The last few days represent an important period in the history of international relations. A time of celebration and loss told from the unique perspective of journal style observations of a college student. During this unique period of history, an American tourist visiting the Peoples Republic of China for the first time was taking notes for writing a critical discourse about the realities of international relations. Honestly, in the name of diplomacy, so much goes unsaid. This discourse is a candid exploration into the realities of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the Peoples Republic of China ignoring the conventions that perpetuate self-censorship. Like any good introduction to a topic, voice and perspective have to blend and provide the reader with a context and feeling for the direction the author intends to follow. One value boils to the surface in every serious discussion of the Peoples Republic of China. Freedom of choice represents more than a degree of autonomy, clearly defining freedom. Developing a sense of history is important to unlocking how a particular set of events fits into a larger context.

If the title is not candidly self-explanatory, then an explanation of faking capitalism is in order. Faking capitalism has a very specific meaning within the context of this discourse. Listen closely to the rhetoric of the Peoples Republic of China officials in describing a new China. China currently represents a complex duality of a communist political system existing as a backdrop to economic liberalization. This duality creates the economic illusion of market forces at work, changing perception without changing reality. This illusion generates a manufactured hyper-real version of China, where market forces appear to be driving the economy, influencing the fortunes of individual people on a daily basis. The government of the Peoples Republic of China preaches a version of communism with Chinese characteristics. China’s duality is a textbook case of the classical literary definition of a Faustian bargain to allow the country to expand economically while maintaining a communist political system. Illusions of market forces are so pervasive that economic emersion can temporarily allow individuals to suspend disbelief in order to ignore the existence of an extreme political system. Conversely, game theory would suggest, if China knows that it can influence the world economy with a potential market population over one billion, then China knows that money trumps politics, in the end trade talks.

These observations explain the perceptions of one individual’s two-week journey through history between May 30, 2004 and June 14, 2004. Creating the potential for dialogue and the open exchange of ideas and information, a new period in international relations, which is part of a historic great celebration and an emotional loss. The United States of America lost a true treasure, Ronald Wilson Reagan the 40th President. Ronald Wilson Reagan will be forever remembered in the United States as the as the President who defeated the Soviet Union. Articulated well on the cover of June 12th-18th 2004 edition of The Economist magazine sold in China heralding, “The man who beat communism.” Take a moment to think about the separation China has been able to create between the Soviet model of communism and the New China’s Communism with Chinese Characteristics. China held several youth forums bringing college students from the United States of America to celebrate the 25th anniversary of official diplomatic relations between the two countries. Some protestors remembered the 15th anniversary of the tragic events that took place in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. In the background of these historic events, is one word now looming over diplomacy and international relations? Terrorism is a word that has new meaning with both the United States and The Peoples Republic of China tragically experiencing the evils of terrorism. With a global issue, that both countries can agree about international relations is experiencing, a newfound interest in renewing commitments that bring governments around the world closer together.

Freedom to access information is a fundamentally necessary part of a fair and equitable society, without a free press the government can literally control the thoughts and opinions of the people. Dissent is a natural process of argumentation. This discourse attempts to avoid self-censorship and discuss the major questions facing international relations and the global economy. History sometimes provides the perspective necessary to take a moment and look back on where society has been and where it will be going in the future. This set of critical observations about international relations transcends the burdens of diplomatic restraint. Instead, this dialogue explains where diplomacy breaks down and market forces shape policy. It calls into question how the free and open exchange of information would change the strategic bargains that are currently taking place between the Chinese people and The Peoples Republic of China. The governments of the United States and The Peoples Republic of China are currently working together in the name of fighting Terrorism and expanding trade. The people are trying to balance change with the underlying feeling that people are simply people, and that the citizens of both countries are simply trying to move forward as societies.

Sunday, May 30, 2004: Departing for China.

Airports are usually busy with people going from one place to another place without anything in common. Fifty people came together from Alaska to Florida in an airport terminal in Los Angles, California. This International Mission on Diplomacy is part of bringing students from two countries together. College students interested in international relations came together from both countries in the interest of learning and understanding. For most of the students, this was the first international flight. Only two of the students had ever been to China before. Less than a handful of the students speak, Mandarin the primary language of the Peoples Republic of China. Even though this does not sound like a group of seasoned foreign policy experts the mission did not require that level of knowledge, understanding, or education. Walking into the airport terminal feels like being lost in a crowd looking for a familiar face. This was the first time that the white international mission’s flag would guide college students on this particular trip. However, the feeling that the international mission flags have flown before and will continue to facilitate the exchange of college students adds a sense of permanence and meaning to this particular trip.

Not knowing what to expect about Chinese culture, infrastructure, or even hotel arrangements contributes a sense of anticipatory anxiety. This is the first time anyone from the group would meet the group leaders Paul and Spencer. Paul White is a truly interesting and honest individual. A retired Foreign Service Officer who is not overbearing yet carries a surprising wealth of information about the world. Paul brings experiences from more than a dozen countries spanning a thirty-four year career with the State Department’s agency for International Development. Paul uses the academic skills associated with a degree in Psychology from Valparaiso University located in Indiana to facilitate international communication. Paul’s wealth of experience fits perfectly with the academic knowledge of Spencer Meredith who is currently a professor of Political Science at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. Spencer is a truly balanced academic staring out with a Bachelor of Arts from in Religion from Swarthmore College, then switching disciplines to study political science with a master’s from Villanova University and a Doctorate from The University of Virginia.

With an interesting set of complimentary leadership styles, Spencer Meredith and Paul White gained the respect of the group without dissent. Spencer’s ability to focus on the scheduling and administrative details freed Paul to focus on making sure the Intentional Mission on Diplomacy trip had a balance of both experience and education. The effort and drive of both Paul and Spencer really made a difference in the quality of the trip. Without leaders that can work well together, seamlessly sharing power, it would not be long before fragmentation turned into serious conflict.

Monday, May 31, 2004: The majesty and marvels of Beijing.

The mission found out that there is nothing like a seriously long airplane flight, to figuratively, take the wind out of the groups sails. The group could tell from the moment they got off the plane that the country of China is synonymous with the government known as the Peoples Republic of China. Normally customs is a difficult process to get through, but thanks to the good people at the Chinese International Travel Service or sometimes just called CITS, the group went through customs without any trouble. Nobody had to fill out forms about declaring or not declaring, it was a painless process. The Chinese International Travel Service is the modern version of handlers. They have access to get into every part of the airport and with tourists or guests of the state through almost any checkpoint without any problems.

It was a good evening for the group. Paul and Spencer gave out room assignments and everybody got a roommate for the duration of the trip. The State Guest Hotel is an exceptionally nice hotel, the only five star hotel, we would stay in during the entire trip. If you take the time to look at the sign that says how many stars a hotel receives it is clearly part of a government rating process. A fair amount of information comes from that simple sign telling how many stars a hotel receives, blatantly showing just how much control the state has in the administration of the daily lives of business in the Peoples Republic of China. Everyone on the hotel staff speaks English and it seemed that almost every employee was wearing a trainee name badge, also printed in English.

