Understanding China

For centuries, China has proven difficult for Americans to understand. Today, however, China is becoming one of the most powerful countries in the World . The stakes have never been higher for getting U.S. policy toward China right. The direction that China and the U.S.-China relations take will define the strategic future of the World for years to come. No relationship matters more for better or for worse in resolving the enduring challenges of our time: Maintaining stability among great powers, sustaining global economic growth, stemming dangerous weapons proliferation, countering terrorism, and confronting new transnational threats of infectious disease, environmental problems, international crime, and failing states. And for the United States in particular, a rising China has an increasing for some clear-eyed thinking and tough economic, political, and security choices.
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Tourism in China

Tourism in the people's Republic of China has greatly expanded over the last few decades since the beginning of reforming and opening. The emergence of a newly rich middle-class and an easing of restrictions on movement by the Chinese authorities are both fueling this travel boom. China has become one of the world's most watched and hottest outbound tourist markets. The world is on the cusp of a substantial Chinese outbound tourism boom.
China is the world's fourth largest country for inbound tourism. The number of overseas tourists was 55 million in 2009. Foreign exchange income was 41.9 billion U.S. dollars, the world's fifth largest in 2009. The number of domestic tourist visits totaled 1.61 billion, with a total income of 777.1 billion yuan.
According to the WTO, in 2020, China will become the largest tourist country and the fourth largest for overseas travel. In terms of total outbound travel spending, China is currently ranked fifth and is expected to be the fastest growing in the world from 2006 to 2015, jumping into the number two slot for total travel spending by the year 2015.
www.en.wikipedia.org

China Economy Grows 11.9%

• China's economic growth accelerated to the fastest pace in almost three years.
• Gross domestic product rose 11.9 percent from a year earlier, the statistic bureau said.
• Poperty prices rose by a record in March and foreign-exchange reserves climbed the most in four months, the government said this week.
• Economic growth was largely driven by simulus policies and a comparison with low levels in 2009. Officals pledged to do more to rein in the property market.
• Industrial production rose 18.1 percent in March and retail sales climbed 18 percent. car sales leapt 76 percent inthe first quarter from a year earlier, with Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd. reported a doubling.
• Some investors already see a property bubble in China that could reverberate around the World if it bursts.
• Residential and commercial real-estate prices in 70 cities climbed 11.7 percent in March from a year earlier, the most since data began in 2005.

www.tradingeconomics.com

Facts About The Economy in China

• China is the World's fourth largest economy, but its per capita incolm is ranked around 100th in the world-the first "poor" global economic superpower in history.
• China's economic modernization has lifted almost 400 million citizens out of poverty since 1990, but 415 million Chinese still live on less than $2 per day.
• China's economy is relatively open, but the Country consistently is rated one of the politically least free Countries in the world.
• China graduated more than 800,000 students a year in engineering and sciences, but only has 120,00 certified lawyers.
• China has land borders with 14 States, extending some 13,000 miles, but has not fought a was since 1979.
• Beijing has announced double-digit increases in its defense budget nearly every year since 1991, but says it pursues a "path of peaceful development" to greater power.

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China Deal to Boost Economy

• China's drive to join the World Trade Organization is a crucial part of its plan to reform its economy.
• In the past 20 years, the Chinese economy has grown rapidly as the Country embraced foreign trade and investment.
• China is now one of the World's leading exporters, and also the biggest single destination for foreign investment of any developing Country.
• Under WTO rules, China would be guaranteed nondiscriminatory access to the markets of all major industrial Countries, who are all members of the WTO.
• In return, foreign companies would be given the right to trade and invest in China, with the confidence that any concessions granted by the Chinese government could not be reversed.
• Aa a precondition China will have to cut its tariffs and gradually end protectionism of its state-run industries.

news.bbc.com

http://imarketnews.com/node/10685

"Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo will lead the Chinese talks, while the U.S. side will be led by Secretary of the State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner."
"The meetings will take place amid heightened international pressure for the Chinese government to appreciate the yuan, along with a slew of other trade issues."

