Friday, January 27, 2012

'Flowers of Wars' better as a novel - Zhang Lijia

Zhang Lijia
Zhang Yimou's movie 'Flowers of War' plays strongly on the nationalistic feelings in China, but is no classic propaganda movie, tells author Zhang Lijia to the BBC. But she did like the novel more than the movie.

BBC:
Lijia Zhang, a commentator based in Nanjing, says that when she went to see the film, the audience reaction was "very powerful". 

The book was originally called 13 Flowers of Nanjing 
"I wouldn't call it a propaganda film but I think it passed the censorship very easily," she said. "It's a positive story... and it puts the Chinese in a good light. It's part of history and for understandable reasons, China wants the world to understand it."... 
Lijia Zhang - who is also a friend of [the author of the novel] Geling Yan - says she thinks the film had much potential that was unfortunately not quite realised. "The original novel is I think more interesting, it focuses very much on the women's story. "But in the film I think too much emphasis has been placed on the Hollywood star."
More at the BBC.
Zhang Lijia is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need her at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.

More about Zhang Lijia and China's moral crisis at Storify.
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China will be a remote issue during US elections - Arthur Kroeber

Arthur Kroeber
US President Obama made some obligatory references to China in his "state of the union", but Beijing-based economic analyst Arthur Kroeber predicts in The Newyorker China will be a non-issue in the upcoming 2012 elections.

Evan Osnos in The Newyorker:
After the [Obama] speech, I called Arthur Kroeber, an American who is managing director of GK Dragonomics, a Beijing-based economic research firm, for his take. He had some other numerology in mind: “China is a big issue in U.S. politics in odd-numbered years, because there is no election. In 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, we had the peak of the currency debates. But in every case, the closer you got to an actual election, China evaporated as an issue.” 
In the opening weeks of 2012, Americans have, perhaps, a more deeply visceral reaction to the China-jobs issues than in previous cycles, but Kroeber has a prediction: “Obama made a few gestures on stronger trade enforcement, which signals to your base that you’re on the right side, and then you move on and forget about it once the real campaign is started. And I’ll bet you anything you want that once the Republicans actually have a nominee, it will be a remote issue.”... 
“Both of these large countries are struggling with different but fundamentally similar types of enormous income-equality problems and economic transitions,” Kroeber said. “In China, it’s about how to move away from the low-end export-driven economy, and in the U.S., it’s the post-industrial question: How do we drive job growth now that we can’t employ thousands of people in steel plants? If you’re a glass-half-full person, you would view those similarities as a positive thing. Fundamentally your problems are pretty similar.”
More in The Newyorker.

Arthur Kroeber is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.

More from Arthur Kroeber on China's economy in Storify.
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Real internet crackdown might backfire - Tom Doctoroff

Tom Doctoroff
Silencing the unruly voices at the internet might be high on the government's agenda, but an effective crackdown would only backfire, tells Tom Doctoroff in the Internetevolution.com

The internetevolution:
“The [Communist Party] leadership is very nervous,” says Shanghai-based Tom Doctoroff, author of the coming book, What Chinese Want. Fuel for anxiety is that, in midyear, China’s president and premier are scheduled to step down, and, says Doctoroff, “There is a lot of jockeying for position.”...
But:
“The government knows the people need ways to let off steam and that the Internet is an avenue for that,” he says. He elaborates that the Chinese-language Web is awash with “free pornography sites and violent video games,” and the government, in effect, pointedly ignores these outlets... 
Right now, vocal anti-government sentiments are largely limited to a tiny minority of disaffected youth, whose opinions do not matter that much. And yet the extraordinarily active microblogs give the government a clear window on the level of dissent -- and were they to truly censor postings, they would lose that. Says Doctoroff: “In the end, this [real-name requirement] may backfire for the government because they now listen to online grumbles before grievances turn into major protests. Now fewer people will dare to raise their voices, and the government will be denied a ‘polling device’ and exacerbate alienation from the people.” 
That is why many experts increasingly believe that the microblogging crackdown will be analogous to China’s faltering crackdowns on indoor smoking -- there will be plenty of noise, right up to the regime change, and then suddenly the issue will simply cease to be discussed. Until then, says Doctoroff, “I can’t imagine the government will be aggressive in enforcing any of this.” 
The smoking ban has resulted in Chinese people smoking wherever they please. And very probably, they will continue to microblog as they please, too. Besides, adds Doctoroff, for the overwhelming majority of Chinese microbloggers, 
“People are blogging not to protest, but to show off. They want to show they are cool people.”
More in the Internetevolution.com 

