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Super Mao 2009, improved version



Reappropriation identity: re-Maoïsation the agenda?

"There are two kinds of personality cult. The first is a cult saint. For example, the cult of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin, because these characters have the truth in their hands. The second is a false personality cult, the blind adoration, worship has not been analyzed. " Mao Zedong, 1958

An analysis of Charles Hudon

There is hardly one year, very few people predicted that China could escape the collapse of U.S. markets without going into severe recession. Today, the vigor with which China has managed to orchestrate the recovery is starting to silence the skeptics. So the West streamlines logic resources in a crisis, China, she allows himself the luxury of extravagance. The latest example was in last week's start of construction in Changsha, a statue 32 meters high representing the head of Mao Zedong. The cost of this undertaking is estimated at 300 million RMB (over $ 45 million). Besides the economic implications of such an excess, this construction raises questions as to the ideological approach implied by such a project.



A priori, the statues of Mao Zedong did are not uncommon in China. Chengdu, Shenyang, Nanjing, are only some examples among the best known. However, these statues were erected at a time different from ours, pursuing specific goals. By embodying the revolutionary purity, Mao played a role as a beacon for the nation, without whom the revolutionary ideal was unattainable. To unify the people behind the revolutionary goal, large amounts of artwork portraying Mao were produced and distributed. Numerous posters and musical compositions were referring to Mao as "the red sun in the center of our hearts" (我们 心中 的 红 太阳) or "as the savior of the people" (人民 的 大 救星).

After the death of the great helmsman, the construction of statues of Mao declined. The reason is simple. Ideologically, a significant difference separating Mao's successor. In fact, Deng Xiaoping hated this "cult of personality" dedicated to Mao. Once in power, it is this spirit that led him to ban the production of statues in his likeness in order to avoid repeating what he thought he was a big mistake. His rise to power also favored some questioning of the legacy Mao. According to his successor, the Great Helmsman's policies were good and bad at 70% to 30%. Speaking in this way, Deng was deliberately referring to the decision that Mao had made Stalin, or a balance sheet 70/30. In doing so, Deng Mao subtly likened to Stalin, an insult disguised under the guise of a compliment. Enjoying a greater ability to criticize Deng had to do time, it was thought that the new generation of leaders would have been tempted to simply reverse that ratio. History seems to show otherwise ... If

now seems clear that the ruling party in China has no interest in promoting socialist ideals, why inject valuable assets in this company worthy of the Maoist era? The reason probably lies in the fact that although the revolutionary socialist dream is indeed dead and buried in China, the new ideological framework on which Beijing hopes to establish its legitimacy is not any less precarious. Aware of the deep spiritual void left by the abandonment of communist ideals and the fragility of the socio-economic order created by multi-ethnicity that characterizes his company and a style of capitalism that it is very personal, Beijing is seeking a new legitimacy. The reappropriation of the Confucian legacy represents a chapter in this saga, the "re-Maoïsation" of the company could also go in this direction.

The company is not without risk. To me, Beijing offers a spectacular level of balancing, a remarkable level of difficulty. In fact, erect a statue of a theorist of world socialism in a country struggling with huge social inequalities represents a turn impressive strength. Erect a statue of a head of state whose record in terms of loss of life is comparable to the worst dictators in human history, and this in a country that has not yet asked a second look at this part of its history, requires some admirable qualities of a magician. To achieve the illusion, Beijing must be based on a simple fact: the story can sometimes be a very selective memory!

In the modern history of China, new statues "classic" Mao did nonetheless emerge. In 2006, for example, a statue of Mao was erected near Lhasa. This statue stands, however, does not hundreds of others like them and because of its presence in Tibet speaks for itself. What interests us here is the special case of the head of Mao in Changsha, different from the classical statues in many ways.

Visiting the modern Chinese cities, the sight of these ancient statues of Mao inevitably reminds us of another era, memories of an old China underdeveloped. These statues are normally Mao looking skyward, victorious, well above the outstretched arm, or a Mao overlooking hordes of workers in awe. They Mao depict a mature, which seems as smart as severe. If these statues are intended as vestiges of another era, what symbol could represent today the arrival of this new modern China? The answer is simple: a young Mao! To this end, the head of Changsha is a first. This statue gives us the representation of Mao as it was in 1925, a Mao with long hair, the refined and sophisticated tunes. Despite his youth, Mao seems more mature than ever. The fact that the portrait has probably nothing to do with what Mao really had to look at 32 years matter. What could be more effective than recycling an old icon familiar to all, taking care to adapt to the necessities of day to create a consensus within society?

