Looking at the Development of Democratic Conditions from the Viewpoint of Internet Culture
Looking at the Development of Democratic Conditions from the Viewpoint of Internet Culture (从网络文化看发展民主的条件)
By Zhao Duan (赵端)
Original Publication:
Study Times (学习时报)
Translated by Anton Lee Wishik II for Mei-Zhong Guanxi
The Internet is China’s most democratic area in which anyone can express their own viewpoint with a great deal of freedom. In fact, the Internet has become the testing ground for Chinese democracy. Unfortunately, the conclusions we have arrived at from this experimental forum are not all that optimistic.
What is the population of China? 43 million!
What is the population of China? 43 million! (中国人口是多少？4300万！)
By Wu Hongsen (吴洪森)
Original Publication:
Window of the South (南风窗)
Translated by Anton Lee Wishik II for Mei-Zhong Guanxi
Upon seeing this kind of headline, readers will certainly ask, isn’t China’s population 1.3 billion? Where did the other 1.2 billion-plus go?
When I say that China’s population is only 43 million, it’s based on converting over to the per capita US consumption in 2006.
In 2006, US per capita income was $36,000 and total consumption was nine trillion dollars. The US has a population of 300 million so per capita consumption was $30,000. In 2006, China’s per capita income was $2,000 and its consumption rate was 51%. Thus, per capita consumption was $1,000 or 1/30th of the US per capita consumption. If you divide 1.3 billion by 30, the consumption of China’s 1.3 billion people is only equivalent to a population of 43 million Americans.
The New York Times Makes a Free ‘Ad’ for Guangdong
The New York Times Makes a Free ‘Ad’ for Guangdong (《纽约时报》免费为粤打“广告”)
By Ou wen (欧文)
Original Publication:
New Bulletin (新快报)
Translated by Anton Lee Wishik II for Mei-Zhong Guanxi
Mei-Zhong Note: For background on this article, please see this post and this post.
Note: This site has no relation to the author or original publication. This translation was done for informational purposes only and not for commercial gain or to express any personal views. To contact the author or original publication, please check the details listed above.
On August 26th, Chinese Politburo member and Guangdong Party Secretary Wang Yang (汪洋) met with New York Times special columnist Thomas Friedman in Guangzhou. As the crystallization of this trip to Guangdong, Mr. Friedman’s editorial, ‘Postcard from South China’, was published in the August 31st edition of the New York Times.
The Implications of Western Articles in the Chinese Media
The Implications of Western Articles in the Chinese Media
An Original Article for Mei-Zhong Guanxi by Anton Lee Wishik II
Following the recent inspections into how the Chinese media has translated and republished articles and editorials that originated in the New York Times, it seems that there is a segment of observers who insist on placing this sort of analysis within the context of the whole ‘China vs. the West, the West vs. China, which media’s flaws are more egregious’ debate. While there is a time, place, and method for such discussions, the most fascinating element involved may be suffering in overlooked obscurity. Namely, the insight which has been made available into the editing, censoring, and decision-making involved in determining what is fit for print. For the readership, both Western and Chinese, who is always forced to make do with the finished product as it has been presented to them by the Chinese media, there is now a ‘first-draft’ of sorts which can be examined, and when compared with the published version, can reveal which ideas have been blotted out with red ink and, just as significantly, which ones received at least tacit approval and were allowed to make it on the page. In the past, it could be argued that comparing articles in the Chinese media with corresponding articles in the Western media could offer similar grounds for comparison, but with large contingents doubting the Western media’s credibility of late, the sort of comparisons discussed here are less open to attack. In essence, in these finite instances, we have been made privy to the inner workings of a normally opaque mechanism.
Who Is Actually Exaggerating the Rise of China
Who Is Actually Exaggerating the Rise of China (究竟谁在夸大中国的崛起)
By Wang Long (王龙)
Original Publication:
China Net (中国网）
Link to Original Article
Translated by Anton Lee Wishik II for Mei-Zhong Guanxi
The successful holding of the Beijing Olympics is causing Westerners, in their wonderment, to begin to reflect. On August 27th, the New York Times published the article ‘Compared to China, the US is a Third World Country’ in which the author gasped with admiration that China “is unrivaled.” The basis for this was that “China did not build the magnificent $43 billion infrastructure for these games, or put on the unparalleled opening and closing ceremonies, simply by the dumb luck of discovering oil. No, it was the culmination of seven years of national investment, planning, concentrated state power, national mobilization and hard work….compare arriving at La Guardia’s dumpy terminal in New York City and…the crumbling infrastructure in Manhattan with…Shanghai’s sleek airport and…the magnetic levitation train.”(1) This makes it impossible for them not to ask themselves: In the end, “who is living in a third world country?”