Tom Doctoroff is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting of conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form. More details about Tom Doctoroff and his upcoming book at Storify.
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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Going home on Chinese new year - Zhang Lijia

Zhang Lijia
Millions of Chinese have returned home, or are still trying to get there on time. Author Zhang Lijia feels guilty she did not make it to Nanjing this year, yet again, she tells on her website. But she is happy for those who did.

Zhang Lijia:
Some got lucky. In Shanghai, quite a few large factories hired coaches to drive people home and drop them. Thanks to labour shortage in Shanghai and also coastal areas such as Shenzhen, factories have tried harder than ever in accommodating and helping the workers in the hope of retaining them. Some factories offer them iphones or other bonus to allure the workers back.   
The migrant workers live separate lives from the urban population. The Spring Festival is the time the city people realize the importance of their poor rural cousins. In my neighborhood – where many migrant labours congregate – is rather quiet right now. A lot of breakfast stalls disappeared, restaurant, shops and news stands closed. No one came to deliver the milk or water; and no one collected rubbish. Many domestic helpers have also gone home, leaving many families struggle with their daily grinding. Migrant workers have effectively taken over the service industries in the city. They are the unsung heroes of our society. 
My helper Xiao Yu has also gone her home in Sichuan, by taking the train for 29 hours without a seat. I’ve told her to take her time as I’d like her to spend decent time with her family. 
I watched the news and felt guilty. Ever since I left home in the end of 1990, I have only gone back four times for the Spring Festival. I find the overwhelming crowds off-putting: anywhere you go, it is infested by thongs of people. And my family has never pressured me. If I bothered to try, it wouldn’t be too hard – wouldn’t be hard as Xiao Yu’s 29 hour seatless train. I’ve called home and promised to be there next year.
More at Zhang Lijia's weblog.

Zhang Li is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need her at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.

More on Zhang Lijia and China's moral crisis on Storify.
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Friday, January 20, 2012

Inflation still a problem - Wang Jianmao

Wang Jianmao
The debate between economists on how China should deal with its economy is running high. CEIBS professor Wang Jianmao warns in the US edition of the China Daily curtailing inflation should be high on the agenda, not loosening the financial strings on banks.

The China Daily:
Many economists now expect further loosening of the bank's reserve requirement ratio (RRR) in the first half of the year - allowing more credit back into the banking system - and then for interest rates to start being cut in the second half of the year. 
Wang Jianmao, professor of economics at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai, worries the government has not quite put the inflation genie back in the bottle and cautions about loosening monetary policy. 
He believes if the government pursues a policy of relaxing the RRR, it should actually also raise interest rates as a precaution. 
"I think any lowering of the Triple R and an increase in interest rates would be a very bad combination. I think the government needs to increase interest rates at the same time so we don't have a problem with inflation," he says.
More in the US edition of the China Daily

Professor Wang Jianmao is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.
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New rules won't kill weibo - Jeremy Goldkorn

Jeremy Goldkorn
China's authorities try to curtail the internet and especially try to implement a 'real-name' policy for online debate. But internet watcher Jeremy Goldkorn does not see the end of the internet in China as we know it, he tells in the Voice of America.

