Harry Chen Thinks Aloud

The Brookings Institutions, a leading US think tank, published a video interview that discusses the future top leaders of China. In China, the Communist Party always handpicks its government leader. The video speaks of two party candidates that may rise to the power after President Hu Jintao — Shanghai Party Secretary Xi Jinping (習近平) and Liaoning Party Secretary Li Keqiang (李克强).

What’s so fascinating about these two people is that they each represent a very different group of Chinese people and with conflicting interests.

Xi Jinping is the candidate of entrepreneurs and the emerging middle class. His father was the veteran Communist Xi Zhongxun, who served as a member of the Politburo, China’s second most powerful decision-making body, in the early- to mid-1980s.

Unlike Xi, Li Keqiang hails from a humble family background. Li grew up in Anhui province and began his career as a farmer. His father was a low-ranking local official. He overcame these obstacles, rising through the ranks of the Chinese Communist Youth League, Hu Jintao’s most important power base.

Given the distinctive background of these two people, picking a new leader is not a easy task. Picking Xi Jinping could mean more government policies that benefit the rich and the educated. Picking Li Keqiang could bring about an attempt to narrow the wealth gap between the rich and the poor.

There is no certainty in Chinese politics. Regardless who rises to the power at the end, competition is a good thing, but with some minor concerns.

… by choosing two people to compete against each other, this is something quite new in Chinese politics. So you will see a more dynamic factional politics in the next five years. In a way this is good—it will make the Chinese political system more open, more competitive, and probably more transparent. On the other hand, perhaps things might get out of control, because clearly these two leaders represent some conflicting interests, and the social forces will choose one or the other of these representatives, and this could lead to things spinning out of control.

Spotted on Virtual China

The rapid growth of China’s economy is a two-edged sword. On one hand, young people have prospered because of the booming economy. Their wages have increased, their life styles have improved, and the wealth of few elites have even surpassed their Western counterparts (link, link, link). Because the country becomes richer, the government now plays a bigger role in changing the political balance in various regions in the world. On the other hand, the booming economy has also brought about critical social issues that people have never faced in the past.

Two articles from The New York Times tell this story well.

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This Monday’s On Point has an excellent piece on the surging crude oil price and its impact on the US economy and foreign policies. The show host had a talk with New York Time columnist Tom Friedman who has a strong belief about what the US government should do in order to combat the increasing US demand for oil.

1. Let the market do its thing. Friedman believes that a higher oil price will encourage the development of alternative energy sources and bring social awareness to energy conservation.
2. Don’t solve a long-term problem with a short-term solution. There are talks about the US Government will give each taxpayer $100 this summer to help to combat the rising gas price. Friedman believes that this is the worst thing that the Government can do. Not only this short-term solution can’t solve our long-term problem (addiction to foreign oil), but it encourages people to use more gas, driving up more demand for oil.
3. Green is the new Red, White and Blue. Friedman believes that the only way to drive down the gas price is to use less of it. It’s time for more people to become aware of energy saving and drive gas efficient vehicles. If you love you country’s color, begin to love the color green.

I very much agree with Friedman’s point of view. Though in the show, some of his arguments maybe a bit too extreme, but all of which are worthy of some serious discussion. While I don’t believe we can change things over night, but I do believe it’s time for people be serious about energy conservation.

Resource: Crude Reality, On Point with Tom Ashbrook, May 01, 2006, Podcast by WBUR.ORG.

I’m a supporter of public policies that encourage legal immigration and not illegal immigration. While I believe immigration is one of the best means to encourage culture exchanges, however, there is a key difference between legal immigration and illegal immigration.

One group enters a country while obeying the laws of the country, and the other group enters a country while breaking the laws of the country. Regardless of the original intent of an illegal immigrate, entering a country without the proper documents is something that I don’t support.

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Speak the truth is the responsibility of all scientists. To be able to speak the truth is the basic right of all scientists. According to New York Times, “scientists doing climate research for the federal government say the Bush administration has made it hard for them to speak forthrightly to the public about global warming.”

Employees and contractors working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with a U.S. Geological Survey scientist working at an NOAA lab, said in interviews that over the past year administration officials have chastised them for speaking on policy questions; removed references to global warming from their reports, news releases and conference Web sites; investigated news leaks; and sometimes urged them to stop speaking to the media altogether. Their accounts indicate that the ideological battle over climate-change research, which first came to light at NASA, is being fought in other federal science agencies as well.

Since I don’t have full knowledge about these incidents, it’s difficult to say how much truth is in the story. However, it’s certain that if the story was truth, it’s a “crime” for the White House to prevent scientists from publicly discussing global warming issues.

This subject reminds me of an OnPoint podcast show that I have listened.

1. NASA and Global Warming, OnPoint, NPR, February 03, 2006

In the past, I would not have thought about leaving the US. Given the complex process that I have to go through in order to obtain my US permanent residency, and the growing opportunities in China, recently I do have thoughts about leaving the US.

The truth is that I’m not alone. A recent survey showed that the stay rate for foreign doctorate recipients may be in decline.

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Coming back from a two-week vacation in Hong Kong. During this time I noticed that there is a lot more mainland China tourists in Hong Kong today than it was few years ago. From what I heard, these tourists have brought significant economic contributions to the city.

It’s evident that more Chinese tourists in Hong Kong means the Chinese economy is doing well. Chinese people are making more money and spending more money.

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As the world countries compete to become leaders in a global market, technology advancement is a key to increase one country’s competitive advantage. The Korea Times reports that South Korea plans to build a “Mobile Paradise”.

The special district is kind of a free technology zone that will create a new mobile environment. It will play the role of test-bed for up-and-coming wireless platforms.

Included in the available techniques will be all mobile broadcasting systems like DVB-H developed by Nokia, Qualcomm’s MediaFlo and the home-grown digital multimedia broadcasting.

In addition, citizens there will be free to use every next-generation telecom platform such as time division-synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), WiBro and a global system for mobile communications (GSM).

Not sure if this is just another policy hype from the South Korean government. But it does sound promising and exciting. I wish we can have similar “mobile paradise” in the US.