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Dmitry Solovyov / NBC News
A crowd of Chinese evacuees from Libya line up at the Malta International Airport to fly back to China Thursday.
By Martin Fletcher, NBC News Correspondent
VALLETTA, Malta – How things have changed. When the 2004 tsunami hit the Indian Ocean, America sent the Seventh Fleet of the U.S. Navy to help evacuees. China sent a cargo ship.
Now to evacuate American workers from the crisis in Libya, America sent a chartered ferry too small to ride the rough seas of the Mediterranean.
China chartered a giant ocean cruise ship, 20 civilian aircraft, four military aircraft and moved 35,860 of its citizens out of danger in Libya as of Wednesday, within a week of starting the process, according to the Chinese foreign minister.
I’m thinking of the comparison as I wait for my plane in Malta, one of the evacuation hubs. Lined up in complete silence and total order are hundreds of Chinese workers wearing red caps, obeying ladies holding up red and yellow Chinese flags like any tour group at the Vatican. They follow instructions, wait in long lines, and shuffle forward when told. On command, a long single file strides through the concourse like an unstoppable column of ants. I am reminded of the 1927 German movie Metropolis.
What a difference. Not one is wearing headphones or playing with a telephone or digital device. They are all slim and fit, no sign of impending obesity. Their bags are bound with cellophane. Some are still in their orange work suits and carrying orange hardhats. They were working in Libya’s oil, rail, construction and telecommunications industries.
Dmitry Solovyov / NBC News
Chinese evacuees from Libya line up at the Malta International Airport Thursday.
China’s government chartered a fleet of planes to carry them to Shanghai. Quietly, effectively, without fuss, China is evacuating all its workers to safety. It is the silent contract between state and worker: You work abroad, we’ll look after you.
China’s People’s Daily boasted that it was the “largest and most complicated overseas evacuation ever conducted by the Chinese government.” And China’s foreign minister gave credit for the speedy and efficient evacuation to “China's peaceful foreign policy, which makes China a popular country in the community of nations.”
There are an estimated 50,000 Chinese workers in Nigeria, 35,000 in Sudan, 40,000 in Zambia, 30,000 in Angola, 20,000 in Algeria and thousands more dotted around the African continent. They are the face of Chinese industry, investment, diplomacy and eventually, power.
But what strikes me is the efficiency and order and calm. Nobody was arguing with the airline staff, objecting to orders, struggling with too many bags and bulky packages. Rather just a line of calm, single men with small cases, waiting patiently to be told what to do and where to go.
It occurred to me, is this the future?
China has invested heavily in Africa while the West turned elsewhere, and Chinese companies are spreading rapidly and silently through Latin America, too. Their insatiable appetite for coal, copper, bauxite, oil, iron ore and almost every other mineral is leading them on an economic conquest like no other. Their workers lead the rush, and their government spreads its wings to protect them, wherever they are.
As 200 men lined up in a silent single file that snaked through duty-free, with nobody eyeing all the luxuries on display, waiting for a man with a Chinese flag to raise his arm and tell them to move, I didn’t know whether to be filled with admiration or trepidation.
I did think, we better keep them on our side.
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We should all start learning Mandarin Chinese.
"China chartered a giant ocean cruise ship, 20 civilian aircraft, four military aircraft and moved 35,860 of its citizens out of danger in Libya as of Wednesday, within a week of starting the process, according to the Chinese foreign minister."
I think maybe the more proper question is what are 36,000 Chinese doing in Libya? That is an awful lot of tourist. What are they building? That is a large Army.
hey blacknight...they are working there....you prob never heard of working though
I'm sick and tired of the media making China out as superior to the U.S. Check this out.
