By the way, the argument “yea, well you did it first” is really just as ineffective for adults to use as it is for children.

As for the involvement of foreign companies in China, I personally believe them to be subject to a tighter set of checks and balances than local companies due to having less influence over the local government and being, on average, larger scale operations. This does not mean that things which are quite wrong are not being done by foreign companies in China. I will always remember the words of a man I knew who had worked as a contractor for BASF in Nanjing and had spoken of them flushing whole vats full of poisonous material into the Yangzi river when it was discovered that they had mixed wrong. Sure, this is only one incident, but from what I am told it is demonstrative of wider practices among many companies operating in China.

I have lived through multiple politically controlled “burns” here in China and, again, justified or not, right or wrong, is not the question for any of them. The reality is that nationalism is used as a tool and few people (Americans included) realize how often they are being played, I think.

I really have to say I disagree here with your investment comparison. To compare private/corporate investment dollars from the West into China to Sinopec or other Chinse government controlled/owned investments in Africa is at best not at all accurate and worst deliberately misleading.

I think you could have phrased that better, Chinese people on average have little opportunity to study and live in country in which the main function of the media seemd to be telling people that they are Chinese and what that means. However, I’m sure you have met Chinese people who are widely travelled and experienced also, I know I have.

“I don’t have a clue if it was a conspiracy or not. The point here was the REACTION”

I have to disagree here, if there had been solid proof that there had been a conspiracy then that might have justified the level of anger that Chinese people felt. The ‘reaction’ only becomes objectionable when you take into account the fact that no real evidence has ever been shown that the bombing was anything but an accident. However, even if everyone had been convinced that it had been a total accident then some level of anger might still have been justified. I suppose it is worth mentioning here that NATO actually managed to drop bombs in neighbouring countries by accident – 300 meters is neither here nor there.

“only Chinese believe that they are actually doing good in Africa”

The main theme here seems to be that it is impossible to invest in poor and undemocratic countries without doing evil. You must then ask if the west is doing good in China – consider that western companies do contribute to Chinese polution, that we have sold them weapons and are still selling them technology that may have police/military application.

@Jxie – “What is so particularly wrong with Liu’s comments?”

I too felt uncomfortable with it. Firstly, it reflected a mentality of inferiority – nobody had been saying that people of Asian extraction could not compete in such a race. Secondly, it showed an un-sportsman-like attitude. When a win is a victory for people of yellow skin everywhere, you have to ask: would a loss have been a defeat?

“not in Africa itself.”

Africans are fairly negative about all foreign involvement in their countries, let’s leave it at that.

First, the US was wrong to bomb the embassy. But I don’t have a clue if it was a conspiracy or not. The point here was the REACTION.

Second, NOTHING is wrong with Liu’s comments or his success! I’m only interested in what it says about people’s mindset. I’m thrilled by his success and the “next generation” of athletes. Again, the point was the reaction, not him.

Third, for a Chinese to comment on someone else’s lack of multicultural exposure is truly rich. I guess you missed the fact that I have an MA in Southeast Asian Cultural Anthropology, lived in Thailand for 4 years and work in multiple SEA countries.

Finally, only Chinese believe that they are actually doing good in Africa–do a little more reading outside of Xinhua. Africans kidnaping Chinese engineers? Boats being refused port? New legislation to limit foreign investment in certain industries? None of the news about Africa having issues with the Chinese is coming from the West.