all enter recessions. When the Chinese bubble burst, it will not be a pretty sight. The people with more wealth and power than ever before will demand a change in government. Eventually current policies of economic growth will be the downfall for the ruling party in China.
That has to do more with infrastructure development, energy access and legacy costs than type of economic system. America overbuilt without going through an energy upshift due to demoncratic and repugaton reasons. So 2 generations of this and liberal social policies have produced so many legacy costs that even a technocracy would have a hard time of coping.
You need to review your history. China's economy only started to become powerful after the reforms of Deng Xiaoping. If anything, these reforms made China less of a Communist country, adding more capitalist elements to their economic strategy. Deng Xiaoping opened the country up to outside investment and turned China into an export powerhouse. Deng Xiaoping is supposed to have said, "To get rich is glorious". While the aforementioned quote may not have actually been uttered by Deng Xiaoping, there is a reason why it is often attributed to him. The reason being that the quote perfectly sums up Deng Xiaoping' very capitalist reforms.
Everything right up until your last sentence made sense to me: "why genetically clone when population control is proving so manageable" I don't see the relevance of this sentence. China is over populated, of course they would never consider cloning.
Is your sentence supposed to mean that China uses a pseudo slective breeding program, by picking out the best physical specimens from their youth to mold into athletes? I don't quite see this as selective breeding since they are not yet pairing athletes together to produce genetic traits, but simply picking from the general population. I fail to see how cloning has any relevance to this process.
The chinese one whild polocy is to reduce population not breed specific traits.
China uses its wealth un-proportionally distributed to smaller portion of its population to instill Chinese patriotism. China made movies and books bringing back the part of the history toward the end of the Ching dynasty to portray Western countries as bullies and enemies of the Chinese to create distrust of the Chinese towards Western countries. Communism was built from the hands of the farmers and workers and yet the Central Chinese Government is now afraid and trying to muff the dissonance among its farmers and workers who earn about $7000 or less compared to government officials with wealth in the millions or more (Compare the wealth of the top 20% of the Chinese and the other 80%). How many years does it take for a normal Chinese worker making $7000 or a Chinese farmer making less than that to earn enough to afford to buy a condo among the hundreds of thousands of empty condos in Beijing, Shanghai, and etc.?
As long as China continues covering the eyes of its people from the inequalities in Chinese society and its government continues pursuing of bullying policies towards neighboring countries, there will more dissonance and anger from other countries around the world. In Chinese history, China called itself the Central Country and other neighboring countries as barbarians. China invaded smaller surrounding countries for resources and forced smaller countries like Korea, Vietnam, and etc. to subdue and provide annual tributes such as jades, pearls, elephant tusks… In recent history, China invaded Tibet, violated the borders and internal affairs of Taiwan, Myanmar, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, and etc.
communism was not built from the hands of farmers and workers. they were used by communist propagandists to split them from the chinese middle and upper classes under the belief that peasants and workers would be taking over. those chiinese with western ties, religious affiliations, even those with educations were held in derision and destroyed as a group. except for party members, the smartest, most capable chinese were turned upside down so that communist masters could more easily lead the farmers and workers against china's own government and army. the result is history, but does anyone doubt that a nationalist china led by the bourgeoise would not have made china a more prosperous freer place long before deng xiaoping began the effort in 1979?
Population control is inhumane. If you knew how much women (and families in general) have suffered under the population control policies, you would never commend them. Most European and Western people do not realize the gravity of the crimes against women, children and men under the policies to control reproduction and population.
I actually enjoyed the article. China needs to understand that you cannot when gold in every event or you are a failure. China needs to realize with all the pirating of movies, knock off handbags, etc, and the throwing of games for better positions in play-offs, lying, and not using common sense when dealing with international issues such as Syria, that many in the rest of the world view them as cheaters and liars that want to win at all cost. I do praise the Chinese for their humility when they are caught with their hands in the cookie jar. They seem to always show remorse which is something most Americans do not have today!
gotta say – comments about this have been great. why can't our politicians debate like this?
If winning medals at badminton or table tennis is their measuring stick of prosperity, please, lead away.
Is USA a free country?
Are you a muzzie?
The cold war hasn't ended very unfortunately.
yep, the Chinks are commies.
This is the same country that had its citizens eating tree bark in order to produce exports for the world to marvel at in the 1950's. many of china's problems are self made and hang on its desire to show off in the world. at their root, these policies are designed to provide justification for their communist masters to continue in power. as long as they bring home economic growth and gold medals, they will use it to retain power.
An informative article.
Yes, except for the ridiculous claim that the per capita income is $7500. Heres' what the Chinese say:
"In 2011, the per capita net income of rural residents was 6,977 yuan"
"In 2011, per capita income of urban residents stood at 23,979 yuan"
That's a little over one thousand dollars a year for country folk, well under four thousand dollars a year for city folk.
And these numbers include benefits, not just wages.
http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/pressrelease/t20120130_402787464.htm
Uh, no. You are multiplying by 7, you need to divide by 7 to get the approximate fixed exchange rate. I know, I deal with China daily.
Except 1 yuan in China buys a lot more (especially food and everyday items) than 1 dollar here in the US. So it's useless to compare per capita GDP, because living costs are much lower, and it's even more inaccurate to convert Chinese earnings in Yuan to Dollars, because that screws the data even more. To be honest, a typical person in China can live very comfortably (if they avoid expensive luxury and foreign goods) on 34000 yuan a year (data from Wiki and equivalent to about 5400 dollars and the Per Capita income of Chinese). Can an American live on $5400 a year? Hell no.
@Upsidedown, you deal with China daily? You're either lying or you have no idea what you're talking about. If you do deal with China, then you should know about the buying power and what I stated. No one with any slight knowledge would compare nominal per capital income in China to the US. Even PPP per capita is screwed because despite it considering buying power, it factors in luxury goods (such as Ipod/Ipads, which despite manufactured in China, are actually cost more to buy there legitimately than in the US), so PPP is also skewed when looking at the true buying power.
For example for 5 yuan (about 80 cents US), at any small restaurant (non touristy area) you can buy a very filling meal (a large bow of noodles, rack of dumplings, etc). With 80 cents US, you cant even buy a small cheeseburger, let alone a decently healthy meal.
Upside – obviously I was dividing: 7000 yuan equals about $1200 US.
Yes, the exchange rate is misleading. You can get a bowl of noodles for 5 kuai, about 35 cents (not 80 cents). An actual lunch bought an the sort of restaurant most Americans (and some Chinese) would not dare eat in costs from 8 to 10 kuai in the city – more if you want a beer.