The group meeting that day was an exchange of hotel information and a late night meal. One thing about the International Mission on Diplomacy that seriously is confusing is the fact that they schedule a meal about every four hours. These are not little snacks mind you, these are usually full fledged multiple course buffet like extravaganzas. This particular meal was so late at night that most people were not hungry or aware that the kitchen staff had to stay late to prepare a full meal for eleven at night. Sometimes it is so easy to accept what we see without asking how it got in front of us. In this case, using a little bit of knowledge about the food service industry and the investigative reporting technique of fact checking by looking at the room service hours, it was obvious that some special arrangements were part of making our first meal at the hotel a memorable one. Of course, some people simply headed up stairs to unpack bags and settle in to this five star hotel for the first time. The number of television channels was very limited and only two channels were in English, both of them were, of course, news channels.

Tuesday, June 1, 2004: Beijing the Capital of China.

Knowing that this was an exceptionally nice hotel, the breakfast buffet was necessary in the morning. It was the only quality meal guarantee that the group could expect. The buffet came with everything from fresh omelets to a large buffet of pancakes, bacon, sausages, and a layout of various continental breakfast foods. Following breakfast at the hotel, the group was in a good mood for the first major meeting of the International Mission on Diplomacy group and the faculty advisors, Paul and Spencer. This morning orientation session began at eight in the morning and was one of the only times that the group met with the coordinator of the whole project, a young fellow named Karl.

The group meeting was by design mostly an informational exchange between college students with some facilitated guidance from Paul and Spencer. Playing a number game that included picking three numbers selected at random then explaining the significance of each number to the group. During this game of numbers, a major event took place in which the mission was broken apart into groups of about six to seven people. Each group came up with a series of three or four commonalities that everyone in the group shared. For example, if everyone in the group spoke Spanish that was a commonality. Paul and Spencer then told the group to treat the room like a map of the United States and spread out according to the place where each of the students had spent the most amount of time. This exercise was the most informative, because it visually showed how diverse the student population was.

Breaking for lunch the group was about to experience the first meal of the trip which was also the first formal buffet. Since the group had people with all sorts of food allergies, vegetarians, and honestly some very fussy eaters, the buffets were always a huge success. One of the funny parts of traveling abroad is that it is not safe to drink the water so every meal you end drinking bottled water, coke, sprite, or the perpetually flowing green tea. Tea is safe to drink because it involves tealeaves and boiling water. Ironically, this is when the group first found out about food poisoning, not from the food at the restaurant but from airplane food.

The restaurant was strategically located next to a pearl shop that sold all sorts of jade, silver, and of course pearls. The group ran into several different Chinese items that are always around markets, the chop, characters, and of course fake merchandise. The American tourists bought everything from silver to pearls. Later when tourists were thinking more like students, they found out that the high quality silver was turning people’s skin green and the pearls were not exactly of the highest quality.

The group then went to the Summer Palace, which is an 800-year-old emperor’s retreat. This was the first time the group would experience the horde of peoples selling merchandise including of course the amazing waving Chairman Mao watch, the little red book, and what else but bad copies of Rolex watches. The longer you are in China the more clear it becomes that these three tourist items come from the back of a truck just like newspapers in the suburbs. It is difficult to find street vendors that are selling different merchandise, after awhile everything starts to repeat itself in the form of the shopper’s sympathy of Chairman Mao. Some members of the group were looking to find a dragon boat to ride around the lake. The local guide said that the Empress Dowager, who was dissatisfied with both the military and governing, moved to the New Summer Palace in 1889. The Empress Dowager is famous for being excessive, including building a giant stone ship in the lake. Of course, the decadence of the 290 hectares of the summer palace is as striking as where the money came from, sacrificing the construction of navy ships.

Wednesday, June 2, 2004: Messages and messengers.

One of the most disappointing and insightful days during the entire trip started with everything running as usual. The group had breakfast buffet style, then a trip on the bus to meet with a representative of the U.S. Embassy. Learning is about understanding what you know and how you know it just as dialogue is about being able to use what you know to understand what someone else knows. In the case of the U.S. Embassy, it was clear that the International Mission on Diplomacy was guests of the Peoples Republic of China, and not tightly affiliated with the government of the United States. The group barely got two hours of time for questions with a panel of three people, two of which were not interested in talking to students. The group received no official presentation and none of the formality, which the Peoples Republic of China provided.

The Chinese are notorious for giving the party line, but none of the Chinese officials can hold a candle the abilities of United States diplomats to avoid questions. The group was going to have the opportunity to discuss Sino-U.S. relations in terms of American viewpoints. However, the American viewpoints received better articulation by Chinese government officials who were more than eager to define both sides’ positions with respect to each other. This showed something about the relationship that exists between the United States and the Peoples Republic of China. American policies rise and fall with different administrations and China tries to adapt to the different policies. This creates a perpetual series of cyclical difficulties in international relations. With all due respect, the U.S. Embassy people did do a good job of explaining living and working abroad.

To compare and contrast the two systems, when the International Mission on Diplomacy went to the Embassy, the group encountered metal detectors and near airport quality security. When the group went for a behind-the-scenes visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the doors were wide open and water bottles were waiting for the country’s guests. Of course, they were serving water bottled by the Coca Cola bottling company. The afternoon briefing was about the role of China in the United Nations. It focused on the “one country, two systems” relationship between China and Hong Kong. The speakers were always referring to Taiwan and peaceful reunification. Sometimes it sounds like the economic expansion is part of a design to seek reunification with Taiwan through economic liberalization.

No trip to Beijing would be complete without a Peking duck dinner at a famous Beijing restaurant. In traditional Chinese fashion, they serve a complete meal then bring out the duck and plum sauce last after the group was almost completely full. The funny thing about Pecking duck is that you really only taste the plum sauce and if you did manage to eat the duck by itself it is highly bland.

Thursday, June 3, 2004: The Great Wall of China.

Most of the people in the group seemed to go through the motions of the day without questioning the world around them. The Chinese International Travel Service was gracious enough to give all of the members of the International Mission on Diplomacy red hats and of course a “lovely” t-shirt. Of course this was not an act of pure benevolence it was strategic. When the group got to the Great Wall of China the video crews everywhere added some depths to the first of several events commemorating the 25th anniversary year of official U.S. and China diplomatic relations. The China- U.S. Friendship Relay Race took place at a remote section of the Mitianyu section.

The Chinese students were fantastic and spoke incredible English. Of course, some of the American students had a difficult time making it up the Great Wall of China. It is only a little over one and a half miles to the top of the mountain all unfortunately uphill. The mission provided very few opportunities to spend large amounts of time talking to Chinese students. With every free moment, that dialogue is continuing between two students it seems like no matter what, students everywhere have the same issues. Ranging from teacher expectations, parents, and of course relationship issues students will always have similarities.