They will implode. They treat their people like slaves, and don't allow them to have a voice. In the 70/80's it was the Arabs that were eclpysing the U.S. and spreading their wealth all over the world and buying up the U.S., in the 80's/90's it was the Japanese we needed to worry about with their technology. 90's/2000's it's the Chinese. Meanwhile the U.S. remains the light of freedom and yes believe it or not innovation, face book, ipods/ipads, electric cars that make the Japanese quake in their boots (read the truth.) Japans economy is now a mess, the middle east a disaster, China - people living and eating in those garbage piles. Are those the countries you want us to model after? Please, get real, wake up. The biggest threat to this nation is the enemy within. We've moved away from self sufficiency and pride in our work. Eveyone wants the quick easy fix, the OBAMA money that no one realizes where it's coming from. Take the riches money, they are evil, so there won't be any insenvtive to make it for anyone. We'll all be equal, equally poor. Careful, you'll wake up one day, saying yes we are as efficient now as the Chinese, and gave up all our freedoms so we can live like automatrons, wearing red hats and looking thin like a mindless army, useful idiots
"We should all start learning Mandarin Chinese"
I started 20 years ago. I'm still not very good.
But if you think the Chinese will be happy over the long term with that totalitarian government, I bet not.
On the other hand, with a better chance and less intrusion from government, they might be an even more formidable power.
Did you bother to read the article? They're:
Seriously, attempt to read and then (only then) comment on the article. They made very clear exactly who these Chinese were and what they were doing in Libya.
As for Nacho, you hit the nail on the head, though spoken with a bit more hubris than I would personally entertain.
Im pretty sure they are thinner because the air the breath makes them to sick to eat! Im also sick of people thinking China is so great. Its dirty and gross I have been there. You dump your garbage on the ground on the side of the freeway. The trucks that move stuff around are from the 70's and spew black smoke all of them. They are planting lots of trees tho lately, but there is a thick layer of smog in any town or city you go to. Sorry, but its not all that fun or nice.
Sounds like a good republican goal.....automoton workers with no unions to question managers....what a hell of a life or is that a life of hell?????
It's true. Your description of China is right on. I was there in Beijing last month. Americans need to start educating themselves about the abuse of human rights (read about how the mentally ill, retarded, autistic, orphaned, and aged have been abused -- see ChinaDaily.com), and, how they abuse the environment. You can't drink the water there -- imagine that! I had nosebleeds every day I was there from the pollution. They do not like Americans, either. Fortunately, while there, our international adoption of an older child fell through. It was shameful what they were trying to pull on us. The whole transaction was full of deception. They wanted U.S. cash for over $6500 in adoption fees and transactions over there -- which would have been so much less if they would use their currency, but of course, it's full of underhanded dealings.
OH...give me a break....Having been stationed in Free China (Taiwan), Stationed in Korea, Japan, Served in Combat in Vietnam...China Basically Sucks Bigtime...Its not even a nice place to visit...Its only a matter of time before it IMPLODES...get it ....IMPLODES...so there...get over it and deal with it.
yes they are orderly, A few years ago i met with some chinese nationals training in the usa. I got permission from their political officer to take them out to dinner because my friend was the son of a respected instructor. These men were at the top of their field both ex military and very sheltered. They were amazed that as an 18 year old i had my own car and were even more amazed that me and the other American talked negatively about our president. They told us that they would never speak about their leaders that way.
they may all line up now, but give the internet a few years to work its way in and shed some light on their leadership and we will see a much less pliable population.
You all want tax cuts and less spending, right?
Welcome to the reality of tax cuts and less spending!
The Chinese concentrate on long term ventures that will benefit them in the future, and aren't fighting wars around the globe ... wasting their capitol and resources ...
The Thai's had over 30,000+workers in Libya. The Thai Government has supplied charter boats and flights out of the EU for their people. The Thai workers were given spending money for any needed food/clothing and when they arrived in BKK they are given more money($500+USD), to cover travel/resettlement expenses to their home.
It is not only the Chinese that are taking care of its workers in foreign Countries...
Australia had a boat load of ILLEGAL Immigrants die a few months ago, while trying to get to Australia. Australia not only paid to bury these people, but paid the travel expenses for their relatives to attend the funerals. They also paid these relatives for a week stay in Australia, because that was one of the peoples religious believes during a funeral.
Many countries treat their people, MUCH different than the USA...
