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Direct trade with Taiwan and the 'new dynamic'

By Brendan John Worrell (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-12-15 14:33

Today direct trade links, via sea and air, in addition to direct postal services, will recommence between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan after almost a six-decade ban. In a year that has had some pretty significant events this must rank on that list.

Couple this with President Hu Jintao's landmark visit to Tokyo earlier this year and the inaugural trilateral summit in Fukuoka during the weekend between leaders of China, Japan and South Korea. It's just another reminder that the old way of referencing and conceptualizing China and the region needs to be adjusted if we are to work successfully within this "new dynamic".

It reminds me of when I first left Australia to come to China four years ago. I almost got a fist in the face from a local who condemned my "switch to the ranks of the red". This educated university student reacted as if I'd sold his sister into slavery, and sadly, for many, this is still the way China is viewed - from an outdated McCarthy era monocle.

It was seen earlier in the year when CNN's hard hitting Jack Cafferty referred to the Chinese government in less than glowing terms as a bunch of "goons and thugs". Now if you read deeper into this journalist you'll see that he has done some great work and in many respects holds similar essential fundamental values as the majority of Chinese, regarding respect for working class ethics and protection and support of the underdog. His error on that occasion was to not properly represent the profound changes that have taken place here in China, while also adding regrettable unnecessary inflammatory rhetoric into the debate.

Yet it was a human mistake because for outsiders not operating within the mainland there is a tendency to observe and judge via ubiquitous images like the red star, red flag, green uniformed PLA soldier and all the all imposing portrait of Mao. These are inherent cultural icons of modern China and are a source of pride just as, the Stars and Stripes, canvas clad marine and Uncle Sam are for the US - yet it is simplistic if we base our assumptions of a people, society and contemporary government on such images.

Meetings of the Central Communist Party at Beijing's Great Hall of the People can be imposing especially for outsiders who only perceive endless rows of predominantly male dark haired officials. It's ripe for stereotype and exploitation just as a cacophonic Westminster Parliament is for ridicule. From this perspective Cafferty was telling it the way he and many other westerners see it, though it is not comprehensive or reflective of the true picture and of the diversity present within contemporary China.

In some respects it relates to the issues raised by James Fallows, in November's Atlantic Monthly where he suggests more effective and market savvy PR work is needed from the mainland government to properly represent the changes that have occurred during the last 30 years of reform and opening up. Regarding communication China is constantly sending out staff to study skills abroad and at the same time seeks and invites foreign experts to assist with the creation of a more vibrant and progressive domestic media.

One of the impediments challenging this momentum though is cultural and concerns the more subdued tendency among Chinese to get a job done with a minimum of fuss.

Whereas back home if I do something good I quickly want to tell everyone about it and stand on a pedestal, here the over arching culture traditionally has been to restrain such behavior. Remember at the start of the year President Hu addressed the nation, calling for continual development, innovation and to be "on guard against rashness and conceit". A western head of state would never say that though, nor would a Chinese leader instigate a chant among a crowd like "drill baby drill" seen during the recent republican US election campaign. Likewise we do not expect President Hu to go on a daytime talk show like "Oprah".

At a political level here and also within business and other sectors it is more common for high achievers to adopt a position of refrain and not to seek the limelight. Yao Ming is no more clear an example of this when compared to the more flamboyant US players.

My feeling is that this past year which many outsiders had been referring to as "China's coming out party" was essentially a misreading of the situation. China has been opening up increasingly since 1978 and the Olympics Games were just one of a series of events on a continuum that highlights China's growing influence with regards to global affairs.

A lot has been taking place but Chinese culture, as with many other Asian and Islamic cultures, is very micro-managed at a personal and social level and doesn't lend itself so easy to "parties" per se. The mentality is more of a "mind your own business and get the job done" state of affairs, which is working, to the tune of US$100 billion a year concerning cross-Straits trade.

This does present a PR challenge in the modern context when trying to define and present the rapid changes that have been taking place over the past decades here in the region.

Nevertheless developments towards the creation of a more peaceful and secure North East Asia as witnessed by the trilateral summit and today's events warrant our support and enthusiasm.

Furthermore as Western governments move in to adopt socialist style reforms with their government bailout packages and China further embraces market orientated policies to adjust to the present global economic crisis we are obliged to see greater similarity than difference with our fellows from all regions of the globe - giving recognition, respect and support for this "new dynamic".