As per Watts’ article, China’s State Council has plans to change this.  The State Council will soon release its ” ‘new energy‘ programme that could propel the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter past Europe and the US into a global leader in renewable energy and low-carbon technology.”  That, according to many, is reason for celebration.  Watts echoes various Chinese and international voices in echoing the long-term nature of China’s green energy moves.  After all, investments of potentially more than four trillion yuan in green energy ventures will certainly require–and get–a long-term management plan.

Like Watts, Wong seems very excited about the prospect.  As Watts writes,

If a substantial amount of the new package goes on renewables and efficiency, Julian Wong, an energy analyst at the Center for American Progress in Washington DC, says the potential is enormous.

He [Wong] says: “If those expectations are fulfilled, China could emerge as the unquestioned global leader in clean energy production, significantly increasing its chances to wean [itself] off coal, and at the same time ushering in an era of sustainable economic growth by exporting these clean-energy technologies to the world.”

Julian Wong, Creator of the blog, "Green Leap Forward"

 My only apprehensions (Who am I kidding? SOME of my apprehensions) regard the diversity of China’s energy supply.  The move toward long-term, sustainable energy in China is surely closely linked with national security.  Through nurturing domestic capacity and demand for clean energy, China hopes to reduce its dependence on foreign energy sources. 

I worry, however, that the time crunch (China wants to “speed things up”) and the lack of cohesion between rural and urban areas, among other factors, would prevent China’s clean energy output from reaching its high targets.  And, lookinng at China’s moves toward finding energy and ore abroad, including moves into the Sudan and increasing clout with central Asian countries, I would be worried about China importing its “dirty” energy from abroad, even while cultivating the domestic market for clean energy.

So, bully for the State Council for its “new energy” program.  I’m crossing my fingers for the little guys, the bureaucrats that will actually usher in (or not) China’s green reign.  And, when details are realeased, I’ll leave it to the big brains, like Julian Wong, to come through with circumspect criticism and advice.

This is a dish I enjoyed a lot while I was living in Sichuan.  And by a lot, I mean whenever I got the chance!  Outside of sanitation concerns, I never quite got down with the thing where its SUPER hot outside and you eat hot food anyway.  So this was one of those cold appetizers that I would order a lot and eat to my heart’s content.  Basically, its got some nice tidbits like tripe, tendon, and lung if you’re lucky.  That’s boiled and doused in chili oil, flower pepper, sesame, and cilantro.   Enjoy!

Recipe for Fu Qi Fei Pian, courtesy of Emperor Garden in Las Vegas

Fu Qi Fei Pian – How to Make Spicy Beef Appetizer (in Chinese, but good instruction)

My first reaction?  Maybe the Olympics (or whatever event or evolutionary milestone you like) really did herald an era of fresh media openness and–dare I say?–freedom!  Okay, so not so much.  In actuality, I think it was simply a very strategic move to refocus attention on the main message on the mainland:  “China is moral and calm in the face of global crisis” (and if you’ve read any Chinese fables, you know that morality undoubtedly wins the wars, if not the battles).

I mean, check it.  This is the tail end of Spring Festival, a time of celebrating plenty even when futures are bleak.  The central government usually goes all out to ensure, indirectly though it may be, that workers returning to their homes in the countryside are not left completely deprived of wages.  Its the tail end of the party, and the bellies are still full though famine looms ahead.  This is a perfect time for the central government to rally Chinese citizens around the flag, and reap the resultant gains in support and legitimacy.

The waterslide into economic crisis is speeding up.  The Obama administration, seeking to distance itself from the Bush administration, is still feeling around for its bearings in the Sino-American relationship.  Even former Secretary Paulson has mixed things to say about China’s financial practices.  What better way to play the oft-victimized, yet ever-cooperative moral authority than to air composure in the face of blatant incivility?

I don’t think Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is angry at the incident.  I don’t think any central government supporter is angry at the incident.  The only people who are angry at the incident are those for whom anger was intended–the young, mobile, aware, generally uber-nationalistic youth of China.  I mean this is free, fantastic domestic PR, people!  A peak audience of 1.3billion people have just gone from being largely unaware that Prime Minister Wen was even at Cambridge giving a speech, to becoming unconditional supporters of whatever Prime Minister Wen said there (and at the next several speeches).