The question is not if China is better than us, but simply better than we give them credit for. They have the technology, they have the workforce, and while their government may not be anything near what we would want, they are pretty good at maintaining control. I do not see any implosion any time soon. Rather, look for subtle changes at the lower levels to gradually bubble to the top. When these people hit their stride, they will simply be in charge.
hi Benjamin Carey. I am a Chinese. What u described still exists in some small part of China nowadays. But that is rare as it would happen anywhere in the world. China is is such a large country that u can't just use a "there" to describe it. Have u ever been to every city and town in China? If the answer is no, u'd better not to reach such an imprudent conclusion. We r thinner because we eat in a healthy way and we work hard. It's ur right not to regard China as a great country. But man, why is it so easy for u to get sick? Maybe you should eat less......
AN INTERNATIONAL WARNING TO ALL PEOPLE AND NATIONS:
All World Nations Have to Prohibit their nations and Business-related organizations to do business with the WORLD MOST SERIOUS CRIMINAL STATE CHINA! (BellaPerfecta)
Bella-Liberta, in YOUR distorted world, ignorance is bliss. It's people like YOU that all others need to worry about and NOT the Chinese. Your hatred should NEVER be tolerated! Your sick and pathetic!
Dead on right, Doughnut Boy! How can you not worry about your largest creditor? They are about to pass us like a Lamborghini by a moped on the interstate. I guess many have not heard that they have already passed us in computers...they now build the FASTEST computer in the world.
No they don't. Your an idiot. U.S. has way better more advanced stuff.
Like spelling, Benjamin....you should spell...."you're"...not "your"..thanks for making my point!
THEY STEAL everything they can...FAST COMPUTERS...give me a break...they steal the technology and everything else, put thier labels on it and voila...its thier design....get real....
they have thousands upon thousands of people at our universities, in our companies and in our factories learning everything they can. What we don't give them freely, they steal. I love the chinese people but make no mistake about it, some time in the future we will kill each other.
I just got off the phone with one of my Chinese suppliers. When I call, I don't have to press 1 to hear English, He speaks perfect English, not spanglish. He is an engineer, so I don't have to get through 5 layers to speak with someone who can think. I can usually get delivery quicker from China than the US. I have never purchased anything on the basis of price, it was always the the better service, the price is a throw in.
They are 1st in education and we are no longer in the top 20. Weren't we always taught that education is the enemy of slavery? We call them communist, but our government has more laws and regulations. We have 400% more people in jail as a percentage of population than China does, yet we call ourselves free.
China is now doing what we used to do and that is simply get it done.
Bill S.,
Are these the guys you buy from?
"Apple's design for the iPad 2 apparently wasn't as much of a surprise to some as to others. Alibaba.com, the Chinese website that matches Chinese suppliers with customers overseas, says it noticed in December listings appearing for iPad covers with holes for a camera and room for a larger speaker. Both of those are features the new iPad, launched only Wednesday, includes. In late December, after a request from an undisclosed third party, Alibaba.com took down the listings. As of Thursday, the covers were back on the site." (Wall Street Journal, Overheard, March 4, 2011)
The end does not justify the means. Buying stolen goods is as much a theft as the person who stole the value of someone's labors, and you are an accomplice to the international crimes of Chinese business practices.
Tell me, please, what business you are in, because I intend to boycott your "fence" of the stolen goods.
Prohibit, Prevent, Repatriate all Communist Chinese and Chinese spies and Chinese Saboteurs and Chinese Criminals out of all WORLD NATIONS TO PREVENT HARMS DONE BY THE WORST CRIMINAL STATE COMMUNIST CHINA ENTRENCED INTO THE WORLD NATIONS AND SOCIETIES! THESE COMMUNIST CHINESE FOLKS ARE TOO DANGEROUS TO ALL MANKIND TODAY AND BEYOND! This is perfect correct fact to all mankind to be aware of! Period. (BellaPerfecta)
Bella,
I already know how much the atheistic communists hate me. I believe in Judaeo-Christian God.
I already know they will gleefully imprison, torture, maim and kill me and my family just because I believe in God.
MORON.
