Welcome to China. Please avoid the falling chandelier…
Posted on May 12th, 2008 – 9:15 AMBy Thomas Lee
I guess we might not make it to Chengdu after all.
As you read this, your trusty Patent Pending blogger/reporter is in Beijing, trying to make sense of what turned out to be a rather crazy day in China. And I’m not even talking about Tibet or the Olympics.
EARTHQUAKE!!!!
First, a little recap. I’m part of a group of 12 Asian and American journalists traveling to Beijing and the western regions of Chongqing municipality and Sichuan Province to study growth and economic development issues.
While many people are familiar with the red hot economic growth of eastern coastal cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the Chinese government over the past several years has devoted considerable time and resources to spurring economic development in western regions like Chongqing and Sichuan Province, whose capital is Chengdu, about a two day drive west from Beijing.
But that all important quest for economic growth has come at a price: corruption, widening gap between rich and poor, environmental damage. As a result, angry residents have launched a series of protests, not to bring down the Chinese central government but rather to appeal to the country’s senior leadership to address their grievances. Not surprisingly, the prospect of mass protests and instability does not sit well with China’s leaders, especially when the country hosting the Olympic Games in August.
Case in point: I learned today that residents in Chengdu are planning a massive demonstration June 1 against a planned petro chemical plant about 30 km from the city. To avoid trouble, people are calling the demonstration a “stroll,” in which protesters will walk silently through the city wearing surgeon-like masks. There was a smaller “stroll” just a few days ago.
The authorities tolerated that protest. It’s not clear how they will react on June 1. Word has been spreading through text messages- protesters are careful not to display any organized leadership. The Chinese government has imposed a news blackout on the event. Our planned meetings with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the National Development and Reform Commission, the two agencies responsible for approving the petro chemical plant, were suddenly canceled.
But now, the Chinese have more pressing matters to address. A powerful 7.8 earthquake today struck near Chengdu. According to state radio, at least 45 people are dead in Chengdu and another 20 or so perished in nearby Chongqing. Boy, did we pick a good time to visit both cities!
A smaller quake also hit Beijing today. I didn’t feel any shaking but I did notice a big chandelier perilously swing side to side over my head at a museum. Thinking it was just the wind, I continue to read a plaque in blissful ignorance until someone later told me it was an earthquake. Duh.
So now it looks like our trip to Chengdu is up in the air. I hope we can go, since this is an area that very few Western journalists get to see. Stay tuned for more details.
In the meantime, I will continue to blog about my experiences in China. And if today is any indication, the next two weeks promises to be quite eventful.
4 Responses to "Welcome to China. Please avoid the falling chandelier…"
Not one to write comments on any blogs, I felt this incredible urge to write something when I read your blog.
900 children trapped under the rubbel and 7800 people pronounced dead so far, your only concern is “I hope we can go, since this is an area that very few Western jounalists get to see”. Maybe you should say I hope I can go, so I can help recover bodies or feed the survivors, or help the injured. Maybe you should fall to your knees and thank the good lord that you were not there when this happened. Your poor attempt @ humor, total ignorance and lack of compassion in the face of such a tragedy gives new meaning to the word selfish.
Last October, we were in Chengdu for 2 days while we waited for our travel visas to Tibet. Despite the “overcast” pollution filled skies, we very much enjoyed our stay in Chengdu. As we progressed from Beijing to Chengdu, I realized the further we got away from Beijing I found the people to speak not as indoctrinated as near the capital. This is a very tragic event for this rich history filled area of China.
Have fun la! Apparently some HKers are missing in that area, hopefully you can find them and report to RTHK! Be careful ok la!
Thomas -
Greetings from Shanghai. I hope you made it through your first Chinese earthquake okay.
Just a quick note. You write that Chengdu “is an area that very few Western journalists get to see.”
Who or what gave you THAT impression??? Foreign journalists have been traveling in and out of Chengdu - and the regions around it - for decades. Without problems.
And I write that from experience (I’ve been on assignment in the region for Scientific American and the Los Angeles Times).
In light of the Tibetan protests last month, some of the area has been rendered off-limits. But not Chengdu. In fact, during the protests, Chengdu was where many journalists camped out.
Good luck with your trip.
Adam
