East Asia (Part 2)
Internet Censorship
-"Great Firewall of China" (Golden Shield Project) -Apparatus of repression most extensive and advanced in the world -Critical messages posted on forums or blogs are erased within minutes -30,000 internet police -Uneven Application: +Not all search engines yield the same results +Searches in different areas often produce different results
Kim Jong-Il's Private Life
-"Kim Jong-Il has remained one of the most mysterious leaders in the world." -CNN -Fan of American cinema and sports -Self-proclaimed internet expert -Multiple mistresses -Always accompanied by a female doctor and nurse
Special Administrative Regions (SARs)
-"One Country, Two Systems" -Hong Kong (1997, from Britain) and Macau (1999, from Portugal) have a high degree of autonomy +Capitalist economic and political systems -Nat'l gov. manages foreign policy and defense
Kim Il-Sung
-"The Great Leader" -Born 1912 -Trained by the Soviets in Manchuria during the Japanese occupation -At 33, he was chosen by Stalin to be the leader of North Korea after WWII -Confucian-style emperor -Ruled until his death in 1994
Highly Militaristic Society
-1.2 million active military -5 million reserves -More than 25% of GDP spent on defense at the expense of food and consumer goods -Total population: 23 million; highest per capita active military service in the world—1 in 24.
WWII
-Pearl Harbor +December 7, 1941 +The attack led to the United States' formal entry into World War II the next day. +Japan intended the attack as a preventive action to keep the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with its planned military actions in Southeast Asia -Germany surrendered May 1945 -Japan did not surrender +The Allies called for the unconditional surrender of the Imperial Japanese armed forces the alternative being "prompt and utter destruction". +Japan ignored the ultimatum and the war continued.
One Child Policy
-1979-2015 +part of a program designed to control the size of the rapidly growing population -Exceptions: +Rural areas, first child disabled, parents in high-risk occupations -5.9 children/woman 1970; 1.7 children/woman 2005 +"Late, Long, Few" Policy partially responsible +voluntary family planning campaign advocated delaying marriage, having fewer children and increasing the number of years between children -Problems: +Sex imbalance +4-2-1 Problem +one adult child was left with having to provide support for his or her two parents and four grandparents +Little Emperor/Empress Issue +Excessive amounts of attention from their parents and grandparents. +Little emperors also bear the burden of heavy expectations on these children to succeed and compete academically
Kim Jong-un
-2010 - present -"Supreme Leader" -b. 1983 -Educated in Switzerland -Little is known about him -Series of executions of disloyal party officials, including members of his own family
Death Penalty
-46 offenses punishable by death +Includes counter-revolutionary crimes, such as organizing an "armed mass rebellion"; endangerment of public security, such as committing arson; economic crimes" such as bribery +Thirteen crimes were removed from the list of capital offenses in 2011, including smuggling of cultural relics, wildlife products, and precious metal -Two methods +Shooting +Lethal Injection -Not applied in Hong Kong or Macau -Official figures for executions in 2007 were 470 -Amnesty International believes China actually executed up to 6,000 people that year (16 a day)
CBS / CNN Reporting on Product Safety in 2007
-A Chinese government report found that 80 percent of food and products for domestic consumption passed inspection -- meaning that nearly 1 in 5 failed to meet minimal standards.
Punishing Cyber-dissidents
-A Chinese journalist, writer and poet, who in 2005 was sentenced to 10 years in prison for releasing a document of the Communist Party to an overseas Chinese democracy site. -Yahoo! China was later discovered to have facilitated his arrest by providing his personal details to the Chinese government. +"China has the largest recorded number of imprisoned journalists and cyber-dissidents in the world." -Amnesty International
Belt and Road Initiative
-A global infrastructure development strategy to invest in nearly 70 countries and international organizations -The stated objectives are "to construct a unified large market...through cultural exchange and integration, to enhance mutual understanding and trust of member nations, ending up in an innovative pattern with capital inflows, talent pool, and technology database." -Some Western governments have accused China of debt-trap diplomacy +the creditor country intentionally extends excessive credit to a debtor country, this is done with the intention of extracting economic or political concessions from the debtor country when it becomes unable to meet its debt repayment obligations
The Gang of Four
-A political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. -Jiang Qing was the leader of the Gang of Four and Mao Zedong's last wife -Zhang Chunqiao was a prominent journalist in Shanghai in charge of the Liberation Daily newspaper -Yao Wenyuan worked on working on official propaganda and was a member of "Proletarian writers for purity" he was the editor of Liberation Daily -Wang Hongwen was the youngest of the Gang of Four and at the 10th National Congress in 1973, he was elevated to be the third-highest-ranking member of the CCP -In October of 1976 they were arrested and in 1981, the four deposed leaders were subjected to a show trial and convicted of anti-party activities. -Jiang Qing and Zhang Chunqiao received death sentences that were later commuted to life imprisonment -Wang Hongwen and Yao Wenyuan were given life and twenty years in prison, respectively.