Actually Dave it's your religion that hates the world, preaching none believers that they will go to hell and punished by your God. You are the exact kind of religious fanatical who creates war in the name of religion not the other way around fool.
telperien......you sound like someone who gets upset when people jusde you....so maybe you should not judge
Most of them are buddhist you dingle berry. Why bring religion into it?
Why do these comments always turn religious or political?
I am right with Dave J. Without believing in the ONLY God, there is no hope, no matter what you have on Earth.
@Breweyez Who judged?? What does your pastor tell you if you don't believe in God? that you are committing a sin and you will not go to heaven to be with him. Your smart ass comment is more suitable to dear Dave's comment above "I already know........"
Actually, to be fair, Buddhism is not a religion, it is a philosophy, like Taoism-- they worship no god and believe in no after-life (you simply reincarnate until you get it right-- "right" being an end to all suffering, an end to your personal existence: Nirvana... Translated it means: snuffing of the flame. It is not heaven, as is commonly misconstrued, it is instead an obliteration of self, an end to ego--ultimately, a disappearing act: no consciousness, no recognition of self as self, no pain, no suffering, no love, no peace: a snuff film for the soul).
@WGM
Why does that sound good to people? hmm... i cant wait till i get it right and not exist!
A WORLD RED ALARM TO ALL MANKIND!
It is absolutely too dangerous to see a Communist Chinese who can treacherously walk on the soil of any nation on earth!
Bella-Liberta, You idiot redneck, keep open minded and put your guns away. Be civilized. Nobody is threatening you.
You are the one who's holding the gun on other countries. Dropping nuclear bombs, start illegal wars, massacre on Native Americans, and slavery.
Get out and learn the world. US is not the world.
Actually, I am guessing from the syntax that Bella is Asian, not American redneck.
asian redneck.
^
The syntax that Bella Liberta commonly uses suggests that they are using a translation site, rather than having inherent poor grammar. I don't believe that he/she speaks English at all... but that's just a belief, rooted in the small experience I've had with them on these forums. I make no claim to know the truth-- but I have a hunch they might be Tibetan.
Truth Hurts-2925249, time to break a few painful truths to you.
First and foremost, I want to make clear that I completely agree with you on the fact that America is not the center of the world. I also don't deny America committing a single thing that you posted, because it all happened.
HOWEVER, what I will do is report to you that the only two atomic bombs America officially dropped as live weapons in warfare were done so as to speed the end of an already vicious and bloody war that had been raging on years before US involvement, which had caused millions of deaths worldwide. Yes, the bombs did kill thousands of innocent lives...but their dropping prevented a nationwide invasion of Japan that likely would have caused many more deaths on each side, not to mention the definitely possible sexual atrocities against Japanese women.
I will also report to you that the US is not the only country in the world to have dropped atomic bombs during test procedures. The club also includes Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea.
I will go on to report to you that slave trading had been conducted far before the United States even existed. European, African, and Asian countries had been conducting it for years, trading ethnicities of all sorts, from white to black. If you're going to bring that piece of our history up, please be sure to include these countries as well, since the practice was learned from them.
*FACT* Did you know that in today's modern times, slavery can be found in Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Togo, Sudan, India, China, and many other Southeast Asian countries?
I will even state that yes, no words can describe the torment committed by the US against the Native Americans. And yes it is true, the US has conducted illegal wars, as well as funded autocratic dictators. We, just as all other countries who have conducted mass atrocities cannot change our pasts...yet we look to our future, and try our hardest to make sure these plagues never harm our world again. I want to make clear that it does not always happen...but due to humanity's imperfection, unfortunately not every individual is committed to bringing about peace.
In conclusion, yes, the US has committed multiple atrocities in the past. Believe me that damn near every one of us regrets them, and deeply apologizes for what we have done. But when you present several issues and try to single the US out as the only conductors of specific crimes, when in fact there are many other countries that are just as guilty, make sure you report their names as well.
That or read a history book, just in case you weren't aware.
Get off this blog, your comments are idiotic.
They move a lot more than that in China. They are calm because they are being taken care of and no need to worry.
