Are the Chinese becoming better English speakers than Indians? This question was triggered in my mind after a conversation with a summer intern in my team. She is pursuing an undergraduate law degree in a local Chinese university.
She speaks good English, albeit with occasional grammatical mistakes, at the right pace and with an accent that is more than understandable. There are few business managers around the world who will confidently say the same thing about the Indians they have worked with, after either having offshored business processes to India or having done business with Indians. Most of the Indian workforce today probably speaks English with fewer grammatical mistakes, but there are huge question marks on their pace and accent, which makes it extremely difficult for a large percentage of the world to understand them.
Upon digging deeper, I realized something nothing short of phenomenal: the English speaking ability of Chinese students is getting better with each passing batch. This means, chances are that a student graduating from university this summer speaks better English as compared to a student who graduated last year. This of course is not true for everyone who graduates, as individual will and hard work play an important role, but the system has been designed to enable this.
This is very obvious at the work place as well. There is an almost visible disparity between the English language ability of a 27 and a 23 year old. This particular discovery assumes even more significance when you put it against the fact that in India, unless you are studying at a convent school or one of the elite public schools, it is likely that your English language ability is not even at par with people of your parent's generation.
Today, a large number of Chinese students do not just stop at English, as the one foreign language that they know. Learning French or Spanish, amongst other foreign languages, is becoming very common. More and more universities are facilitating this further by encouraging their students to go on exchange to Europe and other parts of the world.
This development, if sustained, is bound to open many more opportunities, in the manufacturing as well as the services sectors, for the next generation of Chinese entrepreneurs and business leaders. There reach will not just be limited to the English-speaking world, but can expand to other parts of Europe, Latin America and Africa.
About the author: Shantanu Bawari is Shanghai-based correspondent for Business Trends Asia. This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Guest lecture at Rotterdam Business School
In his guest lecture at the Trade Management Asia faculty of the Rotterdam Business School, on 12 February 2010, Matthijs van den Broek outlined Asia's response to the global economic crisis.Highlighted were:
1. Asia's focus on domestic consumption
2. Accelerated emergence of new trade & investment lines; intra-Asia, Asia-Middle-East and South-South.
3. "BIC instead of BRIC"; Brazil, India and China, without the "R"of Russia.
4. Indonesia with China and India in the top-3 of Asia's best performers.
5. Added value of, and new opportunities for, European SMEs and larger companies
Matthijs van den Broek is Managing Director of Further East Consult and Editor-in-Chief of e-magazine Business Trends Asia
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Toys Not 4 Us
Toy retailers -local and international- in Indonesia and other Southeast-Asian countries like Thailand and the Philippines are struggling to stay in business. E.g. international giant Toys "R" Us tried to establish a presence in both Thailand and Indonesia but failed to make an impact.
The US toy retailer has withdrawn itself from both countries. Consumers in the expanding economies of Southeast-Asia will absorb many features of Western life. Toys for children are not among these. Several reasons lie behind this fact:- Traditional Western toys often imply an indoor lifestyle. In warm tropical countries life is traditionally outdoors and without air conditioning living indoors is uncomfortable. In countries like Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines domestic aircon use is still in its infancy with a very low penetration level. Children are used to play outdoors which does not require an access to many toys making them unfamiliar with the concept of using toys for playing.- Gift-giving to children at certain fixed occasions in the year is in most Asian countries a non-existing phenomenon.
In Thailand, an occasion like Christmas does not exist and birthdays are traditionally not celebrated. Gifts to children come mostly in the form of new clothes. When toys are given it is rarely because of a special occasion.
In Indonesia, Christmas is an official festival but mostly a religious one without the gift-giving aspect. For most Indonesians the end of Ramadan celebrated during Idul Fitri marks the most important festive occasion of the year. Normally children will receive new clothes during this period rather than toys.
Children in Southeast-Asia are now more familiar with computer games than traditional toys. As computers and computer games also hold the interest of many parents the purchase of a computer plus games has a higher preference since more family members can enjoy the product which is not the case with a childs toy.The last factor also plays an important role in Western countries where children move away from traditional toys and more into computer games.
