It is interesting what the Chinese deem as important in China. There are certain cultural, behavioral, and procedural things which I think I am more uniquely qualified to understand in China because my friends and family have explained the situations to me. While I do not always agree with the policies, I do find the ideas logical. Some of the policies on the other hand seem to come out of left field and I just do not understand them no matter what.
China: Nanjing Announces Fines for Dirty Vehicles – http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-34974387
Notice how the fines for the vehicles are all based on outward appearances. The highest fine is actually for dents and other significant body damage to the vehicles. The lowest fine is based on dirt. This policy makes sense to me because of the cultural aspect – mianzi and also because of the monetary standpoint – tax revenue.
Chinese Student Jailed for 10 Years for Selling Birds – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-34997922
The Chinese government is very protective of certain critters more than others. I am pretty sure if it were panda versus a person, the Chinese government would protect the panda first because it is a national icon that generates a revenue stream as well. After all, the pandas are loaned to foreign countries and their zoos as diplomatic chess pieces. So this is no surprise that the Chinese government would protect an endangered hawk and throw a student in jail for selling the babies over the internet.
While it is a shame that the student got 10 years in jail for selling the hawks, he did do something illegal. While the punishment does not meet the crime because you can murder and rape someone and spend less time in jail, this is what the government decided to focus on. For those of you stateside who are outraged, please remember that Roy Vick the football player, got more jail time for his dog fighting ring than people who have raped and murdered others in the U.S.
I also find it interesting that once this headline started trending fast on weibo, the article is now unable to load on my Chinese computer.
Bank of China Faces Huge Fines – http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34981059
In China, if you cannot afford the real thing, buy a fake. The fake name brand business here is booming and quite acceptable. There are even different categories of fakes all over, for all price points.
In the U.S. brand names and their companies have rights such as intellectual property. If you start stealing other people’s ideas and their designs, you have a lawsuit. Well the name brands in the U.S. have successfully defended their commercial rights and the courts have finally decided to enforce this monetarily so the Bank of China has to pay up if it loses its injunction case.
Notice how the Chinese government is arguing privacy. I find that hysterical as there is no privacy in China. After all, the locals keep an eye on and constantly gossip about the foreigners no matter the campus, work place, or ethnicity. Took a small poll of the Americans researching and/or at different universities in China. Now my sample group is small as of yet but still statistically valid as there were 16 people asked. I do plan to ask everyone I meet so it is ongoing.
Current Mood: The winds are a changing…
