The Chinese eat dog. And cats. There.
Text Emilie-Anne Leroux
Sometimes going to a Chinese restaurant with non-Sinophiles seems difficult. Defending the safety they are constantly challenging and hygiene, the minimum age of employees, the legality of their ingredients. I find it pretty tiring having to answer their "it will surely be the cat in these sausages! "Previously, I reassured them that not. Since January 26, I'm not sure what to say ...
It started with a small article in The Economist , which I am a faithful reader. Off the menu is the title of the article revealing what is surely the most interesting for Cccidentaux of topics during the plenary session 10 of the CCP. My curiosity was piqued, especially having studied law for one year.
Did you know that no legislation prohibits the consumption of dog or cat to Canada? Indeed, if you kill yourself fido and taste it, you'd be nothing objectionable. As long as you kill it humanely. That is to say that laws exist to protect animals much concern the treatment of animals as their "placing the dish." This is because in Canada, eating cat or dog is a taboo subject outrageously.
Not quite the same in Asia. China, Japan, Korea, all have ancient traditions around the feline meat consumption and, more particularly, canine. It was found that meat special nutritional properties. There are recipes for soups to the dog, and even a dish of meat mixed serpentine and feline who is reputed to be a real treat!
I already knew that the meat is consumed canine and feline emergencies in time of war or famine. In an excellent novel about the lives of three generations of women during the 20th century Chinese Wild Swans by Jung Chang , it tells a story set during the Japanese occupation of northern China: some families have eaten their younger rather than starve. Fact true or not, in this context, it is easy to imagine he should stay or pooch or kitty in the neighborhood. What would you do? This is not a remedy limited to Asia. Even in Britain, during shortages of meat, some cats were found in pies "rabbit."
laws against eating dog meat in Asia began in Hong Kong in 1950. In 2004, it was Taiwan. China will propose a new law this April and may be the year of the Tiger she became the year of the release of cats and dogs too. The proposal on the table that would ban consumption as a measure for protection against the cruelty of animals - but change suddenly the treatment of a culinary tradition that draws on references in ancient myths. The penalty? "The law's violators" could face a penalty of up to 50,000 yuan ($ 7.325) and 15 days in police custody "under the anti-animal-cruelty laws . Far from me to assess how this law will be effective within the mindset of ordinary citizens, but I can imagine a small restaurant owner fined for $ 7.325. Surely he will think twice before continuing the practice, which some say is large decline anyway.
the Philippines since 1998, killing cats and dogs for consumption was made illegal. That said, organizations that defend animal rights reported that 12 years later, "dogs are 500.000 Killed Annually in the Philippine Islands for human consumption. "It remains to be seen how this will be successful in China.
And democracy in all this?
For a law to have impact, it still needs to find root in people's minds. The new laws must reflect a change in attitude among those who defend or initiate him. My first thought in all this was that China was complying the demands of the West and international organizations for protection against cruelty to animals. She let herself be influenced by the morals, ideals entirely cultural and even the ridiculous sublime elevation levels of the concept of pets who wins the West. Perhaps it was an attempt to appease Western critics. By cons, informing me more about the subject, I realized that the initiative came from the Chinese - some of them, anyway.
June 19, forty Chinese citizens have expressed in Shenzhen, Guangzhou to protest against a restaurant that served cat meat. The event is the result of a call made to the front-line on a website. This must be linked with the growth of the middle class in China who appropriates all Western trends - the cafes, dog strollers for dogs and everything else.
Surely democracy in its election will take a longer period of gestation, but I find it quite significant expression of the Chinese on issues that are not directly related to their own well-being (as compared to the employment or treatment of foreclosed). The law in China is not much gained here. Indeed, the Western legal procedure and substantive law are methods copied to other systems and has always managed to adapt laws and regulations to its own national needs. With China begins to make laws against animal cruelty, I feel a bit in a new era.
