China sabotaged?
China lately has been hitting the headlines over again with new problems. A quick refresh; Among many things, the discovery of problems in food export, slavery, toxic toothpaste, fatal pet food and now, toys' recall due to the lead paint used.
Just a thought. One possibility is that these problems could really have started appearing only just recently.
But maybe, just maybe, could there be a possibility that China is being sabotaged?
Well, I'm not suggesting that it's alright to have toxic toothpaste or dangerous pet food and so on.
But the irony do lie in the fact that although these issues have been ongoing, it has been made known to the world just a year before the Olympics.
Coincidence? Well, for today, I'm going to say no.
My reasons:
First, like I've mentioned, these issues have been ongoing but why now, a few months away from the Olympics, are they being seen by the media. If the media had really wanted to show how 'disorgansied' or 'inefficient' China is, they should have covered the stories years ago, and not a year before China's most anticipated and awaited event; hosting the Olympics.
Second, most of the complaints come especially from the States. Like the lead paint in toys and the suspension for pork shipments, these complaints came from the US. The issue about the pork shipments is that it contains a swine growth promoter that is used in the States, but banned in China.
Well, I mean if its edible and the people in US are eating it, and it doesn't cause any casualties, why not?!
I may be wrong; that perhaps it's really only recently that the media sees these issues, but on the other hand, it seems quite a convenient sabotage plan.
Do add in your comment here, to take this discussion onto the next level.
Nurwidya Abdul
Just a thought. One possibility is that these problems could really have started appearing only just recently.
But maybe, just maybe, could there be a possibility that China is being sabotaged?
Well, I'm not suggesting that it's alright to have toxic toothpaste or dangerous pet food and so on.
But the irony do lie in the fact that although these issues have been ongoing, it has been made known to the world just a year before the Olympics.
Coincidence? Well, for today, I'm going to say no.
My reasons:
First, like I've mentioned, these issues have been ongoing but why now, a few months away from the Olympics, are they being seen by the media. If the media had really wanted to show how 'disorgansied' or 'inefficient' China is, they should have covered the stories years ago, and not a year before China's most anticipated and awaited event; hosting the Olympics.
Second, most of the complaints come especially from the States. Like the lead paint in toys and the suspension for pork shipments, these complaints came from the US. The issue about the pork shipments is that it contains a swine growth promoter that is used in the States, but banned in China.
Well, I mean if its edible and the people in US are eating it, and it doesn't cause any casualties, why not?!
I may be wrong; that perhaps it's really only recently that the media sees these issues, but on the other hand, it seems quite a convenient sabotage plan.
Do add in your comment here, to take this discussion onto the next level.
Nurwidya Abdul
Labels: beijing olympics, China Eastern, fatal pet food, food export, Mattel, sabotage, slavery, swine growth promoter, toxic toothpaste, toy's recall
China: lesser of two evils, take your pick
Did you know, that about 750,000 people a year die prematurely in China because of air and water pollution?
And according to an article written in The New York Times on 7th April this year it added that researchers estimated that pollution would cost China as much as 5.8% if its gross domestic product.
5.8%, hmm doesn't seem like a substantial amount....does it...
WRONG!
With regards to China's GDP, 5.8% makes up to about US$160...bln...a year.
Singapore's GDP for 2006 is S$210 bln....about US$138 bln.
China's booming economy has now caused major cities to be choked in a cloud of smoke.
And it is now scrambling frantically to clean up and keep it clean enough for next year's Olympics.
Here are some of the measures according to an article in The Wall Street Journal on 4th July 07:
1)Plans to ban a million cars next month for a two-week test trial to control smog
2)Banned coal-burning furnaces and relocated power plants and steel mills outside of downtown, which not to mention costs billions.
3)Pledge to keep pollution levels down
If China is seriously tackling its pollution issue it may spell trouble for the economy
1.Car ban- important mode of transport, convenient
2.Relocation of plants and mills –cost money
3.Pledge-production levels have to be adjusted, okay, reduced
This may very well be a stint just for the Olympics.
If that were so, I feel China should seriously reconsider and start taking pollution issues seriously.
But if they decide that a booming economy is worth the sacrifice then think about it.
With so much speculation as to when the country's economy may burst it can't be that far away.
And where does that leave China if and when it happens?
Do log on to investorcentral.blogspot.com to leave your comments on whether China is seeking pollution solutions just for the Olympics and your thoughts on pollution vs booming economy.
Yeo Sue En
And according to an article written in The New York Times on 7th April this year it added that researchers estimated that pollution would cost China as much as 5.8% if its gross domestic product.
5.8%, hmm doesn't seem like a substantial amount....does it...
WRONG!
With regards to China's GDP, 5.8% makes up to about US$160...bln...a year.