Children in Southeast-Asia attach themselves straight into this new development without first going through the traditional phase. In Thailand, for example, this happens either at home or in computer games arcades. Mostly these are shops with a few to up to a dozen computers on which children can play games, also interactively against an hourly rate of THB 20.- (€0.42). Children (99% boys) from as young as 6 up to late teens will occupy all machines when school is out.
Traditional Western toys like miniature cars, board games and dolls hold very little attraction for most Southeast-Asian children and traditionally they are also not exposed to them. Toy retailers in these countries normally survive on a Western (expat) clientele and a small percentage of the high-middle to upper-class local population. However, increased economic development and a higher standard of living will not create a demand for Western style toys in Southeast Asia.
This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
The US toy retailer has withdrawn itself from both countries. Consumers in the expanding economies of Southeast-Asia will absorb many features of Western life. Toys for children are not among these. Several reasons lie behind this fact:- Traditional Western toys often imply an indoor lifestyle. In warm tropical countries life is traditionally outdoors and without air conditioning living indoors is uncomfortable. In countries like Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines domestic aircon use is still in its infancy with a very low penetration level. Children are used to play outdoors which does not require an access to many toys making them unfamiliar with the concept of using toys for playing.- Gift-giving to children at certain fixed occasions in the year is in most Asian countries a non-existing phenomenon.
In Thailand, an occasion like Christmas does not exist and birthdays are traditionally not celebrated. Gifts to children come mostly in the form of new clothes. When toys are given it is rarely because of a special occasion.
In Indonesia, Christmas is an official festival but mostly a religious one without the gift-giving aspect. For most Indonesians the end of Ramadan celebrated during Idul Fitri marks the most important festive occasion of the year. Normally children will receive new clothes during this period rather than toys.
Children in Southeast-Asia are now more familiar with computer games than traditional toys. As computers and computer games also hold the interest of many parents the purchase of a computer plus games has a higher preference since more family members can enjoy the product which is not the case with a childs toy.The last factor also plays an important role in Western countries where children move away from traditional toys and more into computer games.
Children in Southeast-Asia attach themselves straight into this new development without first going through the traditional phase. In Thailand, for example, this happens either at home or in computer games arcades. Mostly these are shops with a few to up to a dozen computers on which children can play games, also interactively against an hourly rate of THB 20.- (€0.42). Children (99% boys) from as young as 6 up to late teens will occupy all machines when school is out.
Traditional Western toys like miniature cars, board games and dolls hold very little attraction for most Southeast-Asian children and traditionally they are also not exposed to them. Toy retailers in these countries normally survive on a Western (expat) clientele and a small percentage of the high-middle to upper-class local population. However, increased economic development and a higher standard of living will not create a demand for Western style toys in Southeast Asia.
This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
Social network users go mobile
Social network site (SNS) users in Asia/Pacific indicate that MOBILE is now the way to go, potentially overtaking PCs as the device of choice, according to market research company IDC's recent survey-based report, Examining Usage, Perceptions, and Monetization: The Coming of Age for Social Network Sites in Asia/Pacific.
In countries such as China, India, Korea, and Thailand, over 50% of the users interviewed have now made accessing SNSs via the mobile phone a weekly habit. This is particularly widespread in the China and Thailand markets, where 62% and 65% of respective users regularly obtain news alerts and notifications, receive and reply to messages, upload photos, or update personal status and profiles on popular SNSs via mobile phone browsers.
By contrast, Australia and Singapore see the lowest percentage of users who access mobile versions of SNSs, where only 19% and 25% of respective users login weekly via their mobile browsers.
"The prevalence of owning a cellular phone over a PC in China, India and Thailand has directly boosted the popularity of mobile SNS access," said Debbie Swee, Market Analyst, IDC Asia/Pacific Emerging Technologies Research. "In Korea, however, there is strong usage for a different reason - the market is technologically advanced and has already seen mass adoption of mobile Internet as compared with all other countries surveyed in the study.
