1 November 2014

Gentlefolk,

Today's post includes comments on House of Cards, my students from the Great Wall Drilling Company, and the news summary from the China Daily for October 2014.

House of Cards

Wow!

That was my reaction when I watched the first episode of Season One of House of Cards last week. It blew me away.

I've always been interested in politics, and was able to witness some of the machinations when I worked for different Committees in Parliament House, Canberra (2001 - 05).  But this series is raw, raw, raw.  It strips away the genteel veneer to reveal the ruthlessness of unbridled ambition.

The acting and story-lines are first class.  Kevin Spacey is perfect as Frank Underwood, southern charmer, Democratic Congressman from South Caroline, Majority Whip in the US House of Representatives, master politician, deal-maker extraordinaire, ruthless, manipulative, clever.

The President reneges on a promise to make Frank the Secretary of State and Frank swears revenge.

Robin Wright is very good as Frank's wife, Claire.  Cold, calculating, tough as nails.  They are a perfect match.

We are now up to Episode #7.  Vera wants to race ahead, but I can only take one episode at a time.  I sit there engrossed, squirming, not quite knowing whether to laugh or cry at the calculated manipulation and venal self-interest.

The American political system features in my Western Culture class. Previously I painted a fairly rosy picture of American democracy.  The show certainly comes across as plausible, but how close to reality is it?  We all know that TV and movies dramatise and exaggerate to entertain, but if this show is anywhere near the reality of what goes on in Washington DC, how do I reconcile that with all the positive-sounding theory?

House of Cards has developed a big following in China.  Wonder what they make of it?  I suspect the Communist Party of China is not unhappy at this expose of the underbelly of American politics.  The shenanigans of the CPC look positively tame in comparison.

Excuse me, it's time for my nightly drama fix  .....

Great Wall Drilling Company

For the last 3 weeks I have been teaching a group of 30 staff from the Great Wall Drilling Company (GWDC). It is a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), a State-owned enterprise and the largest oil company in China.

The GWDC has about 30,000 employees.  Apart from its China operations, it also provides drilling services in about 20 countries, mainly in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

An intensive English course is part of assessment and preparation before they are assigned for duty overseas.

The group comprised all men.  15 were below 30 years of age, and 15 above 30 (the youngest was 24, the oldest 45).  The younger guys certainly found this intensive English course easier.

Most of them were Tool Pushers and Drilling Engineers.  Three were Petroleum Engineering graduates of this university, others studied elsewhere.

I learnt a little of their work conditions. You've got to be tough to work on a drill rig - stuck out in the boondocks for months at a time, usually very hot in summer and freezing in winter, very basic facilities, 12 hour shifts, no entertainment, etc etc.  Several described a 'love-hate' attitude to their jobs.

One of the guys told me he works 3 weeks 'on' and then gets one week 'off'.  I don't know if that is the norm, but it sounds right. Another guy told me that he was devastated when his wife asked for a divorce because she didn't like the frequent separation.

Thursday was their last day here and they put on a banquet that night for teachers and admin staff.  Boy, can they drink.  And sing.  It was a fun night.

The group from GWDC.

From left: Cong Zi Huai (Vincent); teacher Cui Xin Yuan; Huang Shuai (Tom); Bu Wen Yang (Bruce); Li Wen Hua (from GWDC head office)

From left: Qin Tao (Jack); Wang He (Alex); coordinator Yang Yuan Yuan (Lucy); Chen Zhuo Dong (Phil); and Wu Xiao Chuan (Luther).

News October 2014

As you know, I like to include a summary of interesting news events which take place each month, and reported in the China Daily newspaper.

We live in an age of information overload – there is so much happening all over the world.  

If someone asked you to describe 3 significant things that happened just two weeks ago, could you do it?  We are served news in short bites, and every day another thing takes over.

When I look at this list for October, it brings home to me how quickly news changes - every day there are new headlines and issues - it is difficult to remember what happened even a week earlier.    

I am hoping that these monthly summaries will help me recall the key events (or at least those which caught my eye in the China Daily) which took place in China and internationally.

Events which made the news in China in October 2014.

Note: these news items were sourced from The China Daily newspaper in October 2014.  Actual events usually occurred a day or two before the date shown.  Currency is US$, and the exchange rate I used this month is US$1 = Yuan 6.1.