But I wasn't making a point about their cost of living in China, simply pointing out that this article doubled their annual income when stated in American dollars.
It may be cheap to buy lunch in China, however the food is not trustworthy.
The amount of chemicals in the food in the growing process and in production and handling is detrimental to one's health. ie. Baby milk.
@Patrick: Are you literally retarded? According to you then, if you're Chinese might as well starve to death and not eat then. By the way, that baby milk thing is 1 milk formula company among 10s of thousands in China, its our media that made it seem like it's a countrywide problem and you ate it up like a obedient puppy. Same thing with lead paint, 90%+ of the world's toys are made in China, and there was that 1 or 2 reports about lead paint, and now everyone thinks all Chinese toys are toxic. Stop and think for one moment and do your own research.
Mike Smith: Exchange rate is 6 yuan to 1 dollar, so 5 yuan divide by 6, you do the math. PS, you are correct about the mistake this article had, don't know either where they got their numbers. However, like you said, the wage rate you stated includes benefits, but what most people don't realize is that benefits in China covers a lot more than what we have here (them being a socialist state), and those benefits cannot be put into numbers. Healthcare is completely free, and almost all companies (public and private) heavily subsidize housing PURCHASES (not rent, but own) for their employees. That is why you see many families now in China buying more than 1 homes (their first is company subsidized, and thus very cheap, so they have the disposable income to buy more on their own, which eventually will become a problem like the US housing bubble but that's another story).
Obsi
Whoa Nelly, that is alot of drama.
I would give you a 2.5 stars out of 5.
Those criticising the Chinese are missing the point entirely. That China's media is encouraging discourse in what the ramifications of sport, and specifically the Olympics, means to their country is a major step forward in what has historically been a closed society with respect to open discussions. Honestly, some of what their paper said is food for thought for the US in terms of deciding what the costs and benefits are of a society that 'worships' athletes at the expense of perhaps more important concepts. For example, Penn State's Athletic worship that allowed child abuse to occur; or our astronomical salaries of our sports figures while Teachers and Military members (arguably more important to our society in the long run) work for much smaller salary. Frankly, any discussion of the importance and the effect of athletics in a society is a welcome opportunity to perhaps reshape society's focus on "what is truly important" in a society.
I agree with you. I think US puts so much emphasis on sports in its culture, that it pretty much trumps everything else. All of this I believe is 70% or more motivated by money, the big money a sports star could make. A kid could well be a C or even D student and not feel least bit of shame as long as he could play football or any ball Americans know could lead to a big pay if he's successful in playing that ball. Even if he cant' become a star, he could still make a lot by becoming even a school coach. You study anything else, compared to the sports pay, it's almost worthless.
The American craziness for sports may well be the cause of the weak US educational system (talking about K12 here). Too many kids keep their focus on sports and the possible big bucks they might make one day that they really put little emphasis on study, not realizing that only perhaps 1% or even less become sports stars and the rest, without a strong basis of education, will have to be in need of manufacturing, blue collar jobs, which are lacking in this country.
The doping allegation would truly be "unexceptional", if it was also levied at our own Katie Ledecky, with the same zeal by our media.
Alas, it was not the case, proving this accusation is marked with racism.
Lack of zeal proves nothing. The accusation was made based on previous experience. I.E. that when someones performance significantly superior it is usually because of doping. Because in the past most cases like that proved to be doping. The chinese athlete just happened to be the exception to the rule, and I say good for her and China. And congratulations on your well deserved gold medal.
Does US women's swimming have a history of systemic, state-sponsored doping? China does in women's swimming, and that's the only reason you're hearing this. It's ridiculous to say it's racism, nobody questioned the South Korean who won, or even Sun Yang for that matter.
Hey, check out the medal count of the 2012 London Olympics and much, much more!
http://www.databayarea.com
Winning more medals does not make America's problems go away. US has always been winning over China and everyone else in the world. The fact that Americans are now so anxious about winning over China in medals really shows the country's weakness, not the superior confidence it used to have. Chinese government needs to loosen up its grip on trying to win more medals as if it's in war with anyone. This is just sports, not war. Winning more medals does not make that country any better than others. Let's face it: the amazing fast runners are mostly just black people labeled with different country names. So they happen to represent America. Doesn't really mean Americans are all running faster than other countries. Just be amazed by each individual athlete. That's good enough.
Wow, there's less bashing than I would've expected! Interesting article...
The Middle Kingdom mentality of China is 4000 years old – their rightful place in the world?
Free Tibet then
A *free* Tibet would just revert back into the theocratic serfdom/slavery society it was. This is indisputable historical fact so in essence, anything but *free*. If China were to free Tibet, they need to take the billions of dollars worth of technology, modern equipment and infrastructure they've installed, just like if they were never there in the first place. I wonder what the ensuing disaster would look like. Probably make the China ruled Tibet look like a day in Disneyland by comparison.
Why doesn't American free Hawaii? That's right, because they don't want to leave. Why don't they want to leave? Because we have already killed off most of the natives when we took over those territories in the 19th century and replaced them with mainland transplants. Sounds familiar.
Clearly, these are comments coming from a Chinese gov't sanctioned propagandist. These are well thought out talking points that are sanctioned by the Chinese communist regime, and secondly, this post would not be visible behind the Chinese firewall. Good job dude. Why don't you spend your time working on bringing democratic freedoms to your people, rather than try to defend the human rights violations of those in power?
So, Gordon, let me get this straight. Your argument is essentially, "You killed people to gain power, so why can't we?" I'm sure that will win you respect and support.
Free Tibet?
........WHY???
Is Tibet in jail?
Forget about independence for a second here and let's talk about religious freedom and basic HUMAN RIGHTS in Tibet, like freedom of speech. There isn't any there and I speak from experience.
vowel movement, before you open your big kwok zucking mouth and bull zhit about "free tibet", have you ever thought for a moment that you might be just a regenerated trash from the "Trash" that drifted across the Atlantic and polluted the American soil ever since? If the native Americans had a choice, they would definitely send you directly back to Europe to the incinerator and not to be recycled.
Hmm... America's women team wins the most gold. China's men look like women. Coincidence? I think not.
Lemme watch you say that to a Chinese man's face. Oh but wait, that's why your saying such things behind a screen right?
+1
Come on, do you think it's easy to be a white guy? The only white man who can still compete in the Olympics is the Mr. dopinghead Phelps. Everything else was won by the black guys.
And even the dopinghead are thrilled to talk to the smart guy, Mr. President, who is also a black guy.
You wouldn't mind to give these losers some place to complain, would you?
Michael Phelps was tested before the Olympics, when he arrived in England and after each one of his medal wins and he is clean. You, on the other hand have tested positively for being a TROLL.
