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China – a rising power?

For those of you that haven’t read Mark Steyn’s new book, America Alone, what are you waiting for? It was brilliant, scary, and a must read for anyone who is thinking about the world situation and the problems we will face in the future.

He also spoke of China, which, although we have heard for years the “rising power” and “new world leader” chorus from the pundits, Steyn discussed how their one-child policy has left them with many men, few women, and thus a huge sustainability problem.

Today, on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, was an article titled, "Pigs Get the Ax in China TV Ads, In Nod to Muslims." The Chinese apparently are changing mention and advertising for their most important holiday – Chinese New Years – so as not to offend a small minority in the country, the Muslims.

The pig ban is a significant shift for a government that seldom puts the interests of minority groups ahead of those of the broader population. China has more than 20 million Muslims, but they constitute less than 2% of its population.

For most other Chinese, the pig has powerful and positive cultural associations as one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. Year of the Pig decorations already festoon cities and villages all over China.

Pork is the meat most widely consumed by the country's Han Chinese majority. On average, Chinese annually eat more than 80 pounds of pork , according to United Nations statistics. At banquets in southern China, people often roast whole pigs, decorated with blinking red lights in their eye sockets.

Some possibilities:
1. The Chinese are evil geniuses and know that this is a ploy to destroy radical Islam
2. China's "Minister of Information" read Steyn’s book and knows he better suck up to the Mussies, or they will be next
3. China is afraid of the Muslims

My bet is #3. In fact, here is the Chinese Muslim take on the whole thing:

"Muslim people hate pigs and don't even mention pigs in their daily lives," says Ma Yunfu, the vice chairman of the China Islamic Association. Mr. Ma said he hadn't been informed of the CCTV ban but views it as "a precaution."

"We don't want to see any misunderstanding like the one 12 years ago," during the last Year of the Pig, says Mr. Ma. At that time, Mr. Ma says, some newspapers published a tale in which a pig saves the life of Muhammad. "That aroused a lot of anger," he says.

Yep, afraid they are. So much for China taking over the world.

Posted by Adam at January 25, 2007 12:58 PM