Letters and Blogs

'Best option' sparks debate

Comment on "US treasury bonds 'still the best option'" (China Daily, Nov 20)

It is terrible that China's economy has been kidnapped by the US. Why does Chinese government hold so much foreign exchange reserves? And even worse, most of these reserves are kept in dollar. I believe these foreign reserves will suffer severe depreciation during this crisis. Instead, the government should have used the money to benefit Chinese people. It is the people who created such massive foreign exchange reserves.

Ddd

on China Daily website

The US didn't kidnap China's economy. A bond is essentially a loan the US has to pay back. In the long run China can make more money by buying US bonds.

I hardly see that as kidnapping. Moreover the US has never forced China to buy US bonds. China was free to purchase whatever they wanted in order to balance the economy.

China could have, for example, accepted US currency for export and then turned those US dollars to purchase Euros or Russian roubles.

I understand that now some Chinese people have a strong dislike of the US but the only way to soothe the ties between the two is to gain a better understanding of each other.

Jacob

on China Daily website

Car market good in China?

Comment on "Car giants bet heavily on China" (China Daily, Nov 20)

Maybe the rich can buy two cars or more, but the poor still cannot afford them. I believe one day when our economy is better than now, our vehicle markets will be good, and everyone can drive a car.

Sara

on China Daily website

Such stars aren't shining examples

Zang Tianshuo, a pop singer in China, was held in police custody recently for allegedly heading a mob which was involved in at least one fatality.

A singer responded: "I'm not clear about the specific details. But Zang and I have been friends for years, so I know all too well who he really is. He is a lovely person, faithful to friends and shows a zeal for social and charity work."

Another celebrity friend said: "Zang is a shy man. I don't quite believe such things actually happened to him. I hope the media and public could be tolerant of him if he had really got into some trouble."

It is this kind of tolerance from these so-called good friends that may have enticed Zang to violate laws. That Zang boasts brotherly love and generosity does not justify his grisly acts of hiring gangsters to defend the bar he owns.

Some stars are easily swayed when surrounded by media lights and fans. Some even use celebrity status and personal networks to do something unscrupulous in sharp contrast to their screen images.

No wonder few people feel astonished by Zang's arrest, and, after having witnessed a slew of star scandals, fewer expect celebrities to be role models. The scandals involved promiscuity, drug abuse, child molestation, and now murder.

Wang Ting, a student at East China University of Political Science and Law

via e-mail

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(China Daily 11/21/2008 page9)