One of the great things about the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries is events like the Friendship Relay Race on the Great Wall of China turn out too well. Of course, at the top of the Great Wall of China several planned events took center stage. A demonstration of martial arts caught Spencer’s imagination. It is easy for people to talk about having an interest in martial arts, but until seeing the sheer awe of the crowd, watching these well-trained performers it is difficult to appreciate martial arts. Awards presentation was not to individuals who climbed the great wall in the shortest amount of time, but instead to the teams when every member reached the great wall. The focus of this race was on the team being able to succeed and not necessarily on individual effort, a lesson from the communist Chinese.

The mission’s next lesson from the Chinese came in the form of a letter carefully placed underneath the hotel door. The Presidential Plaza hotel in Beijing also known as the State Guest Hotel had an official memorandum sent out to all of the guest’s rooms that evening. “We have received notice from the Beijing City Television Administration Department that the following TV satellite channels are required to make immediate adjustments: NHK TV, TW TV, Phoenix TV, CCTV 9, and Xin Gong TV. Therefore, the above program will be temporarily disconnected for approximately seven days starting from today onwards June 03, 2004.” Several of the students from the International Mission on Diplomacy had done interviews with those very media outlets several hours earlier. It is difficult to understand what censorship is until the tangible reality of a letter spells it out clearly in text form.

Friday, June 4, 2004: Diplomacy in the context of a global world.

The following note collections comes from when the Vice President of China Foreign Affairs University spoke about, two major issues including peace and development both ideas aimed at promoting mutual understanding. A core tenant of the Vice Presidents speech involves focusing on exchanging ideas, narrowing differences, and expanding community as a major part of promoting mutual understanding through sharing information. Every youth form is an extension of the idea that, “Only through people-to-people friendship, will the United States and the Peoples Republic of China find a mutually beneficial solution to years of conflict.” In the future, the China Foreign Affairs University welcomes people and students to return to China for dialogues and discussions.

The Vice President of the Chinese Peoples Friendship Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries truly believes that young people are the future of diplomacy. This is a very common theme of Chinese governmental discourse. This version of the future fits with the economics now, politics later model that the Peoples Republic of China is using to redefine communism with Chinese characteristics. It is difficult to question that from 1979 to the present, China has seen unprecedented opening up to the outside world, attempting to enhance both understanding and cooperation. Think about this, twenty-five years ago, few real changes had taken place in China. Now China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Chinese officials argue that China is working on a wide range of issues striving for peace and development. However, serious issues remain about territory, but diplomats are balancing them against both perceived and common threats. An expanding focus in international relations is on economics with an increasingly high degree of complexity, the issue of bilateral trade, worth over 126.3 billion, an increase of 24.3% in one year.

China is trying to change the world investment market with over 40,000 investment projects worth over 40 billion dollars currently driving the Chinese economic machine. With over one million visitors, tourism and business are bringing increasingly large flows of capital into China. Over 180,000 students either worked or studied in China bringing global though to classrooms throughout the Peoples Republic of China. All this during an important period in time commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the Peoples Republic of China in the context of a youth forum. This forum received sponsorship from the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Of course, none of this dialogue and education would be possible without the co-sponsorship of the China Foreign Affairs University.

Normalization of relations between the Untied Stated and the Peoples Republic of China is one of the most important steps in ensuring globalization and free market principles. Beijing is honestly a fabulous growing city, but as recently as 1981; the city looked completely different. Someone could wait almost five minutes by the side of the street for a car to pass. Beijing has changed and so has diplomatic relations. China’s major change is economic and in terms of international trade, China is now the sixth largest trading nation in the world. China is also the forth-largest trading partner of the United States. China is also benefiting from an ever-growing trade deficit with other nations especially the United States. The trade deficit is a major concern for the United States creating a potential major issue out of China’s resistance to allow the official state currency exchange rate to float on the open market. China has more than 63,000 students in the United States, only India has more students a sign of Chinese modernization and commitment to higher education. Chinese officials say, “Chain is a growing aviation market for international companies and this is increasing relations everyday, because more and more of the population of China can now travel to other countries.” After visiting several airports throughout the country, it appears that only the elite travel regularly in the Peoples Republic of China.

The rule of law and education is increasing in priority in China. During the last twenty-five years, the United States and the Peoples Republic of China have seen some difficulties, because China has not given complete control of the legal system to the courts. Of course, issues like human rights and intellectual property accent fundamental differences in how pervasive the rule of law is in both countries. Diplomats are interested in this anniversary year to remember the ups and not the downs. Discussion of intellectual property usually happens in terms of software and DVDs, which fuel a large black market, on pirated disks in shops throughout the country of China. Dreams about China’s growing prosperity are economic and for the most part not political in nature. Dreams about the rule of law increasing are as important as freedom itself, because without an institution strong enough to provide a check and balance on government, freedom is at the mercy of those in power. American social science models might work in the United States. However, some Chinese do not believe in taking quick action to change the system. For example it has been said that, “We can see the path, but the next generation will get to be able to enjoy that path.”

The President of the China’s Foreign Affairs research institute spoke to the International Mission on Diplomacy at one of the Youth Forums. Of course, the president is also a professor. The professor sounding the eternal chorus of the Peoples Republic of China and default them of government officials that, “young people represent the future.” The professor said that, “Knowing that it has been twenty-five years since 1979 history divides well into two periods the cold war and the post cold war.” Academics sometimes talk about the common need to fight against soviet expansion. This is a fairly well articulated revision of history trying to paint a picture of history where China was a major player in the cold war. Almost every professor has some sort of theory, for example, the President of the China’s Foreign Affairs research institute believes that 1984-1989 was the most stable period of relations between China and the United States. Arguing that -some consensus exists about when China’s relations with the United States first found trouble increasing and decreasing after a period of relative calm in the early 1990’s. The Chinese perspective is that when Taiwan visited the United States in 1995 it seriously hurt international relations throughout the world. Why does the United States spend so much money on surveillance of China? China is skeptical about the models that predict the future of the collapse of communism, based on Soviet Union models.

After 911 the debate about China being a problem stopped. President Bush rarely mentions China in speeches. Media organizations in most countries in the last two years have become more passive about China. What has terrorism meant to the basic features of Unites States relations? Well, it involves sharing a new common interest while having fundamental differences. The United States and China can now agree on three very important global issues. Primarily, the two countries share an interest in the pursuit of peace and stability. Economic relations are the issue that big business finds to be very important to future of both countries. After discussing peace and economics both countries quickly switch to facing challenges that are global, not bilateral in terms of North Korea, Iraq, and WMD. The Chinese government believes that people-to-people contacts have to be candid. The reality about candid conversations is that diplomats and people do not talk about human rights, Taiwan independence, religious freedom in Tibet, and of course recognizing Tiananmen Square. Is it possible that both countries with two different sets of history and values can find commonality? While the Taiwan issue creates a certain degree of mutual suspicion in terms of established and rising power, it does not take long before the bigger questions give way to the arguments about China integrating into the global economy.