They want to try to have good relation with the trade. But will it happen? Can the both give desired standard equalization trade? USA depends on world trade. So does China. But China doesn't make good quality. But none the less US buys them because it it cheap. To make it qualify, China would need to spend more money, that means that much more to buy. Then why would US want to buy from China. And if China can sell cheaper why do they buy from US? The relation lately seem like it's going to break them apart in many ways. maybe even to a war. If they are not prepare to loose something to gain something, no matter how much they debate, nothing will change. Or we might just see one side getting every thing they want, while other side loose much to gain something.

China says anti-dumping probe into U.S. auto, chicken products

US will put tariffs on the tire imports from China. China is saying that it's anit-dumping comparing to the chicken.
"China imported 407,000 tonnes of chicken from overseas markets in the first half of 2009, with 359,000 tonnes, or about 90 percent from the United States. "
90 percent is a lot. At first when I was reading this, I thought that it's not a good trade for China since, they can't sell as much tires as US sells to China. It wasn't a fair trade. But, I read from http://wildwestvstheorient.blogspot.com/2010/05/chinese-tires-unsafe-ordered-for-recall.html
Chines tire have been recalled. And wasn't taking it very responsibly . If China fail to make a good quality of tire then it is the US's right to do such act.

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/zt/xw/t584596.htm

US-China faceoff over Taiwan arms deal

Relation of US and China will be upset. Even they have meetings and saying they want to keep good relation, they have been on and off. At some point, I don't see too much of them selling. Since it not like Taiwan will use it to attack China. It will be good money for US. But on the other hand, let's say your " Friend" sells a UZI automatic and a Bazooka to your neighbor, that's going to cause problems with that "friend" I don't think that relation will last that long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BJ42OcVRNM

China tops USA in spending on clean energy

"The U.S. has no national standard for expanded use of renewable energy. The American Wind Energy Association and others argue a national standard would do more to help manufacturers prepare for a big U.S. market for their products. The U.S. has also offered on-again, off-again financial incentives for renewable energy while other countries' support has been steady."

I think it's obvious that we had alternate way to get energy. We had cars that runs on electric, water, co2, and solo power. We can get heat from coal or other. There are so many ways and IT IS cheaper! So why don't we change? The big company won't approve of it. There are people who wants to save planet and go green~ even so, majorly don't find way or use to save the energy.

USA was top country to spend most on to save energy. I believe that things do change, but very slowly. I been hopping to see different ways to save and user energy more efficiently and be more cheaper. And now that USA has dropped down in the rank, maybe they will put more effort to it to get back their rank in the world as the "sanitarian"

What I want most right now as well as many other would be is the change of cost of gas. With much investment, I hope they can use energy more efficiently.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2010-03-25-china-clean-energy-investing_N.htm

Toothpaste Contamination

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has pointed out a number of different situations involving contaminated toothpastes that have been sold and imported in the United States. The toothpaste from China and counterfeit Colgate toothpaste may contain dietylene glycol (DEG), a chemical used in antifreeze! ( Lyons, Tom ) The FDA spoke to consumers and issued an alert to prevent suspect toothpaste from entering the United States. ( Lyons, Toms )

Despite FDA's efforts, products continue to be found, including in Massachusetts--- mostly in small, independent dollar-type discount stores. ( Lyons, Toms ) As a result of the investigation, toothpaste with this labeling has been located in the following Massachusett communitites: Boston, Arlington, Dedham, Amherst, Malden, Lowell, Wellesley, West Springfield, Somerville, Lawrence and Sturbridge. ( Lyons, Tom )

Consumers should fully look at their toothpaste labels that says the whether or not the product is, "Made in China." The FDA suggests that if you own such bottles that you throw them away or return them with the labeling. Some of the brands that you should be looking out for include: Cooldent, Dr. Cool, Everfresh Toothpaste, Superdent and Oral Bright.

Source: : Lyons, Tom. "Toothpaste Public Health Advisory "

Seafood Recall

There have been five specific types of fish which have been blocked specifically from China! Did you know that? They are shrimp, catfish, eel, basa, and dace.