VOA:
Jeremy Goldkorn, the founder of the China media monitoring website Danwei.org says although authorities said the new system would start in December, not much has changed. “I don’t think it has actually been implemented anywhere, at least not thoroughly. Because it’s still possible to do a lot in the Internet without using your real name, including Weibo services.” 
If authorities do follow through on the plan, Goldkorn agrees with other critics who say that the loss of anonymity will have a big impact on microblogs. 
“It will certainly have a chilling effect on discussion on Weibo, because a lot of people will be wary of speaking their mind if there is going to be a real name attached to their account.  But I don’t think it’s going to kill off Weibo,” Goldhorn said.
More in the VOA.

Jeremy Goldkorn is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch, or fill in our speakers' request form.
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Thursday, January 19, 2012

US ambassador Locke "misguided at best" - Shaun Rein

Shaun Rein
US ambassador to China Gary Locke has been warning about the danger of internet developments in China going into a wrong direction. China analyst and author Shaun Rein fears China's backlash, and a possible trade war later this year in CNBC.

CNBC:
In an interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep, Locke said there is growing frustration among the Chinese people over the “operations of government, corruption, lack of transparency” and he referenced China’s “Jasmine Revolution” last February, which was modeled on the pro-democracy demonstrations seen across the Middle East. 
Shaun Rein, Founder & Managing Director, China Market Research Group believes the statement won’t be taken lightly and says this incident just adds to the risk of a trade war between the U.S. and China. 
“Many in China take Ambassador Locke's words as misguided at best, or trying to contain China at worst,” he said. “After President Obama's announcement to rotate 2500 marines to Darwin, Australia, many within China are pushing for the government to take a muscular course to show America it cannot be pushed around and end American hegemony in the region.” 
But, Rein doesn’t expect a strong reaction from China just yet because Vice-President Xi Jinping's is expected to visit the Washington in the coming weeks. 
“Both sides will use strong rhetoric at the foreign service level but the real leaders will make a show of friendship or partnership in the days leading up to the meetings,” he said. 
However, Rein says Beijing will retaliate over the next six months by making China a more difficult environment for American firms, through means such as taking longer to approve business licenses.
More in CNBC.

Shaun Rein is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.

Shaun Rein is the author of the upcoming book The End of Cheap China: Economic and Cultural Trends that will Disrupt the World.  More about Shaun Rein and his book at Storify.
 
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Looking for the hearts and souls of China's internet users - Sam Flemming

Sam Flemming
The purchase of CIC by WPP has put China's leading analytic firm of its vibrant social-media scene in the limelight. Founder and chairman Sam Flemming explains in AdAge the importance of his work. PepsiCo, Nike, Dell and L'Oreal belong to their customers.

AdAge:
"It's more than just eyeballs, it's also hearts and souls and feelings and people expressing themselves, engaging with each other and brands. So it provides a huge opportunity to engage consumers and get in front of them in very unique ways," Mr. Flemming said. 
The challenge in China is that the social-media landscape is highly fragmented. Facebook and Twitter are routinely blocked by the government, but Chinese internet users have a vast array of home-grown choices such as the Sina and Tencent microblog services, social-networking sites such as RenRen and highly popular online message boards. 
"It poses a real challenge for marketers, what to do and where to do it. And that's what we can help marketers better understand," Mr. Flemming said. 
Information provided by CIC can help brands gather market research in the form of millions of online comments, track the performance of a new campaign, help inspire better creative work, or understand which social-media sites are better for pinpointing target consumers, Mr. Flemming said.
More in AdChina.

Sam Flemming is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sam Flemming's CIC bought by WPP

Sam Flemming
CIC, the leading company in following the word-of-mouth at the internet in China, has been bought by Kantar Media, a WPP group, CIC owner Sam Flemming announces at his website.

