Chinese PR, a Personal View

[Genesis]

I decided to write this because of this article. The Dalai Lama and the Politics of Reincarnation | The Diplomat

I just want to present a different case. Granted this is a pretty rough idea, and really, it's just a rant.


Since 1949, when China decided that would be a communist nation and not part of the Western alliance Chang had been in, the battle of the PR has raged.

Though at that time, the attacks have been few and far between, even though we were far worse at the time, but we were just a dinner rolls on the table rather than the Steak or the Lobster. Nobody ever reviews the appetizer.

Today China faces a different set of challenge, how to have a positive, or at the least not negative view of itself around the world.

Most people on this forum would say stop imperialism, bullying, and other destabilizing acts. I would take that advise if it mean anything other than boxing China in. Essentially if we accepted Vietnam and Philippine's claim our fleet can't even do any anti piracy operations in the gulf of Aden without going into other's claim zones.

But I'm not here to talk about that, the reason is simply I don't think that's what's making the headlines. What's actually making China look bad is actually our domestic issues.

Tibet, XinJiang, freedom, or lack of it, pollution, human rights and so on so forth. But as I have explained in previous thread, a lot of those are based on ground realities, and not so much on a ruthless dictatorship that simply doesn't exist. But I'm not here to defend these actions, I want to talk solution.



This may not shock you, but my thinking are in the lines of continue economic progress as number one, but greater emphasis on environment. So basically, first become developed, than become free and just. Are these two mutually exclusive? No, but for China to change course now it would obviously impact progress, even a proven soldier needs time with a new weapon.

Can one be done without the other? If history is any indication, the answer is most likely yes.


Why would I suggest such a course of action? Why not slow economic progress and progress on both fronts together? I'll use a few countries as examples, India, Philippines and Indonesia, they have been called stable democracies, how many of you reading this want to actually live there? How many Filipinos have escaped their home land? How many Indians? How many of the world have an actual positive view of these countries, aside from the one fact they are democracy?

I heard far worse things said about India and Philippines in Canada and US by their own people than even Chinese, ok that's a push, we can be pretty vicious, lol.


This leads me to the conclusion that economic progress must be first, for even if today we allow true democracy, freedom matching the US, and respect for human rights like the UK, and stop anything and everything military, even disband the PLA, we would still be laughed at, and critical of by developed countries.

For not being able to provide adequate health services, security, living standards, education and more are still problems that needed solutions. While freedom and Human rights can be established far quicker, these former criteria are more or less elusive to all but a few.

From what I can see, while there are still some articles that talks Chinese accomplishment, all those that are dwarfed by it, democratic or not, have not really received much praise for its system, which suffers the same realities that we do, but worse, since their resources are far less.

So for China to actually have a positive image, what it needs is both, and if we accept my premise that if we start radical transformation right now, that it would at least delay our progress by a decade if not more, then my solution of economy first than rights, seems the fastest way to go.


On the other hand, if democratic values, freedom and rights are the only thing that's needed for a positive PR, then this idea would sound pretty ridiculous wouldn't it.



Edit: Just to add a point I missed, I'm not saying changing values would for sure slow it down, but given that rights and freedom is the easier of the two to achieve than prosperity and other rights and freedoms, why do the easier of the two first and risk the harder of the two.

Logic dictates, that it would be far more sensible to do the hard one first and if all goes to crap, we can always switch to the second, without losing anything that we could realistically expect to progress.

Basically if our economic progress tanks, we can always switch to those values while at the same time not affecting the economy much anyways, rather than switch now and risk having it tank.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

Nope, you are still not getting it.

Prejudice is not based in logic and thus it cannot be overcome with reason.

The media can make any pollution, human rights, etc. look 100000x worse than it really is, anywhere. It is simply a matter of cherrypicking facts, deleting opposing ones, and repeating the lie enough times, with a person that looks pretty credible.