"As for Australia and Singapore, despite also being technologically advanced markets, the overwhelming importance of the PC over mobile has created strong inertia against adopting regular mobile access of SNSs," Debbie continues.
The IDC survey further indicated that mobile operators' pricing strategies are possibly keeping many non-users away from mobile social networking. Majority of users who have never logged in to SNSs through mobile phones before have cited the hefty data tariffs as the main obstacle. These service fees can be in the form of mobile Internet, SMS or MMS access.
SNS users have, however, asserted that more are likely to try out mobile versions of SNS if telcos offer more affordable data rates. The availability of user-friendly mobile applications is also perceived as a notable area of improvement, albeit to a lesser extent.
This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
In countries such as China, India, Korea, and Thailand, over 50% of the users interviewed have now made accessing SNSs via the mobile phone a weekly habit. This is particularly widespread in the China and Thailand markets, where 62% and 65% of respective users regularly obtain news alerts and notifications, receive and reply to messages, upload photos, or update personal status and profiles on popular SNSs via mobile phone browsers.
By contrast, Australia and Singapore see the lowest percentage of users who access mobile versions of SNSs, where only 19% and 25% of respective users login weekly via their mobile browsers.
"The prevalence of owning a cellular phone over a PC in China, India and Thailand has directly boosted the popularity of mobile SNS access," said Debbie Swee, Market Analyst, IDC Asia/Pacific Emerging Technologies Research. "In Korea, however, there is strong usage for a different reason - the market is technologically advanced and has already seen mass adoption of mobile Internet as compared with all other countries surveyed in the study.
"As for Australia and Singapore, despite also being technologically advanced markets, the overwhelming importance of the PC over mobile has created strong inertia against adopting regular mobile access of SNSs," Debbie continues.
The IDC survey further indicated that mobile operators' pricing strategies are possibly keeping many non-users away from mobile social networking. Majority of users who have never logged in to SNSs through mobile phones before have cited the hefty data tariffs as the main obstacle. These service fees can be in the form of mobile Internet, SMS or MMS access.
SNS users have, however, asserted that more are likely to try out mobile versions of SNS if telcos offer more affordable data rates. The availability of user-friendly mobile applications is also perceived as a notable area of improvement, albeit to a lesser extent.
This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Greater Mekong Subregion Asian affair
(this article appeared in e-magazine Business Trends Asia (www.businesstrendsasia.com)
On 8 December 2009, the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion in associaton with the Netherlands-Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Netherlands-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, will stage a Greater Mekong Subregion Seminar in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.
Among the speakers at the Seminar are representatives from the Asian Development Bank, a key initiator and facilitator in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), and engineering and construction companies, DHV and Royal Haskoning, both active players in the region.
Although Western companies have a significant presence in the region, in particular in Thailand and Vietnam, and to a lesser extent in Cambodia and Laos, Asian companies are by far the leading investors in the countries along the Mekong River. The US$5.9 billion Vietnam International Township project by Malaysian conglomerate Berjaya Land Berhad makes Malaysia the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, while Thailand and Vietnam are the largest foreign investors in Laos, mainly in tourism and hydropower projects. Also the Chinese are appearing more and more on the GMS investment scene. Recently, grants and low-interest loans for funding of the US$86.4 million expansion of the airport of Luang Prabang in Laos were underwritten by the Chinese government. Also, Chinese investors are eyeing several hotel development projects in the country.
The recent removal of Laos and Cambodia of a United States blacklist that limits government support for U.S. companies doing business with the two nations, in an effort to counterbalance the rising influence of China, will therefore have little impact on the investment landscape in Laos and Cambodia. With or without the U.S., the Greater Mekong Subregion, is facing a bright economic future.
On 8 December 2009, the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion in associaton with the Netherlands-Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Netherlands-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, will stage a Greater Mekong Subregion Seminar in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.
