Behind the American Media’s Praise of Chinese Premier Wen

Published in Zaobao
(Singapore) on 27 August 2010
by Qi Xiniao (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Matthew Hunter. Edited by Alex Brewer.
30 years ago, no one would have guessed that there would come a day when China’s total economic output would surpass that of Japan. The Japanese economy took off after the World War II and on reaching its peak in the 1980’s, constituted a Pearl Harbour-esque threat to the U.S. economy. Although economic growth stalled somewhat in the 1990’s, Japan remained one of the idols that China’s economy bowed down before.

Even today, many Chinese who have visited Japan express admiration for the precision of its management style. The operations style of the Japanese business world is even more of a model for mainland businesses. The creators of the Chinese financial market modeled it around the operation style of its Japanese counterpart.

It is precisely because China once looked up to the Japanese economic miracle that rumors of China’s economic output surpassing Japan’s have been met with widespread disbelief; even Chinese officials are taking a cautious attitude, and some are going as far as to consider such talk as an attempt by the West to provide China with the kind of pride that comes before a fall.

However, solid economic data shows otherwise. While Chinese per capita GDP and per capita income may still be well behind Japan’s, its total economic output has indeed surpassed that of Japan. For the person on the street, the figures are more pertinent still; these total economic output figures are significant for national strength since they indicate that the state’s tax base is expanding, allowing greater expenditure to improve education and military strength.

And yet, China’s total economic output having “surpassed the Japanese miracle” has a lot to do with the efforts of the current Chinese government. This is what lies behind the American media’s praise of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

According to media reports:
When America’s Newsweek recently selected ten widely respected world financial leaders, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao won praise as the leader most in tune with the plight of the people. Newsweek noted that he is called “Grandpa Wen” by the Chinese people, and is well known for his concern for the people; during the earthquake at Wenchuan two years ago, he wept, deeply pained, as he inspected the disaster area; during this month’s landslides at Zhouqu, in Gansu province, he again lent encouragement to those trapped by the disaster.

Newsweek is a highly influential media outlet in the U.S., and so for Newsweek to list Premier Wen as one of ten widely respected national leaders, and then to praise him as the most empathetic among them constitutes high commendation and generous praise.

This is not the first time the American media has praised Premier Wen. But this time, Newsweek’s praise embodies its recognition of the miracle of Chinese economic development.

Moreover, the American media’s praise of Wen has attracted the gaze of the Chinese people and sparked heated debate, and has increased the standing of the media in the Chinese public consciousness, laying the strategic foundations for an entry into the Chinese market in the distant future.

In addition, at a time when frequent joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises on the Korean Peninsula are taking place, American aircraft carriers are visiting Vietnam and interfering in the South China Sea dispute, and America planning to carry out joint military exercises in the waters off the Senkaku Islands and other such incidents are putting more strain on Sino-American relations than ever before, the decision by an important American media outlet to publish lists and articles in praise of Wen reveals a hidden agenda: to smooth Sino-American relations with a show of goodwill, and of course, to require China to assume greater international responsibility.


30年前,谁也想象不到,有朝一日,中国经济总量会超过日本。日本经济在二战以后得以腾飞,上个世纪八十年代达到巅峰,对美国经济构成“珍珠港”式威胁。九十年代尽管经济增长有所停滞,仍然是中国经济界膜拜的偶像之一。

  就是在今天,很多到过日本的中国人,都对日本社会精密的管理方式感到敬佩。日本企业界的运作方式,更是长期成为大陆企业界学习的对象。日本证券市场的运作模式也曾经被大陆证券市场的初创者们模仿过。

  正因为日本经济奇迹曾经让大陆仰视,今天中国经济总理超过日本的说法,才让很多人久久不敢相信,连中国官方也对“中国经济超日说”持谨慎态度,有人甚至把“超日说”当成西方国家捧杀中国的方式之一。

  但是,硬邦邦的经济数据摆在那边,的确,尽管中国人均GDP或者人均收入仍然远远落后于日本,但经济总量确已超过日本。对于普通人来说,人均数字更有意义;对于国家综合实力来讲,经济总量数字意义更大,因为这意味着国家税收基础的扩张,可以用更多的财政力量提升教育和军力。

  而中国经济总量“超日奇迹”的完成,与中国本届政府的努力关系甚大。这是美国媒体盛赞中国总理温家宝的大背景。

  据媒体报道:

  “美国《新闻周刊》最近选出了10名赢得各界尊重的国家政府领袖,中国总理温家宝获赞扬为最体恤民情的领袖。周刊指出,温家宝在中国人心中有‘温爷爷’之称,关心民众出了名;前年汶川大地震,他视察灾情时一度伤心得落泪;本月初甘肃舟曲泥石流灾难,他又鼓励被围困的灾民。”

  《新闻周刊》是在美国很有影响力的一家媒体。《新闻周刊》把中国总理温家宝列入10名赢得各界尊重的国家领袖,并获赞扬为最体恤民情的领袖,这是对中国总理温家宝的高度评价与盛情赞誉。

  美国媒体盛赞温家宝总理,已经不是第一次。《新闻周刊》此次盛赞温家宝总理,体现了对中国经济发展奇迹的确认。

  除此之外,美国媒体盛赞温家宝总理,也有吸引中国民众眼球和热议,提前打造媒体在中国的知名度,为将来将来进入中国市场进行战略铺路。

  另外,在美韩频频在朝鲜半岛举行联合军演,美国航空母舰访问越南并插手南海事务,美国计划与日本在钓鱼岛周边海域联合军演等事件造成中美关系空前紧张之际,美国重要媒体推出盛赞中国总理温家宝的榜单和文章,也有向中国示好以缓和中美关系的潜在意图。当然,美国媒体盛赞中国总理温家宝,也应该会有要求中国承担更多国际责任的意图。

  七犀鸟
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