Test for the nation
China just had its most devastating earthquake in a generation. I heard the news on Monday while I was on a brief trip back to London. 29 hours, 17 minutes, 1 train journey, 2 flights, and 3 car rides later I arrived in the town of Dujiangyan, near the epicentre of the quake in China's Sichuan province.
I got in well after dark. The rain was coming down heavily. Along the way I saw people camping out in plastic tents by the side of the road. Police cars in Dujiangyan drove through deserted streets. A mechanical digger hacked through some rubble. It was protected by a line of a dozen or so men in military uniforms. One of them put his hand in front of the camera when we tried to film.
Dealing with an earthquake may be the most basic test for any government - can it save its people from disaster? In the past, China has downplayed some of its bad news (a Chinese student I spoke to the other day criticised the government for failing to properly deal with the outbreak of Sars in 2003). But this time it seems that the whole country is watching what's going on.
This year we'd all seen the Beijing Olympics as the great test for China. But the way the nation handles this earthquake may end up telling us just as much about the kind of country China wants to become.
It's almost dawn now. When it gets light, my colleagues and I will get out and have a closer look at the damage.
PS If you're in Sichuan, I'd be very interested to hear how you coped since the earthquake happened.
I’m 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~07~RS~)
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sf~
James I hope after you saw how well the government handled this disaster, you would look at China in a different way. It's not a easy task for any government. If you start to make biased report, remember the whole country will be watching.
And best of luck since there're still aftershocks on the way in Sichuan, especially Dujiangyan.
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Take care and stay safe, Commerade Reynolds and your colleagues!
Please tell people there that we oversea chinese are deeply concerned and doing all we can to help them~~~I have told my mum to donate more money on my behalf.
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why the font?!
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Prayers and condolences to those who have lost loved ones or homes in this disaster. As opposed to a cyclone there is not much advance warning for this type of natural calamity.
The Chinese government's response has been admirable. No doubt they took pointers from the shabby response to Hurricane Katrina, and took note at the international response to the ineptitude and paranoia of the government of Burma. And as a BBC analyst has suggested, the indigenous affluent Chinese might be demanding more of their government. And, in this catastrophe, the government is delivering.
It was hoped that a capitalist PRC would lead to a democratic China. As Chinese became wealthier, could choose which products to buy, and Chinese business shareholders could participate in shareholder voting, they would itch more and more for the chance to make decisions on how their government is run. So far, the Chinese do seem to be gaining more and more power over their government, and are heading the way toward 'democracy.'
However, as was seen with Hamas' democratic election in Gaza, 'democracy' is not necessarily good for the West. 'Democracy' is just dependent on, and reflects, the views of the citizenry. The idea that 'democracies don't go to war with each other' is bunk.
So if China is heading toward democracy, hopefully by then the Chinese people will have a less aggressive outlook on people and nations that don't happen to approve of Chinese decisions or policy.
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P.S. (This is going to be yet another whopping long comment....)
Watched those YouTube clips that some have mentioned on this blog about James' reporting on China--and The Editors Blog relating to it. There were many copies of the same video, of varying lengths. Keep the long one, and delete the remainder. And, man, all that needless typing noise......
The blog was valid. If James' information was compiled before the television reports, then he can't be blamed for stating what he did. Furthermore, he only referred to a single channel, which apparently--again when the information was compiled--had not reported the torch protests.
Britons are known for their politeness tinged with ambiguity, hence the wishy-washy last sentence of the blog. Americans are known for being blunt, so here's some American candor:
* Have the Chinese taken note that in the Chinese TV clip on those YouTube videos, one of the British torch-runner's comments was cut off by Chinese media? The runner criticized the attacks by the pro-Tibetans, BUT also criticized the Chinese response. Add onto that, the Chinese news apparently just showed pro-Tibetans trying to snatch the torch, and did not include video showing the Chinese torch guardians beating protesters, some which were peacefully protesting and not involved with the torch-snatching attempt.