Umbrella Movement
-A political movement that emerged during the Hong Kong democracy protests of 2014 -The name arose from the use of umbrellas as because of the Hong Kong Police's use of pepper spray to disperse the crowd -They occupied the city for 79 days -Demanded more transparent elections +This was in response to PRC prescribing a selective pre-screening of candidates for the 2017 election of Hong Kong's chief executive. -The protests have caused strong differences of opinion in Hong Kong society -Some feel that the protesters are too idealistic, and fear upsetting the PRC leadership and the possibility of another repeat of the crackdown that ended the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. -Another reason some have a negative opinion was the disruption to the lives of ordinary citizens caused by roads blocked, traffic jams, school closures, and financial loss to businesses -The Chief Executive stated that the Umbrella movement has jeopardized the rule of law and risked plunging the territory into a state of anarchy. -The police's actions during the protests have resulted in a breakdown of citizens' trust in the previously respected police force.
The High Increase (1955-1972)
-After gaining support from the United States and achieving domestic economic reform, Japan was able to soar from the 1950s to the 1970s. -Furthermore, Japan also completed its process toward industrialization and became one of the first developed countries in East Asia. -The reasons for Japan to complete industrialization are also complicated, and the major characteristic of this time is the influence of governmental policies of the Hayato Ikeda administration, vast consumption, and vast export. -Income Doubling Plan +The plan called for doubling the size of Japan's economy in ten years through a combination of tax breaks, targeted investment, an expanded social safety net, and incentives to increase exports and industrial development.
North Korea conducted its first nuclear weapons test (2006)
-All five permanent members of the UNSC condemned the test •-UNSC imposed military and economic sanctions on North Korea +Intended to punish the leadership, not the citizens +Travel ban on persons involved in the nuclear program +Weapon and nuclear trade with North Korea forbidden +Shipments traveling to North Korea could be stopped and inspected for weapons +UN members were banned from exporting luxury goods to North Korea
Ai Weiwei
-Artist and activist Ai Weiwei was jailed for "economic crimes" -Online he "turned out a steady stream of scathing social commentary, criticism of government policy, thoughts on art and architecture, and autobiographical writings. -After the earthquake in 2008, Ai sought to reveal the names of the students who had perished due to substandard school campus constructions and the government's lack of transparency -Weiwei created the installation Remembering on an art museum in Munich, Germany -It was constructed from nine thousand children's backpacks. -They spelled out the sentence "She lived happily for seven years in this world" in Chinese characters (this was a quote from a mother whose child died in the earthquake).
Tainted Products
-Baby formula -Pet food -Toothpaste -Children's toys -Seafood -Tires -Cough syrup
Re-education camps
-Beginning in 2017, local media generally referred to facilities as "counter-extremism training centers" and "education and transformation training centers". -Chinese ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye, all of the "trainees" in the centers have graduated and have gradually returned to their jobs or found new jobs with government assistance. -Cheng also called reports that one million Uyghurs had been detained in Xinjiang "fake news" and that "what has been done in Xinjiang has no ... difference with what the other countries, including western countries, [do] to fight against terrorists." -Former inmates claim that they are required to learn to sing the national anthem of China, communist songs, and hear long lectures by officials who warned them not to embrace Islamic radicalism, support Uyghur independence or defy the Communist Party. -Punishments, like being placed in handcuffs for hours, waterboarding, or being strapped to "tiger chair" for long periods of time, are allegedly used on those who fail to follow -Detainees have said that they were forced to eat pork and drink alcohol against their religious convictions -Detainees have alleged widespread sexual abuse, including forced abortions, forced use of contraceptive devices and compulsory sterilization
North Korea imprisoned US journalists (2009)
-Bill Clinton and a delegation of American diplomats went to North Korea -Clinton met with Kim Jong-il on August 4, 2009 +The details of their conversation were not released -On August 5, 2009, Kim pardoned the journalists
Kim Jong Il
-Born 1941 in a Soviet military camp +Official state records say he was born on Baekdu Mountain, the tallest mountain on the Korean peninsula -Ruler of Korea since his father's death in 1994 -"Dear Leader" -Enigmatic figure -Died December 2011
US Imports from China
-China exported its way out of poverty by becoming "the workshop of the world" +China exports in one day as much as it exported in 1978 +1 million new jobs every month +In the past 10 years, American consumers saved $600 billion by buying cheaply made Chinese goods -Interdependence - connected by capitalism!