I don't know why you care so much about image and prestige. Prestige comes not from trying to appease others but from hard power. It is a benefit, not a goal.

Know that fastest supercomputer? Largest radio telescope? Daya bay neutrino experiments? Alibaba IPO? Those are not for prestige - but they result in prestige, because they represent hard power. You have it all backwards.

 

[Jlaw]

These things can be proven to be false by visiting or talking to someone you know that lives there. If idiots believe everything they read, than they are just idiots.
Bad news about China from the west is good news for Chinese--because they are butt hurt that we can learn and build so damn fast.

 

[Aepsilons]

China boasts over 130 environmental courts opened between 2007 and 2013, a trend that promises to reshape environmental law. What accounts for the political appeal of specialized justice? Overall, China’s specialized environmental courts are a method for local officials to signal commitment to environmental protection and a forum to defuse potentially explosive disputes. They symbolize the increasing importance placed by China’s leaders on environmental issues, while also offering welcome flexibility. Courts can accept cases when disputes are rising, and turn them away when local power holders are involved and caution appears prudent.

There have been implementation of new regulations; first locally and now nationally, also showcase growing interest in drafting non-state actors into the task of enforcing governmental regulations. Although public interest litigation is often discussed as a step toward the development of civil society, it is important to place private enforcement within a CCP tradition of recruiting the masses to meet policy goals. When state resources are limited.

Unlike the two-dimensional view of authoritarian law as an instrument of social control, China’s environmental courts remind us that good governance matters to at least some regimes aspiring to longevity and, when that is the case, law can extend beyond repression to encompass affirmative responsibilities. Environmental protection is a rising policy priority in China , and the rationale for specialized justice is similar to the motivation for opening juvenile courts, business courts and other specialized courts in the United States: a desire to bring judicial decisions into line with political values.

The rise of China’s environmental courts reflect a real recognition of the EPB’s failure to control China’s worsening environmental problems. One result of meshing the environmental courts to the bureaucracy is measured compromise in judicial decision making. For all that the environmental courts serve a clear policy purpose, ties to other parts of the state reminds judges to keep multiple goals in mind. In the end, environmental protection is just one goal, to be balanced carefully with the need to safeguard social stability and the continued , vital importance of economic growth.



References:
Stern, R. E. (2014). The Political Logic of China's New Environmental Courts. China Journal, (72), 53-74.

Yi, W., & Liu, H. (2006). China's Environmental and Developmental Issues in Transition. Social Research, (1). 277.

 

[William Hung]

Your thesis seems to be that if PRC progresses further in its economy, then the world will give it more respect and prestige.

I somehow doubt this. PRC has already achieved plenty from the 90s onwards, but do see much respect given? oor did western media find other areas, rightly or wrongly, to criticize the PRC?

Was China respected when she had no pollution issues?

Was China respected when she had no issue in Xinjiang or the SCS/ECS?

Do western country look down on or disrespect other economically developed country?

Does a majority group in a developed country necessarily always respect a model minority group? If you have already lived oversea, you should know this answer.

Are the Jews respected across the world? or do they still have a negative image in many parts of the world?

You know that the CEO of Alibaba already got made fun of by many people because of his looks.

Respect, prestige and images are social phenomena and must be investigated from the perspective of psychology and sociology.

Perhaps you can start from the grass root level, say a high school ground. Why is one group of students prejudice against another group? why do some individuals make fun of another individual? Why does bullying exist in the school playground? Why are geeks often made fun of when they are considered as model students by the school?

We should start from this grass root level first to explain the social phenomena of respect, image and prestige before we make any speculation on the political realms. @Nihonjin1051 is our resident psychologist right? maybe he can help.

Also, just like in real life on the personal level.... you should never be too concerned with prestige or respect or how other people perceive you...If you are too obsess with it, psychologist actually describe it as a mental disability.

