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Shanghai Diaries - June 04


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An big facefull of propaganda in the paper today along with a more in-depth look at 'The Rules' - which include everything from a 'no leper' policy to a warning against storing anything anti-China on your computer.
aricsqueen

10 responses // Shanghai Diaries - June 04

  • I tried reading through the list, with a bit of help from google.... reading google translated stuff can be a regular "the vodka is strong" experience.

    A lot of it doesn't look much different than what's posted in all caps when you land at the airport...

    I did note the mention of having to have your Chinese drivers license and that foreigners can get a lawyer. Too bad the list didn't come out months ago, eh? :)

    What's on your computer thing. Interesting. But the US customs got the story first.
    http://mutantjedi.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-have-my-suspic...
    But to be fair to the US customs, they only peek when you poke across the border. (Computer geek humor... computers... peek... poke... assembly code... basic operations... you know, the humor is completely lost when I have to explain it.)
    mutantjedi
  • yeah - a peek/poke (ha) is understandable, but this seems to be implying 'stored', as in data on a hard drive.

    I really believe we're going to see an over exertion of authority once it all begins - the power over the West, even if for a few weeks, will be too much for some to resist...trust me, we're seeing it here.
    aricsqueen
  • It's going to be interesting to see what effect all of these stories about the Chinese authorities will have on the Olympics. Just today I read an article claiming that except for the 5-star ones, hotels aren't seeing as much business as expected. I wonder what's up with that?
    Lunetta
  • Yes stored. And in both East and West, not "remembering" the password to your hard drive encryption won't cut it. There's plenty of chatter on slashdot on how to hide stuff from customs. But once past customs, a warrant is still needed to snoop.

    I expect that's not the case there. 6'2", wild hair, and a Macbook Pro - could be like a big sign saying "search me" to some. I certainly hope things go 顺利-ily for you.

    About what Lunetta says... Where's the economic benefit of the games if the foreigners are kept out? From what I've heard, getting a visa is very hard. I would expect that holding the Olympics would draw a certain number of people to see the games but a whole lot more who aren't seeing the games but are drawn to visit because of the attention. That's how the games are sold for Vancouver. The interior of BC is expecting a spill over of the tourist buck. Even Alberta should warm a bit in its glow. If the expected economic boom of the games in Beijing turns into a fizzle, I wonder what the reaction of the public will be?
    mutantjedi
  • all I have to say is last Olympics, all the Greeks did was take too many smoke breaks and they got crucified by the press - so think about how it's going to be this time.

    bringing in Mao's unauthorized bio is one thing, but having the Beastie Boys 'Free 2 Bet' concert on your iPod?

    it's going to be an interesting summer.
    aricsqueen
  • I prefer the blue gatorade personally, the orange just doesn't taste quite right for some reason. Guess the Tsing Tsa will be hovering over the "wang bah" or net cafe's for possible hooded foreigners uploading their blogs on facebook or youtube all about anti-China this/that. Hell, even having people narc on you at the local Costa Coffee or Starbucks with free wireless might be a painted bullseye that should be avoided, not much you can do honestly other then choosing from either having goat porn vs. anti-China evidence, hmm is goat porn illegal in China? Might be a good deterrence...
    Stefan_Boston
  • from experience, i would agree with your fear. interpretation of the law handed down from atop by those on the execution level is quite, um, confused. one guy looking to get promoted could choose to 'guard against' by locking up the vague offender until the games are over.
    news item here indicates china has apologized for offensive or insensitive remarks in their visitor's guide. panacea?
    timachu
  • I'm curious what you all think about this...

    For the first thirty years of the PRC, the bureaucracy controlled everything in China. After Deng's reforms about 20 years ago, things opened up and capitalism allowed people to start businesses, make money and things picked up. Foreign businesses moved in and taught modern methods of doing business with the rest of the world. In my opinion, this happened not because of the government but in spite of it.

    It would seem to me that bureaucracies live to control, and the Chinese bureaucracy (5000 years of continuous bureaucracy) is dying to get its hands on the economy and social life again. Do you think that they are using the Olympics as a way to re-exert control over society? It sure seems they have tried to exert far more control over foreigners than in the past and certainly when I lived there. Why do you think they are pushing it as hard as they've been? Do you feel there are more or less restrictiohs these days than back in ... say... 2003?

    Do you think that if they continue, it'll dampen the Chinese economic miracle and eventually cause the bubble to burst? It seems to me that the two greatest obstacles to continued economic progress are corruption and control~
    SDSteve
  • Oh, here's a new article in the Economist about the situation in China: http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/asiaview/display...

    I didn't realize they had allowed American military planes to fly in supplies to the earthquake victims, just that the Japanese military planes were not allowed.
    SDSteve
  • I really really think that for the first time *ever*, Chinese are able to exercise their control (that word again) over those who have had it for so long.
    aricsqueen

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