From their announcement:
Kantar Media, the media research and insights division of Kantar, has expanded its social media offer in China with the acquisition of CIC, a leader in the Chinese Social media listening and  analysis industry. The deal will build on the company’s significant global presence and activities in media market research and insights with 5,000 staff across 60 markets, with CIC working along with the other leading Kantar Media partnerships in China including CSM and CTR. Kantar Media is a unit of Kantar, the consumer insight arm of WPP, the world’s largest communications services group. 
The acquisition comes in response to the growing client need for the real-time monitoring of consumer brand conversations in a market with over 70% of the 500 million Internet users on social media and with over 50,000 enterprises owning a microblog account. It gives Kantar Media a strong base in China and Asia Pacific for social media intelligence and insights as China this year became the world’s second largest advertising market.
 Founded in 2004 and with offices in Shanghai and Beijing, CIC coined the now standard Chinese industry term Internet Word of Mouth (IWOM) and pioneered the concept of social business in China. With a team of over 60 social media consultants, innovative dashboards solutions and patent pending in technologies such as Chinese language text mining, CIC has led the industry in developing and applying social media intelligence and insights across its roster of blue-chip clients includes 5 brands out of the top 10 listed in Brandz Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands, and is at the forefront of monetizing the social business industry in China.
Congratulations from the China Speakers Bureau for this success of Sam Flemming.

More at CIC's website Sam Flemming is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.
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Why global brands fail in China - Shaun Rein

Shaun Rein
While some brands like Nike and Intel make neat profits in China, the country has become a corporate graveyard for many other global brands. Why do global brands fail in China, wonders business analyst Shaun Rein in CNBC. They should focus on China.

Shaun Rein
Best Buy  and Home Depot shut their stores in 2011. Google, eBay and Amazon have been trounced by local competition. Walmart  faces dwindling market share. These great firms, which dominate their home markets and are widely successful internationally failed to grab profits in China... 
In China, revenue and profit per square feet of retail space is too low to justify giant stores selling low margin products. Brands need to think whether their traditional business models fit China and, if not, either skip entering the market or adjust accordingly. 
The second theme that emerged was that senior executives sitting in foreign headquarters often ignore what local country heads, who are more attuned to local conditions, have to say. Or they hire the wrong country heads in the first place. One eBay executive, for example, told me that his seniors ignored the advice of local employees to run servers out of China and switched hosting to America. 
“The day they switched to the US servers despite our protests, traffic dropped 50 percent because access speeds were too slow. We never recovered. It is a myth that local auction site Taobao won because they don’t charge fees. We lost because headquarters tried to implement what worked in the US, from interface design to customer service help," the executive said. 
Businesses need to hire senior executives who understand how to operate under local market conditions and delegate decision-making authority to them... 
China has become the must win market, so billions of dollars a year are being invested in the country. The reality is that many companies will end up failing there, or missing expectations, because they don’t localize their business models and management teams enough to compete with fast emerging domestic players.
More in CNBC

Shaun Rein is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch, or fill in our speakers' request form.

Shaun Rein is the author of the upcoming book The End of Cheap China: Economic and Cultural Trends that will Disrupt the World. Read more about Shaun Rein and his book at Storify.
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Economy slows, but not falling off the cliff - Arthur Kroeber

Arthur Kroeber
China's economy shows a slight slowdown, and some economists predict it is the beginning of the end of China's growth story. Not true, says economic analyst Arthur Kroeber in the New York Times. Despite a dreadful European economy, China is doing ok.

The New York Times:
“It all looks pretty robust, I have to say,” Arthur Kroeber, the managing director of Dragonomics, an analytics firm in Beijing, said by telephone. “Export growth has been slowing and we’ll expect that to continue because Europe is just dreadful, and that’s China’s best export market. But even with those kinds of negative factors in the mix, the basic structure of the economy is still O.K. 
“Things are slowing. But they’re not falling off a cliff.”... 
Mr. Kroeber said his firm believed that annual growth in 2012 could cool to as little as 8 percent.
More in the New York Times

Arthur Kroeber is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.

More on Arthur Kroeber and China's economy at Storify.
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