China: Beyond the Headlines - Preconceptions and Reality

Before my recent trip to Beijing and the nearby city of Jinan for a conference, I challenged myself to reflect on China and its people. My thoughts gravitated toward issues surrounding restricted freedoms and civil liberties, such as state control, widespread use of facial recognition, human rights concerns, and the struggles faced by certain ethnic groups.

Never having visited mainland China and only two visits to Hong Kong in the past, where did I draw these thoughts from?

News perhaps, I read three sources of news everyday BBC, Associated Press and Al Jazeera in an attempt to triangulate world news from different perspectives. Yes, China did get coverage on these platforms and many times it was around issues relating to economy and civil liberties.

Sunste in a Beijing Hutong Photo @Etienne

Was it from my direct experiences with Chinese people? Maybe it was through observing or having interactions with Chinese people living in my home country of Wales in the UK? With under 15,000 people of Chinese origin living in Wales I have had limited interaction with them. Most of these people were from an influx from Hong Kong and Guagdong province between the 1940’s to 1970’s, so a very narrow representation of over 1.3 billion people and I really haven’t had the opportunity to meet many at all.

Maybe it is that my office is on the Cardiff University Campus and there are many students from China attending courses such as Business and Journalism? Although China ranks alongside India in the number of international students studying at the Russel Group university I have very little interaction with these students.

Skyline of Jinan Photo @Etienne

Market Day Photo @Etienne

So where did my thoughts come from?

It is possible that they were shaped by popular narratives found on traditional media such as TV and films, news platforms and social media.

Issues around rights and repression are real concerns but is it not important to avoid reducing over 1 billion people to these views I challenged myself? These people’s experiences and perspectives, their aspirations are as diverse as any other population surely?

Concerns around labour conditions and ethical implications of buying products made in China are valid on a number of levels. There is a growing awareness globally about supply chains and working conditions. However it is also easy to over simplify this is by placing the blame solely on China. In many cases the demand for cheap goods comes from western markets and multinational corporations benefit from lower labour costs right?

As I take part in my self awareness exercise I really cannot recall seeing or hearing positive narratives in main stream media regarding the richness of Chinese Culture, Economic and trade development which has outstripped all others, the sector leading technological advances and China’s geopolitical influence.

City life Beijing Photo @Etienne

Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stieglitz said ‘ China’s rise isn’t just a result of low wages workers - it’s a combination of smart state policy, massive infrastructure development and innovation’ but we hear very little about this in the west.

The historical journey that has spanned over 5,000 years through key dynasties from Shang to Qing. The founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 under Mao Zedong to integration into the global economy in the 90’s to eventually joining World Trade Organisation in 2001 seems to have been missed by many in the media.

I have not heard or read vast amounts about the rich contribution China has made to Philosophy, art, medicine and culinary heritage.

Temple gardens Beijing Photo @Etienne

There seems to a constant chatter in the media around Chinese aggressive behavior rather than contributions to the world. Although while China engages in regional disputes and posturing in the South Seas and of course the ‘disputed territory’ of Taiwan it has an avoided direct large-scale warfare in recent times. Which is vastly different to many of the world’s powers including those in the West.

Academic and critical thinker Noam Chomsky once said ‘ The rise of China is perceived as a major threat to the US ands it’s allies, not because China poses a military threat, but because of it’s economic success’

Artist in Round City Photo @Etienne

It is true China’s rapid technological advancements and its increasing influence in markets is felt globally. Automotive giants such as BYD (Build Your Dreams), Nio and Geely who own Volvo and Lotus are all heavily involved in research and development producing vast amounts of electric and autonomous vehicles that rival any company in the West.

Alibaba is a major player in the e-commerce, cloud computing and fintech world. Its retail arm exceeded USD 134 billion in 2023.

Tencent is a tech conglomerate that is best known for messaging app WeChat and also owns stakes in companies like Epic Games and Activision. The telecommunications giant Huawei generated revenue of over USD 93 billion in 2023 alone.

So to summarise my reflections following my direct experience of visiting China and taking the time to read and talk to many people in and from China my conclusions are these. I fully recognise Human Rights issues in particular the treatment of Uyghurs, Tibet and Hong Kong and also the workers mistreated across the country.

Solidiers on the move Photo @Etienne

I also acknowledge the geopolitical tensions in the region in particular the South Sea and with Taiwan. Then there is of course the concerns over cyber security and the use of Chinese technology fears around surveillance.

Constant surveillance Photo @Etienne

However I fully recognise the substantial contribution China has made to the world culturally, artistically and technologically. The hard working people are a beautiful sea of colour and friendship. The resilience and adaptation over time is unsurpassed and can be seen in the numerous cities and villages across the country.

As former Premier Li Keqiang once said ‘ The Chinese people have stood up, grown rich, and are becoming strong. Now it is the time for our nation to take it’s place in the world with confidence’

It is important to check our own preconceptions, assumptions and unconscious bias. We should seek to challenge popular narratives and to be curious in our nature. There is a risk of stereotyping and simplifying beautiful and complex societies like China if we do not.