Richard Landu has been expounding on international relations in terms of business for several years. Landu was eager to explain the differences between hardware and software. Some people like using computer metaphors to talk about hard power and soft power. Cold War language does not always transfer well to modern arguments during this period of global awareness of terrorism. “History is at the same time very illusive. The relative nature of perspectives on time and history make it difficult to determine absolute truths. Historical facts are sometimes different from a particular cultures remembrance. China and the United States come together not as a competitors, not as friends, yet at the same time not enemies.” If you think, the two countries are friends then simply ask a Chinese diplomat if the United States has ever influenced the Taiwan issue? The official government statement sounds something like, “America is an aggressive militaristic country and China is peaceful friendly state.”

The panel discussion at the Youth Forum was very anti-American today. It involved questions about how any members of the house and senate did not have passports to leave the country. Then the panel made the argument that American leaders have mostly never left the United States and do not have the knowledge necessary to make decisions about geo-political issues. The moderate then claims that a tremendous press bias against China has destabilized relations. Mr. Yang Rui, Central Television of China Moderator and host of the very popular English language program Dialogue really sounds like a partisan political. Does Mr. Yang Rui really have the gumption to argue that the free world press has a bias against the Peoples Republic of China? Yang probably thinks it is perfectly acceptable to require every owner of a television station or newspaper to be a card-carrying member of the communist party. The reality of the situation is that if Yang took the time to read the uncensored world press, Yang would find a diverse set of views and arguments about China. The group started to notice that the video crews were mostly taping the audience and not the speakers. They were taping the audience reactions to things. A university professor later talked about how many of the young American faces that were recognizable from the dialogue program broadcast on CCTV channel nine.

What is interesting about the Youth Forums is how quickly the government level media control influenced a peaceful discussion of friendship, mutual understanding, and learning. The government brings in Mr. Yang Rui, China’s version of Larry King, to moderate a panel discussion between students from the United States and Chinese Universities. The level of discourse needs to be person-to-person dialogue. Discourse and information exchange has to be open and honest. Bringing a mass media icon to interview American undergraduates having discussions with Chinese doctoral students creates a fundamental inequality. China currently has government control of mass media. What happens when the military industrial complex is the state? Strange moments occur like when being in a hotel room at the State Guest Hotel with the BBC worldwide news on when all of a sudden the screen blanks out when something about China is on television.

Saturday, June 5, 2004: Artistic and diplomatic reflections.

The International Mission on Diplomacy was very lucky to be able to visit Tiananmen Square and explore the inside of the Forbidden City. This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of a peaceful student protest in 1989. Students working peacefully and more important non-violently to strive for progress were violently murdered by the Chinese government. Students are no match for tanks or trained military personal and it would have been just as easy to arrest the unarmed students, as it was to end the lives of peaceful protesters. The government should recognize the events of Tiananmen Square and stop whitewashing the past.

The mission visited the Temple of Heaven, which is an icon of Chinese architecture.

Having nearly VIP seats to a performance of the fabled Peking Opera was a nice conclusion to the day’s events.

Sunday, June 6, 2004: In the footsteps of Marco Polo the city of Xian.

The group meeting went exceptionally well the group encountering a question from one of the Chinese students that stated that the United States civil war was fought because the northern industrial complex wanted more slave workers form the south. With any luck, this question simply came from poor translation and not an institutionalized view of the Chinese educational system. The group came up with a list of words to describe the Peoples Republic of China that fit into two categories positive and negative. For example, the words that negatively describe China include Façade, Oppressed, Contradiction, Apathetic, Authoritative, Controlled, Orwellian, and of course fake.

The positive words that members of the mission used to describe China were Changing, Beautiful, Hopeful, Traditional, Close/knit, Insightful, Rich, Conservative, Proud, Challenges, Willing, and the hope of Potential.

If you listen to the rhetoric of Chinese government officials, then clearly discourse gives preference to business as if businesspersons are not the same as citizens. Two different classes of people exist in the new China. Those people who live in the cities and are able to enjoy some aspects of market capitalism and the rural people sometimes called peasants, who farm the peoples land to fee the people. Farmers in China work to feed the people without owning land. Functionally, Chinese society is fracturing into a definitive two-class system that creates the potential for serious class warfare in years to come. Economics drives change while politics guides the economic transition from the background. The Chinese have a communist handbook, or at least a collection of statements that are popular and officials can repeat them on command to answer questions. None of these statements deal with the issues of class warfare or the impending resource crisis.

Monday, June 7, 2004: Blending the modern and ancient everyday life.

After breakfast at a hotel that is simply not the same quality as the State Guest Hotel, the group prepares to see one of the most amazing sights to behold in China. The Mission will have the opportunity to visit the amazing 8,000 man Terra Cotta Army and Museum of Antiquity. It feels like walking into an arena or a stadium without any seats. The wall walls are plain and the ceiling is made of rafters, yet that is not what is important about the building. In the dim light of the gigantic room, rebuilt Terra Cotta warriors are everywhere. A society built on remembering history and culture has a difficult time reconciling the fact that so much of the history of China remains lost underneath the ground. The Chinese people spend a fair amount of time living in the past. The problem with this way of life is that, because of the scope of history over several thousand years the Chinese people do not really know their history. For example, how do you loose a ten thousand-person army? The Chinese people discover it and embrace it as a fundamental part of Chinese history without question.

The Great Mosque is a very strange place indeed. Only one of the members of the International Mission on Diplomacy was able to speak the correct password to enter the Mosque. A Syrian national transplant to the United States named Kinan Alhoch.

Tuesday, June 8, 2004: through the portals of discovery.

Could the Chinese answer this very serious question, “Do you feel having a government controlled military industrial complex constrains the modality of industrial formation?”

The mission was able to talk to the Xian foreign affairs office, which is made up of urban districts, and three natural regions. Xian has 7 million people, with three million people living in the city, spanning a total distance of 9,900 kilometers. Xian is the ancient capital city of 13 dynasties. Some people say no new construction is allowed in the city because you might find some history. During the construction of an expressway, the Chinese discovered some history while building a roadway. The responsibilities of the foreign affairs office in this province or country are to function to provide information to local governments or national foreign policy. The foreign affairs office is working to put into practice state policies. Government is working to formulate local foreign policy administration policies in coordination with the implementation of national policies. The foreign affairs office works to coordinate events involving foreign policy locally to approve foreign policy reports. The administrative role in handing foreign policy in the province is research and information to exchange collecting everything possible. The administration oversees all temporary overseas travel, invitation letters, issuance of passports and visas. They organize and host VIP visits and official delegations, especially at the minister level. Organizing interview trips for foreign policy journalists implying that journalists come and apply then receive information on where then can and cannot travel. The foreign affairs office is providing foreign policy guidance to the central government departments. Officers work to fulfill other obligations of provincial governments like when leaders ask the government to organize in and out of the country visits.