To be even more convincing, a historical anecdote surrounds the work. From 1913 to 1918, Mao still in school, had traveled frequently to the place where the statue was built today for inspiration and find the truth about the rescue of China and Chinese (救国 救民) . It is said that this particular location, Mao had promised heaven to destroy the old world to build New China (砸碎 旧 世界, 建立 新 中国). No references to misjudgment, to economic failure, famine, thousands of dead ...

This attitude toward history tells us much about the perception that the Chinese now have for themselves. In the late 19th century, with the encounter with the West, a decline of identity occurred in China. Values and Chinese cultural identity is suddenly more consistent with the vision that China wanted to project of itself. The Chinese identity became suddenly stunted. This realization led China to set aside several characters who played roles as pillars of identity for their companies for hundreds, even thousands of years. All that no longer consistent with the view that China wanted to project itself was Discart. To this end, Confucius is probably the best example. In the century that followed, the Chinese sought tirelessly to answer the question: "How to be modern while being Chinese? "Mao, who arrived only very tentatively answer this question, suffers, albeit at a level much less, more or less the same fate (at least from the ruling elites).

The erection of this statue, however, leaves suggests that China may have finally found an answer to this central question. Indeed, the lightning speed at which China is developing for the past 30 years, combined with the economic crisis affecting the West today are changing the way China is perceived in relation to the world. To varying degrees, the Chinese response could be structured this way: "We're modern and we are Chinese," or, "We are modern because we are Chinese, "or simply" Modernity is China! "

This awareness provides greater flexibility to the ideologists of the Party. If modernity is Chinese, China has a monopoly of its definition. If China becomes synonymous with modernity, the past can no longer be considered a synonym of delays or obstacles. We can now review the history of China to present it as a chain of events leading to a glorious destiny radiant common. In this regard, after Confucius, who was already largely rehabilitated, which may come embody the living testimony of a glorious past and the representation of prominent national cohesion? Mao Zedong, him again! But not without some minor ... So, can become Mao China, and China, success in an equation that assumes the value of science. Once the deification of this representation of past completed, the new leaders have to convince the public they are the direct heirs of his thought and legitimate and voila. After all, a tree can not achieve all its glory without relying on strong roots.

This process of reclaiming history is not strictly Chinese. In this regard, a editorial published in Le Devoir in 2007 by Serge Truffaut allows some interesting parallels. The latter wrote:

all started with this opinion, and not finding, stating that the implosion of the Soviet Empire was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the twentieth century. This enormity, Putin has articulated on several occasions before deciding on relocation, if one may say, the Soviet anthem as the national anthem of Russia. Unlike South Africa after apartheid and Germany after Nazism, the Russian authorities have avoided any duty of memory. In fact, there have been commissions, inquiries, but nothing has been finalized. Nobody has been charged. Result ...

result, a majority of Russians now believe that Stalin's atrocities were exaggerated by Westerners, including Americans, since both the others have always aimed sustainable weakening of eternal Russia. Still, once the rehabilitation of Stalin well underway, and well accepted by the population, Putin felt comfortable enough to dedicate a museum Stalin.

More depressing was the reaction of young people. If you believe a string of polls, over 60% of them believe that Stalin had done more good than harm, it deserves a place in the pantheon of the greats of the country's history.
over 60% of them believe that the U.S. is the number one enemy of the country. Over 60% believe, like Putin, that the implosion of the Soviet bloc is indeed geopolitical catastrophe of the twentieth century.

To each his own interpretation of history, the value of such a parallel is of course limited. Although after his death, Mao was never far demonized than was Stalin, the Russian case can still help us to draw waves guidelines allow us to anticipate the ramifications implied by a possible "re-Maoïsation" of Chinese society.



Conclusion The emergence on the international stage, China is gaining confidence. This new position allows him to take a fresh look at its history. This suggests that it is on the solidification of a national identity centered on itself, on a heritage, culture, folklore and heroes shared the Communist Party intends Now build a harmonious society and thus its legitimacy. As aptly pointed out Anne-Marie Thiesse, in "The Creation of National Identities," "the cult of tradition and the celebration of ancestral heritage has been an effective counterweight to allow Western companies to make radical changes without falling into the anomie. " History may repeat itself, so to allow China to successfully pursue the mutation it began 30 years ago with the advent of reforms.