Among the speakers at the Seminar are representatives from the Asian Development Bank, a key initiator and facilitator in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), and engineering and construction companies, DHV and Royal Haskoning, both active players in the region.
Although Western companies have a significant presence in the region, in particular in Thailand and Vietnam, and to a lesser extent in Cambodia and Laos, Asian companies are by far the leading investors in the countries along the Mekong River. The US$5.9 billion Vietnam International Township project by Malaysian conglomerate Berjaya Land Berhad makes Malaysia the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, while Thailand and Vietnam are the largest foreign investors in Laos, mainly in tourism and hydropower projects. Also the Chinese are appearing more and more on the GMS investment scene. Recently, grants and low-interest loans for funding of the US$86.4 million expansion of the airport of Luang Prabang in Laos were underwritten by the Chinese government. Also, Chinese investors are eyeing several hotel development projects in the country.
The recent removal of Laos and Cambodia of a United States blacklist that limits government support for U.S. companies doing business with the two nations, in an effort to counterbalance the rising influence of China, will therefore have little impact on the investment landscape in Laos and Cambodia. With or without the U.S., the Greater Mekong Subregion, is facing a bright economic future.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Buddhism in the Thai workplace
Foreign employers and foreign managers in Thailand need to be aware of the extreme importance Buddhism has in the lives of all their employees.
Most Thai employees will express little outward religious fervour but this does not mean they feel indifferent towards their religion, even though most might break the Buddhist moral codes every day. Employers who neglect to observe the basic rules regarding Buddhist rites and obligations at the workfloor will face difficulties and sabotage.
The vast majority of the Thai people takes enormous pride in being Buddhist. This is not necessarily displayed openly and if one is not observant it might completely escape attention. Should that be the case then chances are high the Thai staff feel their foreign employer/manager is insensitive towards Thai religion and culture, straining professional relationships.
The Lord Buddha is revered above all else and the monks are His representatives on earth and are therefore at the pinnacle of society. Their position ranks even higher than that of the king. Even the least religious Thai will consider a negative attitude towards Buddha and the monkhood as an insult towards the entire Thai nation and its culture.
An extra element of Thai Buddhism is the fact that actually the majority of the Thai people is not Buddhist at all (although they would strongly deny this) but animist. Spirits have an extremely important place in every day life and will often reside inside Buddhist religious elements, thus blending the two perfectly.
A foreign manager can gain enormous face and goodwill if he/she will organize Buddhist rites almost immediately after taking up his/her position in Thailand. Some possibilities are:- Organize the visit of a prestigious monk or monks from a prestigious temple to the workplace for blessing of the operation. This requires some insider knowledge as not all monks or temples are considered equally good. To hire a monk or monks from a temple held in low esteem might create actual damage instead of creating goodwill. The reason is that literally every man can be ordained as a monk should he wish so, even the hardest criminals will be allowed to receive the blessings of monkhood. To unwittingly invite a monk of known disrepute will not create the anticipated goodwill.- Have a shrine established on the grounds of a new workplace.- All existing buildings will have a shrine on the grounds. Monks could be invited to conduct a cleaning ceremony or erect a new replacement. This should be handles with extreme care as the original shrine will be endowed with special powers and the residing spirits must be pacified first before the shrine be properly cleaned or replaced by a new one.- Organize a visit to a prestigious temple with the entire staff for merit making. This activity has the advantage of providing fun or “sanuk” in Thai, a necessary element in every Thai working environment.
Offices all have a small shrine attached high up on a wall with a little Buddha statue and some cups containing food and drink as offerings plus an incense holder. These will be refreshed every day. Foreigners are not expected to pay attention but they are certainly expected to allow the presence of the office shrine. Contrary to Thai offices Chinese companies will normally have a large shrine placed on the floor and besides a Buddha statue there will normally also be one Kuan Ying, the Goddess of Good Fortune. Keeping the shrine clean and foreseen with the daily refreshments is something office workers will organize by themselves. There is never a need for the foreign manager to become involved.
