Thousands in Taiwan protest the current administration's pro-China ties. (See my May 5th post about China's business inroads in Taiwan).
I would be concerned about China's increased military spending and number of missiles aimed at the island.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/05/20095179175752227.html
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
English language and the Japanese
English is the most commonly used global language. Japanese students begin studying English in junior high, and many start private lessons at an earlier age. Emphasis was on written English; resulting in a reluctance to speak English unless it could be done well.
Popular television programs supposed teach English, but most are entertainment-based rather than instructional.
But as more businesses recognize the need to compete globally, firms such as Mitsubishi Bank are announcing that all business will be conducted in English.
A number of recently published books are taking advantage of the Japanese increasing interest in English, both written and spoken. Author Seiichi Kanise talks about the importance of being able to "tell a story". Another author, Kyoko Yasui, tells women that they can use English to become a freelancer and take control of their careers.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/culture/20090428TDY12002.htm
Popular television programs supposed teach English, but most are entertainment-based rather than instructional.
But as more businesses recognize the need to compete globally, firms such as Mitsubishi Bank are announcing that all business will be conducted in English.
A number of recently published books are taking advantage of the Japanese increasing interest in English, both written and spoken. Author Seiichi Kanise talks about the importance of being able to "tell a story". Another author, Kyoko Yasui, tells women that they can use English to become a freelancer and take control of their careers.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/culture/20090428TDY12002.htm
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Chinese Earthquake Tourism
The one year anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake is approaching ... so time for an
Earth quake theme park?
Another area is building a quake ruins park ... along with a "tourist reception center, cemetery, a memorial and a museum of folkways and culture."
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/05/content_11315604.htm
Earth quake theme park?
Another area is building a quake ruins park ... along with a "tourist reception center, cemetery, a memorial and a museum of folkways and culture."
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/05/content_11315604.htm
Chinese investment in Taiwan
It's surprising to see a Chinese company investing in Taiwan and even more surprising to see Beijing agree to Taiwan's participation in a World Health Organization meeting.
The two countries haven't been friends since 1949 and in the 1970s mainland China bumped Taiwan out of the U.N.
The new investment is China Mobile, a Chinese government-owned wireless carrier. They have invested heavily in Taiwan's third-biggest phone company.
According to the WSJ, the two countries also signed a series of agreements "easing limits on investment between them and establishing the first regular two-way air and shipping traffic in six decades."
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/taiwan-stocks-surge-further-china/story.aspx?guid={372BD0A2-525E-4DF8-8EFD-2059578DD722}&dist=msr_1
The two countries haven't been friends since 1949 and in the 1970s mainland China bumped Taiwan out of the U.N.
The new investment is China Mobile, a Chinese government-owned wireless carrier. They have invested heavily in Taiwan's third-biggest phone company.
According to the WSJ, the two countries also signed a series of agreements "easing limits on investment between them and establishing the first regular two-way air and shipping traffic in six decades."
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/taiwan-stocks-surge-further-china/story.aspx?guid={372BD0A2-525E-4DF8-8EFD-2059578DD722}&dist=msr_1
Is China protectionist or helping foreign business?
An April 28th Wall Street Journal headline caught my eye, "Foreign Businesses Say China is Growing More Protectionist", then two days later the same paper proclaimed, "China's Stimulus Spurs U.S. Business." So which is it?
The American Chamber of Commerce stated that "protectionism was one of its major concerns this year" and the European Chamber of Commerce worries that Chinese companies want to "create monopolies or oligopolies and have less competition."
Chinese officials counter that Western countries anti-dumping laws and the U.S. attempt to insert a "buy American" clause in the U.S. stimulus bill aren't any different than their own attempts to stimulate their local economy.
China's $585 billion stimulus is largely being spent on Chinese-only projects, such as the high-speed rail project between Beijing and Shanghai. The 4/30 WSJ suggests that the Chinese-only clauses are actually helpful in that the Chinese are not dumping cheap steel on the world markets which would send prices in a spiral.
American firms, in China, directly benefiting from the Chinese stimulus include excavator and tire makers and fast-food chains. China's infrastructure spending went into overdrive when the stimulus was announced and many projects were fast-tracked. The U.S. is unable to match the pace of the Chinese building.
Firms not benefiting are FedEx and DHL who got shut out of China when a new postal law banning "foreign companies from delivering express mail inside China" was passed a few weeks ago.
The American Chamber of Commerce stated that "protectionism was one of its major concerns this year" and the European Chamber of Commerce worries that Chinese companies want to "create monopolies or oligopolies and have less competition."
Chinese officials counter that Western countries anti-dumping laws and the U.S. attempt to insert a "buy American" clause in the U.S. stimulus bill aren't any different than their own attempts to stimulate their local economy.
China's $585 billion stimulus is largely being spent on Chinese-only projects, such as the high-speed rail project between Beijing and Shanghai. The 4/30 WSJ suggests that the Chinese-only clauses are actually helpful in that the Chinese are not dumping cheap steel on the world markets which would send prices in a spiral.
American firms, in China, directly benefiting from the Chinese stimulus include excavator and tire makers and fast-food chains. China's infrastructure spending went into overdrive when the stimulus was announced and many projects were fast-tracked. The U.S. is unable to match the pace of the Chinese building.
Firms not benefiting are FedEx and DHL who got shut out of China when a new postal law banning "foreign companies from delivering express mail inside China" was passed a few weeks ago.
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