The official description of the Foreign Affairs office involves, “Working to expand cooperation with other countries in terms of foreign policy and people-to-people exchange, official, and non-official the foreign affairs office is responsible for the day-to-day administration of government policy.” In the past the foreign affairs office did need central government approval for investment over 30 million, but not anymore. The government can stop certain fields of business from operating and instead of doing this in the interest of free trade or through anti-monopoly legislations the Peoples Republic of China does it through political power. Government security cards are the one identification everybody must have as they travel around the cities. This is the primary mechanism for social control, because even some purchases require information from identification cards. Diplomatic passports are red and so are the service passport and then of course China has an ordinary passport for business and citizens. It is interesting to note that the Chinese put a heavy precedence on strictly dichotomizing the difference between business and travel. The Mission receives the party line almost everyday, that the provisional government has a popular election by the people’s congress. Of course, this logic follows the same rational of explaining the educational system in detail; that any college graduate has to sit for examination to work for the government.

About this time in the trip, members of the International Mission on Diplomacy are starting to wonder, “Where are the factories?” What is the relationship between the central government and local government in terms of developing principles for economic development? The answer put simply is that China is a communist state. With or without the theory of communism with Chinese characteristics the basic tenants of the free market such as free entry and exit simply do not exist. No business can build a factory in the middle of the city or anywhere close to the city or highways. China is working desperately to figure out how to define a balance between rural and city development. China is also feverishly working on a solution to regional balance so not just the coast regions are enjoying development. These two problems of balance between region and city development have the potential to spark great economic and social unrest. In a combination with several looming nature related issues in the major cities, China is dealing with social and environmental degradation while trying to keep economic growth above seven percent. However, domestic development and integration into the outside world is now clearly on the minds of Chinese policy makers.

Wednesday, June 9, 2004: Bridging the old and new Shanghai.

The trip to Shanghia involves going to an airport and getting on an aircraft. This is probably the most uneventful day of the entire trip, yet strangely relaxing.

Thursday, June 10, 2004: Shanghai center stage in world affairs.

The mission had the good fortune of being able to visit a Chinese research institute. A diamond in the rough, a source of intellectual banter that is free from the rhetoric of the central governments vision of a New China or maybe the word think tank does not translate well in Mandarin. Researches said that the institute had independent research autonomy simply fulfilling the role of giving reports and suggestions to the central government. The think tank was working hard on advancing strategic study about global economy. Finding new answers to complex questions concerning comparative gender studies occupied them while at the same time taking the lead on understanding how the Internet and terrorism are changing the world. Dialogue and discussion is the most important part about thinking and knowing. Understanding is a precondition of knowing each other better and better.

Shanghai Institute of International Studies changes the face of China foreign policy, adding to the facilitation of China’s peaceful emergence into the global economy. China is trying to figure out how to fuel the emergence of sustainable development in a country that is afraid to forecast economic downturns. The researchers are coping internally and externally with the idea of a socially and economically divided China. Of course, these intellectuals want to develop a new strategy. The future could bring new threats of warfare and conflict. China has to change the mindset of the country to working for change and developing both domestically and abroad. Focusing on the vision of a new security concept, with equity, mutual benefit, systematic security systems, and comprehensive security policies are necessary to help China modernize. China at the same time is improving constructive cooperation in terms of United States relations, and must recognize making international relations one of the most important parts of playing a constructive role in intentional security policy is essential to long-term stability. All governments must deal with each other as great powers. China has deeply rooted viewpoints on all the great powers, partnership, difference, and hidden security issues such as self-determination. Instead, China focuses on highlighting multilateral diplomacy in the world and legitimizing regional organizations such as the United Nations, APEC, and SEC.

The Director of Strategic Studies talks about the Spratley Islands question in terms of foreign policy. For the United States to have good relations with China, it must concede that the Spratley Islands are China’s property in an effort to maintain peace and stability. Researchers are providing China with unique views on government issues through internal reports while still publishing some academic journal views that are not necessarily similar with the government. This is a think-tank, a forum of totally independent autonomous research. “The government rarely tells researchers what they are thinking about at the think-tank.” Even the researchers at the think tank believe in the old party line about, “One country with two systems for peaceful reunification.” Most researchers do not hold optimistic views, the general assumptions are that the risk of warfare decreases because of global economic interdependence, and increases because of democratic voting system in Taiwan.

Members of the Mission spoke with international law professor Chen. Chen is a tenured research fellow and director of international law, who received a complete education, all of it in Shanghai working hard to bring law to the Peoples Republic of China. Working with foreign policy relationships and international law requires understanding that European influence on law makes peaceful coexistence between the developing and developed world difficult. National sovereignty, terrorism, and non-aggression are ideas that come into conflict in the international legal system. Almost every country believes in equality for mutual benefit. China gets more involved in international law ever year, for example the United Nations 1982 conference on the law of the sea. China has United Nations experts sitting on the international court of justice. A Chinese justice now is the president of the international court of law. China believes that traditional international law does not express third world interests. Following the new world economic and political order would be devastating to development in China. For some reason Chinese legal scholars still think the people’s perception comes from the opium war, from the Chinese perspective an unfair treaty or set of agreements forced by the British. Chinese attitudes are changing contend legal scholars, but some believe the world is pure anarchy. Power is still the most important factor in international law. The rule of law needs strength.

The United States in terms of the world anarchy of law enjoys unprecedented power and wealth explains professor Chen, “Without a single country, standing above the rest with hegemony the most important countries will still have to pay respect to organizations like the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. All countries must accept the restraint of these countries. Capabilities to carry out countries own interests without paying attention to these restraints create a paradoxical future and contribute to chaos in the international order. China does not see itself as having hegemony in Asia. Negative connotations exist for the word Hegemony not for the word leadership. Rising powers challenge the states quo, look at the history of China, when scholars experience a lack of original thought they defer to history. History is one of the dimensions of understanding rising powers.” The professor spoke fluid English, while at the same time being so word economic that almost every thought sounded somewhat cryptic.