Xi Jinping and Censorship
-Chinese government authorities issued a censorship directive: "All websites must immediately clear away information about Hong Kong students violently assaulting the government and about 'Occupy Central.' -Most Chinese newspapers did not cover the protests except for editorials critical of the protests -The Chinese website of the BBC was completely blocked after a video showing the violent assault on a protester by police
Deng's Four Modernizations
-Class struggle was no longer the central focus! +Agriculture +Industry +Science and technology +Defense
Article 9
-Clause outlawing war as a means to settle international disputes involving the state -In July 2014, Japan's government approved a reinterpretation of this article. Japan would be able to exercise the right of "collective self defense" in some instances and to engage in military action if one of its allies were to be attacked -The Japan Self-Defense Forces has engaged in international peacekeeping operations with the United Nations. -Tensions, particularly with North Korea, have reignited debate over the status of the JSDF and its relation to Japanese society
Totalitarian State
-Communist dictatorship -No political opposition -Extremely closed society
Winnie the Pooh
-Comparisons between Xi and the Disney character Winnie the Pooh are censored on Chinese internet following the spread of an internet meme in which photographs of Xi were compared to the bear. -In 2018, the Winnie the Pooh film Christopher Robin was denied a Chinese release
"Five demands, not one less"
-Complete withdrawal of the extradition bill from the legislative process +It was formally withdrawn on 23 October 2019 -Retraction of the "riot" characterization +The crime of "rioting" carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. -Release and exoneration of arrested protesters -Establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into police conduct and use of force during the protests -Resignation of Carrie Lam and the implementation of universal suffrage for Legislative Council elections and for the election of the chief executive
The Tower of the Juche
-Created in 1982 to commemorate Kim Il-sung's 70th birthday -Made of 25,550 granite blocks +(One block for each day of Kim's life) -Kim Jong-il cited as creator -On Taedong R. in Pyongyang opposite Kim Il-sung Square -It is considered an honor to live in Pyongyang
Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
-Created to attract foreign capital -Tax benefits -Private, free enterprise -Special economic zones (SEZs) in mainland China are granted more free market-oriented economic policies and flexible governmental measures by the government of China, compared to the planned economy elsewhere. -Special tax incentives for foreign investments in the SEZs. -Greater independence from the central government on international trade activities. -Economic characteristics are represented as "4 principles": +Construction primarily relies on attracting and utilizing foreign capital +Primary economic forms are Sino-foreign joint ventures and partnerships as well as wholly foreign-owned enterprises +Products are primarily export-oriented +Economic activities are primarily driven by market forces
Power Struggle
-Deng Xiaoping +Modernists +Stressed economic reform over class struggle -"The Gang of Four" +Communist Traditionalists +Favored radical policies of the Cultural Revolution
Special Economic Zones
-Designed to attract foreign capital -Special tax breaks -Products are export-oriented
The Steady Increase (1972-1992)
-Despite being seriously impacted by the two oil crises (1973 and 1978-9), Japan transitions from a product-concentrating to a technology-concentrating production form. -After the oil crises, to save costs, Japan had to produce products in a more environmentally friendly manner, and with less oil consumption.
Responsibility System
-Each farm (and factory) was responsible for making its own living -A certain amount of food went to the government -The surplus could be sold for profit -The system was rapidly adopted nationwide, and significant agricultural growth was witnessed. During the 20 years of collective agricultural production, the annual agricultural output was 30-50 billion kilograms, yet by the time of 1984, the number increased to 400 billion kilograms. At the same time, the overall agricultural GDP increased by 68% and the average income of farmers increased by 166%. The success of the household responsibility system signified a significant transition in China's economic model and opened a new era of China's agricultural economy and rural development
One Child Policy: Enforcement
-Financial penalty +"Social child-raising fee", which was collected as a fraction of either the annual disposable income of city dwellers or of the annual cash income of peasants, in the year of the child's birth. -Mandatory contraception and sterilization +As part of the policy, women were required to have a contraceptive surgically installed after having a first child +And sterilized by tubal ligation after having a second child. +Women who refused these procedures - which many resented - could lose their government employment and their children could lose access to education or health services and have any privileges revoked.
Mobile Execution Unit
-First used in 1997. +The prisoner is strapped to a stretcher and executed inside the van. -The van allows death sentences to be carried out without moving the prisoner to an execution ground. -The vans also require less manpower per execution, requiring four persons to assist with the injection and are mobile. -The PRC states that the vans are more humane than previous forms of execution -The former Director of the State Food and Drug Administration was executed in an execution van
President Xi Jinping
-His father was a high ranking member of the CCP -When he was age 10, his father was purged from the CCP and sent to work in a factory -He studied at university as a "Worker-Peasant-Soldier Student" +They were accepted not for their academic qualifications, but rather for the "class background" of their parents -Xi rose through the ranks politically in China's coastal provinces -November 2012, Xi was elected to the posts of General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission -This made him, informally, the paramount leader -Xi was elected President of the People's Republic of China in March 2013 -China scraps presidential term limits, paving the way for Xi Jinping to be president for life
Sweatshops
-In 2009, there were 150 million internal migrant workers in China, of whom 6.5 million worked in the clothing industry. -China is the world's biggest clothing exporter - in 2009 it produced 34% of the world's clothing exports. -In 2009 alone, approximately one million workers suffered industrial injuries and about 20,000 were victims of occupational disease. -In 2010, the average monthly salary, including overtime, for a migrant worker was insufficient to cover basic needs for workers and their families. -Top global fashion brands have profited from forced Uighur labor, more than 180 human-rights groups have alleged in a letter seen by Business Insider. -Companies "tainted" by forced Uighur Muslim labor include including Gap, Adidas, H&M, and Calvin Klein -According to The Guardian, China is the world's biggest supplier of cotton products, and 84% of the country's cotton output is sourced from Xinjiang.