* They accuse Westerners of bias, and being uninformed, and yet do they read other internet news besides Chinese state-run news and (now) the BBC? Non-Western media such as Aljazeera, the Times of India, the Japan Times, and Chosun Ilbo (at least the English versions) correspond to Western media in respect to China. Look at other non-Chinese media and their reporting about China. Maybe your country isn't as noble as you think.
* Look at the Xinhua website, and look at the articles in the English and the Simplified Chinese versions. Note that the English one is propaganda geared toward Westerners and non-Chinese. China supposedly LOVES Tibet, and is a friend to the world. Then note that the Simplified Chinese one is propaganda geared toward citizens of the PRC. The Tibetans are bad, and the West is evil and hypocritical, and trying to retard China's growth. Who wants to guess that the Traditional Chinese version is propaganda geared toward the Taiwanese?
* Look at all the responses of Chinese on the BBC, along with other big websites where people air their opinions. Seemingly without fail, all the comments are pro-Chinese. That is a statistical miracle. Americans are overwhelmingly proud of their country, too, and yet you don't have to look very hard to find Americans who criticize or even despise their own country and government. So is it that surprising that people might be suspicious? While personally suspect the Chinese comments are actually from 'normal' Chinese people, it could be that the Chinese government is permitting pro-Chinese comments to be expressed on websites such as this one, while banning Chinese comments critical of China or the government from reaching these websites. Or Chinese critical of the PRC might be too cowed to voice their opinions, because they could be arrested. There are 1.3 billion Chinese, including Tibetans and Uighars. There HAS to be some Chinese who are critical of their country and government. Why aren't their views reaching the BBC and other Anglophone websites?
* And yet another exhortation for the Chinese to at least open their eyes to others' views of their country. You don't have to accept it--Americans often dismiss the notion that the United States is an evil empire, for instance--but you should at least acknowledge that such views exist and not be so hateful and angry about it.
[Americans are also known for blathering on and on..... :)]
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James, although I am not in Sichuan, my heart is with all those victims. And my eyes are with you, same as the rest of the world.
China as a nation has suffered so much in a matter of months this year, first the snow storms, then the heavily biased western attack of the Tibet issue, then the tumbling stock market and high inflation of the basic food price, the hand-foot and mouth diseases....and worst of all, this disaster equal to an explosion of over 300 atomic bombs...
Chinese people need understanding and at least a fair reporter who can tell the world what is truly happening...and under the spotlight now, is you!
The Chinese, after so much, deserves a fair viewpoint, which can at least show that they are not alone, not forgotten, not being seen just as a bunch of communist brainwashed ignorants...we are all equal human beings.
I have to say you are brave enough to go to Sichuan at such a time that more after-shocks may still be possible. So I thank you...all the Chinese people around the world thank you!
But we also plea to you, please for the sake of those who died in such a tragedy, please report frankly, and report what you really see and truly believe. People's lives are to be respected, not to be used as tools for media manipulation or criticism.
Thanks you, truly!
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The relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese are like flesh and blood.
I cannot use any kind of words to explain my grieve and pain. I saw this footage being broadcast on the train this morning - Premier Wen Jiabao holding a little girl's hand , who lost her family.. he told her to be brave.. and explain to her that this is a tragedy. and she must live on. The country will take care of her... The girl didn't saying anything but was nodding her head with tears all coming out. I almost could not control my tears coming out my eyes.
Though, it is good to see that all the countries are kicking away all the politics and are sending their aids to the people needed. Even Taiwan, are ready to send a troop of 60 men to help rescuing.
May God bless China and to all the people who lost their lives and families.
Since you are in the area as well, take care and please be extra careful James!
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i am impressed at the speed with which the chinese government has responded to this event. clearly weng jiabao has identified this as a crucial time for chinese nation-building, and is showing strength of character in his leadership of relief efforts. i interpret the 'time is life' mantra that's being repeated by officials as a reference to the burmese junta's relative inaction in relief efforts after the cyclone. china is clearly better resourced than burma to respond to disasters of this scale, but the reactions of the two governments couldn't be further apart. it also makes an interesting contrast to bush's characteristically inept and flacid response after hurricane katrina.