Personally, I do not see myself being able to kill a cat or dog. But I would not be more capable of killing a cow, duck, lamb or chicken. Western hypocrisy? You decide your level of tolerance for the personal morality of the issue. At the same time, if we think ahead to the food crises increasingly in the future, who knows what will be faced human being?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Postnuptial Agreement Sample Ny
What else does the revolutionary fraternity in China? Exit
An analysis of Charles Hudon
Since their abdication of power last May, the Nepalese Maoists are redoubling their efforts in order to bring down the government. Their strategy: to create social chaos by unrest and violence. Generally putting regional stability at the top of its priorities, China would be right to see a dim view of these events. The recent comments by Prachanda, leader of Maoist party, however, suggested otherwise. Back from a journey in healing the country of Mao, he told the media that the turmoil caused by his party actually benefit the Chinese blessing. China had officially withdrawn from revolutionary politics since 1979, these revelations lead us to question the nature of ties between these two players today.
Maoism
In 1949, when Mao Zedong took power, his thinking is strongly influenced by Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. The Great Helmsman, however, apply their doctrine rather peculiar way, adapting to the specific conditions of China. When the Sino-Soviet split occurs, the specificities of the Chinese model attracted new attention. Suddenly, China is found to play a leading role in combating international anti-revisionist. Mao's thought is gaining in popularity, until finally being considered a distinct ideology.
Maoism attracted. In the 70s, hundreds of Maoist organizations campaigning in Europe. Over the years, countries such as Peru, Japan, Philippines and even the United States and Canada, must learn to live with the presence of their national parties Maoists. Meanwhile, China, the influence of Maoist thinking is in freefall. The legacy of Mao is manhandled by the arrival of Deng Xiaoping that puts economic growth before ideological purity. Although Maoism does not disappear completely from China, it remains largely confined to history books and political education. Consequently, today, though the leaders claim Beijing always thought of the Father of the Nation, it remains largely outside the area of practice.
Nepalese Maoists
Ironically, while at the height of the Cold War years, no Maoist party only managed to seize power in Asia, that of Nepal is needed now as the political force the largest in the country.
The party was founded in 1994. Since its inception, its leaders display their preference for armed struggle. It only takes two years to see the National Liberation Army reach the mountains in order to put into practice its strategy of revolutionary guerrilla. In 2006, more than 13,000 deaths later, the Maoists and the government sign a peace agreement that allows the former guerrillas to join the political system. Two years later, Prachanda was elected Prime Minister of Nepal.
Given this success story, many seek to know what lies behind the revolutionary organization. Waging war is expensive. The bases of party support mainly from poor rural areas, how it could he support the mobilization of its approximately 40,000 militants for so long? By a set of associations rather simplistic epistemological, attention is naturally turning to China. Do we have reason to suspect that?
The great love?
It is not enough, in fact, give a brief overview of the history of the years of Maoist China whitening. It shares a border 'porous' to nearly 1000 km with its neighboring Nepal. She is particularly aware that a situation that degenerates in this country is likely to have disastrous effects on the stability of Tibet. In what she describes as "the task of putting an end to terrorist activities in Nepal," she chooses to offer its support to the monarchy in power. The stability of Nepal is seen as the top priority the lives of the underprivileged who live there are far outnumbered. On several occasions, China severely condemns the actions Maoist organization that refuses to acknowledge officially. She takes care never to utter the name of this revolutionary movement, opting instead for the term "anti-government armed group". Beijing does not miss an opportunity to recall that in his view, the Nepalese Maoists are a bunch of imposters who sully the name of Mao Zedong. In Beijing, there is concern that negative publicity associated with Maoism might possibly harm the international image of China.
Beijing's attitude fails to reverse the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). Within the NCP, China is in any way considered an example not to follow in relation to revolutionary purity. For many party members, China has committed the unpardonable crime of having sacrificed the Communist ideal on the altar of economic growth. Even today, many purists perceive Nepalese Cultural Revolution as a "incritiquable. This attitude contrasts sharply with the view that they were Deng Xiaoping, they identify as most responsible for the ideological dilution was conducted for the benefit of accelerated modernization. Several factions within the NCP claim that what China needed most now, this is a second Cultural Revolution.
Since 2008
The takeover Maoist forces both parties to reconsider their positions. Yesterday's enemies begin a reconciliation. Anxious to counter the excessive influence that India has on the countries, China remains the only alternative to the new government. The Maoists do not show spiteful and agreed to cooperate with Beijing on issues surrounding the stability in Tibet. Normalize their relations.