GDP Comparison
-In 2014 China's GDP ($17.6 T) overtook the United States' GDP ($17.4 T)
World Response
-In October 2020, 39 countries joined the UN in the condemnation of China over the re-education camps -China has demanded Washington drop a ban on cotton and tomato imports from Xinjiang over complaints they are produced by forced labor. -Canada and Britain also have announced plans to block imports of goods produced by forced labor.
Deng Xiaoping
-In office 1978 -De facto leader of China from 1978 - 1997 -Practical reforms -De-Maoization -Maintained one-party rule
North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island (2010)
-International condemnation of North Korea's actions +The UN declared it to be "one of the most serious incidents since the Korean War" -South Korea planned a "disproportionately aggressive" retaliation but faced international pressure to deescalate tensions à did not go through with retaliation plans -South Korea substantially increased its military capacity on Yeonpyeong Island -US sent an aircraft carrier to the region to the region to carry out training exercises with South Korea to "send a message"
Post War Constitution
-It changed Japan's previous authoritarian system of quasi-absolute monarchy or liberal autocracy with a form of liberal democracy. -The Constitution is best known for Article 9, by which Japan renounces its right to wage war
The Recovery (1946-1954)
-One reason for Japan's quick recovery from war trauma was the successful economic reform by the government. -"Inclined Production Mode" +Primarily focuses on the production of raw material including steel, coal and cotton. -To stimulate the production, Japanese government supported the new recruitment of labor, especially female labor. -Another reason for Japan's rapid recovery from WWII was the outbreak of the Korean War. -The US turned to the Japanese economy for procurement of equipment and supplies because the logistics of shipping from the States soon became a significant problem for the military. -Japan's industry was soon providing the required munitions and logistics to the American forces fighting in Korea. -The demand stimulated the Japanese economy enabling it to recover quickly from the destruction of the Pacific War and provide the basis for the rapid expansion that was to follow.
Cult of Personality
-Photograph in every home -Starting in the 1960s, every adult was required to wear a pin or badge bearing Kim's likeness -By the late 1980s there were at least 34,000 monuments to Kim in North Korea -Benches on which he sat were covered with glass coverings -An aide followed him writing down his every word
Population Issues
-Japan has the highest proportion of elderly citizens of any country in the world. -According to 2014 estimates +33.0% of the Japanese population is above the age of 60 +25.9% are aged 65 or above +12.5% are aged 75 or above. -People aged 65 and older in Japan make up a quarter of its total population, estimated to reach a third by 2050. -Japanese citizens largely view Japan as comfortable and modern, resulting in no sense of a population crisis. -The government of Japan has responded to concerns about the stress that demographic changes place on the economy and social services with policies intended to restore the fertility rate and make the elderly more active in society. -High life expectancy +Japan's life expectancy in 2016 was 85 years. +The life expectancy is 81.7 for males and 88.5 for females. -Low fertility rate +Japan's total fertility rate (the number of children born to each woman in her lifetime) has been below the replacement threshold of 2.1 since 1974 and reached a historic low of 1.26 in 2005. -Economy and culture +A range of economic and cultural factors contributed to the decline in childbirth during the late 20th century: +Later and fewer marriages +Higher education +Urbanization +Increase in nuclear family households (rather than extended family) +Poor work-life balance +Increased participation of women in the workforce +Decline in wages and lifetime employment along with a high gender pay gap +Small living spaces and the high cost of raising a child.
Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump
-June 2018 - First time a sitting president met a leader of North Korea -Kim promised complete denuclearization -Trump halted military exercises on the Korean peninsula
Kim Jong-il's Successor
-Kim Jong-il made his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, a general in 2010 +Elevated to the post of four-star general without military experience
China's Product Safety Problem
-Lax quality control and food safety regulations -Fines for breaking regulations equals cost of testing products +As a result, many companies take the risk and break the law -80% of Chinese consumers say they are concerned about poisoning -63% of Chinese consumers say regulatory agencies could do more to protect consumers
China at a Historic Moment in Transition
-Less focus on communist ideology and more focus on economic and political growth -Rising influence on the world stage -Globalization
Mao's Death, 1976
-Mao's embalmed, CPC-flag-draped body lay in state at the Great Hall of the People for one week. -During this period, one million people (none of them foreign diplomats, and many crying openly or displaying some kind of sadness) filed past Mao to pay their final respects. -Chairman Mao's official portrait was hung on the wall, with a banner reading: "Carry on the cause left by Chairman Mao and carry on the cause of proletarian revolution to the end"
Trade War
