CHINA our new best friends

[JC Footy Genius]

Given that approx 20% of the world population is Chinese, how many human right violations, atrocities, terrorist acts etc, can you attribute to them, in relation to the rest of the world? I would say very few, so that is where I am coming from with my view.

I'm also basing it on living in Hong Kong, and having a Chinese fiancé.

I would not conflate the chinese people with the Chinese governments actions. What is your opinion on the Chinese governments record on human rights ?

 

[middletoenail]

I would not conflate the chinese people with the Chinese governments actions. What is your opinion on the Chinese governments record on human rights ?

Since I've given some opinion, how about you do the same? What is YOUR opinion, without copying and pasting from that blog?

 

[JC Footy Genius]

Since I've given some opinion, how about you do the same? What is YOUR opinion, without copying and pasting from that blog?

I think we in the west take our 'human rights' for granted and have little true understanding of life in countries where government routinely suppress and oppress their people. The Chinese government clearly falls into this category which is why I was surprised a person who is apparently based in Hong Kong could so glibly dismiss the many factual accounts of human rights breaches as 'not that bad'.

 

[sydney]

Europe costs us 55m a day
China human rights are a disgrace
do these things not matter?

money matters , we haven't got any.....china's got lots......end of.

 

[middletoenail]

I think we in the west take our 'human rights' for granted and have little true understanding of life in countries where government routinely suppress and oppress their people. The Chinese government clearly falls into this category which is why I was surprised a person who is apparently based in Hong Kong could so glibly dismiss the many factual accounts of human rights breaches as 'not that bad'.

First of all, I am genuinely based in Hong Kong. I don't pretend that China is perfect, far from it. I think that human rights are better in UK(not Europe as a whole) than Asia, that I don't dispute. What I do however, is dispute that it is 'that bad', that we should close the door to business in China, which quite frankly is ludicrous!

 

[JC Footy Genius]

First of all, I am genuinely based in Hong Kong. I don't pretend that China is perfect, far from it. I think that human rights are better in UK(not Europe as a whole) than Asia, that I don't dispute. What I do however, is dispute that it is 'that bad', that we should close the door to business in China, which quite frankly is ludicrous!

If you don't mind me asking are you currently in Hong Kong now ? If yes can you and your fiance openly criticize the Chinese government off and online and access critical human rights or other reports on the internet ?

I agree closing the door to business would be ludicrous.

 

[middletoenail]

If you don't mind me asking are you currently in Hong Kong now ? If yes can you and your fiance openly criticize the Chinese government off and online and access critical human rights or other reports on the internet ?

I agree closing the door to business would be ludicrous.

Yes, I am currently living in Hong Kong, and I can do everything which you think I can't. That is the problem with basing opinions only on media outlets ;-)

 

[glasfryn]

money matters , we haven't got any.....china's got lots......end of.

according to the media we are the 4th richest country in the world .......................we haven't got any?

 

[JC Footy Genius]

Yes, I am currently living in Hong Kong, and I can do everything which you think I can't. That is the problem with basing opinions only on media outlets ;-)

That's good to know. What is the biggest criticism you have of the Chinese government ?

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I'm also basing it on living in Hong Kong, and having a Chinese fiancé.

Do you and your fiancee think of Hong Kong as China? The friends I have who live there or are from there all seem to see themselves/Hong Kong as being different to China, regardless of the legalities of the issue. Most of them are quite vehement that Hong Kong and its people are distinct from the mainlanders. I've never lived there-only visited- so my sample size of opinions isn't particularly large. Is it reflective of the place as a whole?

 

[middletoenail]

That's good to know. What is the biggest criticism you have of the Chinese government ?

Probably that they do Jack shit in supporting the united nations and world poverty, given their relative wealth.

 

[JC Footy Genius]

Probably that they do Jack shit in supporting the united nations and world poverty, given their relative wealth.

Good answer.

 

[middletoenail]

Do you and your fiancee think of Hong Kong as China? The friends I have who live there or are from there all seem to see themselves/Hong Kong as being different to China, regardless of the legalities of the issue. Most of them are quite vehement that Hong Kong and its people are distinct from the mainlanders. I've never lived there-only visited- so my sample size of opinions isn't particularly large. Is it reflective of the place as a whole?

That's a VERY good question, and you're right, there is a very distinct 'us and them' feeling in Hong Kong.

I'm in a unique situation because although we live in Hong Kong, my Mrs is from Beijing, so she does experience prejudice. I could probably describe it as as a Indian/Pakistani living in, say Crawley or Luton.

There are of course two different languages, but the handover in 1997 has for sure caused issues. Many of the Hong Kong locals want universal suffrage, the ability to choose their own government, which I totally agree with. But to be honest, they never had this when it was under British rule.

 

[jgmcdee]

Europe costs us 55m a day

Our net contribution to the EU is a bit under 8m a day, not 55m.

Given that we have a GDP around 2tn any reduction more than 0.15% as a result of us leaving the EU would result in us being overall worse off.

 

[sydney]

according to the media we are the 4th richest country in the world .......................we haven't got any?

that is where you show your ignorance......we may have a % of the top richest kurnts on the planet , as does china , us and russia.....however if you spread that wealth across the population it amounts to pretty close to the price of a pie and a pint in the laines.....

 

[glasfryn]

that is where you show your ignorance......we may have a % of the top richest kurnts on the planet , as does china , us and russia.....however if you spread that wealth across the population it amounts to pretty close to the price of a pie and a pint in the laines.....

not so much ignorance, as a socialist I believe this wealth should be spread out among the population, and did this stop gideon giving the chinese grass roots football 3m.
they are most certainly his best friend

 

[Mr Bridger]

according to the media we are the 4th richest country in the world .......................we haven't got any?

What media are you on about, where does it state this?

 

[sydney]

not so much ignorance, as a socialist I believe this wealth should be spread out among the population, and did this stop gideon giving the chinese grass roots football 3m.
they are most certainly his best friend

i'm completely lost now.....

 

[Robot Chicken]

Why can't we trade more with our Commonwealth partners? Let's take advantage of this!

 

[Diego Napier]

And most think FIFA are bent, wait til they start researching the EU. Happily trade with them but want nothing to do with their 'old boys club'.

Too true, our 'old boys club' knocks the spots off 'em.