Week 9 Responses

This week we will be exploring human rights and dissent in China, and how that has influenced relations between China and the U.S. Here are the readings for the week:

Ansfield, Jonathan and Andrew Jacobs. “Nobel Peace Prize Given to Jailed Chinese Dissident,” (NYT), October 8, 2010.

Mackinnon, Mark. “Profiles in courage: China's dissident gang of 10,” (Globe and Mail), December 3, 2010.

Branigan, Tonia. "China Accuses U.S. of Human Rights Double Standards" (Guardian), April 11, 2011.

Cardenas, Sonia. "Demoting Human Rights" (NYT), December 4, 2009.

MacLeod, Calum. "U.S. and China Miles Apart on Human Rights," (USA Today), April 28, 2011.

The Constitution of People's Republic of China

Hi,

Given the topic we are going to discuss today about free speech and censorship, I would like to post some supplementary material here, which is actually the constitution of China. Please take a look at the following articles selected from the constitution, if you have never read them before.

See you this evening.

Tina

The Constitution of the People's Republic of China

CHAPTER II. The Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens

Article 33. Citizenship

All persons holding the nationality of the People's Republic of China are citizens of the People's Republic of China.

All citizens of the People's Republic of China are equal before the law.

Every citizen is entitled to the rights and at the same time must perform the duties prescribed by the Constitution and the law.

The State respects and preserves human rights.

Article 35. Freedom of speech, press, assembly

Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.

Article 36. Religious freedom

Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief.

No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion.

The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state.

Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination.

Article 37. Freedom of person

Freedom of the person of citizens of the People's Republic of China is inviolable.

No citizens may be arrested except with the approval or by decision of a people's procuratorate or by decision of a people's court, and arrests must be made by a public security organ.

Unlawful detention or deprivation or restriction of citizens' freedom of the person by other means is prohibited, and unlawful search of the person of citizens is prohibited.

Article 38. Freedom from insult

The personal dignity of citizens of the People's Republic of China is inviolable. Insult, libel, false accusation or false incrimination directed against citizens by any means is prohibited.

Article 39. Inviolability of the home

The residences of citizens of the People's Republic of China are inviolable. Unlawful search of, or intrusion into, a citizen's residence is prohibited.

Article 40. Privacy of correspondence

Freedom and privacy of correspondence of citizens of the People's Republic of China are protected by law. No organization or individual may, on any ground, infringe on citizens' freedom of privacy of correspondence, except in cases where to meet the needs of state security or of criminal investigation, public security or procuratorial organs are permitted to censor correspondence in accordance with procedures prescribed by law.

Article 41. Right to petition the state

Citizens of the People's Republic of China have the right to criticize and make suggestions regarding any state organ or functionary. Citizens have the right to make to relevant state organs complaints or charges against, or exposures of, any state organ or functionary for violation of the law or dereliction of duty, but fabrication or distortion of facts for purposes of libel or false incrimination is prohibited.

The state organ concerned must deal with complaints, charges or exposures made by citizens in a responsible manner after ascertaining the facts. No one may suppress such complaints, charges and exposures or retaliate against the citizens making them.

Citizens who have suffered losses as a result of infringement of their civic rights by any state organ or functionary have the right to compensation in accordance with the law.

Week 8 Responses

Hey all, we only have a few readings this week. We will be discussing free speech and the media in China. As usual, post your responses before class.

Richburg, Keith B. "In China, microblogging sites become free-speech platform," (Washington Post) March 27, 2011.

Bristow, Michael."China Defends Internet Censorship." (BBC News) June 8, 2010.

"BBC Chinese Service Makes Final Broadcast in Mandarin." (China Digital Times) March 25, 2011.

Presentation Ideas

Hey everyone,

We'll use this thread to have you guys let us know what topics you're considering for your presentations during Week 10. If you have your idea and it's final, let me know. If you're asking for feedback, that's totally fine too. Have your topics set by class on Tuesday.

Autumn

Week 7 Reading Responses

Hi Class,

We are winding down with the discussion sessions of the class, so you should all be thinking about which topic you want to present on in Week 10. The presentations will be short. Also, if you have already attended a China-related campus event, be sure you have sent your write-up to me.

This week, we will be looking into U.S.-China-Taiwan relations more in depth. The readings are below. As always, post your reaction before class.

Roberge, Michael, Youkyung Lee. "Backgrounder: China-Taiwan Relations" (Council on Foreign Relations), August 11, 2009.

Wang, Yuan-kang. "China's Growing Strength, Taiwan's Diminishing Options," (Brookings), November 2010.

“The Taiwan Relations Act,” (U.S. Congress), April 10, 1979.

“Anti-Secession Law” (National People's Congress), March 14, 2005.

Week 6 Reading Responses

Hey all,

We're going to be covering issues of nuclear security with respect to the U.S., China, Iran and North Korea. Find the readings below, and post your reactions to one or more.

“Q&A: North Korea Nuclear Talks,” (BBC), December 20, 2010.

Solomon, Jay and Entous, Adam. “North Korea Nuclear Fears Grow,” (WSJ), November 21, 2010.

Harrison, Selig. “China's North Korea Calculations,” (NYT), January 6, 2011.

“US and Iran clash at nuclear talks,” (BBC), May 4, 2010.

Powell, Bill. “China's Iran Dilemma,” (TIME), February 22, 2010.

Bajoria, Jayshree. “North Korea-Iran Nuclear Cooperation,” (CFR), December 14, 2010.

Week 5 Reading Responses

This coming week we will be exploring two topics that are linked when it comes to relations between the U.S. and China -- Entrepreneurship and Intellectual Property. Many U.S. firms are looking to start new operations in China, expand existing ones, work with existing Chinese firms, or compete with them. And while there are some Chinese firms who are looking to expand into the U.S., among Chinese firms, one major trend that we're seeing is to develop within their home market. The Chinese government's push for innovation from its own citizens, or "indigenous innovation," plays a role in this trend. But some U.S. companies claim that this development of Chinese businesses and the indigenous innovation may be coming at the cost of American businesses. They claim that in China, their businesses are hurt because their intellectual property rights are not being protected and that they suffer a disadvantage in the market when the government shows preference to Chinese companies.

Go through the following readings and let us know what your take is. What are you finding most interesting? Do you see any major themes coming out? Can you pick up on any tensions between national development and international exchange? Is the Chinese government engaging in protectionism? Are American businesses applying a double standard?

McGregor, James. “China's Drive for 'Indigenous Innovation' - A Web of Industrial Policies,” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).



Brookes, Peter. "China's Indigenous Innovation Trade and Investment Policies: How Great a Threat?" (Heritage), March 9, 2011.

Editorial Board. "China and Intellectual Property," (NYT), December 10, 2010.

Fannin, Rebecca. "China Startups Battle the BAT," (Forbes), October 18, 2010.

Lee, Kai-Fu. "Hard Choices: Betting on China's Startups," (Business Week), July 8, 2010.

Dolan, Kerry A. "The China Clean Tech Divide: Threat or Opportunity?" (Forbes), November 30, 2010.