After leaving the country's leadership, the resumption of destabilization by the Maoists should drive a wedge between these new friends. Prachanda's recent statements suggests, however, that his party still enjoys the blessing of China. While the new government of Nepal has guaranteed the continuity of policies put forward by the Maoists against China, why continue to support them? The answer is perhaps spiritual expressions.
Opium of the People
Nepal is a predominantly Hindu nation. Living manifestation of Indian culture, this religion provides India and Nepal a set of common customs and rituals that creates ties between these nations, ties that no draft China's economic development can never be matched. This anchoring "civilizational" gives headaches to China. The project penetration of Nepal, seen as a key element in China's policy of "Looking South" necessarily does not advance as quickly as desired. The Hindu variable, which consistently favors India at the expense of China, plays a lot.
Followers of Marxist principle that see religion as the opium of the people, the Nepalese Maoists are probably the most likely candidate to provide support to China on this issue. During their recent stay in power, the work was started. Last May, the Maoists were to pass a resolution abolishing the only Hindu monarchy in the world and replace it with a secular republic. Recognizing that a simple decree was likely to have little tangible effect on the spiritual situation of the country, Maoists took away then physically at Pashupatinath temple, one the most important symbols of Hindu Nepal. At a
interview he gave to the International Humanist and Ethical Union, "Baburam Bathattarai, the ideologue of the party, stated:" We are Marxists and materialists. We must do much more than simply separating religion and government (...) Today there are more programs of a religious broadcast on Nepal TV than any other genre. Broadcasts glorifying the "Ramayana" and the "Mahabharatha" are among the most popular. That pollute how the soul of youth is highly damaging to our society. Religion has no place in school, any more than it has in public programs. We must discourage this kind of beliefs and values, which will eventually disappear completely religion of Nepal. "
With some exceptions, the Nepalese political parties all have similar platforms with regard to China. The Maoist attitude against religion, coupled with their serious approach demonstrated by taking concrete steps in their path to power is finally a comparative advantage in the eyes of China. This is probably the variable most likely to explain the support that Beijing seems to continue to give the Maoists, despite the resumption of their destabilizing activities. Nepal lacks a Hindu identity would facilitate the spread of Maoist ideology in the country, which would at the same time a favorable environment for Chinese penetration.
This reading of recent developments in relations between China / Maoists once again confirms the fact that Beijing has finally set aside the principle of "revolutionary fraternity "In pursuit of its international relations. In the years following the founding of the rebel group, China had neither funded nor helped the organization. Instead, she chose instead to use its influence to put a spoke in the wheels. Only when the Maoists in power as China began to approach them. The ideological affinity for there being nothing, China would rather motivated by pragmatic calculations looking to improve its long-term position in Asia.
This attitude seems to want to smile. The idea of exporting its ideas at gunpoint cost him dearly in the past. The success was limited to say the least, enemies and created numerous. Pacifist, the new diplomatic style of China added to the outstanding economic performance, completely changes the way many countries perceive China. Being no longer under the weight of the threat, many of them now decide voluntarily to imitate what is now considered the "Chinese model".
An analysis of Charles Hudon
Since their abdication of power last May, the Nepalese Maoists are redoubling their efforts in order to bring down the government. Their strategy: to create social chaos by unrest and violence. Generally putting regional stability at the top of its priorities, China would be right to see a dim view of these events. The recent comments by Prachanda, leader of Maoist party, however, suggested otherwise. Back from a journey in healing the country of Mao, he told the media that the turmoil caused by his party actually benefit the Chinese blessing. China had officially withdrawn from revolutionary politics since 1979, these revelations lead us to question the nature of ties between these two players today.
Maoism
In 1949, when Mao Zedong took power, his thinking is strongly influenced by Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. The Great Helmsman, however, apply their doctrine rather peculiar way, adapting to the specific conditions of China. When the Sino-Soviet split occurs, the specificities of the Chinese model attracted new attention. Suddenly, China is found to play a leading role in combating international anti-revisionist. Mao's thought is gaining in popularity, until finally being considered a distinct ideology.