It will, however, much more than the erection of statues of "super Mao 2009, improved version" for the proposition is confirmed rejuvenation of Mao is a corrupt elite concerted policy to reclaim his heroes for political stability. The thesis would gain credibility if, for example, Mao was granted a new place in education in China, as is presently the case with Stalin in Russia. Without making it more now (Mao already occupies a considerable space, allocated several years ago in a strategy of ideological shaping today archaic) the government may soon be tempted to rejuvenate his academic approach with respect to the Great Helmsman.

In my opinion by cons, China would do well to put some more emphasis on Deng, and less on Mao. If the government plans to initiate a strategy of propaganda designed to glorify the New China, the erection of statues in memory of Deng would probably be much more logical, legitimate and easy to defend.

Charles Hudon, Kunming

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RECRUITED CREW

We looking for a teammate one-year contract. If you are mobile to come to Valencia and want to integrate a large project industry, this opportunity might interest you.

Honestly, I think our project is a good school software engineering. We require a level of quality maximum convinced that well develop the right product can grow faster . We practice the -eXtreme Programming , Scrum, Lean on , object-oriented approach and programming by contract .

If you are tempted by this technically and humanly rewarding , the offer is available through the APEC here. If you want to know more about our team, we talk on other blogs, like that of Alexander Boutin .

soon?

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End of an Adventure

Hello!

Shame on us once again! (On me especially since my little woman is very busy with his film). You

was hanging around two and a half years left in suspense, enticed, excited, moved .... and now that everything is over there you do not share.

If for some of you, our cozy nest became no longer a secret to others, please come visit, browse, touch, smell, drink, eat, sleep ... ..

Be aware that a large rack will be held this summer to have fun and watering our "home sweet house "...

Return from time to time to keep you informed of the date (we are not immune to forget someone, and if you (or you), do we hold (hold) and not just rigor (just) to party with us on schedule for this purpose.

Bye, bye

PS: you will not see pictures of our house on this blog, so only way to make you come visit ........

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The Arctic polar bear ... and the Chinese!?






Text of Nicolas Laflamme

Who could be interested the Arctic? Polar bears, Russia, Canada, the United States, Denmark, Norway? All of the above strike me as very consistent. However, without being next door, others are concerned about the Arctic region, its natural resources and its strategic location. China is one of them.

My recent reading of the article "China must absolutely take part as soon as possible litigation from the North Pole" (中国 必须 尽快 要 加入 北极 之 争) published by the China.com (中华网) me pushed on the road to discovery of Chinese interests in the Far North. Indeed, China's position is nothing surprising. When a country reaches a certain threshold of development, his interests are no longer confined inside its borders, but rather extend to the entire planet. In this regard, we take the example of the European Union. It held last February military exercises in northern European countries with the Arctic region (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland). These maneuvers were intended to assert his will also take part in issues related to the North Pole. The rising power is China, more and more conscious of its weight within the international community also wants to hear his opinion about the Arctic. China obviously does not claim to be entitled to the entire Arctic region. This is precisely the international waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Nordic countries are competing, of interest to China. It is this aspect that based its polar set.



Chinese arguments are rooted in the "UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS ). The terms of this agreement is subject to many disagreements between the countries bordering the Arctic. UNCLOS stipulates that the international waters of the Arctic Ocean are located beyond 200 nautical miles (MM) from the coast of the surrounding countries. These 200 MM represent the exclusive economic zones of each country. Moreover, the jurisdiction of countries with established himself as the extension of their continental shelf, which is, if the Arctic, a real Aladdin's cave resources. Article 76 of UNCLOS states that the continental shelf of a State may extend over 300 MM, however, never that water does not exceed 100 MM after reaching 2500 meters deep. In addition, the continental shelf should absolutely be a natural extension without breaking the country's marine territory.

is related to the article 76 of UNCLOS on marine life that is currently quarrel Russian and Danish scientists on the Lomonosov Ridge, which runs directly through the bottom of the North Pole. Scientists from both countries are currently in dispute over whether Lomonosov is a natural extension of Siberia or Greenland. Although the dispute is not resolved, Russia provoked Denmark in August 2007 by planting flag symbolically his to 4300 meters on the North Pole. It is not interesting to mention here that the Russian Komsomolskaya Pravda published periodically as the Arctic, and what it represents, may well be the cause of World War III .

