China in the media, 7
There are many China stories to catch up on today. The first item was written by Lori McLeod and appeared in the business section. McLeod reports on new ventures by two major Canadian pension funds (Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan) in China. Both funds are investing significant money in China because they feel the growth potential is significant. The CPPIB has just opened its first overseas office in Hong Kong. McLeod's article characterizes Asia, and China in particular, as an economic frontier. This theme appears regularly in Western coverage of China. At times difficulties investing in China, or perceived unfair advantages (such as those formerly enjoyed by People's Liberation Army controlled companies) are presented as obstructing free access to the Chinese economic frontier. However, that view is notably not echoed when protectionist voices protest potential Chinese investments in important Canadian industries.
The next item was pulled off of the AP wire. The article deals briefly with the trial of Mining company employees tried for the deaths of 105 workers in an industrial accident. There has been a surge in coverage of Chinese industrial accidents over the last year. However there has not been much coverage of the aftermath. This article very briefly (ie. one paragraph) lets readers know that 3 individuals were sentenced to life while 14 others were given sentences ranging from 1-20 years. It is interesting to note that there is no mention of China's crackdown on illegal mining and attempt to increase industrial safety. Rather there is simply an explanation that "the mine had been operating with complete disregard for the law."
Andrew Torchia filed the next item from Shanghai. Torchia reports on a "clampdown" on IPOs on China's faltering stock markets. The article characterizes the current problems with China's market as a result of Chinese companies abusing the recent vogue for IPOs. Torchia quotes Xinhua's explanation that "companies should not regard the stock market as an automatic teller machine." This particular story is guilty of one of the major problems with Western China coverage. The reporter's major source for the article is Xinhua. He requotes the quotations Xinhua used from a China Securites Regulatory Commission Spokesman, but also quotes Xinhua's own editorialization. It is impossible to tell whether Torchia used the English or Chinese version of Xinhua. Not that the language in particular would matter. The English and Chinese Xinhua reportage is usually almost identical. However it would possibly indicate one of the major reasons for relying so heavily on official media. Many Western reporters in China have limited Chinese language proficiency. Using state-run English media to pound out a quick story is therefore easy and doesn't require calling your translator in to work.
Our final report for this installment offers a welcome diversion from the business pages. It's an article by Beverly Smith forebodingly titled "Chinese domination may be nearing its end." Judging by the title it would be difficult to guess Smith's topic. She is, in fact, reporting on the recent diving World Cup test event in Beijing. While the Chinese won seven of eight gold medals, Canadian chief technical officer Mitch Gellner claims they are vulnerable to the competition. The piece is a rather work-a-day report covering the ins and outs of the international diving scene leading up to the Beijing Olympics. While it is interesting to see non-financial stories on China, the sports page characterization of China as dominating enemy is not much better. While it is certainly the norm in national sports discourse to discuss opposing countries as the enemy, Smith presents China as a monolithic diving force. Little room is given to China's individual competitors. Rather it is a case of 'us' against 'them.'