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Dear Mr. Reynolds - I was talking with my dear poet friend Li Xiao Fen in Dujiangyan when the quake struck...the quake ended our conversation on Windows Live Messenger. It's been almost 48 hours and I haven't been able to reach her. I am hoping this is because she has no power. But if she is dead or injured I want to know. Can you please help me find out? She is a 37 year old married woman with a 13 year old son. She lives in a tiny flat with her son and mother in law. Her husband is out of country 11 mos. a year on engineering projects. I have been trying to help her get published in the USA. She sent me a new poem 13 minutes before the quake struck. It is so beautiful. She is so beautiful. I am in agony here in Sacramento, Calif. She is poor. Her health is not good. I have the address where she works. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!! Bruce
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James, I watched your report on BBC news yesterday, you have saddened me again. You are always trying to politicize the situations.
You said "Chins is keen to show the outside world ....", I think you are very inhumane, China DOESN'T need to show anyone, but saving lives of its own people is the highest priority. The current government, Wen Jiabao in particular, has been good to ordinary people, it is a good government,you have to agree on that, no matter how much you hate CCP or China or Chinese.
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'It was protected by a line of a dozen or so men in military uniforms. One of them put his hand in front of the camera when we tried to film.'
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That man should not have tried to stop you filming, but I can understand why he did so. I guess some Chinese are still paranoid and skeptical of being filmed. Don't think that act was ordered by the authority but rather a natural response from that particular person.
From this tragedy, we saw the leader of China handling the rescue operation very swiftly and openly. He has shown great leadership and also set a good example to the Chinese people. I understand more so than ever why so many Chinese people defended their country after the torch relay incidents.
Remember China is still finding and learning its way, they used to be such a closed nation. I think after this as well as the recent Tibet riots, they will learn that press censorship is actually doing more harm than good.
Hopefully China will soon stop press censorship altogether and then you may find one day that no one even take notice of you and your camera men in China.
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fairreport
Again, I think this is another extreme over-reaction to completely moderate reporting and phraseology, entirely misses the point, is off-message and smacks of opportunism.
I'm becoming exasperated with the slew of comments on this blog that are clearly motivated not from an appraisal of the individual entries, but by a blinkered desire to rail against perceived Western media bias - a perception, I might, add that - apart from the worst excesses of the American networks aside - is founded entirely on misundertstanding - both linguistic and cultural.
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No country can cope the situation like China, China is doing all it's best to save life.
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Dear Mr Reynolds
As a British person who knows China well the China you file reports on is a totally different China to the one that I know.
As has been commented upon already your tenditious, biased reporting is in my opinion a disgrace. On what should have been a humane report on a devasting occurence you sought to drip into your report on the disaster crass political comment, I for one dont need your comments on what you think politically of China as your biased views are transparent from your reports.
Could I throw a challenge at you; myself and some Chinese friends would like to interview you for Chinese television I know you would like to gain access to the Chinese people well now is your chance
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So, not only does the Chinese government have to deal with an appalling natural disaster but it also has to perform up to the standards expected by Western journalists!
There's a hint of Sinophobia underlying most of this reporting.
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James, I watched your report in BBC 24. Your sarcastic voice is quite annoying. It looks you do not care the civilian people who got killed in the disaster, but only keeping eyes on Chinese government to see if they can handle this disaster. Of course there is nothing wrong for you to do whatever you like, but some points in your report are absolutely nonsense.
1. Chinese premier minister does not have time (he does not need either) to show (as you interpreted) to the international world how good the government is from disaster relief! They dealt with this kind of disaster always quite efficient and effective in history. The PM just wants to guide and direct the disaster relief team to rescue people as much as possible.
2. Chinese does not need to show anything to outside world what kind of country they want to be as you interpreted from this disaster. People simply have never thought of this and do not have time to think of it at this very moment when so many people got killed by the earthquake.
Please stop using your narrow mind to interpret the people there. Your report sounds very funny comparing with your other colleagues.
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James, would you just STOP politicalise this situation while Chinese is fighting for the disaster, won't you?
When Chinese government is SLOW in response to disaster, it has something to hide, it is repressive and blah blah blah...
When Chinese government is FAST in response to disaster, it is doing a publicity stunt, keen to show a good face and blah blah blah....