-March 2018 +US announced tariffs of $50 billion on Chinese steel, aluminum, aircraft parts, TVs, medical devices +China announced it would impose a 25% tariff on $50 billion on US beef, pork, soybeans, corn, and fruit -July 2018 +US announced another 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese imports, incl. refrigerators, air conditioners, furniture, and toys +China announced tariffs on $60 billion worth of imports on industrial parts, chemicals, and medical equipment -December 2018 - Trump and Xi agreed to a trade truce -October 2019 - Phase 1 of trade truce announced +Details released January 2020
North and South Comparison
-North Korea +Type of Government: Communist state; one-man dictatorship +Population: 23 million +GDP per capita: $1,800 +Life expectancy: 64 years +Literacy Rate: 99% -South Korea: Republic +Type of Government +Population: 49 million +GDP per capita: $28,100 +Life expectancy: 79 years +Literacy Rate: 98%
North Korea (likely) torpedoed a South Korean warship, the Cheonan (2009)
-North Korea denied responsibility -The UN condemned the sinking, but did not assign blame -South Korea proposed sanctions against North Korea that: +Halted all aid projects +Banned trade with North Korea +Forbade South Koreans from pursuing business opportunities in North Korea +Prohibited North Korean ships from sailing in South Korean waters
Nuclear Weapons
-North Korea is estimated to have approx. 30-40 nuclear weapons -2003 North Korea withdrew from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons -Under the 1994 Agreed Framework, the U.S. government agreed to facilitate the supply of two light water reactors to North Korea in exchange for North Korean disarmament
Arduous March
-North Korean famine was a period of mass starvation together with a general economic crisis from 1994 to 1998 -The famine stemmed from a variety of factors. +Economic mismanagement and the loss of Soviet support caused food production and imports to decline rapidly. +A series of floods and droughts exacerbated the crisis. +The North Korean government and its centrally planned system proved too inflexible to effectively curtail the disaster. -Somewhere between 240,000 and 3,500,000 North Koreans died from starvation or hunger-related illnesses,
The Juche Philosophy
-Official state ideology of North Korea (Kimilsungism) -Self-reliance and Korean nationalism -Absolute loyalty to party and leader -Many hours each week spent studying and discussing the teachings of Kim Il-sung -The Korean calendar is a variation of the Gregorian calendar with year 1 beginning April 15, 1912, the day of Kim Il-sung's birth.
Repressing Falun Gong
-On April 25, 1999 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered in Beijing to protest religious repression -On July 19, 1999, the government raided homes of Falun Gong practitioners -Since then, the government has detained, imprisoned, and tortured practitioners and launched media campaigns to demonize the practice
Ping Pong Diplomacy
-Ping-pong diplomacy was successful and resulted in opening the U.S.-PRC relationship -On February 28, 1972, during President Nixon and Henry Kissinger's visit to Shanghai, the Shanghai Communique was issued between the U.S. and the PRC. -The Communique noted that both nations would work towards the normalization of their relations. -The events leading up to the encounter began when Glenn Cowan missed his team bus one afternoon after his practice in Nagoya during the 31st World Table Tennis Championship. Cowan had been practicing for 15 minutes with the Chinese player, Liang Geliang, when a Japanese official came and wanted to close the training area. Cowan boarded a shuttle bus carrying the Chinese team, most of whom treated him with suspicion. Chinese player Zhuang Zedong, however, shook Cowan's hand, spoke to him through an interpreter and presented him with a silk-screen portrait of Huangshan Mountains, a famous product from Hangzhou. Cowan wanted to give something back, but all he could find from his bag was a comb. The American hesitantly replied, "I can't give you a comb. I wish I could give you something, but I can't." This World Table Tennis Championships marked the return of China's participation after a six-year absence. When the Chinese team and Cowan walked off the bus, journalists who were following the Chinese team took photographs. In the political climate of the 1960s, the sight of an athlete of Communist China with an athlete of the United States was sure to garner attention. As a self-described Hippie, Cowan presented Zedong with a T-shirt with a red, white and blue peace emblem flag and the words "Let It Be," lyrics from a song by The Beatles, on the following day.
Challenges to China's Growth
-Population growth +Expected to increase 8% between 2010 and 2025 -Half of China's population lives on 8% of its landmass +Approximately the size of Texas -Only 13% of China's land is arable -Training a 21st century workforce +45% of Chinese are engaged in low-productivity agriculture -Corruption +3.6 on 2008 Corruption Perception Index (1 = most corrupt; 10 = free from corruption) +Ranked 72 out of 180 on CPI -Difficulty of Doing Business +Ease of Doing Business Index: 90 out of 181 countries +Starting a Business: 151 out of 181 +Paying Taxes: 132 out of 181
What can be done to ensure product safety?
-Pressure China to create stronger watchdog agencies that prevent tainted products from leaving China +Would Chinese inspectors be trustworthy? +Is it feasible? -Strengthen US regulatory agencies +FDA cannot recall products +CPSC can recall products but cannot impose stiff penalties -Boycott Chinese goods +"The most effective remedy may be publicity." -USA Today +"If China wants to remain an export powerhouse, it will have to learn a basic tenet of capitalism: Keep the customer satisfied. Not to mention alive." -USA Today
Hermit Kingdom
-Refers to any country, organization or society which willfully walls itself off, either metaphorically or physically, from the rest of the world.