Chinese see the Olympics as a way to demonstrate power instead of enjoying it for the games they are.
That's why they steal children from their families and send them to Olympic grooming centers.
keep making up stuffs! but if you just hear this from somebody and believe it, I have to call you an idiot. use your brain, dude!
Not to take away from their diving and gymnastics, but badminton, trampoline and ping pong count for 18 of their medals. Are those realy Olympic sports?
Since most of the world does play those sports, YES. what a stupid question
They are sports in the Olympics, no? Sanctioned by the IOC, no? The first place winner gets a gold medal, the second a silver, and the third a bronze, no?
Then they are Olympic sports. End of discussion.
Did you watch the badmiton final? Tremendous skill and athleticism on display, not to mention world class hand-to-eye coordination.
I'll take badmiton and table tennis as sports over equestrian and sailing any day.
Ping pong is an olympic sport but not baseball anymore. Lol, words fail me.
I hear what you're saying but they ARE sports. The one I would question is Air Rifle marksmanship!
China's authoritarian regime and its systematic ultra-nationalist and coercive population engineering is having a detrimental psychological impact on the populace at large; specifically, the populace is buying into this ultra-nationalist mentality that the world is against them. I think what the world is against is the insidious negative impact that this mentality is having on the populace. In other words, people are fed government propaganda that China must rise to become the dominant country in the world. Hopefully with gradual government reform (democratic reform and elimination of corruption), the country will be led by better leaders who understand that true leadership is inclusive and not divisive.
Are you talking about China nationalism or "American Exceptionalism"? I get them confused, sorry. You may also want to do some reading on the 'Wolfowitz doctrine' and its ugly younger cousin 'Bush doctrine'. The foreign interventionism, U.S. hegemonic and unipolar ambitions is more nationalistic than anything I've seen coming out of China.
I also find it amusing that you're making these comments given we are barely 10 years removed from the post-9/11 nationalistic fervor that is still going strong today, particularly on the right.
Gordon, clearly American history is soiled with blood right from the start, with the native American genocide. Bush-doctrine? You use that as justification for Chinese authoritarianism? You do realize that he is considered the worst president in American history. Finally, did you notice that I didn't even mention America in my post, and you immediately made the assumption that I was an American nationalist. hmmmmm....
Just because America did it does not make it right for China to do as well.
And vice versa.
For a fifty-center your English is about the best I've seen. Congratulations.
However, no one except party appartchiks uses "hegemony" or its derivatives. It's a cold-war throwback.
china is the future of the free world. A great nation....A great civilization....a great tradition...Vive Le China. Jai China.
P-p-l-ease S-stop! My ribs hurt from laughing so hard. O_o
If intellectual thievery, military and economic espionage, and brutal behavior are the future, then yes, China will definitely be #1!
You must be referring to a far, far, far future, at least several centuries after the inevitable eventual decline and fall of the current regime.
no half wit he's referring to within your lifetime, which judging by the way you talk will be within a couple of years.
Is this real? Or is it plagiarsm (a
2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze for the price of a 15 second advertisement slot for the Olympics on NBC? (not to mention all the other broadcasters in the world).
If China was a corporation trying to improve it's brand, it would be quite the Golden deal if I don't say so myself.
We would think more of you if you valued human life. Join us in peace and love. It's an incredible feeling.
just list the wars USA has started and involved. do not be naive and believe what america did was to improve human life. america definitely can do tons times better if they have invested their trillions of dollars to africa to change their life instead of pouring them into middle east for the wars.
How do you know Bobo is American?
Look. Whoever you Chinese defenders are, let's put aside historical American human rights violations, because clearly ANY human rights violations, or corporate hegemony and imperialism, is wrong. So, instead of deflecting attacks on China by pointing to American violations, or any other national violations of human rights, accept criticism for what it is. Authoritarianism of any form is not right. Coercion is not right. Human engineering for purposes of population control is not right. Censorship of free speech and suppression of democracy is not right. There is nothing to argue with regarding those basic moral principles. COME ON!!! ?????
I DO share some of these values with you human rights, though not necessarily to be exact the same. but when criticizing Chinese gov on the Olympics, I am more focusing on how and where the money should be spend, more effectively. we need more money spending on the facilities in the neighborhood easy access for the people. authoritarianism to some degree is acceptable and favored at certain stage of the country's development both economically and politically, when it is more effective than other methods like a fully democracy system. I was born in the 1980s. What I have witnessed in my life in China was a progress of much improved human rights and human wealth.
Fair enough, but why not go with the similar but much more free Lee Kuan Yew model of Singapore?
Population control is definitely in China if you know China's situation 30 years ago better. if you have more children born than the job you can create, it is going to be big problem. Now people start to debate that maybe one family can have two kids because the situation has changed.
ironic: interesting points.
If people who have no siblings marry, they may have two children with no penalty. I understand that wealthy Chinese can have more children, they just have to pay the fee.
If you want to be respected by the rest of the world, how about not cheating, not spending millions on imprisoning children in sports farms, and not thinking that winning gold medals somehow makes you better than everyone else.
there is no evidence China Olympics team cheated in this Olympics. if you want to talk about performance enhanced drug use history, you do have to check out the cases TEAM USA record. It is way more than the rest world combined. If you talk about the athletes who failed drug test in this Olympics. Go ahead and Google 'America' 'drug','expelled'. 'children imprison farm"? if you do believe this, you must be a low IQ guy.
The United States is in absolutely no position whatsoever to lecture anyone about cheating with steroids in sports. Unless it is about how to do it without getting caught, and how to cover it up when you are caught.
Really? Tell us some more.
More US 'olympians' have been disgraced over dope-use than the next 4 guilty nations combined. Having chemicals in your system when you crossed the finish line was practically US doctrine throughout the 80's and 90's.
You guys are so ignorant. You know nothing about China.
more assumptions. why don't you enlighten us
China is a great country, but its government is not. For the Chinese government, the Olympics, unfortunately, are about validating the Chinese government in the eyes of its own people. It is like the old Soviet Union and, of course, akin to the government in Orwell's "1984." The government needs constant evidence of its results and the specter of foreign powers out there conspiring to deny what is rightfully China's all as a way of getting the people to forget about their miserable living standards, and lack of freedom. It is, after all, a totalitarian regime.
"Some commentators argue that these cases are simply one more example of how the rest of the world is attempting to keep China from assuming its rightful place as a global power." Um who you Fareed, you jerk. China is doing a great job. Diving is one of my favorite events and I enjoy China's athletes because they are outstanding. My only complaint is I wish they would enjoy themselves more. All the other teams hug and cry, the Chinese divers just pick up and their and leave after winning gold. After all that work it would be great to see them celebrate a little. The way China trains their athletes may be questionable but that is something they will have to figure out for themselves. I've come to the conclusion certain commentators are just anti American more than truly enjoying China's successes, looking at you Fareed.
