Tag Archive
The Debacle In The East China Sea
We’ve all been hearing a lot about the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands lately, what with all the demonstrations in China after the Japanese government purchased the islands from the Japanese owner. Meanwhile, Taiwan is adding their opinion into the mix since three governments claim this territory. So, what’s really going on? What laws govern island ownership? Who [...]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Lately there’s been a big brouhaha concerning the Senkaku/Diaoyu/Diaoyutai Islands that are claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan. A bunch of activists from Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China landed on the main island, claiming them for China. They were duly arrested by the Japanese authorities and later deported back to China. A few days [...]
Reading The Tea Leaves…
You’ve probably noticed we’ve been mostly absent over the last few months. Both Wukailong and I had been pretty busy with work and personal matters but we should be far more productive in the coming days. You might also have noticed that this blog has rarely if ever commented about breaking news in China. Two [...]
China’s Dynastic Territories
Our intrepid Beijing photographer Jesse found this map on the net a few months ago and I thought it might be helpful to give everyone a visual aid of China’s geographic boundaries over the millennia. It’s fascinating to see how the borders waxed and waned over the centuries. Enjoy!
Israel: Eatliz
What’s an Israeli band doing on Pacific Rim Shots? Aren’t we all about PacRim countries? So how does Eatliz get on here? Easy, they’re about to tour China! The tour is planned around the JUE Festival (which this year headlines Death Cab For Cutie) but they’ll be hitting other cities to increase their exposure. Here are [...]
Is Apple Getting A Bad Rap?
It’s in all the headlines. “Protesters Confront Apple Over Foxconn Conditions”, “Apple’s Foxconn Electronics Manufacturer Blamed for Chinese Child Slave Labor”, “Apple, Foxconn and the Human Cost of Electronics Manufacturing in China”, those are just a smattering of media reports that all say basically the same thing, that Apple is responsible for China’s labor laws, [...]
We Mock Your Racist Ad
James Fallows wrote about a local Michigan Super Bowl commercial on his blog in The Atlantic yesterday. Some hack politician named Pete Hoekstra is running for his old seat in Congress against a Democratic opponent named Debbie Stabenow. He not so cleverly renames her “Debbie Spend-it-now” and tries to blame her for lost Michigan manufacturing [...]
We Wish You A Merry Christmas!
Wukailong and I wish everyone a very merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and in a few days, a great New Year. Rather than a white Christmas, down here in San Diego our Christmases are a bit balmier. However, we still get into the spirit in a different sort of way. Here are a few pix taken [...]
Urban Camouflage PJs
It’s the sizzling hot look for winter in the hutong. * * * As a former journalist for daily newspapers, I’ve learned that all you can hope for is that your story is an accurate reflection of what happens on a given day. It’s a snapshot, that’s all. By tomorrow, everything may have changed completely. [...]
Is This Like A Steak Medium Rare?
Can we assume there’s also a weakly strong electricity room? As a former journalist for daily newspapers, I’ve learned that all you can hope for is that your story is an accurate reflection of what happens on a given day. It’s a snapshot, that’s all. By tomorrow, everything may have changed completely. I live [...]
China’s Mountain of Debt
I recently ran across an article on Global Post where they interviewed Victor Shih, an assistant professor of political science at Northwestern University who received his PhD in government from Harvard. I began to notice some of these same observations way back in the early 2000′s when I lived over there but at that time, [...]
If Showing Up Is 90% Of Life…
… I’m guessing staying awake is the other 10 percent. I’m pretty sure his job is to get off the truck when they unload the early morning shipment, and keep an eye on the merchandise until the store staff arrive to properly receive it. As a former journalist for daily newspapers, I’ve learned that all [...]
Book Review: “Why China Will Never Rule the World” by Troy Parfitt
“Why China Will Never Rule the World.” That’s quite a bold title, and when I first heard of it I imagined a point-by-point rebuttal to Martin Jacques’ “When China Rules the World.” Then I learned it was a travelogue, and was even more intrigued; how do you prove such a grand claim through a tourist [...]
Guilin Rice Noodles (桂林米粉)
Today, as I was going for lunch, I suddenly got an impulse to visit this place I haven’t been for at least half a year since the company I’m working for changed locations. It’s a place selling Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉), a very special combination that practically became a diet for me for a couple [...]
A Bicycle Umbrella Built For Two
Build a better mousetrap, right? This clever contraption protects from both rain and sun, and its shape — reaching long and low in the back — is particularly well designed for multiple riders. Please check out my blog: http://chinaenglish.wordpress.com/