BBC should understand why it was banned in China for more than 10 years.
You should pack you bags and should be sent to England. Your reporting is deemed worthless. You think all Chinese are brain dead, aren't you?
Or, your audience is no longer local Chinese, because you no longer can fool these people, instead your biased reporting can still sell around in Europe.
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"Dealing with an earthquake may be the most basic test for any government - can it save its people from disaster? In the past, China has downplayed some of its bad news (a Chinese student I spoke to the other day criticised the government for failing to properly deal with the outbreak of Sars in 2003). But this time it seems that the whole country is watching what's going on."
Yes. People do criticize the government, we need to get that into people's heads.
Thanks for the report. Although neutral as reports should be, it would have been humane to note some condolences to the lost. Good luck in Sichuan, and I hope you a safe time during your stay there.
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I would like to encourage the BBC to focus more on news and less on opinion. I would like my tax paid money to inform me of facts and leave the personal opinions to other sources.
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If anyone wants to donate money to the relief of victims of the Sichuan earthquake they can donate directly to the Chinese Red Cross Society or to the One Foundation which is a Chinese charity for disaster relief that works closely with the Chinese Red Cross Society. Their website address is www dot one-foundation dot com.
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James. I am feel deeply angry that after this disaster. After the goverment handle it so well. All you want to say is to politicilise the situation. I think either you are complete idiot or you write this with another purpose. Cant believe how BBC will post this kind of rubbish on the website.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Hi, James! I heard a woman who engaged in the rescue of the victims in the earthquake of Sichuan describing that it has reached the end of the world. I can only imagine that at the moment Wenchuan is just like a living Hell. Take care of yourself, because there are still aftershocks. We can prevent what we can't predict. Good luck!
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First of all, my praying heart (om mani pai mei hum) goes out to the victims of the earthquake in China. May those, trapped under ruble and debris, be rescued in time.
Reading out from the comments given here on the board, I am quite surprised to see so many commentators attacking BBC in general and Mr. James in particular for being biased in reporting on China and the uprisings in Tibet. Why??? It is mainly because of one big misunderstanding, and another BIG misinformation about the occupied Tibet, and finally, of course, the BIG deficit of self-reflection on the part of these (mainly Chinese) commentators on China, rather being guided by a strong, irrational and destructive nationalism.
Misunderstanding:
To begin with, it is a misunderstanding that the media in general and western media in particular would provide you the 'whole picture' of a country. If you think it should or would present both the 'good' news and the 'bad' news about a country, then you have a problem in understanding the media reality in the West and the world in general. In other words, it is an expectation unmatch with the global reality of media mechanism. Rule no. 1 of news-making is; 'good news' does rarely make news, but only the 'bad news' does. Those peaceful countries with a high standard of living such as the Scandinavian countries hardly make it to headlines. It is, therefore, another misreading to think that whatever is reported in the media about China is all there is about that country. In China, however, the media rule is the reverse, mostly the fabricated 'good news' make news while only a few selected 'bad news' come along.
Misinformation:
Regarding the question of Tibet, these commentators seem very eager to narrate the distorted history of Tibet prior to the Chinese occupation, claiming, as if they themselves lived in that society at that time, that Tibet under the Dalai Lama was 'slavery', 'theocratic' or ' feudal serfdom', and the Dalai Lama wishes to resurrect that old system. The truth is the Dalai Lama acknowledged the weakness of that old system even when he was in Tibet and wanted to make reform, if not the Chinese occupation. In exile, he not only had abandoned the old system but also created one of the most vibrant (disapora) democratic societies in the world. For Tibetans like myself, the old system may not be perfect, but it was nothing to compare with the current Chinese occupation and repression in Tibet. The party-state has not only created its version of Tibetan history but also fed its own citizens in such a way that today we can see many of those here parrotting the propaganda.
China is not a 'normal' state. It is a colonial empire in the first place with Tibet, East Turkistan (Xingjiang) and Inner Mongolia still remain under Chinese colonial rule. China has to end its colonialism and resolve the issues first before it can even think of being an important player on the international stage.
