Aftermath and Implications of the October 1 Parade in Beijing
Here follows a smorgasbord of articles on the aftermath and implications of the October 1 parade in Beijing. A critical look at the festivities
Richard Burger of The Peking Duck on October 2 published an email from a friend, who “has lived in China for about 10 years and never wants to live anywhere else.” It is a critical look at the party which occurred in Beijing on October 1 from someone who loves China. An entertaining satire from a historian: part kitsch, part wankfest
Jeremiah Jenne, a PhD candidate in Chinese history, living and working in Beijing, provides an entertaining and satirical look of the events from an early morning-after “parade-viewing party,” of “translators, bloggers, and professional snarkers” which is in search of “their second collective bottle of vodka.” From summarizing the government's festivities as a “bizarre mish-mash of Communist kitsch and Freudian military wankfest,” his biting delivery only gets sharper. The parade, a message to citizens: “don't be afraid, China is strong”
On September 30 Newsweek gave reasons indicating that “the enormous military parade marking China's 60th anniversary” was all “about impressing the Chinese themselves.” The regime is insecure and it aims to communicate to its people that, “[Chinese citizens] are safe, because China is strong.” Beijing is concerned about protect interests and assets of Chinese overseas, and how to protect Han Chinese from racial violence within its borders. Displays of military hardware and the People's Armed Police aimed primarily to comfort certain segments of the domestic audience.
Then (1949) and now (2009): a comparison in statistics
Fast Company created a graphic delineating the statistical differences in a number of areas between China in 1949 and in 2009. China asks the U.S., “Do you think the first 30 years were a failure?”
The People's Daily cited Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. ---"In the last 30 years, China has undergone an extraordinary economic transformation, lifting millions of people out of poverty. This is truly a historic accomplishment."---- Commenting on a story in Taiwan's Chinatimes (in Chinese), Paul Denlinger tweeted that “sour grapes [have] already started.”
----In congratulatory letter to China, US only mentioned 30 years, not 60 years. Chinese asked why? Did you think the first 30 years we were failure? US State Dept. refused to give clear answer.--- After many missed opportunities and failures during early years, Will Li (aka @blcsfo) tweeted that the turnaround is generally agreed to have begun with the fall of the Gang of Four in 1976, some 33 years ago. Bear Market Investments provides its summary of the Mao years.----The Chinese people have stood up,” said Mao, announcing the victory in 1949. Then, over the next two decades, whenever the Chinese stood up…Mao shot them down himself. Mao’s long march to power was a huge setback for human political progress – if there is any. The man was a thorough scoundrel and a complete incompetent at everything, except getting power and holding onto it. Every program was a disaster. When he set out to ‘liberate’ the masses, they ended up as slaves. When he set out to feed them, they starved. When he proposed to empower them with his “democratic dictatorship,” they ended up with bullets in the back of the head. But 60 years later, the commies are still in power. China is still red.----Netizens have seen more than enough of Hu Jintao
China Smack reports that the CCTV broadcast of the National Day military parade disappointed Chinese netizens. Netizens preferred the filming of the 1999 military parade, which was done by “an artistic and creative organization, its filming emphasizing artistry, emphasizing aesthetics,” while the 2009 military parade was filmed by CCTV, which did not pay attention to aesthetics. Netizens complained that if they had wanted to see Hu Jintao they could turn on CCTV on any day. As the PRC turns sixty many decide to marry
Many Chinese chose National Day as a wedding day. Oct.1, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, was seen as a uniquely auspicious day to tie the knot by Chinese couples. The New York Times reports on an omitted period of CCP history
“Changchun was like Hiroshima,” wrote Zhang Zhenglu, a lieutenant colonel in the People’s Liberation Army who documented the siege in “White Snow, Red Blood,” a book that was immediately banned after publication in 1989. “The casualties were about the same. Hiroshima took nine seconds; Changchun took five months.”
China’s Second Leap Forward?
Researchers at the Nomura Institute of Capital Markets Research announced this week that China will pass the U.S. economy sometime between 2026-2039, depending on yuan appreciation. Ian Mathias is a skeptic. These researchers falsely assume that China can continue to count on American over-consumption. In a previous post, I make the same argument, showing that China's fast-track revolution is not sustainable. Thirty-nine colorful photographs of the celebrations
The Boston Globe collected photographs of the National Day parade in Beijing, and of others commemorating the anniversary elsewhere. Good links that outline the festivities
Chinabeat organized some good links that outline many of the festivities going on for the big 60th anniversary. Zhang Yimou and mooncakes
On October 4, “watching 10/1 evening show on CCTV 1,” Paul Denlinger tweeted the following:---Really envy Zhang Yimou. Imagine saying "I want 200K people for this show" and getting it, no question, no budget, no limits on your idea. Just explain the idea to the right people in government and party and they make it happen.---- Denlinger later added, “According to Phoenix TV, every Hong Konger throws away 1.85 mooncakes every year. That would be about 13 million mooncakes.”