Have to disagree with you on this one. I saw plenty of hugs, tears, and cheers among Chinese athletes at the games, especially the gymnasts.
US is the player, the referee itself and more worse the rules maker in the global economy games. US applies anti-dump act anytime they want on China imports, although they knew that they were cheaper just simply because china has more cheaper labors.
"Some commentators argue that these cases are simply one more example of how the rest of the world is attempting to keep China from assuming its rightful place as a global power."
*****************************************************************************
The population is USA is 300 millions.
Pulling 2 x 300 millions of people out of poverty hasn't impressed the "free" media and journalists a bit.
What does it tell you about "free" media and journalists ?
Use your common sense.
Wahaha: That is definitely a powerful argument. I agree, that should be covered in the U.S. media. So, I guess the argument is that groups of people on their own are somewhat powerless unless a larger force – in China, the gov't acts as the "parent" – intervenes. I think that really does put the American model into conflict with the Chinese model, in terms of having the freedom to debate and argue, as necessary, and have the free will, to democratically choose our path, for better or worse. That enables a populous to really search among themselves, to really hash out the fundamental issues, and try to educate one another, and that this fosters a true meritocracy, whereas in China, once the populace grows comfortable with material wealth, as in Russia, will become dissatisfied with a limited form of statehood, and individual freedom. I personally prefer democracy over authoritarianism, even it creates "tyranny of the majority" in terms of electing a Bush. Because what did we get after him? Obama. A country that enables an individual who rose from one of the MOST oppressed class of people in the world, to become leader of the #1 economy, and of the "free world" is a testament to our country. From what I am seeing, China is pushing for democratic reform. Kudos.
Crooklyn,
Your "free" media is ruinning US, the country I have great admiration because what she did for China in WWII.
I am not trying to say the model in China is good or better, but certainly something in the model that US can borrow to solve her own problems, but "free" media is misleading people, lying to people.
since when students lost respect to teachers?
Since 1960s when "free" media took control of the information.
since when unreasonable demands and greediness became part of human right?
Since 1960s when "free" media took control of the information.
since when unions fought against government instead of the rich?
Since 1960s when "free" media took control of the information.
since when US became a country of "Me, Me, Me" ?
Since 1960s when "free" media took control of the information.
since when criminals were no longer afraid of government ?
Since 1960s when "free" media took control of the information.
since when people forgot there was difference between the rich and the people?
Since 1960s when "free" media took control of the information.
Wahaha: You are right. I agree with you 100%. I actually watch aljazeera a lot these days, because I find the content and programming to be very clinical or "objective", whereas here in the U.S., it's no different than eating a Big Mac, or listening to Brittany Spears: pop crap with shallow content. But of course, if you talk about liking aljazeera in many states throughout the U.S., you will be discriminated against, for obvious reasons. Also, regularly read a range of other independent and less independent media. I think overall, it's probably a good lesson for the Americans to see another power overtake it, so humility will hopefully set it. I'm assuming China is moving towards democracy, based on the numerous recent regional protests that the gov't has actually capitulated to, so that is a good sign. I think the U.S. is doing very well, in terms of having great tech leadership in terms of democratizing information (google) and the founders of the internet, and all of the ensuing technology infrastructure are also from the U.S., so I think it's a mixed bag here.
Freedom is not forced. It's is learnt and acquired. It takes time. Everyone wants freedom. Do not politicalize the word freedom.
If you really want the country to have freedom, work with them, regonize their achievements, and keep at it. Do no make them an enemy.
Unless you are scared.... Are you?
just as you mentioned, china is moving toward to a democratic country. but it is going to happen gradually and by itself. Americans has never tried to and will not help Chinese to get more human rights and democracy in real. What they do is to extort their benefits from the flawed Chinese government as much as possible, just like many other issues they are using.
Might I suggest a subscription to THE ECONOMIST?
I don't really think US government wants China to have democracy and to become strong. US policy towards China is encirclement, to be in a position to stamp it out whenever it wants. Its main mission is to form alliance with all of China's immediate neighbors to make them side with US, so that US could station military base right in China's neighborhood. If US is really a friend, and not a potential enemy, this policy wouldn't be in place.
Stop fearing China. China has no intention to invade any country, and they have never in their history has done so.
Do fear Americans. They invade. It's in their blood. It's they cowboy mentality.
Look up who created Talibans. Yes! It is the Americans. Tell that to your fellow American people. And you don't ever see that in American news network.
Who controls Americans' news and propaganda? They are the rich! That's why there's Fox News and NBC news or CNN. You Americans are too naive. You are so easily manipulated by your rich politicians.
Free country? I think not. Tell that to my ex-coworker. He was fired for swearing about Bush.
Freedom is a such powerful word that all politicians use to get away with anything in this world.
Wake up Americans. Stop eating your meat and potatoes. There are more open minded people in this world. Look no further. Canada! Yes, Canda is a country and not a state.
America is not the world! Really....
Never invaded any country? Lets ask Vietnam about that...
It's not invasion. It's called kicked the Americams cowboys out.
China fought ANOTHER border war with Vietnam afterwards.
China also invaded Vietnam several times earlier during its Imperial period, and tried to get involved in several Vietnamese civil wars in order to manipulate Vietnamese politics.
The real problem is: because of China, a lot of countries don't afraid of the Almighty America.
Now that's the problem.
"you Americans" + "my co-worker" + "Bush"
Conclusion: someone should go back to China if they like it so much . . .
Oh no... I'm here to take jobs away from the Americams. Oh wait... The Americans are not qualified to do the job. It's the immigrants supporting the country.
Oh... You spoiled Americans... Can't do the jobs Bill Gates wants you to, and won't do the jobs the Mexicans do. What good are you? I got it!! Entertainment!! You Americans are so good at it! Keep it up.
I'm just here to take your $$$$.... That's all....
Simpleton – what makes you think I'm American? Rather ignorant assumption. Go ahead, take their money, you need it because you're not boss, you're 'one of them'. Good luck in life, you'll need it. Spout your vitriol all night long, you're the only one losing sleep.
Stay in China and don't come to the US, Canada, Australia, etc. like your brethrens are doing. I can't stand the sight of Chinese, and I'm Chinese. Diu lay loe moe...Poke guy <–transliterated Cantonese.