Currency
-Renminbi - "People's Currency" -The most popular unit of Renminbi (RMB) is the yuan
Conflict
-Second Sino-Japanese War +The beginning of the war has several start dates +Marco Polo Bridge Incident 7 July 1937, when a dispute between Japanese and Chinese troops in Peking escalated into a full-scale invasion +The Ministry of Education in the PRC revised starting date of 18 September 1931 provided by the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria. +This full-scale war between the Chinese and the Empire of Japan is often regarded as the beginning of World War II in Asia.
Mao Meets President Nixon, 1972
-Seven-day official visit to three Chinese cities -First time a U.S. president had visited the PRC -Nixon's arrival in Beijing ended 25 years of no communication or diplomatic ties between the two countries
Xi Jinping and Internet Censorship
-Since Xi became the CCP General Secretary, internet censorship in China has been significantly stepped up. -As an example of this censorship: Wikipedia as of April 2019, all versions of Wikipedia have been blocked in China. -A law enacted in September 2013 authorized a three-year prison term for bloggers who shared more than 500 times any content considered "defamatory."
Falun Gong
-Spiritual movement that incorporates Buddhist and Taoist teachings, mental and physical exercise, and healing -Personal cultivation -Way of life -Began in 1992 +Li Hongzh -Falun Gong consists of four standing exercises and one sitting meditation. The exercises are regarded as secondary to moral elevation, though is still an essential component of Falun Gong cultivation practice
2020 Hong Kong Protest
-State media announced that the PRC would begin drafting a new law that covers "secession, foreign interference, terrorism and subversion against the central government", to be added into the Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law. -The UK, along with Australia, Canada, and the US, also issued a joint statement expressing concern regarding the National Security Law as they deemed that the law breached the Sino-British Joint Declaration and undermined the implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle. -The national security law banned anyone from shouting or displaying the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times" -The PRC passed the national security law unanimously, without informing the public and the local officials of the contents of the law. -The police arrested at least ten people for breaching national security as they deemed that individuals who displayed or possessed flags, placards and phone stickers with protest slogans or other protest art have already committed the crime of "subverting the country". -Following the implementation of the national security law, the international community reassessed their policies with both China and Hong Kong.
Tiananmen Square Massacre, 1989
-Student-led protest for democracy in the heart of Beijing -April 15 - June 4 -China estimates hundreds killed -Independent estimates say 2,000 - 3,000
Censorship
-The government has continued to tighten its control in Hong Kong -Censoring school textbooks and removing any mention of the Tiananmen massacre and removing any questions which the authorities deemed politically inappropriate -In January 2021, the police arrested more than 50 individuals, all of whom were candidates in the primaries for "subverting state power". -This meant that most of the active and prominent politicians in the opposite camp in Hong Kong have been arrested by the authorities using the national security law.
Labor Camps
-The prisoners are forced to perform hard and dangerous slave work with primitive means in mining and agriculture. The food rations are very small, so that the prisoners are constantly on the brink of starvation. In combination with the hard work this leads to huge numbers of prisoners dying. An estimated 40% of prisoners die from malnutrition.
Surrender
-The Potsdam Declaration set the terms for Japan's surrender -The occupation of "points in Japanese territory to be designated by the Allies" -Japan was to be reduced to her pre-1894 territory and stripped of its pre-war empire including Korea and Taiwan, as well as all its recent conquests -"The Japanese military forces, after being completely disarmed, shall be permitted to return to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and productive lives." -"The Japanese Government shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of democratic tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established." -"Japan shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and permit the exaction of just reparations in kind, but not those which would enable her to rearm for war. To this end, access to, as distinguished from control of, raw materials shall be permitted. Eventual Japanese participation in world trade relations shall be permitted."
Social Credit System
-The Social Credit System is a proposed national reputation system being developed by the government of China -By 2020, it is intended to standardize the assessment of citizens' and businesses' economic and social reputation, or 'Social Credit'. -If your score drops to low you can be blacklisted. It takes 2-5 years to be removed from the blacklist, but early removal is also possible if the blacklisted person has done enough remedies. -Every citizen starts off with a score of 1,000. -The social credit initiative calls for the establishments of unified record system for individuals, businesses and the government to be tracked and evaluated for trustworthiness -NPR reported the ranking as follows: +960 to 1,000 is an A +850 to 955 points is a B +840 to 600 is a C +Any score below that is a D, which designates the score-holder as "untrustworthy." -Supporters of the Credit System claim that the system helps to regulate social behavior. -Critics of the system claim that it oversteps the rule of law and infringes the legal rights of residents and organizations and that the system may be a tool for comprehensive government surveillance and for suppression of dissent from the Communist Party of China.
The Imprisonment and Beating of American College Student Otto Warmbier (2016-2017)
-The U.S. Department of State relisted North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism -Kim and Trump met at the second US-North Korea Summit in Singapore +At the conclusion of the Summit Trump said, "He [Kim] tells me he didn't know about it, and I will take him at his word." +Warmbier's parents were appalled -Warmbier's parents sued North Korea for the torture and murder of their son and won a judgment of $501 million dollars. North Korea refuses to pay.