Almost every Thai man will enter the monkhood at some stage of his life. This is normally for a brief period of time: 3 days, one week, 3 weeks or 3 months. Most young men will become a monk as a symbolism to close one chapter of their life before entering another one. Becoming a monk prior to marriage is quite common. It can also be done as a means of honouring the parents. Employers must allow employees time off (with paid leave) to enter the monkhood for a specified period of time. Up to a maximum of three weeks is customary. It also needs to be granted only once. When an employee enters the monkhood it is common for the manager to be invited for the ceremony and the party afterwards (on which Thais will always spend enormous amounts of money as a son becoming a monk, no matter for how brief a period of time, is a tremendous auspicious occasion). Attendance is greatly appreciated and provides the employee concerned with face and the manager with respect.
Foreign employers and foreign managers cannot overestimate the sensitivity of Thais towards Buddhism. It is never expressed fanatically and foreigners are not expected to participate themselves but their possible failure to respect established Buddhist practices (e.g. allowing an office shrine etc.) will result in an immediate backlash. And, like the King, the Buddha can never be ridiculed, not even in a joking manner.
This article appeared earlier in e-magazine Business Trends Asia (www.businesstrendsasia.com)
Most Thai employees will express little outward religious fervour but this does not mean they feel indifferent towards their religion, even though most might break the Buddhist moral codes every day. Employers who neglect to observe the basic rules regarding Buddhist rites and obligations at the workfloor will face difficulties and sabotage.
The vast majority of the Thai people takes enormous pride in being Buddhist. This is not necessarily displayed openly and if one is not observant it might completely escape attention. Should that be the case then chances are high the Thai staff feel their foreign employer/manager is insensitive towards Thai religion and culture, straining professional relationships.
The Lord Buddha is revered above all else and the monks are His representatives on earth and are therefore at the pinnacle of society. Their position ranks even higher than that of the king. Even the least religious Thai will consider a negative attitude towards Buddha and the monkhood as an insult towards the entire Thai nation and its culture.
An extra element of Thai Buddhism is the fact that actually the majority of the Thai people is not Buddhist at all (although they would strongly deny this) but animist. Spirits have an extremely important place in every day life and will often reside inside Buddhist religious elements, thus blending the two perfectly.
A foreign manager can gain enormous face and goodwill if he/she will organize Buddhist rites almost immediately after taking up his/her position in Thailand. Some possibilities are:- Organize the visit of a prestigious monk or monks from a prestigious temple to the workplace for blessing of the operation. This requires some insider knowledge as not all monks or temples are considered equally good. To hire a monk or monks from a temple held in low esteem might create actual damage instead of creating goodwill. The reason is that literally every man can be ordained as a monk should he wish so, even the hardest criminals will be allowed to receive the blessings of monkhood. To unwittingly invite a monk of known disrepute will not create the anticipated goodwill.- Have a shrine established on the grounds of a new workplace.- All existing buildings will have a shrine on the grounds. Monks could be invited to conduct a cleaning ceremony or erect a new replacement. This should be handles with extreme care as the original shrine will be endowed with special powers and the residing spirits must be pacified first before the shrine be properly cleaned or replaced by a new one.- Organize a visit to a prestigious temple with the entire staff for merit making. This activity has the advantage of providing fun or “sanuk” in Thai, a necessary element in every Thai working environment.
Offices all have a small shrine attached high up on a wall with a little Buddha statue and some cups containing food and drink as offerings plus an incense holder. These will be refreshed every day. Foreigners are not expected to pay attention but they are certainly expected to allow the presence of the office shrine. Contrary to Thai offices Chinese companies will normally have a large shrine placed on the floor and besides a Buddha statue there will normally also be one Kuan Ying, the Goddess of Good Fortune. Keeping the shrine clean and foreseen with the daily refreshments is something office workers will organize by themselves. There is never a need for the foreign manager to become involved.