Give the US a billion Chinese people and have them manage it. That'll be a fun show to watch... hahaha....
"...China chartered a giant ocean cruise ship, 20 civilian aircraft, four military aircraft and moved 35,860 of its citizens out of danger in Libya as of Wednesday, within a week of starting the process, according to the Chinese foreign minister..." It is a very proud moment of the handling and solving the problems in a very organized and strategic approach.
The 35860 of its citizens "were working in Libya’s oil, rail, construction and telecommunications industries" How many people of Libya are part of those projects, from oil, rail, construction and telecommunications industries? How many foreign workers have been exploited their wages and labor working condition there?
"China has invested heavily in Africa" and this is another proud moment that they have recognized the minerals there and the fields in Africa regions are still in infantile stage. And, they can know how to turn around to invest the African regions and to help to improve the regions, from economy to technology.
There are pros and cons regarding to the style of governmental policies, such as authoritarian, dictatorship, or democracy .
Here, in U.S. of A. if you want to build a Christian Church, you can. If you want to build an Islamic Morgue, you can, too. And, if you want to build a budhist temple, you can. In China, you can not.
In U.S. of A. we have Talk Shows Hosts and Hostesses, like Rachel in NBC and Rush L. the famous icon, and all the hosts and hostesses would not have any safety concerns. But, if they are in China, they would be like the Nobel Prize winner, the journalist, has been in jail for some times, and his family members are under house arrest.
In, U.S. of A. we have WI public workers' protests recently. If they were in China, they would be all in jail.
There are such as one child policy... How many of people of U.S. of A. have more than one child? And, we better ask the Hispanic groups and in China, they can not have more than one child and there will be penalty.
The trade off is humanity and humility. But, for all the fights are going to be beginning with basis human needs, such as food and water and shelter and sunshine...
Pros and cons are depended upon where we have been and how far we can /could go to get the equal rights of humanity and humility.
Please don't make up story. in China, you CAN build a Christian Church, an Islamic Morgue and a budhist temple if you want!
I do believe Muslims worship in a mosque, and, yes, they're free to build those here in the United States. I believe we also have morgues here for people of all faiths ... well, at least I'm pretty sure we did last time I checked.
Amen, Billie. I'll take the USA over tyranny and oppression. Those workers look like robots.
One can build a church in China, but the catch is that it must be state approved. I will let someone else explain what that means.
China also passed a law (which is not different from previous regulations on religious practices), that is foreigners are forbidden to preach or convert any Chinese nationals inside China to any religion. I will also let someone else to comment on what that means.
In reality, however, being not an ideal place to have the perfect western style "freedom" and "human rights", and not for the defense of China, the country is definitely more relax to its citizens compared to decades ago. Therefore, progress has been made. Perhaps it is a good thing for China to move gently toward more open freedom for its citizens and people entering from the outside. The last thing the world needs is an uncontrollable chaos of 13 billion people if anything like the current situation in the Middle East will occur there.
Please let China progress, learn, and find its way to become a good partner for the rest of the world. There is a lot its citizens need to learn to work and live with the rest of the world.
The rapid growth of China's economy obviously can be viewed as a threat to the western world, and rightfully so. However, like all system, it can only grow to a state (or condition) where it will be self-limiting. Every other country, including the US have learned that. We also learn this in college biology 101 that given any population or an organism, its growth eventually is self-limiting.
The whole trick is learn and strategise so that we do not become victims of the growth phase of another population. That takes hard work and creativity. We in the US, should be good at it.
Billie-2352729- WTF kind of comment is THIS YOU WROTE---->"How many of people of U.S. of A. have more than one child? And, we better ask the Hispanic groups" You F*king Racist ahole!
The former pastor has helped the underground Christian Church and to use the Bible not being approved by the China. The Bible, not being approved by the Republic of China, needs to be secretly transported to China.