Self-reflection deficit:
No matter how many Olympics are hosted,
she will not be able to improve her image unless ground issues are addressed. No matter how many times she says 'Tibet is part of China, she will not be able to make Tibet a part of China unless substantive dialogue is taken place. The Japanese occupation of China during the WWII was a tragedy, so is the Chinese occupation of Tibet. STOP critising anything comes out from 'Western' media and reflect on your own country, party-state and national conditions before jumping on others constructive critism. That way, you are doing a great service to those innocent and hard-working Chinese public inside China, whose real voice and wishes you may have betrayed.
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James, again, when you said such things as "China is keen to show the outside world ...." on the TV report, you are merely disclosing your cold-blood and inhumane viewpoint...
How dare you!!??
How on earth dare you say such a thing that saving tens of thousands of fading lives counted by mini-seconds, as a Chinese show off??!!
It only shows that how extremely ego-centric and self-righteous you are, that you think whatever China does is about how you look at and think of China...you are so pathetic!
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Dear James,
Your reporting is obviously better this time around than Tibet issue months ago. However, the bad habit dies hard, doesn't it?
I was bothered by your mindset when I watched your report in BBC 24 last night, when you interpreted that the Chinese govt was keen to show the world... Excuse me, I bet NO Chinese, I mean NO ONE is so cold blooded and has spare time to show to outside world somthing at this key moment to save lives, except you.
In fact, we Chinese (overseas or in mainland) of the Middle Kingdom, some poor and uneducated as they might be, are always pound people throughout our recorded history. Opinions form the outside world won't affect us so much as they do to UK, etc. , because we ALWAYS think we are the center of the world. This thought is deeply ingrained in every Chinese' DNA. Please stop using your narrow mind to second guess what the Middle Kingdom believes.
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James, when I read this blog, why do I get the feeling that you are a predator smelling blood and ready to bounce? I realize you have an opinion about Chinese government and generally welcome to hear different point of views, but this is a humane crisis! Why do I get the idea that you are in the disaster area for one reason and one reason only: to put Chinese government under your scrutiny? Even that is fine with us, by the way, if you are doing so to better help those in need. But there is no battle just yet, so please put your swore, or shall I say your razor sharp British tongue away! And put in some sensitive chip. I refuse to believe this is the common way British news to report Human suffering. We are suffering! The pain of those parents who lost their kids seemed to radiate out of TVs, radios, blogs and painfully choking everyone. There are no dry eyes that I know. Everyone I know is desperately to help.
PLEASE HELP! If you are reading this, please help us anyway you can, we need help! And please pray for those missing.
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actually, just try 2 image, if this disaster happen to you... to any one, it is horrible indeed. so facing this situation, i personally think we ought to pray 4 the people suffered and not just damn sitting and complaining the movement of gov.... as far as i know the China gov and troops have already done their best, if u go 2 watch the news and vidieos, you can see the soldiers excavating....BAREhanded!! how can u ask 4 more!!!!
yes, indeed, Chinese do criticized the Chinese news system...but really this time is different...as u say, "the whole China is watching"
what's more~~ THX a lot~, James, hopefully 2 read ur new news asap~!
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Anyway, thank you,James, for that you can go to Sichuan to see people in such a disaster in this difficult time. As a Chinese student studying abroad I really appreciate.
Those days I am shocked by how serious the damage is, more than that, I am deeply moved by how brave those people are in such a disaster. I heard from my friend that the first partial of airborne soldiers sent to the epicenter all left their letters for their families in case they will never come back. Many young people also donated their blood voluntarily. Some people have started discussing about the detail of adopting these children who lost parents in the earthquake. 2008,Chinese people will remember this year forever, snowstorm, voilence in Tibet, biased attack from west, and now the earthquake.
My parents in Beijing told me that the geographical environment of Sichuan is every special and difficult, which would block the rescue and may more and more people will die. As a student abroad I am willing to do everything I can to help my compatriots in Sichuan such as what billion of people are doing now in China.
Whatever we face, boom or penury, praise or criticism, peace or disaster, we, more than 1.3 billion people, always unite together. We will recover soon, however, the current situation is so difficult. China will be the winner.