How Thomas Friedman’s Editorial Was Presented in the Chinese Media
How Thomas Friedman’s Editorial Was Presented in the Chinese Media
An Original Article for Mei-Zhong Guanxi by Anton Lee Wishik II
Update on 8/31: I have just posted a translation of an editorial written for China Net which was partly based on responding to Friedman’s article as it was presented in translated form.
In the wake of Black and White Cat’s excellent post on a translation of a New York Times article and this site’s previous work on examining translations in both the Western and Chinese media, the following is a brief look at two different examples of the republishing of Thomas Friedman’s recent editorial in the Chinese media. It’s important to note that Friedman is relatively well-known in certain circles in China due to the popularity of ‘The World Is Flat’ which has been translated into Chinese and is easily found for purchase on the mainland.
Sino-US Relations Are Increasingly Moving Towards Maturity
Sino-US Relations Are Increasingly Moving Towards Maturity (中美关系日益走向成熟)
By Yang Kaidong (杨凯冬)
Original Publication:
Study Times (学习时报）
Translated by Anton Lee Wishik II for Mei-Zhong Guanxi
On August 8th, President Bush attended the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. This was the last time that he would be visiting China as president. Looking back on Sino-US relations eight years ago, one realizes that in those eight years, a large change has occurred in Sino-US relations. Substantive changes have occurred in certain aspects of America’s China policy, and Sino-US relations have already entered a new age. This kind of transformation is both strategic and long-term.
Why European and American Athletes Don’t Thank Their Countries When Winning Awards
Why European and American Athletes Don’t Thank Their Countries When Winning Awards
欧美运动员获奖为什么不感谢国家
By 邵建 (Shao Jian)
Original Publication:
珠江晚报 (Zhu Jiang Evening Paper)
Translated by Anton Lee Wishik II for Mei-Zhong Guanxi
During the Olympics, some netizens recommended that August 8th be established as ‘Sports Day.’ Some proceeded to interpret this holiday as ‘All the People’s Sports Day.’ Other than the folk-custom and commemorative meanings of holidays, in general they are established for the powerless and weak. For example, in a masculine society, Women’s Day is needed; as trees are clear-cut, Plant a Tree Day is needed. On the whole, it’s also like Labor Day, Children’s Day, Bird Lovers Day, etc. If a sports day for all the people is to be established, it would also contain this kind of meaning. This is due to the contrast between sports for the masses and Olympic gold medals, which is clearly problematic.
Polling in China
Polling in China
An Original Article for Mei-Zhong Guanxi by Anton Lee Wishik II
Recently, one of the issues brought up in the discussion of blanket statements by the Chinese press(link) was related to the exact level of support for the Olympics among the Chinese people. It has been declared in the Chinese press from time to time that the Olympics are supported by ‘all’ the Chinese people, or simply ‘the Chinese people.’ It seems to be generally agreed that while it’s not possible for 1.3 billion people to all share a certain view without exception, most people assume that a great majority of the Chinese are in agreement in their support for the Olympics. So then the question becomes, why doesn’t the Chinese government or media provide concrete statistics to back their claims? It would be a simple matter to do some sampling of Chinese opinion. So then, why isn’t there more polling in China?
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New Opinion Poll to Be Used in China
Opinion Polls Contribute to the Depth of the Opening of ‘the Selection of Officials’
民调有助于“官员选拔”的深度开放
No Author’s Name Provided
Original Publication:
The Beijing News
新京报
Link to Original Article
Translated by Anton Lee Wishik II for Mei-Zhong Guanxi
After being ratified by the Central Committee, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee (the Organization Department) has entrusted the National Bureau of Statistics with carrying out a public opinion survey on the level of satisfaction with organizational work. The opinion poll will start from this year and will be carried out annually in the future. Within the party organs, a sample will be taken from 80,000 people at the provincial, city, county, district, and village levels. The main content of the survey will be: the masses level of satisfaction regarding organizational work, the image of the cadres, the selection and appointment of the cadres, and the prevention and correction of unhealthy tendencies among personnel. The masses recommendations and views on organizational work will also be included.