Ethnic issues in China
-The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has reported that Chinese law does not define "racial discrimination" and lacks an anti-racial discrimination law in line with the Paris Principles (human rights mandates) -People's Republic of China largely portrays racism as a Western phenomenon which has led to a lack of acknowledgement of racism in its own society. -Discrimination against Africans and people of African descent -According to Amnesty International +Repression conducted under the guise of "anti-separatism" or "counter-terrorism" remained particularly severe in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region +Authorities have subjected Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups to intrusive surveillance, arbitrary detention and forced indoctrination
North Korea Fired Four Ballistic Missiles into the Sea of Japan (2017)
-The United States condemned the attack and delivered an anti-missile system to South Korea -Japan's PM Shinzo Abe condemned the "reckless" launch
Atomic Bomb
-The United States detonated two nuclear weapons +Hiroshima - August 6 +Nagasaki - August 9 +The two bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians -This has been the only use of nuclear weapons in armed conflict.
Uighurs
-The Uyghurs are recognized as native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China. +One of China's 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities. -The Chinese government rejects the notion of the Uyghurs being an indigenous group -Since 2015, it has been estimated that over a million Uyghurs have been detained in Xinjiang re-education camps. -The Chinese government maintains its actions in Xinjiang as justifiable responses to a threat of extremism due to the East Turkestan independence movement and resulting terrorist attacks +PRC considers all support for the East Turkestan independence movement to fall under the definitions of "terrorism, extremism, and separatism". -Critics of China's treatment of Uyghurs have accused the Chinese government of propagating a policy of sinicization in Xinjiang calling this policy an ethnocide or a cultural genocide of Uyghurs +The process by which non-Chinese societies come under the influence of Chinese culture, particularly Han-Chinese culture, language, societal norms, and ethnic identity.
Economy Post WWII
-The distinguishing characteristics of the Japanese economy during the "economic miracle" years included: +The cooperation of manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and banks in close-knit groups +The powerful enterprise unions +Good relations with government bureaucrats, and the guarantee of lifetime employment in big corporations and highly unionized blue-collar factories.
Economy
-The economy of Japan is the third-largest in the world by nominal GDP and the fourth-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). -In 2018, Japan was the world's fourth-largest importer and the fourth-largest exporter. -It ranks 29th on Ease of doing business index -Japan is also the world's third-largest consumer market. -Japan is the world's third largest automobile manufacturing country -Has the largest electronics goods industry, and is often ranked among the world's most innovative countries leading several measures of global patent filings. -Japan's asset price bubble collapse in 1991 led to a period of economic stagnation known as the "lost decade", sometimes now extended as the "lost 20 years." -The Japanese economy faces considerable challenges posed by an ageing and declining population, which peaked at 128 million in 2010 and has fallen to 125.9 million as of 2020. -Projections suggest the population will continue to fall, and potentially drop below 100 million by the end of the 21st century. -How did Japan get here? -The Japanese economic miracle is the period of economic growth between the post-World War II era to the end of the Cold War. -The U.S. was concerned with the growth of the economy of Japan because there was a risk that an unhappy and poor Japanese population would turn to communism and by doing so, ensure Soviet control over the Pacific.
Three Roles of the Military
1.) National Security 2.) Support the Kim regime 3.) Serve as a model for society (Organized, Spartan, Strong character)
Aftermath
-The pro-democratic bloc was eyeing to win over half of the 70 seats in the Legislative Council in the election set to be held in September. -The Hong Kong government disqualified twelve candidates nearly all of whom were winners from the pro-democratic primaries. -The decision drew international condemnation for obstructing the election and the democratic process. -Hong Kong leadership invoked emergency powers to delay the election to September 2021, citing the pandemic as the reason. -A motion was passed to extend the incumbent 6th Legislative Council (which has a pro-Beijing majority) for no less than one year.
Forced Labor
-The re-education camps also function as forced labor camps and produce various products for export, especially those made from cotton grown in Xinjiang. +The growing of cotton is central to the industry of the region as "43 percent of Xinjiang's exports are apparel, footwear, or textiles". -The Australian Strategic Policy Institute reported that from 2017 to 2019 more than 80,000 Uyghurs were shipped elsewhere in China for factory jobs that "strongly suggest forced labour" -Australian Strategic Policy Institute stated that it had found "27 factories in 9 Chinese provinces that are using transferred Uyghur labor -These factories are part of the supply chain of 83 well-known global brands.