Despite many disagreements among the Arctic States, China maintains that the international community should respect the recommendations of the UNCLOS. The Middle Kingdom support compliance with this agreement because it has the potential to give him any rights to browse, steal, do scientific research and exploit natural resources in international areas of the Arctic. These claims are fairly recent, but considering that many scientists believe that the North Pole will completely melt in the summer of 2030 , better not waste time and take its place in the race for the Arctic.

Professor Guo Peiqing of the Ocean University of China "sets in the sense that the strategy of China in the record Arctic can be divided into four stages. The first is to strengthen scientific research in the field. In this regard, the Chinese government in 1999 sponsored the first research project on to climate research. China has also sent last summer, aboard the icebreaker "Snow Dragon", his fourth team in Arctic research. The second step is for China to strengthen its relations with the countries surrounding the North Pole. Third, an important point is to strengthen coordination between the non-border to the Arctic to find common interests to defend and promote internationally. Fourth, China must develop its own strategy against the North and insert in its overall development plan.

Interestingly about the third point mentioned above is the attitude of China to want to internationalize the issue of Arctic. His position is quite different in regard to the Spratly and Paracel Islands in the South China Sea it competes with other countries in the region. When disputes about this, Beijing is finally resolved to undertake bilateral relations with states in conflict. Two weights, two measures? Note also that several comments and reactions to newspaper articles dealing with Chinese online Chinese referred to the Arctic raised the point that the government should first resolve disputes involving the South China Sea before embarking on an adventure so far. However, the overall strategy of an ambitious country, it is immaterial whether the resources are far or near. China, which faces a growing need for natural resources to feed its development, acting like any truly great power should.

Natural resources and the geopolitical North are increasingly talking in circles of power. Indeed, the North is rich in mineral resources and fisheries, but also oil and natural gas. According to the "Arctic Monitoring and Assessement Programme, resources Oil and natural gas in the Arctic are estimated at 25% of world reserves.

addition to natural resources, another major reason that China attracted in the Arctic is opening new shipping routes in the region. Navigation through the North Pole promises to save lots of money, fuel and time. It is beyond any doubt could not be more attractive to a country like China which is dependent on the Straits of Malacca and canals of Panama and Suez to its business relationships. These straits and passages are saturated with traffic capacity and are hot zones security side. Their sides, For example, the Northwest Passage (north of Canada), and the passage of the North-East (North of Russia) are the shortest ways to connect Shanghai to Rotterdam, Shanghai and New York .

These pathways are currently passable only during the summer. However, global warming may well care to accommodate those who are impatient with the idea of these passages open year round. Indeed, the benefits that represents the Arctic are forgetting parties concerned that the disappearance of the ice sheet also has significant negative consequences. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, the Arctic sea ice has melted dramatically over the past thirty years and that too rapid thawing of the North Pole has a major impact on the ecosystem, as the extinction of several species, including polar bears.

The Arctic is therefore more and more about her. Canada, which borders the Arctic is one of the great interest of this hot issue. The Canadian military exercises last summer demonstrated. Canada is currently in a major process of militarization and Northern Development.

A race is bound to split the last piece of cake that is the Arctic, and China seems determined to take part. After the Arctic, he does we'll just address space ... and on this point, China is not the last on board either ...

Nicolas Laflamme Kunming

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The Toyota Way, Jeffrey K. LIKER

After reading several books on Lean applied to software development, Lean Software Strategies such , Implementing Lean Software Development and Lean Software Development I needed to further my understanding of this philosophy to help her practice on our project. By insisting that
Lean was learned by practice with a mentor practitioner and not in books, Regis Medina I still recommend reading The Toyota Way .

The Toyota Way is the management philosophy practiced by Toyota. It is structured in 4 parts : the long-term philosophy the process, employees and partners and troubleshooting .

Our years of practice of eXtreme Programming of Scrum and Lean Software Development led us to focus on the aspect of Lean process. Our practice is based primarily on the many tools of Lean, such as continuous flow, kanban, the jidoka the andon the heijunka, visual management, etc.. The last ticket Régis Medina shows that we do not represent an isolated case.

Reading Toyota Way has allowed us to understand that we - not overlooked - but underestimated - the other 3 facets: the long-term philosophy the employees and partners and the troubleshooting .