International

4 Oct	Closing ceremony of the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.  China topped the medal count for the 9th consecutive Asiad.
8 Oct	China’s Anbang Insurance Group bought the Waldrof Astoria Hotel in New York City for $1.9 billion.
	The Nobel Prize for physics awarded to three Japanese scientists who discovered LED lighting 20 years ago.  About 30% of electricity is used for lighting.
	The new NBA season commences on 28 October 2014 and will include 101 foreign players: 12 from Canada, 10 from France, 8 from Australia, etc. Current champion San Antonia Spurs has 9 foreign players, and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets have 6 each. The NBA has re-negotiated TV rights with ABC & ESPN, to $2.6 billion pa.
11 Oct	US Supreme Court upheld same-sex marriage in 5 US States: Virginia, Utah, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Oklahoma.
	African-American Konderrit Myers (18) shot by an off-duty white policeman in St Louis (Michael Brown 19 was shot in Ferguson in August).  Big demonstrations.
	Premier Li Ke Qiang visited Germany and Russia.  Many trade deals signed.
13 Oct	On GDP/PPP basis International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes China’s economy ($17.6 trillion) will surpass USA’s ($17.4 trillion) by the end of this year (other economic forecasters say later). USA has been the world’s biggest economy since 1872. President Obama supports proposals to reform and restructure the IMF, but Congress refuses to approve.
14 Oct	Turkey permits the use of airbases in fight against Islamic State.
	Bolivia’s President Evo Morales won a 3rd term with 60% of vote.
18 Oct	Price of Brent crude oil has fallen 25% in last 3 months, to below $90 per barrel.
	Lionel Messi’s 10th anniversary with Barcelona. He has scored 249 goals in ‘La Liga’, two short of Telmo Zarra’s record.
	The All Blacks beat the Wallabies, scoring a converted try right on full time, to win the third Bledisloe Cup rugby game 29 – 28. Ewen Mckenzie resigned as coach.
	Ebola: death count reaches 4,546 in West Africa (Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone).  A health worker in Texas diagnosed with ebola. China increased aid to $122 million, including the construction of a 100-bed treatment facility in Liberia.
21 Oct	Joko Widodo was sworn in as Indonesia’s new President.
	Peyton Manning, quarterback of the Denver Broncos, broke Brett Favre’s NFL record of 508 touch-down passes.
	Gough Whitlam, Prime Minster of Australia 1972-75, died aged 98. Great Aussie.
	Oscar Pistorius sentenced to 5 years in prison for culpable homicide.
24 Oct	Chinese at the helm of international organisations: Margaret Chan – Director General of the World Health Organisation Zhang Hai Di – President of Rehabilitation International Hao Ping – President of 37th General Conference of UNESCO Li Yong – Director General of UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Zhai Hou Lin – Secretary General of the Int. Telecommunications Union (ITU).
25 Oct	21 countries signed an MOU to establish the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), to be headquartered in Beijing, with initial capital of $50 billion. Notable absences: Australia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank welcomed the AIIB “there’s lots to do and room for everyone”.
27 Oct	Brazil election: President Dilma Rouseff, with 51.6% of votes, was re-elected for a second term. The Workers Party has been in power for 12 years – an estimated 40 million Brazilians have been lifted out of poverty in that time.
29 Oct	In 2013, 2.08 million Americans visited China and spent an estimated $6.3 billion ($3,036 each). The same year 1.97 Chinese visited the USA, spending an estimated $9.8 billion ($5,414 each).
30 Oct	Apple CEO Tim Cook declared “I’m proud to be gay.”  Became a hot topic on Chinese social media sites, with over 20 million comments on Weibo in 24 hours. Cook is the first CEO of a Fortune 500 company to ‘come out’.  Apple’s revenue last quarter was $42 billion.
	New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced that a referendum will be held in 2016 to decide on a new flag.  Polls show strong support for current flag, but Key says “NZ needs a flag which reflects our status as a modern, independent country”.
	The United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution, for the 23rd time, asking the USA to lift its trade embargo on Cuba.  188 in favour, 2 against (US & Israel), 3 abstentions (Palau, Marshall Islands, & Micronesia).

Domestic (in China)