And, during the recent Olympic in China, China has caught a man, whom tried to deliver the Bible that we use in U.S. of A. to the people of China, and they got him.
tboybmx-3131885: take it easy; my Philipino friends have a lot of kids, too; and my Hispanic friends have a lot of kids, too. It is just an example. My African friends have kids, too.... Take it easy. It is an example that in U.S. of A., we can have as many as kids we want but not in China. They really have one child policy. There are more children, especially female babies have been killed for that rules.
You had posted the most sensible comments about the evacuation from Liybia. Yes what China need is time to adjust itself and a system that can take care of its 13 billion population, full democratic system has not not proven itself to be a magical pill for all problem yet, just look at the US of A with tons of social problem as a result of too much so call freedom......... What a price to pay!
hey maybe china is not that bad - imagine rush, judge judy, al sharpton, jesse jackson, geraldo, maury and all the other idoit based TV talk show hosts being jailed
If every chinese family can have as many kids as they want, the country will not be able to feed all of them. So in fact, i think the one child policy of china just saved the world, or please imagine a country which has a population of about 2 billion launches the invasion war.
Whoa, Bella, calm down! WTH does "BellaPerfecta" mean, anyway?
Perfect Beauty. What does it sound like?
Haha, in Italian you are right. But in Latin I think it would mean 'Perfect War'... Though I doubt the username is meant to be read as Latin. :P Still bizarre how they mean such different things.
Tru dat...and I took 4 years of Latin, didn't even think of it.
In Louisville, Ky it would mean a race with all mares.
It reminded you of Metropolis, with the armies of slaves who knew that if they fell out of step they would die? Did you forget that the workers sent abroad know that if they embarass China their families would suffer. Moron?
EVERYONE..Pugiron....statement bears repeating....You have to behave when you are out of CHINA...your family will suffer if you don't...>GET IT !!!....as bad as Stalin, Lenin & Hitler....
Chinese workers who heed instructions and orders from officials better then most people is a cause for admiration? I can agree with the idea, that it's always good to see people calm under pressure. But why do you think they're so obedient? Living in a Father-Knows-Best State will do that to you. Democracy has it's pluses and minuses but I still think I'd prefer it to being a quiet little drone under an authoritarian regime.
And there's also no doubt how well and swiftly they respond to crises, that's the product of being an authoritarian state: increased efficiency and less entangled bureaucracy in the upper levels. Unlike here, where we are mired in it. But again, I'll still take Democracy, thanks.
As for China's economic growth, there's no doubt how powerful they are and will become. But their economic growth is to fast to maintain itself if they don't cool down a bit. To much growth to soon will see a massive bubble burst and the ramifications would not be good. It's like expanding before you build safety nets. China needs to slow it's growth or it's going to suffer in the coming decades.
With all that said, I must admit I like the idea of what China could be. And while I despise its current regime, I adore its people and it's culture. Someday I hope to see China step onto the world stage as a Democratic state who allows its people freedom to demonstrate and speak their mind. A state that we can embrace as friends and tackle the problems of this world together.
Having lived in China....and recognizing how efficient the communist are in controlling the masses there...I don't think it will happen in my lifetime....
Jimpe.......................................very well put!!!
Well considering that the U.S. is invested heavily in Saudi Arabia, it appears that China has more to lose than the U.S. The U.S. used a ferry to evacuate people because that's how many people were in that country. Just hope Wall Street can read between the lines and recognizes it's not going to effect our economy.
Aaahhhhh, yes, Martin Fletcher.
The comforts, safety and dignity of working for a totalitarian, atheistic, communist regime! And notice the faces of joy and delight on those slim, trim, communistic peoples' workers of the sovereign nation of the Republic of China.
Martin, from what community college did you receive your associate of arts degree in history? If you are the best that media powerhouse NBC can dredge up for its correspondents, then we have declined indeed. Coolie Chinee labor built the Union Pacific railroad across the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the western states of the United States of America in the 1860's. The bones of abused laborers litter the deserts of Nevada and Utah.
There is nothing new or futuristic about the monetarists employing slave labor anywhere around the globe to suit the whims of their dominion over poor people anywhere to exploit the planet's mineral resources and enrich their industrial wealth. Do you think Saudis and Kuwaitis like to get that sticky crude oil mess all over their lavishly endowed hands?