Maoism attracted. In the 70s, hundreds of Maoist organizations campaigning in Europe. Over the years, countries such as Peru, Japan, Philippines and even the United States and Canada, must learn to live with the presence of their national parties Maoists. Meanwhile, China, the influence of Maoist thinking is in freefall. The legacy of Mao is manhandled by the arrival of Deng Xiaoping that puts economic growth before ideological purity. Although Maoism does not disappear completely from China, it remains largely confined to history books and political education. Consequently, today, though the leaders claim Beijing always thought of the Father of the Nation, it remains largely outside the area of practice.
Nepalese Maoists
Ironically, while at the height of the Cold War years, no Maoist party only managed to seize power in Asia, that of Nepal is needed now as the political force the largest in the country.
The party was founded in 1994. Since its inception, its leaders display their preference for armed struggle. It only takes two years to see the National Liberation Army reach the mountains in order to put into practice its strategy of revolutionary guerrilla. In 2006, more than 13,000 deaths later, the Maoists and the government sign a peace agreement that allows the former guerrillas to join the political system. Two years later, Prachanda was elected Prime Minister of Nepal.
Given this success story, many seek to know what lies behind the revolutionary organization. Waging war is expensive. The bases of party support mainly from poor rural areas, how it could he support the mobilization of its approximately 40,000 militants for so long? By a set of associations rather simplistic epistemological, attention is naturally turning to China. Do we have reason to suspect that?
The great love?
It is not enough, in fact, give a brief overview of the history of the years of Maoist China whitening. It shares a border 'porous' to nearly 1000 km with its neighboring Nepal. She is particularly aware that a situation that degenerates in this country is likely to have disastrous effects on the stability of Tibet. In what she describes as "the task of putting an end to terrorist activities in Nepal," she chooses to offer its support to the monarchy in power. The stability of Nepal is seen as the top priority the lives of the underprivileged who live there are far outnumbered. On several occasions, China severely condemns the actions Maoist organization that refuses to acknowledge officially. She takes care never to utter the name of this revolutionary movement, opting instead for the term "anti-government armed group". Beijing does not miss an opportunity to recall that in his view, the Nepalese Maoists are a bunch of imposters who sully the name of Mao Zedong. In Beijing, there is concern that negative publicity associated with Maoism might possibly harm the international image of China.
Beijing's attitude fails to reverse the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). Within the NCP, China is in any way considered an example not to follow in relation to revolutionary purity. For many party members, China has committed the unpardonable crime of having sacrificed the Communist ideal on the altar of economic growth. Even today, many purists perceive Nepalese Cultural Revolution as a "incritiquable. This attitude contrasts sharply with the view that they were Deng Xiaoping, they identify as most responsible for the ideological dilution was conducted for the benefit of accelerated modernization. Several factions within the NCP claim that what China needed most now, this is a second Cultural Revolution.
Since 2008
The takeover Maoist forces both parties to reconsider their positions. Yesterday's enemies begin a reconciliation. Anxious to counter the excessive influence that India has on the countries, China remains the only alternative to the new government. The Maoists do not show spiteful and agreed to cooperate with Beijing on issues surrounding the stability in Tibet. Normalize their relations.
After leaving the country's leadership, the resumption of destabilization by the Maoists should drive a wedge between these new friends. Prachanda's recent statements suggests, however, that his party still enjoys the blessing of China. While the new government of Nepal has guaranteed the continuity of policies put forward by the Maoists against China, why continue to support them? The answer is perhaps spiritual expressions.
Opium of the People
Nepal is a predominantly Hindu nation. Living manifestation of Indian culture, this religion provides India and Nepal a set of common customs and rituals that creates ties between these nations, ties that no draft China's economic development can never be matched. This anchoring "civilizational" gives headaches to China. The project penetration of Nepal, seen as a key element in China's policy of "Looking South" necessarily does not advance as quickly as desired. The Hindu variable, which consistently favors India at the expense of China, plays a lot.