Apparently you can't have any mirrors in your bathroom! I'm ashamed you're Chinese. A Chinese American can still be proud of its own motherland. There's no reason why she shouldn't be. Becoming an American doesn't mean you must become a hater of your motherland. It's the whole beauty of this unique country called America. An American immigrant can love America and her own motherland at the same time.
HAHAHA... Slam, I share the same sentiments as you.. We can sure benefit w/ less rude, obnoxious "dai look lo" that are dirtying up our country and taking all our benefits away while stashing millions of dollars under their beds and in safe deposit boxes to evade taxes. Meanwhile, they're slamming the country their leeching off of and pretending to be patriots of the country they had left and betrayed.
Naturally, China likes to pretend that the one place they really do want to invade, or at least retain the option of invading, Taiwan, is not a country.
Taiwan is part of China historically and IS part of China even now. Taiwan is called Republic of China! It's people call themselves Chinese! The official language of Taiwan is CHINESE! Aside from Chinese language, there's only a dialect in Taiwan. Taiwan's Chinese government used to rule the mainland China as well, but was driven out to Taiwan the island by the communist army. And it's supported by US so mainland China has not been able to overcome. It's a separate government and policy, but it is CHINA for sure.
Never in their history, eh?
Sui Dynasty invaded Korea, twice. Tang dynasty at least once.
Qing Dynasty invaded Mongolia and Tibet. And Vietnam. And Taiwan.
Qin Dynasty invaded multiple other states, whose territory remains to this day part of China. Same with the Han Dynasty.
This is just a sampling.
If you want to talk about history, you must realize that China was overcome by the Mongolians and the entire China was no longer China in Ching Dynasty. The emperor was Mongolian. Anyone who refused to change their hair style to Mongolian's ridiculous men's pigtail thing had to be killed at the time. And then Chinese were being laughed at for their long pigtails. It's not even a Chinese thing. It's the Mongolian thing that was imposed on Chinese. Yet nowadays, many ignorant Chinese seem to have forgotten that completely. Anyway, history is history. It's gone.
But then of course, the invader emperor of Mongolia became Chinese completely (except his hair style and clothing style and his love for horse riding and archery) as he admired Chinese culture and language and adopted Chinese ways in full. So though the emperor was Mongolian by race, he was Chinese indeed, and the country remained Chinese in essence.
Umm.. Susan W.. I think you need to review your chinese history. The Manchurians were the ones who took over China during the Qing Dynasty and became a part of China after the dynasty fell at the turn of the 20th century. The Mongolians took over during the Yuan Dynasty for about 100 yrs, but was overturned by the Ming Dynasty. Mongolia was invaded by China multiple times during the ensuing dynasties, but remained an independent country of its own till this day. The only land that China was able to take from them is the Inner Mongolia region.
Just because it's called the South China Sea does not mean China owns all of it. Of course, that dispute isn't about land. It's about fish, oil, and gas.
China never invades or has intention to invade? By just saying that show you know absolutely nothing about China! Try google south China sea dispute and look at the way China claims the sea and then you can shut your trap!
China is land grabbing now claiming the entire area of the seas south of China upto the shores ot Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, etc. China is a big land grabber!
Sounds to me just like another China-bashing article, as I see them almost daily on Zakarias page.
I'm in China, and I haven't yet seen a "great debate" as such described by Elizabeth Economy. Well, but I guess if you cannot cite sources properly, a simple "The views expressed are those of the author" statement is enough to brainwash Americans. I find this embarrassing for our media.
Forgive Zakarias. He is an Indian.
The problem posed by China is that they have a huge standing army they don't need to invade anyone; nuclear weapons; a highly secretive government that suppresses its citizens and censors all manner of information; a diaspora widely perceived as two classes – the insufferably ignorant nouveau riche and the loud ignorant peasants; a government that pledges non-involvement in Syria (as the current example) but sells the government weapons in a ridiculously hypocritical about-face, but the expectation that everyone will love them because they are guileless and interested only in social harmony and a full rice bowl for all. Talk about a disconnect – they just. don't. get it.
You really sound like an ignorant tea bagger. Sorry.. But, do some research, and no contradicting yourself either.
2 class? And rice bowl for everyone? Serious? China is capitalist on steroids, and American has demo-crazy going on.
The Chinese can criticize any politicians they want and not getting into trouble or sensored. Even the president! You just cannot organize protests. You didn't know that did you?
Put this image in your head.... Think of Wisconsin protesting governed for removing union bargaining rights. Now, take that to China. See how many people will show up your door. Journalists from the world are gonna have a field day.
And, you complain about US congress can't do jack? Take the system to China, and see if they can get anything done. Do the math!!!! Hopefully you graduated from high school.
It's true that China doesn't exactly have a perfect record on human rights issues, but it's also true that Chinese is slowly fixing these problems. It's true that China destroyed their environment, but it's also true that they are fixing them at a shockingly fast pace. It's true that China is a communist government, but it's also true that a scarce few in China actually believes in communism. I can tell you this. There is no doubt China will become the leader of this world in 10-20 years for one reason, their ability to learn and adapt to change. What I realize us westerners do all day is talk and complain while our Chinese colleagues simply shuts up and get to work to improve their daily life. There is much that we need to learn if we want to keep up to this changing world my friend.
The Chinese generally believe that history moves in circular patterns. This is a belief that was established back in Imperial times and persists to this day. Thus they believe that inevitably, their turn on top will come again, and are perfectly willing to be quite patient over this, centuries if need be.
In Western popular thought, history is more generally perceived to be a linear progression, instead.
I love both the U.S. and China, where I was born. I would love the U.S. more had it not spent trillions fighting two wars in countries best left alone. There are people in the world that will need a lot of time to develop and figure out things in their own historical and cultural context. The Iraqi and the Afgans will be a total chaos when all the foreign troops have left and will likely be more dangerous to the world than they were prior to the wars. There are things that are best left for the people there to figure out on their own and on their own time table. Civil war? Secular fighting? So be it. It will not stop and will never stop. Some countries are better off to have a certain type of government/personalities to govern, again, contrast with their historical and cultural context. Some people like apples, some like bananas. Even when all people like apples there will still be some people prefer golden delicious over MacIntosh. Things are not black and white. What is clear superior doesn't mean it is right for the situation. What looks bad might be the best solution for the situation. Live and let live. Let's do more thinking and talking about problem. Wars are cruel and barbaric. War is never a solution but the starting point of bigger problem. At last, stay out of Syria and wherever, it is not America's problem, not China's problem, and no one's problem but their own.
please caml down.
http://www.ledpxgd.con
The Chinese who complain too much money is spent training and supporting their Olympic athletes are probably correct given the low income for China's great majority. Perhaps the high medal count of China is too costly. Remember that except for about 300 million people the super majority of China's citizens live in rural areas on and off farms and ranches. The test should be for China to adopt the U. S. system where the Olympics are supported primarily by donations.