You are a historically illiterate Idiot!
Dave, out of all due respect, the "Republic of China" is the official name of Taiwan; The "People's Republic of China" is the official name for Communist China.
Hankster
Thanks, Hank! (8-)
Bella is both right and wrong. China is dangerous, but we're the one who make them dangerous - because we're greedy, arrogant, and ignorant.
Does the phrase "non sequitur" mean anything to you?
What about American exceptionalism? :-)
We can't organize a show like they did for the Olympic opening. We can't produce goods at prices that bring competitors to their knees. We can't loan the US a trillion dollars.
On the other hand, we try not to put poison on toys. We send relief when other countries are hurting. We came up with most of the inventions that the Chinese infringe on...and more to the point, I have seen a whole lot of Chinese trying to sneak into the US. How many Americans sneak the other way?
I will play our hand, thanks.
There are a lot more Chinese in US is because they want your money. So goes many of immigrants from other countries. Remove all the international researchers from the US and see where the country will end up. Just count # of foreign researchers and workers, and compare it to Americans.
Check an average Chinese family's income and education level, and compare to average American family. American family will look like living in poverty.
Well, if they move here to stay, they are American. They work hard. They contribute. They succeed, those shifty Asian bastards. That is how we built our country. Or is there some other kind of "American" that I don't understand? I swear--there are more people lining up to blame their own failure on any other group at all. Did you read what you wrote? It is a pathetic whine. "They are taking all the good jobs, just because they work hard and get educated."
As America moves towards a nation of haves and have nots the Chinese are slowly and steadily becoming the next super power of the world. While the tea party moves like Koch brothers puppets spreading fear of America becoming a socialist state, the true socialist state of China will come to rule the world. Better get ready!
Oh, yeah. The incredible superiority of Chinese manufacturing. They are the ones who salt the stainless steel they manufacture for France's refrigerators with radioactive strontium.
Any country in the world will prosper illicitly like the Chinese do by enslaving their workers, poisoning their ecology, and stealing the technology and inventions of other creative countries so they can sell their own dollar back to them for a penny. Oh, and tell us, please about how you acquired your software and music in the last twenty years.
Piracy of intellectual property has been a very effective formula for Chinese economic developers to follow for over twenty years. Just look at how much money it has made them.
Dave: You need to run for political office. When you get elected, your views will be validated.
Trust me, AMCIT. I have been tempted to run for office, but I don't know for which one. My lovely wife tells me, however, I am too honest, and would not last through lunch on the first day as a politician. lol
china dont want to take a chance of the general population finding out that they can make this happen and all the true power resides within the populace
so they get their ppl out fast before they can see to much and a thorough debriefing on what they can and cannot say publicly
Have any of you ever been to China? I just finished my second visit and had a wonderful time. There are churches, punk rockers, preppies, people with more than one child.
As a Chinese man, I feel qualified to add my comment to the many here. If the long lines of Chinese workers evacuating from Libya exemplifies "efficiency, order and calm, it is because order is one of the most important virtue to the Chinese. I can still recall my mom, telling me how I should be a good example to my brothers and sisters - and to be deferential to them, being that they are younger than I am. And all through my adult life, I have never forgotten the poem I learned in my Chinese class that spoke of a person who has self-control is one being a "true Han Chinese." and that industry, intensity, and integrity are the marks of a real man. Although I have been a Christian for a long, long time, I still remember my being taught this Confucianist ideal - that of respecting authority, and of being true to one's mentor... Simply put, efficiency, order and calm is what we Chinese have been taught to value in life.
virtue....a long lost ideal in America
John...ever try to get onto a bus or the subway in Beijing? It is a "free-for-all" and push shove...I don't recall seeing "calm" and "waiting in line". You can get yourself killed trying to get into public transportation there!
I have seen the chaos of Chinese travelers during Chinese News Years. It is as bad as any place. The order worker evacuation showing here just show the fear of these worker with the state's control rescued mission. They know any trouble they create will be responded with club and jail time.