Followers of Marxist principle that see religion as the opium of the people, the Nepalese Maoists are probably the most likely candidate to provide support to China on this issue. During their recent stay in power, the work was started. Last May, the Maoists were to pass a resolution abolishing the only Hindu monarchy in the world and replace it with a secular republic. Recognizing that a simple decree was likely to have little tangible effect on the spiritual situation of the country, Maoists took away then physically at Pashupatinath temple, one the most important symbols of Hindu Nepal. At a
interview he gave to the International Humanist and Ethical Union, "Baburam Bathattarai, the ideologue of the party, stated:" We are Marxists and materialists. We must do much more than simply separating religion and government (...) Today there are more programs of a religious broadcast on Nepal TV than any other genre. Broadcasts glorifying the "Ramayana" and the "Mahabharatha" are among the most popular. That pollute how the soul of youth is highly damaging to our society. Religion has no place in school, any more than it has in public programs. We must discourage this kind of beliefs and values, which will eventually disappear completely religion of Nepal. "
With some exceptions, the Nepalese political parties all have similar platforms with regard to China. The Maoist attitude against religion, coupled with their serious approach demonstrated by taking concrete steps in their path to power is finally a comparative advantage in the eyes of China. This is probably the variable most likely to explain the support that Beijing seems to continue to give the Maoists, despite the resumption of their destabilizing activities. Nepal lacks a Hindu identity would facilitate the spread of Maoist ideology in the country, which would at the same time a favorable environment for Chinese penetration.
This reading of recent developments in relations between China / Maoists once again confirms the fact that Beijing has finally set aside the principle of "revolutionary fraternity "In pursuit of its international relations. In the years following the founding of the rebel group, China had neither funded nor helped the organization. Instead, she chose instead to use its influence to put a spoke in the wheels. Only when the Maoists in power as China began to approach them. The ideological affinity for there being nothing, China would rather motivated by pragmatic calculations looking to improve its long-term position in Asia.
This attitude seems to want to smile. The idea of exporting its ideas at gunpoint cost him dearly in the past. The success was limited to say the least, enemies and created numerous. Pacifist, the new diplomatic style of China added to the outstanding economic performance, completely changes the way many countries perceive China. Being no longer under the weight of the threat, many of them now decide voluntarily to imitate what is now considered the "Chinese model".
Monday, March 8, 2010
Family Dollar Teck Decks
China to join the Maoists ...
A text of Charles Hudon
February was generally allows a majority Chinese take vacations. Workers enjoy a week off to celebrate the new year, while students sit for about 5 weeks until the start of spring semester. It is not difficult to imagine that the second month of the year usually becomes migratory period. For foreign students, the situation is the same. This year I used my winter vacation to get to Nepal, where the intellectual legacy of Mao Zedong has a considerable influence, having no equal in any other region. The Nepalese Maoists
who left office there only 10 months I expect to see clear signs of Nepal "Sinis". Barely off the plane, I realized that the ideological affinities that could potentially bring the largest party in the Consultative Assembly of Nepal and China were facing featherweight figure all that represents the Indian giant Nepal. Indeed, the cultural and historical ties between these two neighbors since time immemorial, coupled with significant and regular human contact as well as relations economic flourishing, give Nepal airs real Indian suburb.
The regional picture moving rapidly in Asia, there are indications that this situation could be expected to change in years to come. Smaller battles can sometimes be decisive in a global strategy, China is now placing increasing attention to its Himalayan neighbor. Although its significance in terms of production, technological development and potential as an export market is limited, its location gives importance to Nepal geopolitics that China can no longer afford to ignore.
Watch south
With the coming to power of Deng Xiaoping in 1979, China finally abandoned its expansionist aims. Potential threat, China began a process that aims to cultivate harmonious relations and economic policy with its Asian neighbors to strengthen its position as a regional power. In Southeast Asia, China enter the pretensions, however, conflict with those of another regional superpower: India. Affinities both historical and geographical, cultural, linguistic, ethnic and social and even family ties bind the region to India, which grants him an edge in this struggle for influence. This reality has forced China to establish a policy of "Looking South", which is primarily intended as a response to the policy of "Looking East" of India. With this, China has broadened its presence in countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, but the work still to do considerable.