The real question for China though is: Is government support actually required to achieve pride in themselves. A lot of Chinese still assume they are second class people from cultural history even though doing business successfully in China is the number one goal of nearly every international company so as not to lose out on the business opportunity those first 300 million with better incomes have. Western companies need to directly employ more of China's citizens productively selling goods and services to everyday Chinese people even if it means extended credit to some of them with good ideas, but no money. Chinese represent as a market. The West is not invading China. Instead it is trying to market to China and its peoples.. Perhaps those same companies though should start asking themselves what can we make cheap enough to sell in China? One possibility may be a rural electrification agenda for China so that every home in China has electric light, a toilet, and at least 3 rooms to live in. Farmers everywhere had a pretty rough life until they got electricity to use the same lights and appliances as urban residents.
It would help China a great deal if people were actually given more freedom to speak up. –Not just freedom to debate the Olympics. What everyone in the world wants is to be in control of their own life in as many ways as financially possible, but what control does a person have if when they speak up they get put in prison or even executed. Right now China is expected soon to charge treason against the police chief that told the U. S. Embassy that his overall boss's wife had committed murder of a British citizen. He did it not because he hated China, but because he saw that as the only way to get the truth out about the presumed next leader of China who is now being investigated for much more than just the murder his wife did. He was directly involved in official corruption himself and all of China should be thankful he was exposed before potentially looting the whole nation. The notion that exposing bad news should be punished is absurd. China can only thrive if its leaders are honest.
It's all about losing face...a concept that is far weaker in the West.
I was watching the news every single day following the olympics. What this article focus is probably small subset of articles among the masses of published articles. Even after following the olympics daily I didn't see the same content in the Chinese news that was cited within this CNN article. I spent a lot of time following CNN before my trip to China, and now after I come back from there I realized how biased CNN is in their reporting. I learned that China is not all that different than America in terms of the government's role and will to improve their citizens life. I admit that I did see the need for certain improvement in China but at the same time I also saw Chinese policies and graceful display of character that will put us Americans to shame. My basic take away was that I saw more positive than negative in China and us fellow Americans have much to learn from our colleagues from the other side of the world.
I was there last year and I have to say the same. I have to admit, before my trip, I was swallowing all the BS and anti-China the media and govt. spews about China. The place and people are just amazing, what a beautiful country – I hope to go back soon. Cheers.
That's why the olympics shouls retrace its roots and go back to events measured only by time or distance. Subjective judging = corruption, Going back to nude would not be bad either.
Poor misunderstood, discriminated-against China!
If they played with an open heart, the world might trust them, but govt control of media is so unnerving -what do the Chinese govt expect it to breed?!
The China Youth Daily? Really? Because that's usually a really nationalistic paper
China deserves a tip of the hat. It has come a long way including sports. In the evolution of nations it needs to flex muscles for the next step up the totem pole.
China is a country built on lies. It has no power and never will so long as it tramples truth.
But, somehow the USA became incredibly powerful...
Many of the Chinese athletes seem magnanimous, like the one runner who did symbolic finish. However, few of the Chinese athletes were bad eggs. I heard about the benevolence of people in China, despite the wickedness of their government, which seem to be similar to that of the United States. As a US citizen, although I am proud of my country and I am grad I was not born in China, I am proud of the Chinese people and their accomplishments.
China's rise to the level of a developed nation is inevitable. Deal with it.
China is a country with a billion people, each making on average about 10 times less than an American. Its greatest goal is to bring most of the population above the poverty line. Any social unrest will derail such efforts. In order to prevent social unrest, it has to curtail some freedoms of the individual. The U.S. on the other hand, is a country where hunger is not a typical issue, but at most unemployment, of about 10% of the population. It can afford to think about higher values like human rights, and democracy, and abortion, and terrorism, which afflicts 1% of 1% of 1% of the overall population... these are all the things that starving people, people living in war torn regions, do not have the luxury of contemplating. China is growing, yes, but the key to freedom for Chinese people is stability. Unfortunately, we are doing everything we can to destabilize China, but yet we claim to care about freedom of Chinese people.
Chinese people is happy when Chinese atheletes winning medals just as all other people around world want their own atheletes to do.
American media is unnessary jealous when seeing China is improving year by year.
$7500 is way a lot of money compare to 30 years ago when my father's wage was only $100 a year. So China can affort to spend a lot more money in the sports to cheer up the Chinese people every 4 years. 30 years ago China has 0 medals in Olympics and till this year we got more than 200 gold medals. It is a very worthy investment compare to the American debts we bought.
The country can spend millions of dollars in frivolous things like training athletes for superficial glory, yet it doesn't want to spend a dime on improving the levees & sewerage system in Beijing to prevent recent massive flooding?
Because the levees and sewerage system in New Orleans were just f$@king world class weren't they? Am I right?
America is one of the dirtiest countries for a first world nation. Have you even seen Manhattan? It is as bad if not worse than Shanghai, and completely the opposite of clean Tokyo and Stockholm. Look at your own homeland before judging others. Americans can be so ignorant.
As long as China continues covering the eyes of its people from the inequalities in Chinese society and its government continues pursuing of bullying policies towards neighboring countries, there will more dissonance and anger from other countries around the world. In Chinese history, China called itself the Central Country and other neighboring countries as barbarians. China invaded smaller surrounding countries for resources and forced smaller countries like Korea, Vietnam, and etc. to subdue and provide annual tributes such as jades, pearls, elephant tusks… In recent history, China invaded Tibet, violated the borders and internal affairs of Taiwan, Myanmar, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, and etc.
China uses its wealth un-proportionally distributed to smaller portion of its population to instill Chinese patriotism. China made movies and books bringing back the part of the history toward the end of the Ching dynasty to portray Western countries as bullies and enemies of the Chinese to create distrust of the Chinese towards Western countries. Communism was built from the hands of the farmers and workers and yet the Central Chinese Government is now afraid and trying to muff the dissonance among its farmers and workers who earn about $7000 or less compared to government officials with wealth in the millions or more (Compare the wealth of the top 20% of the Chinese and the other 80%). How many years does it take for a normal Chinese worker making $7000 or a Chinese farmer making less than that to earn enough to afford to buy a condo among the hundreds of thousands of empty condos in Beijing, Shanghai, and etc.?