James, please tell the people there, everything will be fine, our hearts are always together.
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James, James, what did I say on the sf??
Seems like you've been criticized yet again, but then this time, I really doubt you made the comment in purpose. I know it must be difficult to change a tone that you're so used to in just few hours.
But I sincerely hope that you could take some advice from the comments here. Please start focusing on the devastating tragic that happened in Sichuan rather than political ground of China in this issue, would you? And please could you start to show some credibility of the government, of the soliders in front of your camera? Pay your best regards to them, they are doing their best to save as many as possible and they are doing a good job.
As a British Chinese who's home is right next to the Sichuan province, I cannot feel more for them, but I can't be there like you are right now, I can only take part in donations. Please would you give them our deepest concerns as oversea Chinese, as British? I thank you for that!
Again I applaud you for being there and please take care, there were more than 5000 aftershocks happened in the past few days. It must be difficult, so be extra careful.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Take Care James....and also all of the BBC Correspondents who are covering this
story...
Also, I hope that the people in the affected zones will get medical, housing and food they need to get thru this crisis.....
[It is sad that you short trip to London was cut short....]
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Mr Reynolds
Perhaps you feel vilified within certain online readerships following your grossly biased previous reports on the torch relay. Perhaps criticism of your report and position has only worked to radicalize your views on China even more.
But what ever the reason, could no longer justify the disgraceful manner in which you have made this blog entry, to the existent that I finally decided to come a BBC blog member and voice my concerns.
To begin with, you paint the picture of the intrepid reporter, going to the epicenter heroically, are we supposed to be impressed at your speedy arrival or are there more important things to report than the number of hours and modes of transport it has taken you, poor you.
You proceed to get back into your old tricks again, a world where rescue workers are faceless communist 'men in uniforms' and they have nothing more urgent to do than putting hands across cameras.
What to write next? Report on the facts on the ground? The situation in the city? No, again, you bring back you 'one trick pony' - politicize what little facts you have beyond recognition. Call me innocent but I refuse to believe the rescue workers and soldiers risking their own lives on the frontline are merely under orders to look good for a few foreign journalists. You are kind of a 'celebrity' in China at the moment but believe me no one is pretending to save people just because this time the world is watching.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who find your comment distasteful and disrespectful to the thousands of rescuers and soldiers working to save lives, let along those who have lost loved ones.
It is hard to write fairly about the BBC's reporting given your recent coverage of the torch relay and tibetan riot, but unlike you I shall try.
As a British Chinese who've spent half of his life in China, and the other half in the UK, I have previously being an faithful fan of the BBC, for its fairness and balance in reporting, not just on China, and I regularly consult the BBC for authoritative FACTS. However, I am sorry to tell you, you have tarnished the standards of the BBC, for me, to the extent that I can no longer trust its reporting. It seems your cambridge education has taught you nothing but mistrust, prejudice and political 'blindmice-ism'
Perhaps the recent wave of criticism towards you have radicalized your views of China even further, perhaps you want to save face(how chinese), what ever the reason, it has made you into a childish gossiper bearing a grudge rather than a journalist reporting the truth.
I have no illusions about the transparency of both the chinese government or its media, but what you are doing is just as bad as the things you claim.
When those who are trusted fairness and balance lie, truth suffers.
Yours
JZ
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anyone knows a trustworthy charity that carries the tax benefit in the states?
anyone knows other ways to help out given that very few people can help out the victims in person?
regards,
from rancho bernardo
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"a Chinese student I spoke to the other day criticised the government for failing to properly deal with the outbreak of Sars in 2003"
A student out of 1.3 billion people? A small group of Tibetan thugs out of 1.3 billion? A small group of Fa-Lung-Kong out of 1.3 billion? I bet there are a lot more in Britain criticizing their government by percentage. I know a lot in the US do.
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There are 15,000 dead from the earthquake; and yet you still seek to score political points? Have you no heart? Where in the world is your humanity?
An enormous human catatrosphe in China and all we can think of is how best to slander and judge the response of their government... I really do despair sometimes.
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Can BBC send a journalist who is fair-minded and who is capable of making a report based on facts rather than prejudice on China?