2019 Hong Kong Protest
-Triggered by the introduction of the Fugitive Offenders amendment bill by the Hong Kong government. -Bill would have allowed extradition to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong did not have extradition agreements -Undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and infringing civil liberties
North Korea Released a Propaganda Video that Shows the US Capitol being Bombed (2017)
-US and South Korea continued planned military drills -No specific response to the propaganda video
North Korea intelligence services stole classified US and South Korea military plans (2016)
-US military plans for dealing with North Korea were rewritten by Sec. of Defense James Mattis +Details remain classified -South Korea increased military exercises and drafted new plans to deal with North Korean threats
Hong Kong
-Was a colony of Britain until 1997 -One Country, Two Systems -According to the Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984) Hong Kong will retain its political, economic and judicial systems and unique way of life and continue to participate in international agreements and organizations as a dependent territory for at least 50 years after retrocession
US Exports to China
-What problems do US companies encounter? +A lack of understanding about Chinese society and its realities +Misunderstanding the needs/desires of the consumer, especially how the population typically uses technology +Creation of political turmoil - this is mostly applicable to large corporations, especially those with a social media aspect +A lack of key partnerships (guanxi) with homegrown Chinese businesses. -How do US companies change their products for Chinese consumers? +Global companies face a critical question when they enter emerging markets: +How far should they go to localize their offerings? +Should they adapt existing products just enough to appeal to consumers in those markets? +Or should they rethink the business model from the ground up? -How do US companies change their products for Chinese consumers? +KFC has achieved this success by abandoning the dominant logic behind its growth in the United States: a limited menu, low prices, and an emphasis on takeout. +Infusing a Western brand with Chinese characteristics. +The company's managers sought to see KFC as part of the local community—not as a fast-food chain selling inexpensive Western-style items but traditional dishes that appeal to Chinese customers.
US-China TradeNew Administration
-With a new administration coming how will this impact US-China Trade relations? +"When it comes to China, Team Biden sounds a lot like Team Trump" - Fortune Magazine (January 20, 2021) -Biden's aides have said that, for many problems involving China, the incoming president plans to take a multilateral approach by enlisting the support of Western allies to maximize U.S. leverage on Beijing. That would be a clear departure from Trump's "America First" style. -In 2015 while still Vice President, President Joe Biden said, "We do not fear China's rise. We want to see China rise ... in a responsible way" -This caution can be heard by several cabinet picks during their confirmation hearings +Antony Blinken, nominee for Secretary of State, said "There is no doubt that [China] poses the most significant challenge of any nation-state in the world to the United States," and supported classifying China's treatment of the Uighurs as a genocide. +Janet Yellen, nominee for Treasury Secretary, accused China of "erecting trade barriers and giving illegal subsidies to corporations" and "stealing intellectual property," and faulted its inadequate "labor and environmental standards."
One Party
-Workers' Party of Korea -The symbols represent the industrial workers (hammer), peasants (sickle) and intelligentsia (ink brush) -Led by a member of the ruling family -Holds absolute power in the state
Why All the Buzz about China?
-Workforce of 800 million -GDP per capita grew from $275 (1979) to $8,800 (2017) -China's GDP is now the world's largest economy -700 million people were lifted out of poverty from 1981-present
Xi Jinping Thought
-Xi Jinping Thought consists of a 14-point basic policy which is part of the broad framework created around socialism with Chinese characteristics -The thought has been said to be a part of a series of guiding ideologies that embody "Marxism adapted to Chinese conditions"
Taiwan
-Xi Jinping called on Taiwan to reject its formal independence from China, saying: "We make no promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means." -Taiwan has said they would not accept a one country, two systems arrangement with the mainland.
Xi Jinping and Hong Kong
-Xi has supported and pursued a greater economic integration of Hong Kong to mainland China -Xi's push for greater integration has created fears of decreasing freedoms in Hong Kong. -The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the controversial Hong Kong National Security Law. +The law criminalizes acts that were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law
Chinese Dream
-Xi said that young people should "dare to dream, work assiduously to fulfill the dreams and contribute to the revitalization of the nation." -The Chinese Dream is about Chinese prosperity, collective effort, socialism, and national glory. -The relationship between the phrase and the American Dream has been debated.
Timeline
1990s - Economic boom 1997 - Hong Kong reverts to Chinese control 1999 - Macau reverts to Chinese control 2001 - China joins WTO 2003 - Hu Jintao named President 2007- Tainted Products Scandals 2008 - Olympics and earthquake in Sichuan Province 2009 - Uighur Riots 2013 - Change in leadership; President Xi Jinping 2014 - China's GDP (PPP) becomes the world's largest 2016 - China relaxed the One-Child Policy 2018 - Presidential term limits removed 2020 - Social Credit System
Beijing Olympics 2008
•Beijing promised to provide foreign journalists with complete freedom to report from within China. +As the Games approached, journalists attempting to cover anti-Olympics protests were detained and deported. •Beijing promised to allow free and unregulated internet access to foreign reporters +Websites such as Amnesty International remained blocked. -Chinese human rights activists residing in Beijing were arrested or removed from the capital for the during the games -China agreed to issue protest permits and maintain designated protest zones throughout the capital -No protest applications were approved. -Several applicants went missing or were detained. -In the name of ensuring stability and harmony in the country during the 2008 Olympic games. The Chinese government continues to detain and harass political activists, journalists, lawyers, and human rights workers. -Soon after winning the bid to host the Olympic Games, Beijing began the process of demolishing and relocating homes to make room for the planned Olympic Village. -Some estimates, over 300,000 people were forcibly relocated +Baoguan Wang burned himself to death while being evicted from his home. -Although the Chinese government provided relocation assistance to its displaced citizens, most experienced a decline in their living conditions.