Makes me wonder if PM Wen may have lent someone a loafer shortly before the lecture…(joke).

In the ongoing battle for international recognition, Taiwan is certainly on the losing end.  With only 23 allies and an economic recession in full swing, things don’t look good.  China, on the otherhand, is well prepared for the next, and possibly last, stage in their ages-long battle against Taiwan’s perceived “renegade tendencies.”  I believe that, instead of using its reserves solely on domestic projects, China will begin to chip away more aggressively than ever at Taiwan’s relationships with its economically underdeveloped allies.  Further, I don’t think this is a bad move, given the domestic weight that the Taiwan issue carries in mainland China.  For the pretty version, read on…

Well, chalk up another one for the mainland.  After 42 years of diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Republic of Malawi has switched allegiance to the People’s Republic of China (mainland China).  Mind you, the switch is not new.  Malawi officially changed ties on December 28th, 2007.  This is just another down in Aid Bowl, the China-Taiwan dollars-for-legitimacy competition.  During the lingering economic downturn, I’d foresee nothing more than a continuation, if not an acceleration, of this trend.

Aid for allegiance, commonly known as “checkbook diplomacy,” is not an uncommon pattern for relationships between countries of unequal economic status.  Mainland China and Taiwan, however, compete in the aid game much more aggressively than most.  In their ongoing (if quieted) struggle for legitimacy and recognition, respectively, aid to small countries is big game.

Down from 30 in 2000, Taiwan has been losing an average of one country per year.  Since mainland China refuses to hold ties with any country that recognizes Taiwan, a switch to recognition of the PRC necessarily dictates that Taiwan lose another ally.  Both China and Taiwan are willing and able to pay for the perceived legitimacy that even the smallest countries can provide.  Malawi’s switch to China, for instance, was rumored to be fueled by the promise of a $6 billion dollar waterway.  Small countries are not ignorant to the tug of war.  As Opposition Leader John Tembo stated, “China and India are fast becoming diplomatic superpowers and any well meaning government would go for them to gain maximum benefits.”

Given China’s deep pockets, $6 billion is readily doable, even as the spectre of economic downturn makes its presence felt in Asia.  And, given the fact that Taiwan only has 23 allies left, mainland China doesn’t have too far to go to out-aid Taiwan.  I would not be surprised if some of the foreign currency reserve, instead of being invested solely in domestic projects, is used to chip away at Taiwan’s last islands of international recognition.

In fact, using some of its currency buildup to undermine Taiwan’s narrow international toehold would not be a silly move politically.  Most of the mainlanders I’ve ever met look at Taiwan with an ironic mixture of disdain and longing.  Disdain, because Taiwan is consistently pictured as a “renegade province”–that older, cooler cousin that needs to be brought back into the fold, if even by force.  Awe, because, simply put, Taiwan really is “cooler”–its more hip, more “civilized,” more cosmopolitan and individualistic, and more into things like rule of law.  Any way you slice it, Taiwan is a subject that brings out the nationalist in mainland Chinese.

During this period of economic downturn, the current leadership cohort finds themselves confronting serious possible unrest.  Undermining Taiwan’s efforts at diplomacy as an independent nationa is a political tool that has the potential to turn the screws of many a domestic mainland Chinese heart.  Essentially, China’s leaders have 23 more small victories with which to inspire citizens, preempt unrest, and smother undesirable media attention.  I suppose we’ll have to wait and see….

A Bit of History:

After the downfall of the Qing, the last Chinese dynasty, in 1911, most countries identified the rule of China with Chiang Kaishek and the Nationalist party.  In 1949, however, the Chinese Communist Party officially began to rule mainland China.  The Chinese Nationalist government, under General Chiang Kaishek, fled mainland China in 1948, taking with them most diplomatic relationships.  Ties with Western countries were not chief on China’s to-do list during the first twenty or so years of the CCP’s rule.  Taiwan, still hoping to reclaim rulership of mainland China one day, maintained diplomatic ties with most countries.  Taiwan also represented China in the United Nations during this time.

In 1971, as leaders in both mainland China and the West began to relax their stances toward one another, changes in diplomatic ties began and gained speed.  In 1971, Resolution 2758 initiated a sea change in diplomatic relations.   Resolution 2758 recognized the mainland representatives as the legal representatives of “China,” removing “the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek.”  Although the resolution did not bar Taiwan from being a part of the UN, and the ROC name is still on the original UN charter, the resolution effectively deprived Taiwan, of their dream of reclaiming the mainland.  Subsequent bids to join the UN as “Taiwan” have failed.  Since mainland China now represents China as one of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, success here is unlikely.