Almost every Thai man will enter the monkhood at some stage of his life. This is normally for a brief period of time: 3 days, one week, 3 weeks or 3 months. Most young men will become a monk as a symbolism to close one chapter of their life before entering another one. Becoming a monk prior to marriage is quite common. It can also be done as a means of honouring the parents. Employers must allow employees time off (with paid leave) to enter the monkhood for a specified period of time. Up to a maximum of three weeks is customary. It also needs to be granted only once. When an employee enters the monkhood it is common for the manager to be invited for the ceremony and the party afterwards (on which Thais will always spend enormous amounts of money as a son becoming a monk, no matter for how brief a period of time, is a tremendous auspicious occasion). Attendance is greatly appreciated and provides the employee concerned with face and the manager with respect.
Foreign employers and foreign managers cannot overestimate the sensitivity of Thais towards Buddhism. It is never expressed fanatically and foreigners are not expected to participate themselves but their possible failure to respect established Buddhist practices (e.g. allowing an office shrine etc.) will result in an immediate backlash. And, like the King, the Buddha can never be ridiculed, not even in a joking manner.
This article appeared earlier in e-magazine Business Trends Asia (www.businesstrendsasia.com)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Why China will not save the world
This article appeared earlier in e-magazine Business Trends Asia (www.businesstrendsasia.com)
Why China will not save the world
The "West" is trying to push China into the limelight as saviour of a world reeling from the chaos of the global financial crisis. However nothing in China's recorded history of almost 5,000 years points to a structural Chinese desire in a world outside its immediate cultural sphere of influence.
China’s recorded history of almost 5,000 years does not cover China as is known today. The nation state China with it’s current borders exists since 1950 (1949 conquering of all China by the Communists and 1950 the inclusion of Tibet). Before the fall of the last Imperial dynasty, the Qing, the current state of Mongolia was part of China as well for almost 400 years.
The largest territory once governed by China’s rulers was during the Yuan dynasty at the end of the 13th century AD when the country’s borders stretched across southeast Siberia and included the Korean peninsula besides most of the territory of modern day China.
For a large part of this 5,000 year recorded history China consisted of a number of fragmented independent states with constantly fluctuating borders. These Chinese states and dynasties where most of time located in the country’s eastern half. During certain periods (Yuan, Tang and Qing) China’s territory expanded westwards but shrank back again to the east when new rulers took over.
Some dynasties would open up China (or the territory they ruled of what is now called China) during some period of their rule e.g. the Tang (7th to10th century AD) and the early Ming (14th and 15th century AD) but for large periods of time the country was basically closed to foreigners. Under China’s last imperial dynasty, the Qing, its borders expanded westwards but foreigners remained unwelcome and the country was basically forced open in the 2nd half of the 19th century by the European world powers of that time.
When the communists took over China in 1949 the country was once again sealed off from the outside world. Only in 1978/1979 opened the government the doors again. The current state of open interaction with the world at large covers a mere 30-year period and cannot be considered as the “natural order of things”. Chinese society does not have a natural regard for other cultures and peoples as the current standard Cantonese word for Westerner still shows which is the negative Kwai Loh or Foreign Devil.
Chinese rulers have always been much more concerned with domestic policies and trying to maintain social stability as this has always proven to be China’s Achilles heel during the past few thousand years. The current authorities form no exception to this rule. Their first and foremost concern is how to prevent the current global economic crisis from damaging Chinese society and how to prevent social unrest and instability.
China’s authorities have never been concerned about the opinion of the outside world and never expressed a serious interest in the position of other countries. On the one hand it means China is not overly interested in overpowering neighbouring nations but on the other hand the country is hesitant to use its power and influence “for the greater good of mankind”.
China will stimulate its domestic market for the benefit of Chinese companies not foreign corporations and its manufacturers will continue to export their cheaper products around the globe. The exchange rate of the Yuan will reflect China’s needs not Europe’s or those of the USA.