May I ask you, James, would BBC stop paying you if you told the truth or did not write negative articles about China?
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We all view the world with assumptions of how the world should be. When it comes to a cross-cultural setting, our assumptions can often trick us. Until we are sure we understand the culture, some level of cultural relativism may be helpful. Our cultures lead us to see what we see, to love what we love, and to loathe what we loathe. Bias is unavoidable.
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Maybe it’s just me, but I feel some people commented on this site read into too much of Reynold’s blog and over interpreted what he had to say.
Try to get out of the confrontational mood, read the blog again, you may find a different story. It’s an irresistible temptation to bash others if you take a defensive position even if the other side is not trying to be your opponent.
Look forward to hearing more news from the area affected by the catastrophic earthquakes. May God bless all the people who lost their lives and families.
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I do not feel offended by this article even though I m a China mainlander. On the contrary, I think the reporter has done a good job. Thanks for your information and be careful.
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to #4 Anonymous Californian"
I have to say i donot agree with your opinion regarding biased western reportings.
As a very well western-educated chinese and being overseas for more than 12 years (if marrying to western could add another point), i have to say Western media did not do a good job recently, most of reports regarding China have certain level of biased views.
One more thing i have to remind you is that donot underestimate those chinese online users, they are pretty mature society, and they do have access other than state-run media.
I guess you probably never went to china, or have close contact with chinese, that is why you believe whatever your media tell you.
Anyway, still think you have a good heart.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I still want to find out which words trigged the moderator to remove my comment, so here we go:
To AnonymousCalifornian
Man, seriously - I have lost my patient after reading the first 2 paragraphs of your comment. And after I finished reading, I am most disgused with your truely disgraceful opinion. You should feel ashamed.
I know americans won't be all like you and most of them are very caring about people in Sichuan, but as one of them, you can't make wrose impression in front of people, especially Chinese people.
What good would it do to extend all this hatred?? Is all these misunderstanding of Eastern/Western people not enough yet for you??
Please try to think this way: Chinese people are very different with the western people - especially americans, they are very fond of their family, their nation and their race. It's a complex feeling that you would not understand. But just becuase you don't understand it, doesn't make it wrong, do you agree?
So stop acting like you are the only one who sees the nature of things! Just give it a rest!!
If you have so much time/money/energy, please try to do something useful for the people who're suffering right now in Sichuan. Pray for them, donate something or at least SHUT UP!
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I can't understand why some of those who commented above cannot cope with one mention of one student moaning about the mishandling of SARs. Just one. Not even one dissident voice is allowed.
I understand the need to be approved and accepted by everybody for people who were brought up in "collectivistic" cultures such as China, Japan, Hong Kong etc. I grew up in one myself. But I want to highlight that this isn't helpful in debates on what is the best course for a large country to take. Slow down young folks, think trice before you act (or get angry).
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I am a Brit that lives and works in China, and has done so for several years.
In my opinion there is a clear lack of understanding here - I believe some of the Chinese posters here do not understand the western media, and I believe many Britons do not understand China/Chinese.
To the Brits/Europeans reading this, I would say open your mids to a country which is very different to many perceptions. The people vary widely in wealth and manners, just as our own do. They at least as rich in culture and history. And their family bonds are among the tightest in the world (for all sorts of reasons). China has its buraucracy just as the UK does (albeit a little more), but soldiers are not patrolling the streets picking up and checking up on people. City dwellers go about daily life working and shopping just as people in the west do. People are people.
To the Chinese, I would say please understand that the British press focuses mostly on bad news, since it is what appeals most to readers (it "sells"). If you really want to see negative news reporting, read the Daily mail or Daily Express in the UK. So the BBC's lack of access to other "negative" news stories in China has forced western media interest to shift to the Chinese government itself. James cannot suddenly abandon years of media reporting on (and public interest in) the CCP. Indeed, if you re-read his coverage, the focus has been firstly on this disaster, and secondly on how overwhelmingly positive the government's reaction has been. I have not seen any negative comment from him, other than a few local officials uncertain about giving him access. And not a single political mention since he got access.