China always attempts to portray the U.S. and its allies and war mongering countries. How about the history of the Chinese killings with a few examples i.e. Chinese government killing of millions of Chinese during the cultural revolution, the support of Khmer Rouge that killed millions of Cambodian in 1975 to 1978, the killings of unarmed students at Tian An Men?
That's the chinese killing their own though, not other people from other nations. It's the US that's famous for mass murder in korea, vietnam, panama, grenada, kosovo, serbia, somalia, iraq, afghanistan, etc. We don't tend to mind when a country kills it's own, we just become a little peeved when they repeatedly invade and kill people from other nations. Is it any wonder why a great portion of the other 6.8 billion people who inhabit this planet actively despise Americans? Like passionately, with verve, vigour and vile.
In 1945 the US led the assault on the axis of evil in multiple theatres on multiple continents, and was genuinely adored the world-over. Today if the whole nation vanished the rest of the world would breathe out a combined sigh of relief.
The sad thing is that all this hatred is down to a magnificently tiny minority who get 4-year terms in office and use that time to further the goals of America's super-rich. Stop electing these cretins! It's fair to say that Obama will only have this one term because anytime you lot get even a semi-decent president you replace him with what can only be described as an utter warmongering right-wing cabbage.
The support of Khmer Rouge that killed millions of Cambodian in 1975 to 1978: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KB21Ad01.html
Chinese athletes are nothing but overrated choke artists. They're good so long as they're far ahead of everyone else, but if someone gets close, they choke and choke big time. Just look at tonight's diving event.
the USA is one of the biggest cheats of all, with science. But it will catch up with them now that the IOC is saving the blood samples for eight years, most of the cheats will be caught. Just look at the US womans track 4×100, not natural
If I remember right, it was always the Chinese athletes who have been caught not only in the Olympics but in other regional games. Win by all means is the Chineses way!
Awwwwwwww poor China, a moment of silence for them. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, what arrogance.
Guys, this is just sports, not for political~ ah~~~
The day I start viewing China with sympathy is the day China allows a Falun Gong athlete to compete in the Olympics instead of running them over with tanks..
The Chinese people are what I call, a manufactured people. Under a communist government, what else would you expect. Their talent shouldn't be recognized. These athletes by majority, are forced from their families and homes to train. There are many stories to which tell a tale of an athlete who spent years training, just to go to the Olympics and win silver. This athlete was then threatened to have his family mirdered and what not. This happens everyday. We shouldn't (as an international community) allow a people of this sort, an unsportsmanship kind of people, to be recognized as athletes. This is an event of love and passion. Not politics and business. The Chinese just need a new gov't or just need to stay home because they aren't respected anywhere else.
Your arrogance is matched only by your ignorance. Manufactured people?- how dare you challenge the very humanity of an entire population? Who are you to judge someone's humanity? To do so under the guise of anonymity only illuminates your cowardice. Manufactured?- there's is country which has survived centuries with a history and culture unsurpassed in history. Your apparent desire to decide who can enter the Olympics demonstrates a complete ignorance of the purpose of the Olympics- the greatest diplomatic tool ever invented where countries send their athletes to compete against other countries even, or especially, when those countries are bitter rivals. Please don't pollute this discussion with your TeaParty ignorance. Redneck is not spelled CNN.
Only debate they should be having is whether or not to actually compete in the next Olympics. Obviously all that "population control" isn't working for the ruling elites grand plans for a powerful modern China. They are always attempting to "one up" the west, ths US in particular and now its proving to be all bravado with nothing to back it up. I wonder how long it will be before they start a war, get their asses kicked because of all their sub par equipment then blame the US for everything though the US won't even be involved.
At least in their "overseas" edition the Chinese are sensible. If you get to be a big big player on the world stage, you will get a lot of criticism. As they develop their foreign interests, I suspect that they will make the "ugly Americans" look a lot prettier.
Great show by China. If nothing else shows how many light years ahead of India it is. China is ready for assuming the leadership of the world. Softer gentler world.
A kinder gentler world under a Communist dictatorship? What a moron!
We have tried democratic dictatorship and it did not work. What an idot you are.
I am ready for a change and supportive of change. Bring on China the wave of future
HINDU KALI – GODDESS OF VIOLENCE/TERRORISM
A recent report by United Press trust of India (UPI) stated that during the past three years more than 2,500 young boys and girls were sacrificed to goddess Kali in India. Another of AFP's recent reports say: hundreds of young boys and virgin girls are sacrificed every month for the deity Kali. In one case Rama Sewak hacked his eight year old son to death in broad daylight in Delhi because goddess Kali had told him he would come back to life and bring him good fortune. Bloodthirsty Kali is worshipped openly the length and breadth of India. Kali's statue stands naked astride the inanimate body of the Hindu deity Shiva, tongue stuck out with blood dripping from fang-like teeth. She holds a noose, a skull-topped staff, a blood-encrusted sword and a severed head. She is also known as Durga, Devi, Shaktima, Uma and Parvathi in other manifestations. The priest of Delhi, Kali Bari, says that a child sacrificed to Kali ensures a man the birth of a son. Human sacrifices are also made to these gods or goddesses, either to appease them or to ask favours of them.
Wonder if Hindus have a goddess of Olympics/sports? as Greeks??? Not !!!
Hey either sterioids and perform like americans or eat daal and cow dung and perform like hindus/indians !!!
CHina is a ENEMY COUNTRY. it should not be event allowed to be at the games.
The games aren't about politics. You really don't know the true meaning of the Olympics then.
Welcome to the free world, China. America has been criticism for years...we still go out every day and give our best.
My daughter asked me why were cheering for USA and Britain and Brazil but not for China during the olympics. I told her:
China believes in a system where the government runs peoples' lives. They believe that the few should have the power to tell the many what to do and give direction, and use any means necessary to enforce will of the state. They believe that they should force population control on the people and tell them they can only have one child. The government restricts their religious rights and decides what religions people can be a part of and how they can worship God, if at all.
I told her that we do not like the Chinese because the peoples' reaction to their government is mostly to go along with them. They decide that if they can only have one child they want it to be a little boy who can carry the father's name. They throw their little girls in the rivers and leave them abandoned on the street corners to become property of slave traders or to be pulled from the water by Christian missionaries who run orphanages for the mostly girls to be adopted, or to care for the little boys who were thrown away with the little girls because they had birth defects.
I tell her that we do not like the Chinese because they trick poor African nation leaders into money deals for mining rights in their countries. The Chinese come in and strip mine the land and make it useless for anything. The Africans get a small amount of money to live in a ruined land where they can't even plant seed to eat next year.