A senior Chinese economic policy advisor has already raised the suggestion that the Chinese government should abandon the US-Dollar as its main foreign reserve currency. The fact that Chinese government officials dispelled this idea cannot be considered as a commitment to global cooperation and support of the US government and US economy. The real message lies in the circumstance that this senior economic adviser has been allowed to voice this opinion in public and on a world stage. This means that the Chinese government is actually contemplating this decision, that it will do what is in the best interest of China and will undertake the action which ensures internal social stability. How this will affect the world at large is of little importance.
A culturally deeply ingrained mistrust of foreigners and strangers in general, the pre-occupation of any Chinese government over the past few thousand years with maintaining internal social stability and their reflex to seal off the country when the domestic situation seems to spiral out of control are not characteristics of a globally engaged nation.
Why China will not save the world
The "West" is trying to push China into the limelight as saviour of a world reeling from the chaos of the global financial crisis. However nothing in China's recorded history of almost 5,000 years points to a structural Chinese desire in a world outside its immediate cultural sphere of influence.
China’s recorded history of almost 5,000 years does not cover China as is known today. The nation state China with it’s current borders exists since 1950 (1949 conquering of all China by the Communists and 1950 the inclusion of Tibet). Before the fall of the last Imperial dynasty, the Qing, the current state of Mongolia was part of China as well for almost 400 years.
The largest territory once governed by China’s rulers was during the Yuan dynasty at the end of the 13th century AD when the country’s borders stretched across southeast Siberia and included the Korean peninsula besides most of the territory of modern day China.
For a large part of this 5,000 year recorded history China consisted of a number of fragmented independent states with constantly fluctuating borders. These Chinese states and dynasties where most of time located in the country’s eastern half. During certain periods (Yuan, Tang and Qing) China’s territory expanded westwards but shrank back again to the east when new rulers took over.
Some dynasties would open up China (or the territory they ruled of what is now called China) during some period of their rule e.g. the Tang (7th to10th century AD) and the early Ming (14th and 15th century AD) but for large periods of time the country was basically closed to foreigners. Under China’s last imperial dynasty, the Qing, its borders expanded westwards but foreigners remained unwelcome and the country was basically forced open in the 2nd half of the 19th century by the European world powers of that time.
When the communists took over China in 1949 the country was once again sealed off from the outside world. Only in 1978/1979 opened the government the doors again. The current state of open interaction with the world at large covers a mere 30-year period and cannot be considered as the “natural order of things”. Chinese society does not have a natural regard for other cultures and peoples as the current standard Cantonese word for Westerner still shows which is the negative Kwai Loh or Foreign Devil.
Chinese rulers have always been much more concerned with domestic policies and trying to maintain social stability as this has always proven to be China’s Achilles heel during the past few thousand years. The current authorities form no exception to this rule. Their first and foremost concern is how to prevent the current global economic crisis from damaging Chinese society and how to prevent social unrest and instability.
China’s authorities have never been concerned about the opinion of the outside world and never expressed a serious interest in the position of other countries. On the one hand it means China is not overly interested in overpowering neighbouring nations but on the other hand the country is hesitant to use its power and influence “for the greater good of mankind”.
China will stimulate its domestic market for the benefit of Chinese companies not foreign corporations and its manufacturers will continue to export their cheaper products around the globe. The exchange rate of the Yuan will reflect China’s needs not Europe’s or those of the USA.
A senior Chinese economic policy advisor has already raised the suggestion that the Chinese government should abandon the US-Dollar as its main foreign reserve currency. The fact that Chinese government officials dispelled this idea cannot be considered as a commitment to global cooperation and support of the US government and US economy. The real message lies in the circumstance that this senior economic adviser has been allowed to voice this opinion in public and on a world stage. This means that the Chinese government is actually contemplating this decision, that it will do what is in the best interest of China and will undertake the action which ensures internal social stability. How this will affect the world at large is of little importance.
A culturally deeply ingrained mistrust of foreigners and strangers in general, the pre-occupation of any Chinese government over the past few thousand years with maintaining internal social stability and their reflex to seal off the country when the domestic situation seems to spiral out of control are not characteristics of a globally engaged nation.
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