Nepal is a key variable in China's overall strategy in South Asia. It aims, among others, build ties with India's immediate neighbors in order to marginalize its influence. The particular geographical location of Nepal to take the Chinese strategists want him to play a passage to unify China in South Asia. In addition to opening a road that would allow it to increase its strategic presence in what is regarded by India as its traditional sphere of influence, a greater presence in Nepal would allow China to capitalize on the hydropower potential of Nepal sleeping , valued at 83.000 megawatts. The 5
Fingers
few short years after the Communist victory in China, Mao Zedong put forward the policy of the five fingers of the hand. It stressed the importance of play in Bhutan, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and in Nepal as a buffer between India and China. Nearly 60 years later, we find that the vast majority of these "fingers" were amputated by India. Since the Tibetan riots of 2008, China resumed consciousness of the importance of "finger" of Nepal. With a population of Tibetan refugees amounting to more than 20 000 people Beijing seeks to ensure that the government cooperates and works to ensure that Nepal does not become a base of operations in activities "anti-Chinese." Beijing now sees the stability of Nepal as a key to stability in West China.
strategy: the Chinese model
In order to achieve its goals, China is taking drastic measures. Faithful to the habits developed in Africa, she literally runs the red carpet and treats Nepal like no other superpower had done before. In order to strengthen its relations with Nepal, China has established a four-pronged strategy aimed at:
1) To accommodate the concerns of Nepal;
2) To strengthen economic cooperation based on principles "win-win"
3) To stimulate contacts and cultural exchanges between the two peoples;
4) To strengthen cooperation between China and Nepal on the regional and international scene. To attract
Nepal, China plays the card of "soft power" with gusto. Since 2005, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal opened the "Nepal-China Mutual Cooperation Society, an organization whose objective is to strengthen Diplomatic relations between the two countries while spreading an image of a China "friendly" as opposed to an India "hegemonic". The establishment of a large network of Centres for Chinese Studies centers fully funded by Beijing and dedicated to the promotion of Sino-Nepalese, wants another link in this strategy "blow of heart". Another prime example, the radio station "Radio China International, which recently launched an FM station based in Kathmandu with a mission to" bring China Nepal. This component rather
Dynamics of China's strategy contrasts sharply with the passive attitude of India, due to similarities in culture and traditions, has often taken for granted Nepal. The result is that the balance now increasingly in favor of China in the Nepalese public opinion perceives wrongly or rightly, as a cooperative power well intentioned.
Recognizing the limitations of a "soft power" that would be accompanied by concrete commitments, China has been extending economic assistance projects, loans at favorable rates, infrastructure development and providing for exemptions from tariffs to a range of Nepalese products. Projects that received most attention are undoubtedly those of highway linking Lhasa to Khasa, a town 80 km from Kathmandu, as well as extension of the Lhasa railway / Golmud to the Nepalese border.
Apart from his involvement economically, the interest that China brings to its neighbor can also be seen from a military standpoint. In September 2008, for example, China announced the disbursement of military aid worth $ 1.3 million in Nepal, the first of its kind granted to the new Maoist government. Then in December, it promised to release $ 2.6 million in additional assistance related to security sector in Nepal.
Back to the Future?
This strategy seems to place China in a good position in Nepal, which now has the wind in your sails. Aware that a favorable breeze can quickly turn into a storm, a good browser, however, must always be careful that the wind gets up. Could it be that China is walking into a minefield? Road construction, military assistance ... it reminds us not he something?
We are in 1988. Nepal just to acquire a large amount of Chinese weapons. A few weeks later, China is advancing its plan to build roads designed to connect China to Nepal. It does not take more that India feels threatened and reacts. In retaliation, she lifts a trade embargo against Nepal, putting his neighbor state of siege. The economic consequences of this are huge commercial block. Shortages of fuel, salt, vegetable oil and food are soon felt. The tourism industry enters a recession. Private gas for heating, the Nepalese are forced to look to forest resources already threatened, causing extensive environmental damage. Caught by the throat, Nepal retracts. The small country several grants trading privileges in India and calls on China to withhold delivery of weapons.
What lesson has China learned from this experience? The past is often a guarantee of future we are right to think that India will not look at the recent China-Nepal approximation without doing anything.
