May 16,
2014

ISSUE
No. 8

AMS Weekly Newsletter
Supporting the development of the future stewards of U.S.-China relations
大家好!
Welcome to our week in review. If you like it, share it! Social links and link to forward are at the bottom of the newsletter (right below the "Support AMS" section, hint hint). 
Weekly Readings
 
One of the perennial sticking points in U.S.-China relations is North Korea, a problem that intensified as Pyongyang's nuclear program took off in the last decade. Recent analyses, based on different sets of sources, suggest Beijing's relationship with North Korea is changing, and hope may not be the basis for judgment this time around. Chinese news outlets, however, are being remarkably quiet about possible North Korean nuclear testing plans and recent incidents with Chinese-made North Korean UAVs crashing in South Korea. U.S.-China engagement on North Korea always has been a sticky issue, but Beijing seems to be adjusting in unexpected ways and Washington may be in a more reactive position.
"The Odd Couple: China and North Korea," The National Interest, May 12, 2014

"Tactical Pause in China's Economic Engagement with North Korea," Jamestown China Brief, May 7, 2014

"Is China losing faith in North Korea?" The Guardian, May 9, 2014

"朝鲜称'将以核武器对抗核武器,以导弹对抗导弹'," CRI, May 12, 2014

"朝鲜谴责美国在无人机事件上袒护韩国," Xinhua, May 12, 2014

Then-Deputy Editor of the Study Times, Deng Yuwen, wrote "China Should Abandon North Korea," Financial Times, February 27, 2013

Language-learning Resources
 
We have mentioned Skritter in previous posts, but came across this in-depth description that may be of interest. It is on the Skritter blog, so is obviously promotional in nature, but is still a helpful introduction for those of you interested in improving your characters.

How Skritter Helped Me Stop Worrying and Love Writing Characters 
Weibo Watch
 
German-born director Chris D. Nebe's recent documentary "Diaoyu Islands: The Truth" has been trending on Weibo since CCTV ran a news piece on it earlier this week. The 42-minute documentary argues in support of China's claim to the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. The more nationalistic netizens and "fifty cent" posters are hyping the documentary as proof that even the U.S. doesn't believe the Japanese government's claims. Even many of the more cynical netizens are seeing this as positive for China's claim.

For a group that is normally internationally media savvy, there has been little if any discussion on Weibo on whether the documentary is being noticed outside of China (which it is not). There has also been little digging into who paid for the documentary (according to Nebe it is completely self-funded) and the background of the filmmaker. Probably worth a google (or baidu).

俗语 in Xi Jinping's speeches

海纳百川,有容乃

Hǎin�bǎichuān, yǒurngnǎid�

 

Translation: As the ocean absorbs a thousand rivers, tolerance makes one great   
讲话情景:515日,国家主席习近平在北京人民大会堂出席中国国际友好大会暨中国人民对外友好协会成立60周年纪念活动并发表重要讲话
   
说明: Xi Jinping gave a speech yesterday at the Great Hall of the People addressing a conference marking the 60th anniversary of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The comment that got the most attention was Xi's statement that there is no gene for invasion in China's blood. Much of the speech was devoted to countering the idea that when a country becomes strong it will seek hegemony (国强必霸). Xi's use of海纳百川,有容乃大was to explain that as China continues to open up, reform, and engage the world (especially Central Asia) that it will remain tolerant of diversity. This is one of your editor's favorites. It is useful when discussing China's globalization and the values debate.

 

原文: 海纳百川,有容乃大。中国将继续全面对外开放,推进同世界各国的互利合作,推动建设丝绸之路经济带和21世纪海上丝绸之路,实现各国在发展机遇上的共创共享。中国将以更加开放的胸襟、更加包容的心态、更加宽广的视角,大力开展中外文化交流,在学习互鉴中,为推动人类文明进步作出应有贡献。

 

 
Documentary of the Week
 
This week's video is yesterday's press conference at Pentagon with U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey and Chief of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department Fang Fenghui. The press conference is conducted in both English and Chinese, giving us the benefit of both sides of the conversation. This is a wide-ranging public conversation within the military channel with both sides expressing their perspectives and concerns as well as taking questions from reporters related to events of this week.

Department of Defense Press Conference with General Martin Dempsey and General Fang Fenghui, May 15, 2014
 
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