The professor was curious about Iraq prisoners and the importance of international law. “The United States has made many mistakes recently. All prisoners have some rights food, comfort, and safety. The United States does not recognize the terrorist as a prisoner of war. China would argue basic freedom and rights are non-disputable. Prison abuse scandals have a damaging effect. American people believe in individual cases. Increase numbers of people are suspicious about the United States motivations.” The professor then went on to talk about the lessons from Tiananmen Square comparing the international criticism and pressure. “Fifteen years ago actively participate in the demonstration students very pure and honest to push forward the progress of China. Unfortunate for bloodshed governments have made some mistakes by not seeking peaceful solutions. Leaders have own ambitions, making the students skeptical about the leaders motivations. Beijing wanted to get through the isolation; international pressure in the end forced the nation to open up. International factors and reasons for average people with better life and more freedom the hierarchy of needs is true and the motivation of the government to reform.” If China still gets static about Tiananmen Square, then the United States should expect the same about the POW pictures.

International courts have serious compliance issues. Both the United States and the Peoples Republic of China are not full members of the International Criminal Court. International law is indispensable for a world order. At present, the state is the most important actor. Sovereignty is a very important thing, difficult to get China to make concessions about that. Serious issues exist like genocide, war crimes, aggression, crimes against humanity. Direct enforcement through international organizations is a very contentious issue. Indirect enforcement through domestic courts and legislation is a more likely alternative. China accepts indirect enforcement through domestic courts and legislation. China currently accepts indirect enforcement.

1950-1970 is a period with increasing developing countries leadership, now China is on the verge of development. In terms of North Korea questions, the six party talks are the best mechanism to deal with problems. China works with North Korea and treaties. China has joined the Nonproliferation Treaty, in addition, other various treaties and is currently playing an active role in the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. China has sent people to North Korea saying not to develop nuclear weapons. China will not support breaking the Nonproliferation Treaty and respects to treaties. Implementing a Legal system is very difficult compared to ratifying the treaties, reform of the legal system, criminal procedural law, administrative law, protecting the rights of the accused then we can come into compliance on the convents. In a few years, progress moves up, not enough, but it is moving forward.

In the last twenty years human rights has been increasing especially in economic terms. Human rights by the way are an economic issue in China. As a developing country, most of the people are under the poverty level. Country development arguments are that China first has to raise income, and after that then move to issues like political rights and freedom of speech in the future. Freedom of speech is increasing, look at what happened with the SARS problem. Newspapers covering this issue criticized the government on such issues. Human rights advocates perceive a metaphor that through a microscope, everybody finds lots of problem, but through the use, the telescope people find more progress in China. Woman’s rights are not a problem in China. Only after legal reform can China have progress.

Foreign Correspondents Club Meeting

Media control has loosened up except on the one child policy. One of the reporters has a friend who felt censorship. Friends within the government are necessary, does this control information? Audience matters, if you write just for English it is different from writing just in Chinese. The correspondents are selling or writing for three different organizations at least. At one of the publications, they write for the editor says no articles about homosexuality, because it is illegal in Shanghai. One reporter was writing about education in China concerning parallels with the Brown versus the Board of Education. The party controls education. The communist party has censored entire paragraphs on education. Government officials steer articles towards observations and not speculation. Research on topics is available for the casual reader. State run newspapers in China; have a tendency to give press briefings only to state accredited correspondents with facts. Limited numbers of official who will talk on the record mostly have to find sources through civil society. Civil society is not actors from the government or the economy. Fear of raising awareness of specific people’s opinions to the government exists. Local governments are beginning to put information online. Government says and puts out what is news worthy not accurate perfection of information about what is going on. Shanghai is going to institute a similar freedom of information act law, the Chinese constitution has nothing to do with reality.

The communist party is number one. Official press does not talk about breaking crisis. In China, readers would never find an opinion poll on Tiananmen Square for instance. China experiences fragmentation in terms of regions, markets, consortiums, and companies. Lots of news appears on sale but this does not guarantee a free press; quantity does not guarantee quality. Journalists receive education on how to help the government, not to question. In school, journalists are taut about journalism being a part of national security. In China, it is difficult to find a Woodward and Bernstein, or even the Washington Post. Everyday people experience television blackouts of censored content. On campus, students put up banners and in another situation students sat out to protest. What do you accomplish if with protest you go to jail? Videotapes were widely circulated and Tiananmen Square receives remembrance from the people, but the media, simply whitewashed the event on orders from the government. Probably the nation in China is as split about Tiananmen as the United States is about the Iraq conflict.

The people are not a motivated to start a political movement, no political freedom, but now at least the people have some economic freedom. Why do you want to make trouble for a government that is making your life better? Taiwan is a fully functioning democracy. Remember the government pretended that SARS did not exist for over a month. Media is mostly glossy magazines like Cosmo without much official content. Very few free press newspapers make it to the people. That sort of thing does not exist in the Chinese worldview. About 9% of Shanghai speaks English. Dragon Television does work with presenting information in English. Fractions do exist in the population. What you do see coming out about the internet is tales of a young boy who spent three days at an internet café, the message was trouble for the internet café. A communist party fraction exists that does want to close the internet. What is the governmental bias? Washington DC and Beijing are political while New York and Shanghai are economic.

Trying to explain one country to another is a difficult proposition. Since 911, the only real interest is in covering the Middle East. Domestic news coverage about China simply does not exist internationally. Remember both sides; China and the United States have prejudice against each other. The Chinese do not understand each other, this goes back to the warring states period. The Chinese people are simply not ready for open and honest discussion about Tiananmen Square. Language problems exist for journalists requiring them to establish a trusting relationship with translators. Is the media the guardian of the state? Subjective and objectively the reality is that the way we see thing will always be subjective. Trying to seek truth and be objective at the same time is difficult.

Desire to participate in free inquiry must exist for the Chinese students. A media only presenting one side does not keep the student from being able to question. The media is part of the culture. A culture of deference to your elders and teachers perpetuates a cycle of no questioning authority. How do you get students to think independently and creatively? Assume autonomy and the power to educate themselves. Not all of us in this room are thinking the same thing. Censorship in China is a formal process. Publishers of papers have to be party members. If you are going to own media you have to be a party member. A person does exist to read the copy. A censor says what is fit to print in theory because the party believes education controls society. How do you communicate through the media with such censorship? The reporters have to learn to state the same argument with different words.

Friday, June 11, 2004: Global impact issues and viewpoints.

Peoples Republic of China Sino-US Youth Forum provided a very distinguished speaker President Chen of the China Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The translators have printed out notes of the speech. The speech begins with a framework of how to find the truth. Reviewing the history of the last 33 years, 25 of those years have broken out of estrangement and created a stable relationship. The professor has issues with several obstacles to United States and Chinese resolution of final relations. Hot issues around the world such as terrorism set the stage for productive talks for the seventy new young American friends. Peaceful cooperation is the goal of China’s geo-political relations with the outside world. “American young friends do not come for threats, China is not a threat China will not copy the United States model, instead they want to work together to benefit society.”