I do not care how many medals the Chinese win. If they won every gold medal in every event it would not change the fact that they are a barbaric, godless, cruel and inhumane people as a whole. They have so many things more important than Olympic medals to focus on before they could ever be considered a "great nation" or a "world superpower." If we hold them in esteem because they can sacrifice a child's life to make them a great diver, racer, boxer or anything else – God help us and them – God help us all if we become so shallow under their lead.
&&& You are just a shallow minded, ignorant American, just look at the Vietnam with Agent Orange article on CNN, the American government is finally cleaning it up, only 1/10000 of Vietnam's landmass. Among many other American government's crimes against humanity.
You sir are a joke and should not have children in the first place.
Rick Jones the dick head, you must have zucked your uncle's limply kwok one time too many and swallowed one mouthful too much, the problem is that you don't know you are full of kum already. Currently your uncle is still sending the U.S. soldiers to commit crimes against humanity in Iraq and Afghanistan.
By the way, since you sound like a typical American kwok zucking kwok zucker, you might as well teach your daughter how to lick a smelly and hairy kitten.
iI believe the great 'Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson once said "The Chinese have no souls"
Ricky baby, you just don't like your bottom being kicked by somebody better. You are a jealous nothing. You probably can't walk 100 meters let alone run it. Now you are passing dumb ideas onto the next generation. Shame on you.
That's interesting, I just told my daughter exactly the same thing! Except replacing the China part with USA.
Oh, I also mentioned the several wars for oil, too.
They need to get back to work making cheap junk at the sweat shops. Walmart's inventory is beginning to suffer.
Dic head, are you still waiting for the Chinese made dudo you ordered?
I cant understand the importance of so many countries to think that if you don't when gold your a loser. It is nice to win gold but it means little in the long run,why even show the totals of metals won by countries, does any one really care? It's a (GAME) and what ever happen to non pros in the games? I am as proud of the ones that lost but tried as for the ones that win. And on the high pay for athletes in this country, stop paying the high price's for the tickets and maybe it would change because no one is worth millions a year period.
I cant understand the importance of so many countries to think that if you don't when gold your a loser. It is nice to win gold but it means little in the long run,why even show the totals of metals won by countries, does any one really care? It's a (GAME) and what ever happen to non pros in the games? I am as proud of the ones that lost as for the ones that win. And on the high pay for athletes in this country, stop paying the high price's for the tickets and maybe it would change because no one is worth millions a year period.
WOW...I didn't realize some of the Chinese were so paranoid about their race/culture
What about your uncle's kwok zucking culture? Do you realize that in order to win more medals, your uncle bought those Africans to run for America?
China used robots and usa still beat them.
Because American athletes love zucking their uncle's limply kwok and swallowing his nutritious kum and that is exactly why they won. You on the other hand, have to wait for your turn to zuck your uncle's kwok due to his supply of kum is limited.
Do U read labels? If it is from China, put it back and buy American. That's a great way to participate in strengthening our economy instead of theirs
But the products are of US companies. The slave workers in China make pennies while most of the profit goes back to American corporations. You're not really hurting the Chinese workers as there will always be work for them, you'll hurt the admin and office workers, sales people, etc. of American companies + put another American product company out of business, hurting our own economy. Don't blame the overseas workers who's willing to take on a manufacturing job. They didn't come here to "steal" work. Blame your CEOs and politicians for off-shoring the jobs and not keeping it in the states.
American, please explain to me why you still have a Chinese made dudo stuck in your azz? Shouldn't you be using your own fingers if you are so anti Chinese made products?
I think the performance of China has redeemed the expense. Any country will spend any amount of money to be a number one so there is no true meteric as to how you become No. 1 as long as you could. The expense could be devastating but sometimes you do go for suicidal move. If I am Chinese Premier i will do the same.
sad how any article about China brings out hundreds of racist comments from White people. White people have never changed, they still are as racist today as they were 100 years ago.
"but you would never know it from what’s going on in their media" Really?? Xenophobe much? All their national media and papers are online and almost all include an English version. If they don't, use Google Translate for the web site. I pretty much stopped reading the article after that first line – as I realized it's just sensation reporting/writing at that point.
Bottom line, USA WON and china lost. No one cares how they feel. If they don't like it, stay home. Games go on just the same! They'd have hardly any medals if they let their athletes enjoy life like the Americans do. And they know it. Hurts to lose when you cheat all the time also.
China whines too much to be respected as a superpower. They insist on getting preferential treatment and refuse to act in a mature manner at the global level. I will enjoy seeing them collapse like the Soviet Union into smaller states in the next 20 years.
China should not be ashamed or discouraged by their results at the Olympics. They fared incredibly well. Why should Wu Jingbiao feel obligated to apologize to his country for being the second best in the entire world? That is still a huge accomplishment. If any Chinese official or citizen is actually ashamed of his performance, they should try getting up on that stage and doing what he did in his place. The vast majority of Olympians, no matter their nationalities, are extremely capable athletes who have proven themselves. None of them should have to apologize if they gave their all and came up slightly short.
We should respect China's olympic team because they are authentic 100% Chinese, as with most Asian countries and their own kind. USA is a umbrella of different races. Without "African-Americans" they wouldn't have had 28 gold and silver medals in Athletics to close the gap and take the medal lead. Olympics are about nations but deep down we know it is really about race. In that regard, China takes the cake.
This lady did a great job writing this article. Really gave a great non-opinionated piece for us to talk about. That being said the Olympics were fantastic to watch, conspiracy theorys, politics and ramblings of the sheep or not. Great job to alll the athletes, China definitely had an amazing year. Good for them.
Welcome to the world of being or wanting to be a superpower.
Let us go back 5 decades ago. China is a communist country and will imposed it's rule of government. This no more or less portrayal of the east bloc before 1989 GDR revolution, where people are expedable to promote the communist ideology and fear mongul totalitarian rule. The only solution for the Chinese people; people power revolution.
China is a system of Hell. And empire army from hell go upon the world to make humanity suffering. Samething with Taliban, and Alqueda
China is a system of Hell. And empire army from hell go upon the world to make humanity suffering. Samething with Taliban, and AlQeda
China is a growing country.Now you can see it.He has done perfectly in olympic games.It is truth
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In 1984 for the Los Angeles Games, Betting Guide the IOC brought back the idea of sending professional athletes to the Olympics. Even though FIFA did not accept the game as official for the Olympics, they would still dictate what comprised an official team. Both FIFA and the IOC wanted teams that were composed of younger individuals. Some say this was a way to sabotage the game for other countries with stronger football teams, as shown by the low scoring these countries receive every Summer Olympics. However England has been working on this problem for a long time before the United States. In 1974 the Association of England declared that there was no longer a distinction between "Amateur" and "Professional" soccer.
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