Time stops for no one. So while we were back in the USA this summer, there was a plethora of new articles written about China – everything from historical perspective, to opinion and analysis written on current issues. We have looked back over the list from the past several months (thanks to ZG Briefs), and here are some of the most interesting articles we read about China this summer.
Historical Perspectives:
Shanghai – Now & Then
If you don’t want to spent a lot of time looking through galleries of pictures to understand the change that China has undergone over the past 20 years, check out this link – pretty amazing!
What Hong Kong looked like 40 years ago
Nick DeWolf was an engineer and 
entrepreneur who enjoyed cataloging his life with a camera in his spare time. These photos were taken in 1972 by Nick on his visit to Asia, and shows what Hong Kong was like long before the construction of its current skyscrapers.
Random Pics From Old China, Restored
A wide variety of pictures of China from the late 1800’s through to 1940’s, showing living conditions, historical events (Ulysses S Grant’s visit to China), and ordinary people.
Current Issues:
Rural Chinese get online as mobile overtakes desktop
We have all heard about the changes taking place in China, and this report highlights the technological changes taking place there.
The following two articles offer some insight into attitudes about parenting – Chinese style.
Chinese diver Wu Minxia’s Olympic success comes at a high price and
Why Are Chinese Parents Hiding Bad News From Their Children?
Opinion and Perspective on China
You’ll never be Chinese
The author has lived in China for the past 16 years, but has decided that it is time to leave. He provides some interesting insights into the challenges of daily life there, as well as his reasons for deciding to leave China now. While it is a bit long, I recommend reading it for his insights into current social issues, and his perspectives on the current state of China.
Making sense of six Chinas
With so many different perceptions written about China, how does one determine which one it true? The author tries to being clarity to this issue by describing six different personas of China today.
“The best way to make sense of the current state of affairs in China is to think of not one but several ‘Chinas’ — each is real, but none by itself is the full reality. The following are six of the ‘Chinas’ that exist today; the question is which of these will command the future.”
China Is a Black Box of Misinformation
As a native of China and a U.S.-trained investor, the author writes about her concerns regarding the reliability of China’s rosy statistics.
“But, as history has shown, statistics and ideology don’t always work in a harmonious relationship; one has a habit of eclipsing the other until the lie that has been said a thousand times becomes the truth. Data manipulation, however, is a nontruth that can only fool for so long. Let us hope that when it is exposed, it won’t result in China’s next Great Leap Backward.”
Meet China’s Next Leaders
If you are interested in world politics, and are wondering who will make up China’s Politburo Standing Committee, the governing body that rules China, then this is the article for you.
China’s Greatest Challenge is not America, but Within
The author of this article argues that in the coming decade, the next leader of China will need to spend a great deal of time addressing a host of internal challenges: tough economic, demographic and social issues.
Most importantly of all, as you read these articles we hope that you will not only gain a better understanding of the current situation here in China, but also a stronger desire to pray for China. Leave us a comment, or share your thoughts with us. But most of all, we ask you to join together with us in prayer for China.
Until next time,
Joel & Debbie
PRAY WITH US:
We praise God that Debbie’s dad is feeling less abdominal discomfort since his surgery a couple of weeks ago. On Monday he will have fluid drained from his eye that has been holding his reattached retina in place for the last several months. PRAY with us for the recovery of his normal sight – these last months have been difficult for him to get out because of blurred vision.
From Sept. 26-28 ICS will have middle school camp – 2 ½ days full of non-stop energy, activities (maybe a pillow fight or two in Debbie’s cabin!) and times to interact around God’s Word. Be praying for the students, that the Holy Spirit would be preparing their hearts to hear from and respond to Him.
Another year of students have enrolled and begun classes at the Guangxi Provincial Leadership Training Class. Pray that these 35 students, who have come from a variety of locations from across the province, would be built up in their faith and equipped for ministry in their local churches through their year-long studies.
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