Changing China
Giant on the move
Freedom — with Chinese characteristics
At the Aspen Ideas Festival this week, I’m on a panel that’ll debate the issue of “How Much Freedom is Enough for China.”
Obviously the crux of the question is defining terms — starting with what is China, and who among its 1.3 billion people are you talking about.
The answer to how much is enough is one thing if you’re an outspoken artist like Ai Weiwei, recently released from detention after reportedly confessing to economic irregularities. The answer is different if you’re an urban intellectual or if you’re an urban entrepreneur. And it starts to be really different if you’re a frustrated migrant worker or an impoverished farmer.
What you mean by freedom and what you want from your state really depends on who you are and what your circumstances are.
Is China ready for the Olympics?
Hardly anyone questions whether Beijing will be ready to host the Olympics Games in August. China is determined to put on a good show, the thinking goes, so that is what the world will get.
No expense has been spared cleaning up the sky, removing traffic jams, building state-of-the-art stadia and teaching every Beijing taxi driver to speak some English.