The way the Maoist government was forced to abandon power suggests that India has already begun to react. While the Maoists formed the government, China had openly displayed his support for the project in Nepal to sack the head of the national army in order to integrate the Maoist army with it. India, itself struggling with a Maoist guerrillas in the north-east of his country, naturally saw a dim view of the "maoïsation" of the Nepalese Army. His fears led it to do everything in his power to prevent the implementation of this project, with the result that we know. Some weeks later, the failure of the Nepalese Prime Minister on this issue compelled the Maoists from power. Although the national press has presented the event as a purely national crisis, the episode should definitely be seen as an Indian victory in the standoff between the Nepalese in Beijing. With a newfound confidence, China does not seem to have left rather intimidating and continues its momentum.
Who will win the facing Sino-Indian Nepal? Hard to say, but the most likely option remains the Nepal. If he manages to play his cards well by swinging its relations with the two giants that surround it, Nepal should benefit greatly from the current situation. With a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, unemployment rates exceeding 46% and inflation rising at a rate of 13% annually, is the least we can wish him.
Charles Hudon
In Katmandu
A text of Charles Hudon
February was generally allows a majority Chinese take vacations. Workers enjoy a week off to celebrate the new year, while students sit for about 5 weeks until the start of spring semester. It is not difficult to imagine that the second month of the year usually becomes migratory period. For foreign students, the situation is the same. This year I used my winter vacation to get to Nepal, where the intellectual legacy of Mao Zedong has a considerable influence, having no equal in any other region. The Nepalese Maoists
who left office there only 10 months I expect to see clear signs of Nepal "Sinis". Barely off the plane, I realized that the ideological affinities that could potentially bring the largest party in the Consultative Assembly of Nepal and China were facing featherweight figure all that represents the Indian giant Nepal. Indeed, the cultural and historical ties between these two neighbors since time immemorial, coupled with significant and regular human contact as well as relations economic flourishing, give Nepal airs real Indian suburb.
The regional picture moving rapidly in Asia, there are indications that this situation could be expected to change in years to come. Smaller battles can sometimes be decisive in a global strategy, China is now placing increasing attention to its Himalayan neighbor. Although its significance in terms of production, technological development and potential as an export market is limited, its location gives importance to Nepal geopolitics that China can no longer afford to ignore.
Watch south
With the coming to power of Deng Xiaoping in 1979, China finally abandoned its expansionist aims. Potential threat, China began a process that aims to cultivate harmonious relations and economic policy with its Asian neighbors to strengthen its position as a regional power. In Southeast Asia, China enter the pretensions, however, conflict with those of another regional superpower: India. Affinities both historical and geographical, cultural, linguistic, ethnic and social and even family ties bind the region to India, which grants him an edge in this struggle for influence. This reality has forced China to establish a policy of "Looking South", which is primarily intended as a response to the policy of "Looking East" of India. With this, China has broadened its presence in countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, but the work still to do considerable.
Nepal is a key variable in China's overall strategy in South Asia. It aims, among others, build ties with India's immediate neighbors in order to marginalize its influence. The particular geographical location of Nepal to take the Chinese strategists want him to play a passage to unify China in South Asia. In addition to opening a road that would allow it to increase its strategic presence in what is regarded by India as its traditional sphere of influence, a greater presence in Nepal would allow China to capitalize on the hydropower potential of Nepal sleeping , valued at 83.000 megawatts. The 5
Fingers
few short years after the Communist victory in China, Mao Zedong put forward the policy of the five fingers of the hand. It stressed the importance of play in Bhutan, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and in Nepal as a buffer between India and China. Nearly 60 years later, we find that the vast majority of these "fingers" were amputated by India. Since the Tibetan riots of 2008, China resumed consciousness of the importance of "finger" of Nepal. With a population of Tibetan refugees amounting to more than 20 000 people Beijing seeks to ensure that the government cooperates and works to ensure that Nepal does not become a base of operations in activities "anti-Chinese." Beijing now sees the stability of Nepal as a key to stability in West China.
