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The Rickshaw Report: The Best and Worst of 2015

For this week’s Rickshaw Report, we ask two Beijing Rickshaw drivers about their highs and lows of 2015. 1. What was the highlight of your year? A.I had a Japanese customer this year. We chatted a lot about Chinese and Japanese culture and history. I realized that both our countries actually have a lot in common. The experience really opened my eyes. B. A lot of my friends got married…and, of course, I had to spend a lot of money on their celebratory gifts. So much money down the drain! 2. What do you think of China’s role in the world during 2015? A.I think China needs to make a greater effort to show the world that it can handle its country’s affairs with confidence. B. During the 19th century, China was weak and was overpowered by Western nations as well as Japan. However, recently, we have seen China’s rise as it has developed into a more powerful world power. China calls itself a peaceful country, and its actions reflect this. 3. What was the best news story of 2015? A. Too many to chose from. I am just happy that the area that I work in has become more calm and less crowded. B. (In a grumpy voice) This year brought no good news. 4. And what was the […]

Uncategorized Dec 31, 2015

UK Chancellor: We Want to be China’s Best Partner in the West

“There are those who say we should fear China’s rise – that we should somehow guard ourselves against it. But we reject such thinking, which would simply leave the UK slipping behind. Instead, we should embrace it,” George Osborne, the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced shortly before his five-day trip to China. The declaration was boldly made in an Observer article, which was also co-written by Lord O’Neil, a past economist for Goldman Sachs and the present commercial secretary to the UK’s Treasury. The article argues that “The future prosperity of [ the UK] depends on us strengthening our relationship with the world’s next superpower.” O’Neil and Osborne put forth that by reinforcing the UK’s relationship with the world’s second largest economy, the British would gain greater business opportunities in areas such as manufacturing and infrastructure, whilst the country’s economic stability would also be promoted as more Chinese enterprises would be drawn to expand their businesses in the UK. In some ways, the article almost reads as a love letter to China – surging with the enthusiastic compliments that are almost certainly aimed at getting the Chinese weak at the knees. The grand affirmations – such as “want[ing] to make the UK China’s best partner in the west,” – definitely give off such an impression. These songs of praise […]

Uncategorized Dec 25, 2015

The Rickshaw Report: Xi's Visit to the USA

1. Xi Jinping is set to meet with Obama this week. How is the current relationship between the US and China? I think the relationship is very straightforward. They are both on friendly terms, but are also cautious of each other. There is no permanent friend or enemy, only a permanent interest. 2. Who is your favourite American person? As a child, I was really inspired by American action movie stars, like Alain Delon and Sylvester Stallone. ( Editor: Alain Delon is actually a French-Swiss national – not from the USA.) They were tough men! On another note, I really think former US President Bill Clinton played a major role in strengthening the US-China relationship. 3. How do the Chinese regard the USA? It’s hard to say. In regards to the government, two issues stand out. Firstly, their policies are all based on their own national interest – but every country is like that. Secondly, the American government does not always do what it says it will. But the Chinese government does what it says it will do. However, we see American people as nice and down-to-earth. When they say something, they will follow through with it as a result of their good education. I have met a lot of foreigners from the USA. 4. Which issues pose the biggest […]

Uncategorized Dec 23, 2015