This United States and the Peoples Republic of China youth forum will assist in building a strong future for relations. Better mutual understanding, 2004 is the 25th year anniversary, which grants this forum special significance. “The world is expanding with diversity. The government must promote mutual understanding and exchanges constantly. The young are the future to upgrade the future.” Several Fudan presidents have attended United States Schools, dialogues, and exchanges. Every year hundreds of students study at international universities. Yale exchanges students with Fudan. Forums will promote future collaborating and exchanges. It is always the younger generation that makes the future. Professor Yuan spoke about the CCTV9 Dialogue program featuring United States students on the program and had several comments on how many faces were familiar. Change moves China forward during the past 26 years of opening up and reform. 30 years ago, people were dressed in MAO uniforms. They would have said come and look at these foreigners. A country without Coca Cola, McDonalds, KFC, or even AND1 emerges as a major market for world corporations. “Profound change has taken place in the interest of United States and China relations. Economic progress and physical change occurred for people during that period of change 25 years from 1978-2003 the economy averaged 9.7% growth.”

In conclusion, the professor wants to talk about changing minds, concepts, and ideas. Urging that a blind copy of foreign models seems to not work well; look at the Russians, they must find a way with Chinese characteristics. China will enhance political and legal systems in the future. China is moving to rule by law and a market economy with a push to clean up government. Understanding China’s developments must be by peace, for peace, and of peace. “PRC in 1949 averted possible large-scale internal war. After observing the world, global war is avoidable with economic opening. China wants to encourage the young generations. Even in politics, the younger generation needs to move up the schedule of change. The emancipation of minds and learning from the outside world makes 2020 the better goal year for China being open.” Scholars believe that by 2050 China will be a full-fledged superpower.

To move toward this status of world power China launches a strategy of reform and opening up. Economic liberalization is all motivated on the end game of getting Taiwan back peacefully. By creating open relations with the United States and economic interdependence, economics stabilizes relations to the point where Taiwan is not an issue. These three decisions are part of a design. China is the fourth largest trading partner of the United Stands and the Untied States is the largest trading partner that China has. After 911, the Chinese government found an issue that resonated, changing the political game to the point of even asking the United States for help with the SARS problems. Great differences exist, history, culture, language, systems ideas, and value systems, but the possibility to work together economically trumps other factors. Taiwan is the most important question from the Chinese perspective. An American duality on policy administration exists since Nixon said China policy is strictly one China, but Taiwan relations keep getting better. The United States sells more weapons to Taiwan, but we see more signs to the opposite to bring the two countries to a series of conflicts. Growth and development between the United States and China might not be enough. The United States will remain a superpower and China will inevitably gain power, a win/win proposition for international trade. China claims it will not seek hegemony or power of that kind.

Future tasks of young people, education, science, and technology changes because young people use computers, developing a future market for both countries. Using young people as a military deterrent of the future since the younger generations have no history burden of the cold war. Then a question about resource conflict and development sparks a very angry set of answers including: 1) China has a right to develop, 2) The industrial revolution was over a century ago, now resources are hitting a shortage, and 3) Less developed nations are going to have problems getting resources. “The nations of the world are now living in a land borrowed from our children.” China and the Untied States must work together on political relations in a broader and yet more specific range. High-level strategic dialogues are necessary.

Vice President of the United States Dick Chaney spoke at Fudan about having rounds of talks on terrorism. Relations cannot be hostage to specific issues like Tibet, Taiwan, and human rights. Is the United States trading Taiwan for terrorism and economics? Need both democratic and rich parts of China. United States concern is not purely over democracy. Totalitarian regimes conversion to democracy is a nice work and it is a good concept. Democracy is a future goal with Human Rights. China believes in having a process. Most of the time China experiences division, but now the people are working for reunification. The United States is currently having a war with terror, first time loss of security in a longtime. People want strong leadership with safety. Concerned with what is going on in Iraq, Bush could not imagine that everyday bad news would stream over the television. Jobs, outsourcing, Medicare, China has a single issue for watching in terms of the Presidential election. China wants to know what will happen with Taiwan. China looks forward to a fundamental stability, seeking relationship as a strategic partner with the United States.

A natural resource crisis is on the verge of changing international relations. Peoples Republic of China representatives never use the word recession. China deliberately avoids the question of what if recessions were to occur that is what scholar’s debate. Long-term issues 50 years in the future have to factor in recession, difficulties; China will not climb at a 10% growth rate forever. GDP is not the only measure; greatest efforts have to ensure a soft landing of the overheated development. China needs a cool balanced development concept.

Peoples Republic of China Sino-US Youth Forum brought back the Chinese evil version of Larry King, Mr. Yang Rui. With the return of “Larry King”, each student is to speak for five minutes then Spencer is going to be able to talk for about thirty minutes. “Larry King” is back and all of the Chinese students that are speaking are all at least PHD in international relations.

The first Chinese student speaker says that, “Taiwan is a lost child of China, they cannot be separated. Reunification must be done, held all people not just done by nationalism. American people do not give respect. Americans usually take pride with no remorse. Do not understand why Taiwan is part of china. Fear United States government commitment to give Taiwan the ability to have self-determination. Final consequence of arming Taiwan could be war; arms are short sighted and add to misperception. Taiwan is not a nation it is a province of China. America has hurt the Chinese People, must clear up the relations.”

“Let this experience mark an age of mutual understanding Fudan has a saying to renew and improve ourselves daily. Story of two old people American borrows money to buy a house and the Chinese saves entire life to buy a house. Different concepts, yet similar, Chinese know more of Americans than Americans know of China.” China has no idea that it has two classes of people in terms of the rural and the city.

“Walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.” Understanding beyond book knowledge almost all communality is threat based. Then Yang says that some of the press in China really believed that America deserved the 911 attacks. Other journalists criticized them because of the extreme loss of life, not based on foreign policy.

A speaker talks about the movie the day after tomorrow saying, “No more water pollution.” China has troubles of water pollution. In 2003, 46 billion tons of water were used. 4.7% higher than last year. Majority of rive water in China is not safe to drink china needs sustainable development instead of industrial driven economic expansion.

Nixon’s trip to china changed the world. China needs to float the currency eventually. Market forces through time and expierence need to build market efficiency.

Some random PHD student starts talking about China and the United States in terms of Taiwan and ideological differences. Notice that so many Chinese students show up to the Sino/US youth forum. Great powers from the perspective of social transition they have chosen very different paths. What China is doing is just tricking the people, in terms of paths. Russia will never be as bad in the cold war ambition as the United States is in terms of having a vision to unify the world with capitalism.

Media troubles with defining what communism. Since China has no free press, we need to share information. The speaker said absolutely nothing. In the world of diplomacy, sometimes speakers simply talk without saying anything substantial. Every obstacle presents an opportunity. Living is possible in and out of the ivory tower known as education. We must not ignore nationalism and globalization.