The US government could have done better with the evacuation. We had the 5th (Italy) and 6th (Bahrain) fleets present in the region and for weeks, we couldn't send in a ship like the Brit to take our citizens out. Until a few days ago, the Navy was managed to send 2 ships through the Suez canal to be closed to Libya. Now that is pathetic.
the opiate of the people
Quiet the opposite, those Chinese workers kept order and calmness simply because they had confidence in their embassy officers. They knew their government would save them and bring them back home to reunite with their family. And...believe or not, seeing the national flag of China means you finally are in safe, the true danger is to lost connection with the embassy officers.
john shanton made a good point, truly self-control is a must-learn in Confucianist ideals, but I believe those workers were just see the fact that solidarity is the only way to survive. They are rational people and know what should be done when disaster comes.
And this is why China will outlast the US. They are just so much better at organizing people... and, as a whole, they're a lot less arrogant, which means they are willing to be organized.
totalitarian states never last....look at your history
"totalitarian states never last"
Yes, but the peoples will......
I agree with the author.
Yes, Mr. Fletcher, America is defeated, antiquated, outmoded, and outclassed by the Chinese. They beat us in all important ways; their people are virtual slaves to the state, they poison the air, water, and land with great aplomb, and they have an absolutely wretched record of human rights abuses. They get their technology the old-fashioned way; they steal it. They practice predatory business practices and have not one shred of integrity or ethics. The Chinese will rip you off in nanoseconds, lie, cheat, steal, and do whatever else is necessary to get ahead.
They have oppressed all who oppose them, are bent on world domination through both military and economic means, and look on all other nations with barely concealed contempt and suspicion.
Yep, they're pretty admirable. I mean, if they can evacuate a bunch of workers then they must be superior to the US, right?
Martin, you're a putz. You think the Chinese are such spiffy folks? Go live and work with 'em. I have. They suck. Now go crawl back in whatever hole you came out of and suffocate, please.
The writer went overboard one way, but ... you, Sir, went the other. We simply need to pull our socks up instead of denigrating others.
The order and calmness display of those workers are from the fear of the Chinese government who run the evacuation. They know how the government treats the disobedient people - they just disappear. So it is naive for the author to see this is a normal typical behavior.
How much are they paid for the work they do?
more than you deserve.
The Thai workers in Libya make about $8.00+hr USD, depending on the type of job...
They also had to pay about $5,000+USD for the 2+year job and to cover their transportation fees...
We are a group of obese, lazy people headed to the trash pile of human history, our civilization is not going to but has crumbled from within and the final days are being lived as I type, enjoy yourself because within a decade we will have lost all our freedoms, our economy will sink into depression and hunger will cause us to act as rats killing one another with our small arms and smaller minds. Its been a hell of a ride but MAKE NO MISTAKE IT IS OVER! ENJOY THE FINAL DAYS OF ROME2
You are correct truth hurts. My wife is from China and she is a biomedical researcher for MD. Anderson. In fact all but 2 people in her lab are foreign. I have been to China several times myself and I'm learning mandarin while everyone is telling me to learn spanish. To heck with spanish I'm going global not to mexico or south america. The chinese people are good people, don't blame the people for the view and actions of their goverment. You can now understand why people don't like Americans, look at the actions of our government.
No, just look at the comments on this board.
i do not hate the Chinese People. i hate the Corrupt Robber of Human Rights Government they live under.that despicable government is afraid of it's own people.
you should not point out your wife and where she works along with your opinions..you never know what boss of hers is reading this.
If it's so great why aren't you and your foreign wife living in China? Take all your foreign workers with you and give the jobs back to the Americans you friggin trader!
DP you know how to cure cancer?
yeah....you die.
What contrast it shows about human rights! The Chinese concept of human rights is about the majority of the people, while the Western one is about a few criminals and trouble makers.
Well, a wise lawyer once told me: A liberal is a conservative who just had been arrested. Do do not denigrate liberty. It is the primary source of dignity.
North Korea seems to have the people there in order without any problem. I suppose they picked that up from China.