Alice Anderson's China blog

DISPATCHES FROM CHINA
By: Alice Anderson
ECU Health Education and Promotion

June 9,2005

Hi!

I am having a wonderful time here in China. The Foreign Affairs University is taking care of us well. We have been learning about the New China Identity, and some of the problems in a developing country. Security is a major concern, and one of the main ways that security is being addressed is via economic security first. This is an important priority. There are so many problems on the domestic front also. Social programs such as health care are primarily still taken care of by the "unit" where the person works, or by the military if a person is military or government.

They are trying to get social security or retirement benefits for people who would retire, but not all companies or areas are ready to provide that . Shanghai does provide it for the citizens there, but not here in Beijing for most people. It is an interesting set of contradictions in a country where there is a strong central government!

Also, the Taiwan question has been discussed quite a bit. That seems to be the biggest issue of concern with the security people. Nuclear weapons agreements, and North Korea are also big topics, and have been discussed in as much detail as possible. All in all it has been a very informative week so far. I have many pictures, and will send them in another e-mail. One I sent yesterday did not go through!

See you soon,
Alice

June 11, 2005 On Saturday, following the workshop, we traveled to the Great Wall of China at Ba Da Ling. It was a long climb to the peak of the wall, and here I am resting for the next stretch of the climb. In the background you can see the wall snaking along up the hill in the background.

June 11, 2005: On Friday, a banquet was held in honor of all the participants. There were toasts with Chinese wine one after another, and one of the participants also brought some Kentucky Bourbon for toasts, so we had several toasts to the USA and to China with that glass. It was a long and very happy meal. We were awarded certificates at the end, and a group picture of the participants, organizers, and hosts was taken. I am in the white blouse and pink skirt in the front row.

June 8, 2005 One of our speakers was a very young-looking woman, Professor Qin Yaqing, from the China Foreign Affairs University, where our workshop was held. I am on the left, Professor Qin, a professor from Florida, and a professor from Australia are also seen in this "gang of 4" women professors.

June 7, 2005: This picture shows the conference room with Li Genxin speaking at the head of the table. He is the General Secretary of the China Association of Arms Control and Disarmament. This is a non-government group working for Nuclear Disarmament of all governments, including China. Also seen are some of the other members of the participant group

Thursday June 10 After the Workshop we took a taxi to the center of Beijing. On the way we saw Tienamen square, which is always very crowded. Many visitors line up and wait to see Chairman Mao's body, which is laid out in the monument in the background. Bicycles are still used extensively to carry everything.

This was the Major General Mr. Zhu Chenghu, whose topic was China's Defense Policy in the Context of Global Security.
He was quite adamant about China's resolve to keep Taiwan as part of China, not agreeing to any independence move on their part or any defense of that move by any other nation.

A view of the Great Wall of China.