 

[dlclong]

as long as China has the ability to challenge western authority, Westerners will never look at the positive Chinese.
The disintegration of the Soviet Union, initially, western countries and to celebrate this result, but because Russia is still a great power, Russia still been portrayed by westerners as the devil.
Also, don't think you have changed, the western media will no longer defile you.
Anyway, China, Go!

 

[Aepsilons]

Also, just like in real life on the personal level.... you should never be too concerned with prestige or respect or how other people perceive you...If you are too obsess with it, psychologist actually describe it as a mental disability.

True. This is seen in severe cases ; in the form of narcissistic behavior. I would love to expand on that , but I don't want to digress from @Genesis 's subject matter. Perhaps in an another thread.

 

[Jlaw]

as long as China has the ability to challenge western authority, Westerners will never look at the positive Chinese.
The disintegration of the Soviet Union, initially, western countries and to celebrate this result, but because Russia is still a great power, Russia still been portrayed by westerners as the devil.
Also, don't think you have changed, the western media will no longer defile you.
Anyway, China, Go!

When China was weak, we get no respect from west. I rather be strong and get no respect than weak and get no respect.

 

[Aepsilons]

When China was weak, we get no respect from west. I rather be strong and get no respect than weak and get no respect.

Who said that no one respected China? I can counter that, actually.

 

[terranMarine]

I could care less about PR for China, just keep on developing and reforming. Our muscles will do the talking

 

[Jlaw]

I could care less about PR for China, just keep on developing and reforming. Our muscles will do the talking

This should receive a positive rating.

 

[Aepsilons]

I could care less about PR for China, just keep on developing and reforming. Our muscles will do the talking

In this case, PR is integral because it is a reflection of China's overall development and caliber. In business management, this is an example of an organization's self actualization processes. China, as an organization, requires self actualization to provide legitimacy towards its various policies ranging from environmental protection, family structure, juvenile rights, business law, and political and military. So, despite your personal objection, its actually an issue within political organizations to procure an aggressive policy to increase one's PR. In fact, the fact that China had declared a War against Pollution starting in 2007 through its local magistracies is an example of the CPC's policy shift in bridging importance to both environment as well as economic development. Pleas read academic journals in Chinese politics, Chinese economy, Chinese environmental science before you say anything.

Bring some academic weight at least.

 

[tonyget]

You're not a true superpower if you don't have soft power

 

[Cossack25A1]

I decided to write this because of this article. The Dalai Lama and the Politics of Reincarnation | The Diplomat


Why would I suggest such a course of action? Why not slow economic progress and progress on both fronts together? I'll use a few countries as examples, India, Philippines and Indonesia, they have been called stable democracies, how many of you reading this want to actually live there? How many Filipinos have escaped their home land? How many Indians? How many of the world have an actual positive view of these countries, aside from the one fact they are democracy?

We have a "stable" democracy? The last time I checked around, what we have a is mixture of the combination of plutocracy and oligarchy to the point that we almost resemble a feudal state, mob-rule anarchy (the 1986 and 2001 "People Power" revolts are examples) and "showbiztocracy" - a state were many of the politicians used to be actors and actresses or still practicing being both a politician and showbiz personality at the same time.

 

[William Hung]

True. This is seen in severe cases ; in the form of narcissistic behavior. I would love to expand on that , but I don't want to digress from @Genesis 's subject matter. Perhaps in an another thread.

Yea Narcissistic disorder results from obsession about prestige and how people perceives you. It can results in behaviours that can be harmful to others, even to your friends and family.

Another disorder that results from too much obsession about how people perceive you, is Social Anxiety Disorder. With this disorder, it results in behaviours that are actually harmful to yourself.

It would be interesting to see how these disorders can be projected onto the political realms, but yeah, we would then be off topic here.

Also, don't think you have changed, the western media will no longer defile you.
Anyway, China, Go!

Yea, just like in real life... no one should change themselves or do things just to please or earn praise from others. Change to better ourselves or others only.