A collection of my own writings and translations relating to China: topics mostly include Chinese politics, culture, and history. The main aim of this blog is to present news and views primarily from Chinese language sources such as newspapers and magazines, as an alternative to mainstream reportage on China from Western press sources.
Emperor Xi: I want True Dictatorship Pictured here with a fake yellow umbrella, an homage to the Umbrella Revolution where Hong Kong students bravely demonstrated and protested in their demand for true elections. Emperor Xi's make-believe response is depicted above as, "I want true dictatorship". The yellow colour of the umbrella also represents a colour that was reserved only for the Emperor in ancient China. In the past, any subject discovered wearing fabric dyed in Imperial yellow could be subject to the death penalty. This is symbolic of how human rights have been further eroded and weakened just as party Emperor Xi has been concentrating more and more dictatorial powers in his own hands since his rise to power.
One would hope that the Chinese leadership is beginning to understand the importance of co-operation with other countries, but after decades of empty rhetoric from Beijing, the mentality and the strategic diplomatic initiatives of China's dictatorship still remain shrouded in a bamboozling cloud of mystery. Aside from a penchant for opportunistic gain; be it military, diplomatic or economic, Beijing seems to lack a consistent or clear diplomatic policy that builds long-lasting alliances or friendship based on mutual respect and trust. While more and more Chinese citizens are becoming open, cosmopolitan and globally-minded, the government remains secretive, distrustful and painfully awkward at forging meaningful and mutually beneficial ties with other countries. Beijing seems very poor at thinking beyond monetary bribery and military bravado. While these are key levers to power relations, they do not appeal to the human side of diplomatic relations, and therefore ultimately fail to win the hearts and minds of the non-Chinese majority of humanity across the globe.
Perhaps, once Beijing learns to be nicer and more respectful toward its own citizens and its neighbours, the rest of the world will gradually begin to afford it the respect it seeks. Meanwhile, throwing money in the air, foaming at the mouth and brandishing a sword will only frighten, annoy or infuriate the rest of the world. The Chinese leaders fail to realize that sometimes the law of the jungle only applies in the animal world and not among civilized nations.
My name is Chris Harry. I am a Canadian translator and interpreter with a background in Chinese Linguistics, East Asian Studies, and Political Science who has been living and working in China for over 20 years. In this blog, I will include some of my own articles and translations of academic essays, newspaper articles and news items of interest coming directly from Chinese language sources. By offering news sources and/or perspectives directly from China and other Chinese language media sources, the blog will attempt to redress some of the imbalances present in current western press coverage of China. I have also added some photographs I have taken throughout China.