One of the truly defining moments of the entire trip was when the Chinese International Travel Service was not paying attention and allowed an unorthodox speech to happen at the Youth Forum. Dr. Spencer Meredith speaks, asking the question have you read Mao’s little red book? Have you read the constitution of the United States and the bill of rights? Spencer is trying to provide the American perspective on international relations. American started when patriots became reputation. The Americans have a motto, “No taxation without representation.” Major virtue of revolutionary thought. Declaration of independence has certain common virtues including all people being equal. The ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of property are fundamentally important to Americans. How and why American came into being is the way America sees the world. Spence goes as far, as giving the French some credit for American independence. Great power France gave help then pulled the hand away, sometimes-American foreign policy is as challenging as internationalism. Our interests are generally good, look at the foreign policy of giving away money to help other countries. International forces are necessary to help protect international rights, stopping megalomaniacs and dictators with military force. Altruism with selfless action is very rare in the world. Niccolo Machiavelli was the founder of the international state system. The morality of the country is more important than the well-being of the ruler, so in essence national interest trumps individual interest. If you were not self centered and nationalistic your country would not exist.

No legitimate third party or world government currently exists. States have to rely on themselves in this self-help system. Uncertainty is a problem of information exchange. Uncertainty is a problem between individuals and a larger problem between states. Time and working together reduce that uncertainty. Yang made a good comment about motherland and homeland. United States has survived and raised the issue that both the United States and China, came into being through revolution both want the status quo. The Three T’s are Taiwan, Tiananmen Square, and Tibet. 1949 was a revolt. Fear of another revolution, the unknown of democracy. Spencer tells the story of George Washington and the whisky revolution. In the 20th century, suffrage, civil rights, through the rule of law peacefully and non-violently, see the students peacefully protesting. American provides Taiwan international assistance in an effort to raise Taiwan. Remember that the Peoples Republic of China came into being in 1949 and that the Taiwan question has to think about two reasons self-determination and democracy. Tibet is an issue the Chinese think will go away and become a less contentious issue. Americans see Tibet as an issue of religious freedom.

Saturday, June 12, 2004: Discovering cultural riches.

The International Mission on Diplomacy went to the silk city of Hangzhou, which the Chinese often claim is somewhere between heaven and earth. Richard Nixon and his wife visited the silk city of Hangzhou in 1972. Andy a Chinese student was kind enough to give tours to American students. Saying in an email that, “I hope this visit to China gives you a deep impression. Maybe now, you are still on the flight back to US… I have visited your webpage; I like to read your diary of the adventure here. I expect the updated diary including the trip in Zhejiang University and in Hangzhou.” Andy like most students from Chinese universities became very willing to have conversations with students about a wide range of issues. Some Chinese students actually wrote papers and went through interviews to be able to meet the American college students. It is very reassuring that Chinese students are so interested in meeting students from other countries.

Sunday, June 13, 2004: Shanghai dragonhead to East Asia.

The Mission spent the morning visiting Shanghai’s cultural sites, including the famous Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, and the Bund. This is one day that became a blur from all the Shanghai highway traffic and street venders selling the usually Peoples Republic of China gear.

Monday, June 14, 2004: Homeward bound.

This final section is the conclusion to this set of critical journal style observations of an American tourist in China. This discourse attempts to show how freedom to access information is a fundamentally necessary part of a fair and equitable society. The Peoples Republic of China has so much control over the free press that anyone who owns the rights to mass media production must be a member of the communist party. Without a free press, the government can literally control the thoughts and opinions of the people. In modern China, dissent is not a natural process of argumentation. A culture of saving and maintaining face, some people call this respect, perpetuates a submissive lack of intellectual freedom to challenge authority. Not being able to challenge authority creates two fundamental structural problems of informational rigidity and social conformity. If society is willing to conform to the wishes of the central government, then change is in the hands of the elite and not the masses.

This discourse attempts to avoid self-censorship and discuss the major questions facing international relations and the global economy. One of the major problems with addressing issues directly is that some readers will simply stop listening, because they encountering dissenting opinions. One fact is clear; history will remember the three T’s of Taiwan, Tiananmen Square, and Tibet. A fourth word that starts with the letter T has clouded current discussions of international relations. Terrorism is the one issue that both the United States of America and the Peoples Republic of China can agree on without hesitation. When China lost the lives of eleven Chinese workers in a terror attack in northern Afghanistan on Thursday, June 10, 2004, members of the International Mission on Diplomacy could see the honest resolve in the faces of Chinese government officials. Terrorism is an issue that puts the three T’s of Taiwan, Tiananmen Square, and Tibet on the international relations sidelines. Foreign policy experts and diplomats will have to adapt to dealing with the big T associated with terrorism before being able to confront the very serious issues of self-determination, religious freedom, and human rights.

History sometimes provides the perspective necessary to take a moment and look back on where society has been and where it will be going in the future. The path of history changes course almost as if history was a river during a hundred year flood. A watershed event in the History of the United States of America the first extreme domestic terrorist attacks through visual imagery emotionally influenced the nation on September 11, 2001. Terrorism is an issue that international relations cannot ignore. Perhaps the evils of terrorism can push forward a new set of critical observations and dialogue about international relations transcends the burdens of diplomatic restraint. Diplomats have to be able to discuss terrorism and sensitive issues of international relations. Still addressing sensitive international relations issues is why diplomacy is not politics. This process of dialogue explains the point where diplomacy breaks down and market forces shape policy. International business is by default the primary group of diplomats making foreign policy in the Peoples Republic of China with over 10,000 joint ventures worth 40 billion dollars.

Calling into question how the free and open exchange of information is going to facilitate change between the strategic bargains that are currently taking place between the Chinese people and The Peoples Republic of China. Can the people continue along the path of economic liberalization without question? Every college student that has seen an economics textbook knows that a country attempting to grow at above 7% a year will eventually have to stabilize. Resources allocation is becoming a major problem between the city and the rural communities. However, the problems of resource allocation are compounding from the problem of scarcity. It is only a matter of time before the Chinese cannot purchase enough natural resources like oil and minerals to sustain the economy. Resources competition could be the issue that breaks down the newfound strategic partnerships forged around fighting terrorism. The governments of the United States and The Peoples Republic of China are currently working together in the name of fighting Terrorism and expanding trade. People who can think for themselves know that this fragile peace can only last as long as trade stabilizes globalization. At the individual level, people are trying to balance change with the underlying feeling that people are simply people, and that the citizens of both countries are simply trying to move forward as societies.

At the state level, diplomats are not addressing the realties through conversations about a coming resource crisis or the inevitable ideological conflict of the three T’s Taiwan, Tiananmen Square, and Tibet. The major issue facing the world today is without question terrorism and in the name of diplomacy; serious issues are not receiving public discussion. Without a free press in China, the people are not fully aware of the economic realities facing the countries unprecedented growth and economic liberalization over the last twenty-five years. In the name of hope, peace and diplomacy, when the Mission on International Diplomacy sends students to visit China in 2029 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of official diplomatic relations between the Peoples Republic of China and the United States of America the serious questions will have been answered.