strategy: the Chinese model
In order to achieve its goals, China is taking drastic measures. Faithful to the habits developed in Africa, she literally runs the red carpet and treats Nepal like no other superpower had done before. In order to strengthen its relations with Nepal, China has established a four-pronged strategy aimed at:
1) To accommodate the concerns of Nepal;
2) To strengthen economic cooperation based on principles "win-win"
3) To stimulate contacts and cultural exchanges between the two peoples;
4) To strengthen cooperation between China and Nepal on the regional and international scene. To attract
Nepal, China plays the card of "soft power" with gusto. Since 2005, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal opened the "Nepal-China Mutual Cooperation Society, an organization whose objective is to strengthen Diplomatic relations between the two countries while spreading an image of a China "friendly" as opposed to an India "hegemonic". The establishment of a large network of Centres for Chinese Studies centers fully funded by Beijing and dedicated to the promotion of Sino-Nepalese, wants another link in this strategy "blow of heart". Another prime example, the radio station "Radio China International, which recently launched an FM station based in Kathmandu with a mission to" bring China Nepal. This component rather
Dynamics of China's strategy contrasts sharply with the passive attitude of India, due to similarities in culture and traditions, has often taken for granted Nepal. The result is that the balance now increasingly in favor of China in the Nepalese public opinion perceives wrongly or rightly, as a cooperative power well intentioned.
Recognizing the limitations of a "soft power" that would be accompanied by concrete commitments, China has been extending economic assistance projects, loans at favorable rates, infrastructure development and providing for exemptions from tariffs to a range of Nepalese products. Projects that received most attention are undoubtedly those of highway linking Lhasa to Khasa, a town 80 km from Kathmandu, as well as extension of the Lhasa railway / Golmud to the Nepalese border.
Apart from his involvement economically, the interest that China brings to its neighbor can also be seen from a military standpoint. In September 2008, for example, China announced the disbursement of military aid worth $ 1.3 million in Nepal, the first of its kind granted to the new Maoist government. Then in December, it promised to release $ 2.6 million in additional assistance related to security sector in Nepal.
Back to the Future?
This strategy seems to place China in a good position in Nepal, which now has the wind in your sails. Aware that a favorable breeze can quickly turn into a storm, a good browser, however, must always be careful that the wind gets up. Could it be that China is walking into a minefield? Road construction, military assistance ... it reminds us not he something?
We are in 1988. Nepal just to acquire a large amount of Chinese weapons. A few weeks later, China is advancing its plan to build roads designed to connect China to Nepal. It does not take more that India feels threatened and reacts. In retaliation, she lifts a trade embargo against Nepal, putting his neighbor state of siege. The economic consequences of this are huge commercial block. Shortages of fuel, salt, vegetable oil and food are soon felt. The tourism industry enters a recession. Private gas for heating, the Nepalese are forced to look to forest resources already threatened, causing extensive environmental damage. Caught by the throat, Nepal retracts. The small country several grants trading privileges in India and calls on China to withhold delivery of weapons.
What lesson has China learned from this experience? The past is often a guarantee of future we are right to think that India will not look at the recent China-Nepal approximation without doing anything.
The way the Maoist government was forced to abandon power suggests that India has already begun to react. While the Maoists formed the government, China had openly displayed his support for the project in Nepal to sack the head of the national army in order to integrate the Maoist army with it. India, itself struggling with a Maoist guerrillas in the north-east of his country, naturally saw a dim view of the "maoïsation" of the Nepalese Army. His fears led it to do everything in his power to prevent the implementation of this project, with the result that we know. Some weeks later, the failure of the Nepalese Prime Minister on this issue compelled the Maoists from power. Although the national press has presented the event as a purely national crisis, the episode should definitely be seen as an Indian victory in the standoff between the Nepalese in Beijing. With a newfound confidence, China does not seem to have left rather intimidating and continues its momentum.
Who will win the facing Sino-Indian Nepal? Hard to say, but the most likely option remains the Nepal. If he manages to play his cards well by swinging its relations with the two giants that surround it, Nepal should benefit greatly from the current situation. With a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, unemployment rates exceeding 46% and inflation rising at a rate of 13% annually, is the least we can wish him.
Charles Hudon
In Katmandu
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