China Law Blog

"I have been meaning to do a five China blogs I would require if stranded on a desert island post for some time now"

I believe BBC Radio 4 may still be negotiating their copyright license: remember, under UK copyright any detailed idea may be copyrighted - Jacobs LJ said so so it must be true!

Hu Jin Tao's "heartfelt thank you" which he expressed today (whether genuine or not and there is also no reason to believe that it wasn't at least also in part genuine) for all the help China has received in the aftermath of the earthquake from various countries and organizations (and individuals) was of course also a very wise political move and statement. But maybe it also might represent both some real feelings and -hopefully - some real learning on his part?

That is, one cannot help but wonder whether the Chinese leadership -who after all is said and done also does remain a group of real live human beings with real human emotions, feelings and human reactions to both whatever support or criticism they may be receiving; ...and this notwithstanding whatever "principles" or "policy lines" they may collectively officially subscribe and adhere to (e.g. non-interference in the internal affairs of the Burmese generals) ...one cannot help but wonder what they may be learning or not from the close juxtaposition in time of the Tibet and Olympic torch affair, the Burma earthquake and then their own earthquake.

They were resoundingly criticized by the Western Imperialist media on the first two. Both for -or at for least some- of the underlying issues as well for their ways of handling them.

But for some strange reason the very same insidious imperialist propaganda monsters are now heaping praise on the Chinese leadership for their handling of their own earthquake (and by the way why did the Chinese leadership think the Burmese people were not entitled to the same aid and help?) as well as for the relative freedom of the Chinese state media to report on it and for allowing, encouraging and even praising people and organizations and countries all over the West who are coming to their help.

Something which also ought to demonstrate to anyone who is an honest and unbiased observer that people in the West have neither a huge priori love nor any a priori hatred for the Chinese people or for China but rather that their reactions are mainly in response to what they see, hear, think and then conclude as typically is also the case for all other countries and their peoples and governments. Should anyone "love" Americans or Chinese or Iranians or Swedes, simply because that's the nationality they happen to have or be?....or conversely should anyone "hate them"? Usually people and countries are "loved or hated" and "liked or disliked" based on what they are and what they do. Prejudice does exist but it has a difficult time historically "outlasting" realities.

And given the fact that that very same leadership has been steeped in philosophical "objective reality" for a very long time rather than any "postmodernist" relativism could it be that they might more easily realize that this amazing difference in responses and reactions may be due to some of the actual different objective realities that characterize the different situations? Rather than to any a priori malevolence or benevolence towards either China or the Chinese government?

I was just wondering what might or might not be going on in their minds (and obviously I can never find out) since they obviously are also fellow human beings as their comforting response to the crying little children who had lost their parents clearly showed even to those of us who are "slightly skeptical"

Of course I mis-wrote at the end of the second paragraph above and meant to type "the Burma hurricane" and "the Chinese earthquake" and NOT the Burma earthquake and the Chinese earthquake. I don't mind sounding stupid but not when I am trying to say something half way plausible and reasonable!

Does anyone see any religious significance in China's 3 days of mourning?

The earthquake occured on May 12th, in Chinese Wo Yao Er, which resembles phonetically "Wo yao ai." ("I want love.")

Now, we're seeing a relief effort centered around the theme of "Love" ("ai").

The 1st day of mourning took place on May 19th, in Chinese Wo Yao Jiu, which is the same phonetically as "Wo yao jiu." ("I need help.")

The 3rd day of the mourning period ends on May 21st, in Chinese Wo er yi, which resembles phonetically "Wo ai ni." ("I love you.")

Get it?!

Are the Chinese trying to appease the spirits?

I never should have gone to see that movie "The Divinci Code."

I am helping a company promote a Myanmar relief effort that readers here may be interested in. People who want to contribute but are strapped for money can donate unused items around their house to auctionpal, who will pick them up, sell them on ebay and amazon, and have the proceeds donated to both the Myanamar and China Earthquake relief efforts. Extremely easy. You can read more at auctionpal.com/donate.