James Fallows
The Chinese New Year kicks off today: the Year of the Ox. Across China it’s firecrackers and New Year’s celebration.
But for the first time in years, China’s new year is not roaring in on an economic boom. After years of roaring double-digit growth, China’s export-driven economy has hit the skids. Factories closing. Millions out of work. And a new administration in Washington has already crossed swords with Beijing over the Chinese currency and trade.
China-watcher James Fallows has spent the last two and a half years in the country, digging deep into China’s realities and complexities. This hour, On Point: We’re looking at China with James Fallows.
You can join the conversation. What do you see ahead for China, and China-US relations, in the Year of the Ox? What’s your question on China now?
-Tom Ashbrook
Guest:
James Fallows is a national correspondent for The Atlantic. He’s been based in China since 2006, and his new book, “Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China,” collects his articles for The Atlantic during that time. He’s the author of several other books, including “Blind Into Baghdad: America’s War in Iraq” (2006) and “Looking at the Sun: The Rise of the New East Asian Economic and Political System” (1995).
You can read an excerpt from “Postcards” at the Random House site. And for Fallows’ latest thoughts on China, U.S. politics, and much else, see his widely read Atlantic blog.
Tags: China, foreign affairs, global economy, Obama administration, U.S.-China relations
Dear Tom,
The idea that the US promotes democracy around the world is absurd. What are we doing in Saudi Arabia? Kuwait? South America? Central America? Africa? Our interest in Iraq was about controlling oil in the Middle East. Large, powerful countries are concerned with their own self-interests, not ideals. Please do not be so naive.
Posted by Mike, on January 26th, 2009 at 11:46 am ESTBest wishes,
Mike
I wonder how much of the current success of the Chinese economy is because the government of China, in many ways, mirrors the way that many corporations are (or at least wish to be) operated: the managers China are not subject to shareholder control, external regulation, or anything resembling democratic checks and balances.
Posted by Ed Culver, on January 26th, 2009 at 11:49 am ESTFallows is incorrect with respect to Taiwain. There is no treaty that demands the U.S. defend Taiwan if attacked by China or any other country.
He should look that up.
Posted by Tokyo Tom, on January 26th, 2009 at 7:17 pm EST@Mike
Totally agreed.
Using the excuse of imposing “Democracy” and “Freedom” onto other cultures and countries is getting old. Yes, freedom of press is important, but the same time the medias need to report fairly and responsibly, I have found lots of medias are very biased and have abused their freedom.
This imposing ideals is almost like imposing “anti-abortion” and “anti-gay marriage”, taking away other peoples way of life.
Yes, lots of countries in this world need to eventually evolve into democracy and more open societies. But democracy shouldn’t be used as an excuse to wage war against another country or culture.
The most ironic thing about the Bush administration is they have done so much practices that are so against democracy, and the same time they use democracy and freedom to invade a country, what’s more hypocritical than this?
And in case some people haven’t noticed, how come all of a sudden we have so many “black” TV commentators and anchors after the election of Obama? Doesn’t that make you wonder where were they before? Were they being eliminated of equal opportunities? And I don’t see the medias are trying hard to expose them with the same opportunities as they should have had.
So please clean up your own closet first, and if you want to go clean up others, please ask for their “permission first”, then help them to get there, instead of portraying others as evils only because their closets are messy.
Posted by topic, on January 27th, 2009 at 10:05 am ESTWhy bother doing business with chinese? Invade their country, kill their leaders and convert them to christianity.
Posted by Jon, on January 27th, 2009 at 11:25 am ESTTom,
From listening to some of the shows that you did that focused on China, I can tell you that you worry about China exporting its models and values to places like Africa, South America etc. While it is understandable, your worry is not justified. China does not seek to export its models, values to other countries. China does not preach. Whether you are a democracy or autocracy, it is YOUR business and YOUR business alone and we don’t seek to change how you run your country. That’s choice is nobody’s but yours. That’s China’s mantra.
Am I the only one who thought the caller from Stow, Maine was a helpless jerk? EVERYONE values life. Duh! And please, the Chinese don’t have disdain for Obama. Just because they don’t share your Obamania (why should they? Obama is the president of the US, not China or the whole world) it doesn’t make them your enemies who wish the worst for Americans. Obama is the president of the US, the only thing that concerns the Chinese is how he handles US-China relations and nothing else. And finally, the Chinese are not morons to purposely send contaminated food and products to the US.
I wish the the US would just leave the Chinese alone. Well, not gonna happen I know.
Posted by Luftstalag13, on January 27th, 2009 at 12:25 pm ESTSorry, Tom, the US and the ROC (Taiwan) have a longstanding Mutual Defense Treaty. Why would you make something like that up?
Posted by philip, on January 27th, 2009 at 8:04 pm ESTSorry, Tom, the US and the ROC (Taiwan) have a longstanding Mutual Defense Treaty. Why would you make something like that up?
–
Apology accepted, Philip. The treaty does not demand or obligate the U.S. to militarily defend Taiwan as Fallows said. If so, please show where.
Fallows is a journalist interested in the story of the hour, so it is not surprising he would accidently misstate this.
Posted by Tokyo Tom, on January 28th, 2009 at 5:02 am EST