China Wants to Dig the Nicaragua Canal

Authors: 

Mary Anastasia O’Grady

Summary: 

The Hong Kong development company HKND is building the Nicaraguan Canal that will cost $70 billion dollars and connect the Caribbean Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It will go through

Lake Nicaragua and many residential areas. Many native citizens of the surrounding areas are outraged with the fact that they had no choice into it being built or not.

Who: 

Hong Kong development company HKND

What: 

A canal to connect the Caribbean with the Pacific, much like the Panama Canal

When: 

Now, construction has already started

Where: 

Nicaragua

Why: 

Shipping to the US ports will generate tax money, jobs for Nicaragua

Bias: 

The WSJ article gives us the economic and social side of the story, the bias is obviously that they don’t agree with the canal. It could be argued from the Chinese and Nicaraguan side that it will create jobs and boost the economy, but this article explains that those are false promises being made. It lays out the economics and shows that it will only benefit those who regulate the shipping industry through the new canal.

Democratic Value: 

Justice, Common Good: Displaces thousands of people without their consent, there was never a vote about building a canal.

By Conner and Isabella

What China has been building in the South China Sea

Derek Watkins, New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/07/30/world/asia/what-china-has-been-building-in-the-south-china-sea.html?ref=world

Who: China

What: China has been building man-made islands on top of reefs in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The environmental affects have been horrible and there will be long term consequences.

Where: South China Sea (Spratly Islands)

When: March 2015 through now

Why: China wants to have a greater sphere of influence and have a say in trade in the area. They will control the fishing industry and the potential oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea.


Democratic Values:

Equality: The Spratly Islands are supposed to be divided evenly between the countries in the area. China is 500 miles from the islands and unfairly staking claim in the Spratly's. The Chinese are violating the equality that was set out for the islands.

Justice: The US is trying to provide justice and prevent the Chinese from doing this. The US recognizes the environmental catastrophe that this could turn into and they are trying to prevent the Chinese. Justice is needed and the US wants to provide it.

Bias:
Derek Watkins has a strong bias against the Chinese. He realizes how much of a disaster this could turn into and he wants the US to prevent it. He clearly knows about how the Chinese have a spotty record when it comes to things like human rights and environmental conservation.

Patrick M.

China Ends One-Child Policy, Allowing Families Two Children

Chris Buckley, NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/30/world/asia/china-end-one-child-policy.html

Who? Chinese communist government (enacts policy), Chinese people (whom the policy effects)

What? China ended its infamous one child policy, now allowing two children. The policy was created by the communist regime in the late 1970’s to slow the population growth and increase economic prosperity. However, the policy has had negative repercussions such as a skewed sex ratio. Because boys are traditionally valued to girls, abortion and infanticide has occurred. In addition, the policy has created a growing population of elders.

Where: China

When: October 29, 2015

Why? According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission it was abolished in order to “increase labor supply and ease pressures from an aging population.” The author notes that about 10% of the population is over 65, and estimates say by 2035, it is likely to reach 20%. This is problematic in China because it is tradition for adults to take care of their elders. From an economic standpoint, the government hopes to replenish the national workforce.

May take many months for policy to take effect - must be refined by central government and implemented by the provisional government - it probably won’t take into affect until march of 2015

Reaction of people: After hearing the news most Chinese were not encouraged to have any more than one child anyway, or were indifferent on the topic. Because raising children is very expensive, many are reluctant to have more than one child.

Democratic Values:

Liberty: Under the one child policy, the people of China were unable to live without oppressive restrictions and limitations. The policy restricted the citizens’ ability to choose their desired number of children and oppressed those who disobeyed it under harsh fines, forced abortions, and home intrusions. In a sense, abolishing the policy and allowing two children is still a violation of the people’s liberty, as they are still limited in their freedom to reproduce.

Individual Rights: Although the people of china have gained the right to have two children, they still are restricted by by the child laws, which is an infringement on the people’s rights. No other countries control the people’s reproduction like the Chinese.

Common Good: Ideally, abolishing the policy would benefit the general good of the people, as it is increases individual freedom and is intended to decrease the generation gap between elders, which would allow for more elders to be taken care of. However, it ultimately may not, as many simply don’t have the economic and financial needs necessary to raise two children.  

Bias

The author uses harsh word choice when describing the actions of the Chinese government: “brutal intrusions involved, including forced abortions and crippling fines,” which could reveal his unfavorable opinion of the communist regime.

Visual:

Isabelle Christie and Jackson Clarke