anna-louise simpson power in the asia-pacific area of study focus: china

Anna-Louise Simpson

Power in the Asia-PacificArea of study focus: China

Issues facing China in 2011

Maintaining economic growthControlling separatist groupsSocial harmonyHuman rights Responsible global citizen?

Maintaining economic growthStability and survival of CCP depends on

continued economic growth2010: 10% GDP growth, world’s largest exporterGlobal concern over RMB currency valuationChallenges;

increasing domestic demandsustaining job growthreducing corruptionlimiting environmental damage & social strife

linked to rapid industrialisation inflation

Controlling separatist groups

Controlling separatist groupsUighurs

Ethnically dissimilar to majority Han-ChineseBeijing has executed a ‘crushing campaign of

religious repression’Destruction of KashgarKadeer: Jasmine Revolutions given hope to UighursGuantanamo Bay detainees

TibetansEthnically dissimilar to majority Han-Chinese Lobsang Sangay elected new political leader Dalai Lama retired but remains spiritual leaderKirti monastery, Sichuan raid

TaiwanNaval buildup

Social harmonyJasmine Revolutions in Middle East have worried

Beijing that similar riots could occur in ChinaSpate stabbings in April & May 2010Crime rates increasingInflation fears over price of food and housingHigh costs of health and education‘pent-up discontent could easily burst out... and

spark mass conflicts’In response:

PM Wen declared public should voice more of their criticisms

Government is at forefront of technological innovation to limit use of internet

Human rights‘fools errand’

Liu Xiaobao detention & awarding of Nobel Peace prize

GoogleInternet censorship

Human rightsAi Weiwei high-profile detention

“will be judged by history, but he will pay a price for his special choice,”

Responsible global citizen?“to take physical control over oil and gas by buying up equity stakes or long-term supply

contracts in producing countries”Iran; 14% of total oil imports; $40bn

investment in Iranian gasoline, $100bn arms transfers 2002-05; Resolution 1929

“a useful hedge against a hostile United States”North Korea: “little real influence”Libya: "give peace a chance"Cyber espionage: desire to move from ‘made

in China’ to ‘innovated in China’

Questions?