Richard Burger of The Peking Duck on October 2 published an email from a friend, who “has lived in China for about 10 years and never wants to live anywhere else.” It is a critical look at the party which occurred in Beijing on October 1 from someone who loves China. An entertaining satire from a historian: part kitsch, part wankfest
Jeremiah Jenne, a PhD candidate in Chinese history, living and working in Beijing, provides an entertaining and satirical look of the events from an early morning-after “parade-viewing party,” of “translators, bloggers, and professional snarkers” which is in search of “their second collective bottle of vodka.” From summarizing the government's festivities as a “bizarre mish-mash of Communist kitsch and Freudian military wankfest,” his biting delivery only gets sharper. The parade, a message to citizens: “don't be afraid, China is strong”
On September 30 Newsweek gave reasons indicating that “the enormous military parade marking China's 60th anniversary” was all “about impressing the Chinese themselves.” The regime is insecure and it aims to communicate to its people that, “[Chinese citizens] are safe, because China is strong.” Beijing is concerned about protect interests and assets of Chinese overseas, and how to protect Han Chinese from racial violence within its borders. Displays of military hardware and the People's Armed Police aimed primarily to comfort certain segments of the domestic audience.
Then (1949) and now (2009): a comparison in statistics
Fast Company created a graphic delineating the statistical differences in a number of areas between China in 1949 and in 2009. China asks the U.S., “Do you think the first 30 years were a failure?”
The People's Daily cited Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. ---"In the last 30 years, China has undergone an extraordinary economic transformation, lifting millions of people out of poverty. This is truly a historic accomplishment."---- Commenting on a story in Taiwan's Chinatimes (in Chinese), Paul Denlinger tweeted that “sour grapes [have] already started.”
----In congratulatory letter to China, US only mentioned 30 years, not 60 years. Chinese asked why? Did you think the first 30 years we were failure? US State Dept. refused to give clear answer.--- After many missed opportunities and failures during early years, Will Li (aka @blcsfo) tweeted that the turnaround is generally agreed to have begun with the fall of the Gang of Four in 1976, some 33 years ago. Bear Market Investments provides its summary of the Mao years.----The Chinese people have stood up,” said Mao, announcing the victory in 1949. Then, over the next two decades, whenever the Chinese stood up…Mao shot them down himself. Mao’s long march to power was a huge setback for human political progress – if there is any. The man was a thorough scoundrel and a complete incompetent at everything, except getting power and holding onto it. Every program was a disaster. When he set out to ‘liberate’ the masses, they ended up as slaves. When he set out to feed them, they starved. When he proposed to empower them with his “democratic dictatorship,” they ended up with bullets in the back of the head. But 60 years later, the commies are still in power. China is still red.----Netizens have seen more than enough of Hu Jintao
China Smack reports that the CCTV broadcast of the National Day military parade disappointed Chinese netizens. Netizens preferred the filming of the 1999 military parade, which was done by “an artistic and creative organization, its filming emphasizing artistry, emphasizing aesthetics,” while the 2009 military parade was filmed by CCTV, which did not pay attention to aesthetics. Netizens complained that if they had wanted to see Hu Jintao they could turn on CCTV on any day. As the PRC turns sixty many decide to marry
Many Chinese chose National Day as a wedding day. Oct.1, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, was seen as a uniquely auspicious day to tie the knot by Chinese couples. The New York Times reports on an omitted period of CCP history
“Changchun was like Hiroshima,” wrote Zhang Zhenglu, a lieutenant colonel in the People’s Liberation Army who documented the siege in “White Snow, Red Blood,” a book that was immediately banned after publication in 1989. “The casualties were about the same. Hiroshima took nine seconds; Changchun took five months.”
China’s Second Leap Forward?
Researchers at the Nomura Institute of Capital Markets Research announced this week that China will pass the U.S. economy sometime between 2026-2039, depending on yuan appreciation. Ian Mathias is a skeptic. These researchers falsely assume that China can continue to count on American over-consumption. In a previous post, I make the same argument, showing that China's fast-track revolution is not sustainable. Thirty-nine colorful photographs of the celebrations
The Boston Globe collected photographs of the National Day parade in Beijing, and of others commemorating the anniversary elsewhere. Good links that outline the festivities
Chinabeat organized some good links that outline many of the festivities going on for the big 60th anniversary. Zhang Yimou and mooncakes
On October 4, “watching 10/1 evening show on CCTV 1,” Paul Denlinger tweeted the following:---Really envy Zhang Yimou. Imagine saying "I want 200K people for this show" and getting it, no question, no budget, no limits on your idea. Just explain the idea to the right people in government and party and they make it happen.---- Denlinger later added, “According to Phoenix TV, every Hong Konger throws away 1.85 mooncakes every year. That would be about 13 million mooncakes.”