Singapore's GDP for 2006 is S$210 bln....about US$138 bln.
China's booming economy has now caused major cities to be choked in a cloud of smoke.
And it is now scrambling frantically to clean up and keep it clean enough for next year's Olympics.
Here are some of the measures according to an article in The Wall Street Journal on 4th July 07:
1)Plans to ban a million cars next month for a two-week test trial to control smog
2)Banned coal-burning furnaces and relocated power plants and steel mills outside of downtown, which not to mention costs billions.
3)Pledge to keep pollution levels down
If China is seriously tackling its pollution issue it may spell trouble for the economy
1.Car ban- important mode of transport, convenient
2.Relocation of plants and mills –cost money
3.Pledge-production levels have to be adjusted, okay, reduced
This may very well be a stint just for the Olympics.
If that were so, I feel China should seriously reconsider and start taking pollution issues seriously.
But if they decide that a booming economy is worth the sacrifice then think about it.
With so much speculation as to when the country's economy may burst it can't be that far away.
And where does that leave China if and when it happens?
Do log on to investorcentral.blogspot.com to leave your comments on whether China is seeking pollution solutions just for the Olympics and your thoughts on pollution vs booming economy.
Yeo Sue En
Labels: beijing olympics, burst, car ban, China Eastern, gdp, pollution, The New York Times
China slave scandal leaves bad taste
The China slave scandal has been reigning the papers over the last week.
It all started with parents reporting the abduction of their kids and complaining about how some provincial law enforcement officials aren't doing anything to help.
It turns out that many of those taken from their parents were sold to work as slaves.
According to AFP, more than 450 people have been rescued “from brick yards and coal mines across two provinces in central and northern China that were run with exceptional ruthlessness.”
At least one man was beaten to death, with the rest badly hurt from the drastic conditions they work and live in.
This is just one of the few “embarassing” labour revelations last week, “including reports that children were being used to make merchandise for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.”
President Hu Jintao has ordered an investigation into the increasing cases and police in Henan and Shanxi provinces (where most of the slave labourers were rescued from) have acted “with a rare speed and thoroughness indicating high-level government concern,” according to Reuters.
If this issue isn't curbed as soon as possible, all the build-up in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics next year will be in vain.
So how will this affect our local stock market, you say?
For starters, we have many Singapore-listed mainland Chinese companies, which factories are located in the rural parts of the country.
If they are found to have been involved in these human trafficking activities, they will be in such trouble they may even lose their listing.
Second, the reports on how children were being used to make merchandise for the Beijing Olympics may very well lead to human rights protests in other parts of the world, and lead to the boycotting of the event.
All the build-up of infrastructure just waiting to be utilized by tourists in 2008 would then be in vain.
Of course, the country would still be better off with the new goods.
As for other SGX-listed companies, their businesses in China related to the Olympics would also be thrown into jeopardy.
And if this scandal could butterfly effect its way onto our shores like that, what more of the Chinese stock market?
So China had better be getting its act together quick.
Otherwise, it's probably going to pull the region down with it.
Serene Lim
ArchivesIt all started with parents reporting the abduction of their kids and complaining about how some provincial law enforcement officials aren't doing anything to help.
It turns out that many of those taken from their parents were sold to work as slaves.
According to AFP, more than 450 people have been rescued “from brick yards and coal mines across two provinces in central and northern China that were run with exceptional ruthlessness.”
At least one man was beaten to death, with the rest badly hurt from the drastic conditions they work and live in.
This is just one of the few “embarassing” labour revelations last week, “including reports that children were being used to make merchandise for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.”
President Hu Jintao has ordered an investigation into the increasing cases and police in Henan and Shanxi provinces (where most of the slave labourers were rescued from) have acted “with a rare speed and thoroughness indicating high-level government concern,” according to Reuters.
If this issue isn't curbed as soon as possible, all the build-up in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics next year will be in vain.
So how will this affect our local stock market, you say?
For starters, we have many Singapore-listed mainland Chinese companies, which factories are located in the rural parts of the country.
If they are found to have been involved in these human trafficking activities, they will be in such trouble they may even lose their listing.
Second, the reports on how children were being used to make merchandise for the Beijing Olympics may very well lead to human rights protests in other parts of the world, and lead to the boycotting of the event.
All the build-up of infrastructure just waiting to be utilized by tourists in 2008 would then be in vain.
Of course, the country would still be better off with the new goods.
As for other SGX-listed companies, their businesses in China related to the Olympics would also be thrown into jeopardy.
And if this scandal could butterfly effect its way onto our shores like that, what more of the Chinese stock market?
So China had better be getting its act together quick.
Otherwise, it's probably going to pull the region down with it.
Serene Lim
Labels: beijing olympics, china slave scandal, singapore stocks
January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 January 2009