In response, we are currently working on solving problems . On this theme, we are currently working on several fronts in parallel:

1. Make visible problems team (see ticket ) ;
   
2. Implement a systematic and structured solving problems (see note) ;
3. Facilitate regular improvement projects type Kaizen (ticket to come!) ;
4. With practitioners who teach art, leadership practice field (ticket to come!) .

soon for tickets announced!

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AGILE VALENCIA TOUR 2009 - IT'S OVER!

This year, for the 2009 edition of the Agile Tour in Valencia, we had 150 participants representing just over 40 organizations . Thanks to stakeholders and sponsors, we had more people than last year around the theme of agile development. Some bloggers talk
of the event, like:

• Emmanuel Hugonnet ,
• Alexandre Boutin and
• Florian Villoing .

The presentations are available online on the website of CARA .

By attending conferences, it always brings at least one avenue to explore . This year, our team has already begun to put into practice many ideas collected at Agile Tour Valencia:

• Make visible the problems of the team . I will devote a post to this topic alone.
• Valuing technical debt: an automated manner, the visible part of the project's technical debt is measured in hours and estimated correction.
• Our practices systematic problem-solving and continuous improvement are not always a visible impact on our progress indicators (burndown and velocity) . One explanation is to conclude that these practices are ineffective. Another explanation is to assume that our panel of indicators is inappropriate to detect the effect of these improvements. We then completed our management indicators by 2 metric indicating the effectiveness our continuous improvement practices . I also devote a post to this topic alone.

soon for details of our new practices.

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China and love transnational






A text of Charles Hudon

Globalization, global village, economic openness, modern China is increasingly exposed abroad and foreigners ...! Nowadays, more and more visitors going to China, settled there, live there, as more and more Chinese leave China to go and stay overseas. In contact with each other, relationships transnational naturally become more frequent. Of course, this reality is not all Chinese. For many country people, the " laowai " [foreigners] are creatures of television. In a country where modernity and tradition are often in conflict, as does China think of internationalism in love? Is that morals are liberalized as quickly as the economy? An article published in the Huanqiu Shibao October 26 hinted that there may be a slight discrepancy between the views of Beijing and of the general population.



Most recently, a story of love gone wrong between a Pekinese and U.S. partner. After 9 months of dating, the man realizes he is probably better for them to end their relationship. Furious, the woman stabs of 6 knives. The Huanqiu Shibao , organ Party press, seized the opportunity to take the pulse of the people on the issue of transnational romance.

Looking at the conditions under which the survey was conducted, my expectations about the possibilities of obtaining positive results were very low. Indeed, we can really ask ourselves if a pollster who respects himself would have done so. In the preamble to the questionnaire in order to put the probe into the atmosphere, an article we described with scientific precision why, because of differences in culture, expectations for a relationship or sexual habits, the majority of transnational marriages doomed to failure. The article goes on saying that the failure of these transnational relationships generally destabilizes the Chinese women at a level now considered alarming to society. Then, next comes the questionnaire, where we simply request our opinion on the transnational marriages ... Amazed face this approach, a question came to my mind: "What would America completed a survey asking for his opinion on Islam in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks? "

Fortunately, my fears proved unfounded. Despite the strong focus of the survey, 60% of the Chinese showed themselves receptive to the idea of transnational marriages. The comment sounded a particularly well represented the general mood: "It's their right, whether for love, for money or a mystical attraction to the West, it does not concern us, they are free to do as they wish. "Had it not been for the negative coverage of the survey placed in the introduction, it is easy to imagine that the level of support would was much higher.

Considering that this study was conducted by an official newspaper of the Communist Party known for his ultra-nationalist pro-government positions , we can assume that Beijing will take note of the results. They suggest that, on many issues of social, manners of the Chinese are liberalized. It is clear that the Chinese are becoming less friendly to the idea of being told how to manage their privacy.

Charles Hudon, Kunming

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A new apple of discord between Delhi and Beijing






An analysis Nicolas Laflamme

The Sino-Indian relations are again tested. One of the latest row comes from the fact that since last May, the Chinese government sends to students and men / women in Indian Kashmir visa handwritten on separate pages, stapled to their passport . We can legitimately question the Chinese strategy to give special treatment to citizens of a separatist region while China is itself grappling with internal secessionist movements in the provinces of Xinjiang and Tibet.


policy of issuing visas may apply separately for some reason quite clear. It sometimes takes this measure to prevent discrimination that could lead visiting a country. This is one where visitors who go to Israel. This State n'étampe not directly travelers' passports since they could be denied a visa in another country hostile to Israel. This practice can also be done when a country does not officially recognize the control of another country on a disputed territory.

