A country of cat- and
dog-eaters poised to take over the world in a matter of years. Perhaps this is
the image that comes to mind for many Americans when they think of China. After
two months in the nation's capital, however, I can tell you that most of what
the U.S. thinks about the country is a bit off the mark, to say the least.
My time in Beijing has taught me many things about China and its people and,
while far from being an authority on the subject, I can say with relative
confidence that I have never indulged in any feline or canine delicacies during
my stay here, nor have I seen anyone else do so.
Cat eating is said to be much more popular in the Cantonese-speaking
provinces of the south, particularly in Guangdong, while dog dining is said to
be most popular in Korea. While both animals may be consumed in scattered places
throughout the country, including some specialty restaurants in Beijing, in the
nation's capital, at least, the practice is far from commonplace. Indeed, you're
far more likely to find Beijing diners feasting on ducks' feet, ducks' heads,
crawfish and snails.
Of course, a country cannot be judged on the basis of its cuisine alone,
especially when the rest of the world may be forced to eat it in just a few
years, right? Not exactly. While it's true that China, as hard as it may be for
Americans to stomach, seems destined to be the world's next global superpower,
skittish U.S. diners may have more time to digest the news than they think.
Although
some experts estimate that China's economy will become the world's largest as early
as 2030, a myriad of obstacles stands in the country's path. For example, the age
of the Chinese population. Add to that the economic disparity between the coast
and the rest of the country, a host of environmental problems, and the fact that
the government will have to juggle all these issues while sustaining and
controlling breakneck economic growth at the same time, and you've got a tough
roe to hoe.
Another aspect of China that Americans often misunderstand is its
relationship with North Korea, especially in regard to that country's nuclear
ambitions. In the opinion of many Americans, China should either be friendly
enough with their Communist brethren to convince them to disarm or strong enough
to force them to. The fact of the matter is, neither is completely the case.
China's ties to North Korea, first off, aren't as cozy as many Americans
might imagine. While it's possible, though somewhat difficult, for Chinese to
visit North Korea, for example, their counterparts across the Yalu River and the
Yellow Sea have a much more difficult time leaving their shores. Following the
Korean War, Chinese characters were essentially eliminated from the North Korean
language, and despite decades of relief and aid from Beijing, North Korea simply
does not seem to want to listen to its Chinese neighbors. Theoretically, China
could force Pyongyang to listen, but, unlike some other countries, persuasion
via military might does not seem to be its style.
For their part, the Chinese don't understand what America is so worried
about. "How can a nation that can barely feed its own people afford to go to
war?" they ask. Plus, if any country should be concerned about getting a nuclear
bomb dropped on it, it should be China, practically in Pyongyang's backyard.
As much as America enjoys criticizing China's relationship with North Korea,
it is perhaps even fonder of lambasting its government, especially for what it
sees as the CCP's internal corruption and its control of the country's media.
Here again, however, the U.S is handing down opinions on a topic it isn't
entirely informed about.
While it's true that there are certain things you can't write about, certain
places you can't go and certain terms that you can't search for on the Internet,
for the most part, the government isn't nearly as controlling as Washington and
the U.S. media would have Americans believe. I was able, for example, to view
the New York Times in its entirety online everyday.
Of course, by U.S. standards, any infringement upon individual rights is
automatic grounds for a public outrage, but in China, different standards apply,
and for good reason. Consider this, in the past 100 years China has witnessed
the end of dynastic rule (essentially the only thing it had known its entire
history), foreign invasion and occupation, civil war. The U.S. has suffered only
one of those atrocities, civil war, and it is viewed as perhaps the singular,
most horrible event in the nation's history. Imagine that, plus all the Chinese
had to go through, crammed into a period of less than 100 years and you begin to
understand why the Chinese accept their government the way it is at present.
China was once a powerful nation, under the Tang
dynasty, from 618-907 A.D., it was the cosmopolitan Mecca of the Far East, and
unlike most once-powerful nations, it has a unique opportunity to return to the
top. Chinese people are hardworking, intelligent and extremely friendly to
foreigners and, rather than point out their shortcomings, the U.S. should
applaud their progress. Rather than hinder China's return to its former glory,
America should help it along the way, if not out of sheer good will, then simply
so that once it does inherit the reins of world power we will be its friend and
not its enemy.