On a more positive note, I share James's excitement about the opening up to western media. Watching BBC World in Beijing, the screen no longer goes blank as the reporting is censored. Chinese people can access these blogs. Relations with Taiwan are really warming up. You can really see the political paranoia melting month by month.
Moreover, as it does, there should become less and less interest in the CCP (because there will be less negative news about restrictions), and more and more news and interest in the stories that the media will now have access to. Just compare the coverage of the disasters in Burma and Sichuan - two very different angles.
Finally, to the Chinese people reading this, I would say support James's efforts to get access to more stories in China, and you will be rewarded with less political coverage, and more interest in real Chinese news stories.
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We can absolutely go through this tough test with the efforts of all Chinese both in and abroad.
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Hi,James,nice to meet you here.As a new member of bbc blog as well as a teacher of English in the quake-hit area,I think we Chinese can go all out to conquer the difficulties and will show the world that the Chinese nation are a great one,for we are love-cared,team-spirited,well-united,and strong-willed .
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I am a Chinese living in the UK for a few years and I had been in Sichuan to help locals after the disaster....So can I speak about the government I saw? can I say why people were defensive against western MEDIA?
Chinese government I saw this time was efficient. I had access to nearly ALL the local officials our team wanted to contact. Those CCP members, gave me MOBILE numbers. No appointment, no political nonsense, no waiting list....They just want more people and resource to help them and their town. I did have small hiccups there but I saw great IMPROVEMENT on government. This is a government I have never seen. (I was born and bred there.)
Inevitably, China is still China. The earthquake changed some people's life but it didn't change the foundamental mindset and culture of the country.
So....Chinese still can't trust western MEDIA as much as many MEDIA people want. I actually was quite annoyed when those journalists wanted to find a story while people were suffering....
No bad intention for James at all. I did think in May he was a bit sacarstic towards government but he seems to understand China more now in August.
Maybe it takes time for western media men to find the real story in every country.
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To 44 carrisi
Well said! I applaud your effort in trying to bring the 2 sides together.
But a few points nonetheless.
1. Why do you think that many Westerners still assume that there are soldiers patrolling the streets ready to prey on anyone? Does this have anything to do with the media's overwhelming negative coverage?
2. I understand that bad news sells. It's OK for British reporters to talk bad about Britain, since British people generally know what is going on. People see the good things and they need the journalists to bring the dark truth out.
It should, however, be different, when you try to cover other nations that you do not seem to know well. Certainly common British people do not seem to know China very well---and do they form a justifiable view on China after reading so many "biased" reports? No.
3. Do you consider it reasonable to feel angry when you are bad-mouthed by someone who (happens to be very powerful and influential but) does not know you well? This is how the Chinese feel today.
That's also why the USA generally do not care about negative news coverage. They know they are the most powerful nation on earth and people go to America whatever the media says. The same thing does not apply to China, whose reputation depends very much on media coverage.
4. I don't know how many Chinese really understand the Western media, but I think I do. That does not prevent me from feeling disappointed about it.
If reporting negative news about other countries is a journalist tradition, I don't see anything honourable in it. It only serves to enrich the media, misinform the people, and draw contempt and enmity.
I don't know if you see any responsibility in the media other than make itself rich, but I had hoped that the "free press" could have been more responsible than a censored media.
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By all means, James' coverage on China is not (severely) biased, if not very preferable from a Chinese point of view. My only problem with the reporting is that it caters to the taste of the common British people who have long been misinformed about China, and it serves only to keep (if not widen) the gap of misunderstanding. (Maybe it is OK, but it certainly is not praiseworthy journalism that many Chinese have failed to find in their own media.)
I sincerely hope that people like James, who know a bit more about China than others, can make a devotion to dilute the misinformation. People like James speak more powerful than the Chinese here on BBC blogs, as they are less likely to be called "CCP agents", "products of CCP brainwashing", or "people who do not think for themselves" (and I genuinely hope that by adopting a more friendly stance towards China, James will not be called a "pro-communist thug" by his compatriots).
Am I hoping for something that is not going to happen soon, in the same way that the West is hoping for China to adopt democracy?
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