The Chinese embassy in Delhi offered separate visa for some years, but only for residents of the State of Arunachal Pradesh, a territory whose border of 3,500 kilometers with China still remains a very sensitive subject of dispute. In 2007, the Chinese government admitted that he had refused to issue a visa to an Indian Administrative Officer of Arunachal Pradesh. Since that time, citizens of Arunachal who travel to China are issuing visas stamped on a sheet paperback their passport. The Kashmiris are now offering the same treatment.



Question of lather just the tensions, a senior Kashmiri separatist leader, Molvi Abbas Ansari, said the decision reflects China's recognition of Kashmir as disputed territory . Moreover, the Chinese government began offering to journalists visiting Tibet a free brochure "information base" describing the province as close to Burma, Nepal, India and Kashmir. India is genuinely offended to see a part of its territory named alongside sovereign and independent State.

This position China's recent deal to Kashmir is another step in its policy on the disputed region of Indian subcontinent. While China adopted a neutral stance in the 50s on the Kashmir issue during the 60s and 70s, due to border issues still pending with India, Beijing changed its position toward public support in Pakistan. It should be noted here that Pakistan is in favor of a resolution of the Kashmir problem by consulting the local population, while India claims the region in its entirety. However, with the improvement of Sino-Indian relations in the early 80s, China had returned to a neutral position, and later in the 90 states that the conflict in Kashmir was an issue that should be settled bilaterally between India and Pakistan. After the India-Pakistan conflict of 1999, China called on Pakistan to withdraw from the territories belonging de facto Kashmiri to India, and thereby accepted the delimitation of Kashmir. Since November 2003, India and Pakistan maintain a cease-fire on both sides of the Line of Control (one of the most militarized border in the world) that divides their respective region of Kashmir. The Indians were also built after 2003 a electrified fence on the border that Pakistan condemns . While Kashmiris called earlier this month for talks to resolve the conflict, will no real cooperation on the part of Delhi has been expressed.

China, with the development that we know, beyond any doubt has advantage to promote a stable and peaceful Asia, particularly in its border regions. One wonders, therefore, again, while the slogan of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is currently maintaining a "society harmonious, "why raise new disagreements with neighboring India? One wonders if the China-Pakistan friendly relations have something to do with this ... Although India has warned China not to get involved in projects on the territory of Pakistani Kashmir in August , China signed an agreement with Pakistan on the construction of a hydroelectric project of 7,000 megawatts at Bunji (Kashmiri region of Pakistan). Both countries are also working on improving Karakoram Highway that links Kashgar in Xinjiang province, from Gilgit and Bunji by Pakistan in Kashmir, Havelin up near Pakistan.

Although Sino-Indian War of 1962, which cost the region of Aksai Chin in India, seems far behind, border conflicts are again more than ever between the current heavyweights. Whether incursions in Ladakh in the east Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir for a few months ago and repeated intrusions, including that of a helicopter in Arunachal Pradesh, these activities among other negative outcomes that diplomatic joint military exercises that took place in 2007 and 2008 will not place this year between the two countries.

Deterioration of Sino-Indian is also expressed by the efforts China has succeeded in August, to deny a vote to grant India a loan from the Asian Development Bank which included funding for projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

Another aspect to come to watch closely is the visit of the famous globetrotter known as the Dalai Lama, scheduled for 8 November in Tawang, in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. This event not highly contested PPC is far ahead of the warm relations between these two rising powers ...



Nicolas Laflamme, Kunming

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Indiana Jones in Asia: China in search of legendary relics






A note from Charles Hudon

Islamic Art , Egyptian, Roman sculptures, Indian paintings ... how these works from the four corners of the planet, could they be in the greatest museums in the world? Under what conditions these pieces were acquired? Who owns the world's cultural heritage? China joined the debate and influence growing on the international scene could play a decisive role in resolving this issue.