The FDA has let people know that several species of importes Chinese farmed seafood are contaminated. There has also been an alarming number of cases of fish with drugs and food additives. It was also reported that 10% of the catfish eaten in the United States are imported from China. The drugs found in the seafood include the following: antimicrobials, nitrofuran, malachite green, gentian violet and florquinolones ( Penelope ) Chemicals that are not approved by the FDA and should not be farmed in seafood within in U.S. These chemicals have shown to cause cancer when eaten for long periods of time. The FDA says that they are currently inspecting only about one percent of all food imports and five percent of fish imported from China ( Penelope )

Source: Penelope. "Fish from China, yet Another Recall!" Health & Wellness

July 2007

Chinese Tires Unsafe - Ordered for Recall

U.S. Federal officials have spoken to importers about the 450,000 tires for sport utility vehicles, vans, and pick-up trucks that have been recalled due to safety features. Tures have been seperating. Tread detachment is the same flaw that lead to millions of Firestone tires in 2000. ( Martin, Andrew ) This tire bust lead to an increase of truck roll-overs and SVU flips! It is only appropraite for such importers to be responsible for the costs of recalling these defective products.

People are outraged. They have been put in danger. Officials stated that Foreign Tire Sales' (F.T.S) executive waited for over two years to pass on such suspicions about the faulty and hazardous tires. It was noted in October 2005 that about such concerns, but it was not until September 2006 that China admitted that there was a part of the manufaturing process that was left out. A process in which a gum strip is set in place to keep tires from seperating. Problems were not reported lawfully until Jun 11, because there was " no definate proof" until further testing that was done in may. ( Martin, Andrew )

It has not been clear how many of these tires might still be on the road. Since the recall F.T.S would have to buy all new tires for every single tire that was returned during the recall for the cost of about $200 per tire!! ( Martin, Andrew )

Source: Martin, Andrew. Chinese Tires are Ordered Recalled. "World Buisness" The New York Times

Baby Formula Recall - Product May Be Sold on the Ethnic Market!

There has been concern that there may have been some infant and/or baby formula that may have gotten into the United States illegally and be on the ethnic market! Such concerns have been linked to kidney stones*, and have lead to a recall of some products and a WARNING to Boston parents and families from the FDA. In China 700 tons of milk powder were connected to a rash of kidney stones in infants. (TheBostonChannel.com) Our largest fear is that some of this formula could at some point end up in our cities. [Generally our Chinese-American cities.] Of course it is illegal to sell the formula in America, but sometimes products get in "illegally" and are sold in smaller stores, and on the ethnic market. (TheBostonChannel.com) It has been said that the formula was contaminated with melamine. Melamine is a chemical usually used in plastics. It was also the center of the Chinese Dog Food Recall, the reason for all the pet deaths! It was NOT supposed to be added to the dog food, but was indeed added so food would appear higher in protein.

China has suffered a long history of incidents involving issues such as corrupted seafood, toys, toothpaste, tires and other products that injures and worse--death. Consumers needs to be cautious when it comes to safety and what it is they are buying.

Source: U.S. Warns Of Chinese Baby FOrmula Recall. "Officals Worried Products May Be SOld In Ethnic Groceries." Sept 2008 (TheBostonChannel.com)

China vs America: fight of the century

This article caught my eye. Not the article itself but the subcomment that stated "The world's two great powers are growing dangerously hostile to one another. Could this be worse than the cold war?" "Put bluntly, the Chinese leadership no longer believes that American power is as indispensable as it once was for either China’s economic expansion or the Communist party’s political survival. Nor does it accept that access to US capital or commercial know-how is quite so important for the next stage of China’s development—or that its growth depends on the spending habits of American consumers." - A country that is the same if not stronger than the U.S doesnt need the U.S anymore. But if tensions expand what is going happen? There's still beef with google and China with google threatening to quit on china with the cyber attacks that occurred, and especially the no-currency cooperation on the dollar. Thats pushing the button i believe. I believe Americas consumers need china more than China needs consumers from America. Though China's three main trading partners are U.S, Europe, and Japan. Especially the troubles over the dollar. China will be shifting to domestic consumption instead of exports so the dollar will lessen and then America will need to look somewhere else to make up the difference. Which i believe would cause a huge conflict between the two nations.

http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2010/03/china-vs-america-fight-of-the-century/