For further reading:*

• Taiwan condemns China’s ‘chequebook diplomacy’ over Malawi ties
• Malawi Severs Ties with Taiwan and Switches to Mainland China
• China’s aid diplomacy destabilises Pacific – report
• The Big China and Taiwan Tussle: Dollar Diplomacy Returns to Latin America
• Chen tries ‘dollar diplomacy’ in Africa

*I have tried to include a good mix of sources, though none of these articles are necessarily objective.

It is the year of the 牛 (niu2), meaning “cow” or “ox.”  Although 2009 has already started according to the Gregorian calendar (the one we normally use), the lunar calendar will ring in a new year tonight, beginning January 26.

Unlike our zodiac, which splits up each year into 12 stations, the Chinese zodiac runs on a 12 year cycle, split up into 12 stations of one year each.  A different animal represents each year in the 12 year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.  For instance, this past year was the year of the rat.  This year, as I noted above, will be the year of the Ox.  You can check what year your were born in here.

If it is your year, tradition has it that exciting, yet dangerous things can happen to you!  Watch out for both opportunity and danger!  In Chinese lore, some steps you can take to protect yourself are to wear a piece of jade (usually given to you by family), wear red string, or an item of red, during your year.  In China, red items are sold everywhere.  You can buy a $0.25 red string of beads for your wrist or waist, or buy a hugely expensive piece of jade on a red chain.  If you don’t want to be so obvious about your red, just go for some red underwear!  Victoria’s Secret has red lingerie, and in China, so does most every marketplace!  During your year, red undies are good choice, no matter your age!

For those born in the year of the Ox, leadership, dependability, and patience are supposed to come naturally.  I really like one of the sentences that Wikipedia has about the year of the Ox.  The entry states, “The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work….  Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families.”

Not an Ox myself, I am really quite jealous of all these attributes.  I hope, though, that I can learn from the Ox, and maybe absorb a little of the bovine energy in the air.  2008 was certainly an awesome year–some of the awe came from joy and excitement, while some came from pain and crisis.  I’m read for a bit of calm after the upheaval of 2008, though, and I hope we can take a page from the Oxen, in general.  A bit more conservation of energy, a bit more reservation, and a bit more of an emphasis on security.

Oxen aren’t perfect–they’re often stubborn, risk-averse, and altogether too wary of the changes that seem inevitable these days.  They’re known for their logic, common sense, and sense of positivity, though, which is something we desperately need right now.  So lets do it.  Lets really use 2009 to recommit ourselves with patience, modesty, and caring.  Happy New Years, or in Chinese, 恭喜你！”Gong1xi2 ni3!”

Here is a video, called “Gongxi Ni.”  “Gongxi Ni,” which literally means “congratulations,” sort of just wishes the recipient a Happy New Years.  The video is supercute, but believe me, when its played with the frequency of a Christmas standard, it loses its natural charm right quick!  Enjoy!

Yes, “mei banfa,” as in, 没办法.  Those three tiny words you really don’t long to hear, but inevitably will.  If you’re a foreigner in China, or even an astute Chinese local, chances are you realize the frequency and–dare I say–indiscriminate attitude with which people throw around the phrase “mei banfa.”  And it really can be a powerful phrase.  Sometimes, a good shrug of the shoulders and a simple “mei banfa” is enough to put you off of a potential interview lead, a good restaurant, or the job of your dreams. 

“Mei banfa” can signal so many concepts, and in a sense, it is a good cultural marker.  When something has been awry for so long that a solution seems implausible, “mei banfa” fits.  If you just don’t know the answer to a simple request, “mei banfa”–there’s no solution–is always a handy time (and face!) saver.  Sort of like how my uncle throws up his hands and says ”eh, whaddyagonnado?”  Nothing, obviously.

So, since its been one of the most formative phrases in my China education, I’ve decided to go ahead and name my blog “banfa.”  I didn’t name it “mei banfa” for one simple reason.  As a nosy, determined Chinageek, I can’t help believing that there usually IS banfa–some solution, some time, somewhere–even where there appears to be none.