To understand China's position, just ask a few simple questions. For example, what would you do if a stranger was seeping into your house, seized several items of value to you and, before leaving, put fire in your home? What would you do if, shortly after, in full sight of all, your items were sold without the law can not do anything to protect your rights? Although it is difficult to predict what an individual would do in such a situation, I think we can agree that it would be probably furious, and rightly so.



It's a bit in this situation that China now finds itself. In 1860, during the second Opium War, British and French troops took possession of what is now known as the Old Summer Palace. Two days later, to avenge the execution of prisoners in Europe, Britain ordered its complete destruction. These events gave rise to massive looting of artwork in what the Chinese called him the palace of palaces. Far from being the single case of looting of works of art in Chinese territory, this event is generally regarded by the people and government as a symbol.

According to the UN, nearly one million Chinese art are now dispersed in over 200 museums and in numerous private collections in nearly 50 countries around the globe. Issues relating to the restitution of these works are highly sensitive in China. This week Huanqiu Shibao announced that the group "Yuanmingyuan Management Office (圆明园 管理 处) was preparing to send a group of experts in the United States, Great Britain, France, Japan and several other countries to establish a complete inventory of these missing works and arrange for their safe return Chinese soil.

China's position

For China, the best scenario would be to see the museums of the world to demonstrate philanthropy by making voluntary donations. Earlier this year, several requests were made in this direction when Peter Berger and Yves St. Laurent began auctioning two heads of Chinese bronze from their personal collection. Both men had found the proposal interesting, Peter Berger has even said he would gladly give these parts to Beijing if he "pledged to respect human rights, to free the Tibetan people and to welcome the Dalai Lama. This example points out that politically, China is still found at a disadvantage, which leads to maintaining the status quo.
the side of public opinion , a recent survey revealed that more Chinese would advocate the purchase of works by Chinese multinationals doing business in countries where these works. Having received greatly from rapid development is having sometimes at the expense of the environment and the poorest in China, the time would come for these multinationals to thank the Chinese people by making him the gift.

For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Culture has put forward a four-point strategy surrounding the issue of repatriation of cultural relics in China:
(1) Improve the protection of existing assets in order to prevent loss of new cultural relics and demonstrate that the property may be returned adequately preserved;
(2) Improve and strengthen the legal provisions relating to theft and smuggling of art objects in order to obtain more credible legal support in international requests;
(3) Strengthen the investigative work on Chinese cultural relics are finding Abroad in allocating benefit funds and personnel for this task;
(4) Intensify diplomatic work to encourage the return of cultural property lost.

Law

When it comes to national cultural relics plundered in wartime international law does not yet actually closed binding may force the parties involved to make works. Currently, in order to prevent their auction on the international market, China relies mainly on moral convictions. The results are, of course, very modest.

Legally, the biggest problem lies in the definition of owner. Technically, the government would be the best candidate may, on behalf of the Chinese people, proclaim ownership of the property. However, the Chinese legal system does not recognize the legality of lawsuits filed against Beijing by foreign governments. If the Chinese government had himself to indulge in this kind of practice should recognize, in return, the right to sue other countries, thus abandoning the principle of its immunity to foreign countries. For now, China is not yet ready to take that step.

Moreover, as China does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, a Chinese citizen can not file a complaint on his behalf at the close of this proceeding.

Faced with these legal challenges, China can always turn to some international treaties

-The Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property, signed at The Hague in 1954;

- The Convention on the prohibition of illegal import and export of cultural property, signed by UNESCO in 1970;

-convention on cultural property stolen or illegally exported, signed in Rome in 1995.

Again, difficulties abound. In most cases these treaties lack of binding capacity. On the other hand, these treaties typically include cases with less than 70 years of history and only the cases having been considered after the signing of these agreements are considered.

Redemption?

The frequency with which these treasures of Chinese history can be found for auction could allow Beijing to recover several works in a relatively short time. The latest episode dates back to April 29. On this occasion, the collector behind the event was nothing less than the direct descendant of a French general who participated in the looting of the Summer Palace, some 150 years earlier. To add insult, the collector was expressed on the blog and the website of the French newspaper, the Echoes " We hope this auction will attract people who want to demonstrate their devotion to Beijing to encourage bids. We hope that those Chinese who have a lot of money will struggle to buy these items at any price. " Address deficiencies in the law, the redemption option could still be considered.