1 Oct	China’s National Day, commemorating the proclamation of the Peoples Republic of China by Mao Ze Dong on 1 October 1949 (65th anniversary). Seven day public holiday, 1 – 7 October. According to the China Daily, more than 100 million people will make train and plane trips during “golden week” (Vera & I visited Dalian in Liaoning Province).
	The role of Kuomintang soldiers in the War Against the Japanese has finally been recognised by the Chinese government.
3 Oct	General Motors will invest $14 billion in China over the next 5 years.
6 Oct	The ‘Occupy Central’ movement in Hong Kong is entering its 2nd week.  So far 165 injured (including 21 police); 30 arrested.  Singaporean leaders comment on bias of western media; they note that HK now has relatively more democracy than in 156 years of British rule.
	The World Bank revised its GDP growth forecast for China to 7.4% in 2014 and 7.1% in 2015.  Major problems: local govt debt; shadow banking; excess capacity in many industries; environmental issues.
	23,146 cases of dengue fever in Guangdong Province (most in Guangzhou city).
8 Oct	A 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit Jinggu County in Yunnan.  1 dead, 300 injured.
	Doctors per 1,000 population: China 1.4; US 2.4; UK 2.8.
9 Oct	Chinese Government’s new English language website: http://english.gov.cn
	Chinese govt has banned the broadcast of movies or TV shows starring actors who have been caught with drugs ( eg Jaycee Chan; Kai Ko; Zhang Mo; Ning Cai Shen) and/or prostitutes (eg Huang Hai Bo; Wang Quan’an).
	Launch of book “The governance of China” containing 79 speeches by President Xi Jin Ping
	Actress Tang Wei married South Korean director Kim Tae Yong; Actress Li Bing Bing appointed Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environmental Program.
10 Oct	Beijing announced measures to minimise pollution during APEC meetings. Cars permitted based on odds & evens; trucks restricted; construction stopped; govt employees get special holiday 7 – 12 November.
	Following several scandals, Ministry of Education issued guidelines regarding the sexual harassment of students, taking of bribes, misuse of research funds, etc by university lecturers and professors.
11 Oct	Foreign direct investment (FDI) into China in 2013 totalled $118 billion.
14 Oct	Minimum subway (now 30 cents) and bus (15 cents) fares in Beijing are expected to double, and will change from fixed fares to fares based on distance travelled.
	China’s international trade in September 2014: exports $214 billion; imports $183 billion.  Trade in services estimated: exports $12.8 billion; imports $34.6 billion. Exports of steel in September totalled 8.5 million tonnes (up 73% on Sept 2013).
	Average monthly incomes in major cities: Beijing $950; Guangzhou $975; Hong Kong $1,700; New York $4,800.
	China has 6.2 deaths per 10,000 vehicle accidents, much higher than developed countries.  In a bid to increase the use of seat belts, Beijing has introduced fines for non-use: $8.20 for drivers, $3.30 for passengers.
	Universal announced investment of $3.2 billion in a theme park near Beijing.
18 Oct	Pfizer’s patent on Viagra apparently expired in May 2014. Several local companies have applied to produce erectile dysfunction medicines. Price expected to tumble.
	Apple released the iPhone 6 (retail $860) and 6+ ($960) on mainland China.
20 Oct	Only 26,000 runners in the Beijing Marathon this year; many wore masks because of heavy smog. Beijing’s air quality was 344 = hazardous.
	Barricades erected by “Occupy Central” movement in Hong Kong dismantled by police.  A poll showed 27% of adults support the protests, 68% oppose. Talks started between govt & protesters.  Taxi & Mini-bus Drivers Association went to HK High Court, which ordered the protest to end, but order ignored by protesters. The protests are continuing, but on a small scale.
	Meeting of the 4th Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC in Beijing (20 – 23 October). Theme: “Rule of law”. 363 members and alternates attended.
24 Oct	Tim Cook (Apple) and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), were in Beijing for a meeting of the Advisory Board of Tsinghua University’s School of Management.   Zuckerberg has been learning Chinese for 4 years and was widely praised when he conducted a 30 minute meeting with students in Chinese.
	Impact of the government’s anti-graft and anti-extravagance campaigns in the last 15 months: 27,000 overseas trips by officials cancelled; 7,162 officials punished for gambling activities; construction of 2,580 new government offices shelved.
	Over 1 million candidates sat the Public Service Entrance Exam called Guo Kao (competing for 20,200 vacancies).
25 Oct	Cooling property market.  Number of residential sales in the first 9 months of 2014 declined by 11%, compared to a year earlier.  In September prices of residential property fell in 69 of the top 70 cities.  But well-located property still in demand – for example, 100 apartments sold on the first day in a new development in Beijing at a price of $150 per square meter. Most local governments have loosened restrictions on buying property (for example, down-payments on purchases of 2nd apartment reduced from 70% to 30%; and buyers who have paid off their first apartment can get favourable “first home buyer” mortgage terms on their second apartment).
29 Oct	Forbes Magazine listed 242 billionaires in China (up from 168 in 2013). Jack Ma, Founder and Chairman of Alibaba Group, is the richest (net worth estimated at $19.5 billion after the successful IPO in New York).
	China’s coal production will be capped at 4.1 billion tonnes per annum. No new mines will be permitted in eastern China.  Mines with production of less than 300,000 tpa will be phased out. Many local coal mines are said to be struggling due to falling prices. Imports of coal in the first 9 months of 2014 totalled 22 million tonnes (down 6% on same period last year).
30 Oct	November 2013 the one-child policy was relaxed, allowing couples in which one parent is an only child to have 2 children.  It was estimated that 11 million couples would be eligible for a second child, but so far only 700,000 applications have been received (of which 620,000 have been approved).
	The owners of SOHO Real Estate Group, Pan Shi Yi and his wife Zhang Xin, have donated $15 million to Harvard and $10 million to Yale to be used as financial support for needy Chinese students who are admitted to those prestigious universities.
	16 year old tennis star Xu Shi Lin from Guangdong Province has achieved ranking of World #1  Female Junior.  Great expectations.

...

Well folks, that's it for this post.

Keep well, and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn
Saturday, 1 November 2014