China’s Stock Market Tumbles and Post-Election Taiwan
Segment 1: China’s Stock Market Makes History
If you think you’ve got it bad because of the recent market decline in the U.S., you should take a look at Chinese stock investors. By the end of the first quarter, China’s main market, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, had tumbled about 43% since its peak in October of last year. That’s quadruple the decline over the same period for the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, which has lost 11%. Worse yet, China’s markets are relatively new, and investors are inexperienced. Many of those losing money got in just in the past year, buying near the peak and now suffering deep losses. What is going on?
Guest: Robert Sherretta, President, International Investors, Inc.
Beijing Olympics: China’s Coming-out Party in Danger?
The Beijing Olympics represent a kind of coming-out party for China, a
chance for the rising Asian power to showcase its economic and political
development. There is much for the world to admire and for the Chinese
people to be proud of.
But things are not turning out in favor of Beijing.
Freedoms of religion, speech and assembly do not exist in China, and
Beijing’s oppression of the Tibetan people has drawn waves of criticism.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel in declining to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic games,
and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has indicated that he might do the same.
The Olympic games have no doubt become the high profile venue for implicit
and explicit political messages.
In the U.S., Thad McCotter, Congressman from Michigan, introduced a bill to
restrict President Bush from attending the opening ceremony.
Guest: Rep. Thad McCotter Chairman, House Republican Policy Committee
The Future of Tibet and China
With the Beijing Olympics only months away Tibetans world-wide are hoping to mobilize new support for their call for an end to what they say is China’s illegal occupation of their homeland. Their cause has been greatly boosted ever since Tibet became the site of the eruption of the biggest anti-China protests in 20 years.
Another Face of China / Religious Freedom, A Simple Idea?
The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Silk Road, Buddhist and Taoist temples, painting, calligraphy, the Three Gorges, green tea and tasty food. China is filled with an abundance of natural wonders and a rich culture. But urban life today is something Westerners know little about.
In the mainland you can lose yourself in an old temple in the morning and find yourself in a shopping center in the afternoon. As far as nightlife goes, American jazz competes with Chinese opera. Bars and cafes sit side by side with traditional tea houses.
Cross-cultural Marriage
Can cross cultural marriage work? Well, yes, of course, cross cultural marriage can work, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to think about. It all depends on what you expect when marrying someone from another country, and whether that someone can give you what you expect — and whether you can meet their expectations, too, of course. It’s important to have an awareness of cross-cultural differences, perspectives and issues.
Guests: Cathy Cai, Eric Maxwell