It seems that, although China is finally determined to repossess his works, the purchase is not necessarily the best alternative. In a way, participate in auctions imply recognition Beijing by the legality of the sale. Buy one of these works would create a precedent that could possibly harm him in the process of repatriation of other works.

The choice of words

The reward of art is a complex subject which is already giving headaches to many museums around the world. To understand in what situation is now Beijing, it is important to have a look at some cases that are now schools in this area.

Take for example the case of England and Greece, where art is the source of a diplomatic cold raging between the two countries for several years. The origin of these divisions back to the early 19th century. At that time, Lord Elgin bought the Ottoman Empire, which then occupied Greece, the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles. Since 1816, these pieces are on display at the British Museum. Although the Ottoman Empire had controlled Greece from 1460 to 1833, Athens does not recognize today the legality of the transaction and demanded the return of the documents. While some museums have already made the return of fragments from the Parthenon, the British Museum are fiercely resisted, arguing that these claims would eventually empty the most important museums in the world. On this point, the major American and European museums stand together in creating a true ban on all matters of restitution.

Closer to home, Quebec has also been involved in controversies of restitution. In the late 1940s, the history of art takes a considerable growth in the United States. Soon, the Americans are developing a specialist knowledge of art Quebecois who matched with us. A period of massive purchases of religious art that leaves Quebec la Belle Province to join our neighbor to the south. Statues, ornaments, furniture, everything goes. The conditions under which these pieces were purchased today are considered "unorthodox". Convinced that these "old" items had no value, the parishes were exchanging cons of furniture "nine". Consequently, for several years, the finest collections of French Canadian furniture were exhibited in New York and Philadelphia. Following lengthy discussions, Many of these silver pieces were religious data Museum in Ottawa. Here, the term "given" is particularly important.

In such situations, the choice of words is crucial. Return does not equal giving, lending or exchanging. In the case of England, while opposing any form of restitution, the British Museum would be pretty open to discuss the possibility of loans . Even if these loans were to be eternal, accepting, Athens implicitly recognizes that the purchase of relics was made under legal conditions, This would avoid setting a precedent that would weaken law all major museums. Of course, Athens will not listen. Greece argues that the problem is an ethical and cultural, not legal order. To this end, the Greek culture minister is adamant : "anything that is Greek, wherever in the world, we want it back. "These comments

open the door to the idea of" cultural property "concept that would see the ownership of cultural property given to a group, a minority ethnic even a country, not a particular individual. According to this thinking, regardless of the terms of acquisitions, the best place to appreciate a work of art would be in its original environment. In this way, "Italy today proclaims its cultural property rights on everything that comes from the territory today known in Italy for the past 1200 years. "

China has certainly noticed this new ending to the saga of the restitution of art objects. In my opinion, it would not be surprising to see one day Beijing to initiate a recovery strategy much broader. The debate surrounding the restitution of art objects could possibly ill-gotten leverage towards a devolution strategy at large. In this regard, although legally acquired, China has already demonstrated its interest in many exhibits in the museum in Tokyo. Indeed, relations between China and Japan did not begin yesterday. The museum is full of Tokyo who now works in the show, works that were offered by China over hundreds of years that characterize the diplomatic history of both countries.

Looking at the other side of the coin a question comes to mind, whether the country is necessarily the best position to protect its antiquities, now regarded as world heritage? To this end, the British Museum likes to say that, but for his intervention, the Parthenon Marbles would probably now completely disappeared. Other examples come to give weight to this argument. The case of Egypt, which for hundreds of years, has failed to protect the artistic treasures of the pyramids is to consider, or the Taliban who proceeded the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, site classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. Regarding the case of China, his critics could probably argue that, had they left for abroad, several works that are now the subject of restitution claims might have disappeared during the Cultural Revolution.

The idea that a museum can meet in one place a collection of worldwide cultural and open to the public, may be regarded as a "World Heritage Center, is often defended by museums like the British Museum and the Louvre. Although not totally meaningless, the fact that some parts being found in these collections are from the plunder of the country, who are now demanding their return, takes a lot of credibility to this proposal.

Through this controversy, it is clear that requests for refunds will evolve conditionally to Chinese economic development. As such, China may consider the example of some Middle East oil that offered advantages in the negotiation of bilateral refund. Without directly buy these lost items, China will have one way or another, put your hand in the portfolio. Provide economic benefits could be a solution that would enable both parties to keep their "mianzi" (face).

Charles Hudon, Kunming