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Chinese Backed Rail in Israel
I am surprised that China is backing a rail line in Israel.
China seeks strategic foothold in Israel - dw-.de
The continued threat of economic boycotts targeting Israel hasn't
deterred China from forging ahead with a new freight rail link through
Israel. The planned link could provide an alternative to the Suez Canal.
Labels: china, Israel
Book Review - Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon? Why China Has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World
Amazing what you can find on the Internet. I was looking for an article about how Textbooks are created for public schools, and I found a very good article about China's schools.
I have mixed feelings about this. What I have noticed, is there is a huge amount of Chinese students who go to college in the US. I have a feeling these students get an excellent K-12 education, and then get the benefit of the excellent US College system. And yes, I understand the students who manage to go to a US college are a select few.
The US K-12 system, the quality varies tremendously. China's schools are focused on testing, and US schools seem to be taking some of this approach with Common Core.
The Myth of Chinese Super Schools - NY Review of Books - Diane RavitchLabels: Best Schools, bilingual education, china
China Russia Alliance
Communist China and Russia have a strange history.
The USSR originally supported the KMT, and provided training to them that allowed them to rule China, until the Communist revolution of 1949. Later, the USSR supported the Chinese communist party including the occupation of Manchuria from the Japanese. China's government had border incidents with the USSR during the late 60's after the relationship cooled. Supposedly in 1969, Russia wanted to do a nuclear strike on China, and the US vetoed it. Russia supported India, which also had a border incident with China. And then the fall of the USSR, had a huge psychological impact on Chinese leadership.
So where is Russia and China today? My 2 cents are both are both very self centered, and focused on what is best for their economic and political interests.
The Tiger and the Bear: China-Russia Alliance Shrouded in Mystery - US News & World Report Labels: china, Chinese History, Russia, USSR
Air Pollution Choking Chinese Tourism
Why India is More Like Europe than China
The best explanation I have seen of the cultural differences between India and China. Being truthful, Indian history is a weak area of mine. I have picked up a bit of Chinese history, but my European and US history are a lot stronger. I did meet somebody with a degree in Colonial History, and then I asked which country, and it was India. The person was a bicycle tour guide in Hollywood, and graduated from Vassar. It was fun talking to her about Indian culture. If you have a chance and really want to see Hollywood, a bicycle tour is great. A quick warning, there is a hill at the end of the ride.
Why India is More Like Europe than ChinaLabels: china, China vs. India
J.Crew in China
Smart to test the market in Hong Kong via e-Commerce, but Hong Kong is not China. Sounds like they are testing the market by having their clothes in a local high end department store. It will be interesting to see how they do. I have seen so many companies go into China, with no clue on how to succeed.
J.Crew Brings Its Brand to China - WSJ
U.S. Retailer Dips Toe in Market Used to Luxury European Logos and Showing Signs of a Slowdown Labels: china
Game of Thrones: “Shut Up,” China Explained
"State property": Memoirs of a top Chinese gymnast
Webinar - Establishing a Web Presence in China
Reselling Apple Products on Launch Day: "This whole game is over
China's Nuclear Weapons
Amazing work by a a group Georgetown students and their professor.
Key Points:
- Nobody outside of China knows how many Nuclear Weapons China has (may be up to 3000 - the mainstream assumption was 80-400, where Pakistan has 50-110, and the US 5000)
- China has built 3000 miles of tunnels for a giant shell game on nuclear weapons
- China has a no first use policy on Nuclear Weapons (only 1 of the 4 original nuclear powers)
- The US and Russia by treaty have onsite verification of nuclear weapons, there is no
Georgetown students shed light on China’s tunnel system for nuclear weapons - Washington Post Labels: china
Jewish in China
My family went to the Skirball Cultural Center (1st weekend of the month you could get in free if you were a BofA customer), and in one of the exhibitions they mentioned Jewish in China that were in Kaifeng (decendents of Persian traders). Something I was not aware of.
And the LA Times just had an article
Chinese Jews feel more at home in Israel - LA Times
Descendants of Persian traders in Kaifeng, China, move to Israel with the help of a religious group and finally learn Jewish rules and traditions.
If you live in LA, I highly recommend going to the Skirball Cultural Center no matter you age. The Noah Ark's exhibit, for example, is great for all ages. Another exhibit on Jewish Magician's of the Golden Age is excellent (sad how little Magic has progressed, we saw many of the same tricks and props at a recent magic show.. Labels: china, Chinese History
Observations on London, after a year in China
Quiz on China
I only got 16 out of 20. Fun quiz!
How much do you know about China? Take our quiz. - Christian Science Monitor
My weak area is Chinese Geography... 2 out of my 4 wrong answers.
The other one was one I got wrong was which country does China import the most from, and the percentage of US Debt held by China (I was within 5%). Labels: china
Chinese government 'angry' over spy drama Spooks
It's so hard to find a politically correct villain, so this show decided to pick on the Chinese spy service (which is very active).
Chinese government 'angry' over spy drama Spooks - The Telegraph
The Chinese government is reportedly so angry with the BBC over the way its spy drama Spooks portrays its undercover operatives that it has ordered television companies not to work with the Corporation. Labels: china
Illegal Immigrants in China?
Spratly Islands - Next Taiwan?
There is a lot of atols and islands between China, Vietnam, Philiphines, and Taiwan (all of them claim some part). They vary in size. China seized in 1974 from the South Vietnamese some of them (never returned, even after Vietname reunified). The issue is the maritime boundaries and who the natural resources surrounding these islands belong too. After 1975 and the end of the Vietnam war, and later with the US leaving naval bases in the Philiphines, the Chinese have been more forceful in this area pushing their claim. US secretary of Clinton mentioned the issue at a news conference at the ASEAN regional forum. It's an issue I am sure the Chinese government would rather not discuss. U.S. Challenges China on Island Chain - NY Times. Labels: china, china's future
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