Murdoch Builds China Home

NewsMax ^ | 12/21/04 | Carl Limbacher

[wagglebee]

Australian-born media magnate Rupert Murdoch is building a home near the Forbidden City in Beijing.

The News Corporation executive chairman was building the house on property he bought in the Chinese capital's political and diplomatic area, Britain's Daily Telegraph website said Tuesday.

Quoting Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, a paper once owned by the media mogul, it said Murdoch is building a large house in the siheyuan courtyard style, deemed to embody Confucian thought.

The 21,000 square feet home will have two stories underground and will be built from traditional grey bricks and roof tiles, including some from a former house on the site.

Mr Murdoch is also in the process of buying a new residence in New York's Fifth Ave. He reportedly paid $44 million for the posh 4000 square feet pad.

[wagglebee]

Why the hell does he want a house in China?!

[chemical_boy]

why else, but kiss ChiCom Butt

[SolutionsOnly]

Don't make it too nice - It might get seized!

[cyborg]

No it won't. China knows where their bread is buttered.

[wagglebee]

At 21 THOUSAND square feet, it's bound to be pretty nice. Then again, a lot of it is underground, probably to hide when the Red army is beating down the door.

[glock rocks]

Because he can?

When one earns lots of money, one can do interesting things.

[joesnuffy]

Rupert the red has some big deals pending in Chi com land...

[SolutionsOnly]

... or the nukes start flying....

[rocksblues]

He just paid a record price for a townhouse in NYC so building a super pad in China must be a cover!

[SolutionsOnly]

You never know about China - can change direction in a heartbeat. I don't see how Murdochs' style of media will get past the state censors.

[cyborg]

good point

[July 4th]

News Corp. has been allowed to operate in China with relatively little government oversight. China allowing a foreign company to provide domestic entertainment is a BIG deal there. So this is maybe Rupert's way to show that he's staying.

[Clemenza]

While others on this site complain and use stereotypical, out of date language about Chairman Mao and the "ChiComs," I'll continue to enjoy the business I get providing consulting services to thriving, private businesses in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai.

BTW: My clients hate the government in Beijing more than you can imagine. China, however, is a highly diverse society with a large and growing private sector.

[Clemenza]

Rupert Murdoch is one of my personal heroes.

[Teplukin]

Why the hell does he want a house in China?!

The same reason Murdoch moved to the US a decade ago - to be in close proximity to power. But now power is gradually moving from the West to the East, as the trade & budget deficits makes Americans debtors and the Chinese our creditors.

Murdoch is a businessman and a very good one at that. He can divine the tea leaves as well as anyone. He know that creditors call the shots. And he has decided that it is important to be in their good graces, as it is to be in the good graces of Saudi Princes and Sheiks.

Murdoch might own FoxNews, but I would still classify him more as a mercenary, than a true ally.

[SevenofNine]

Is current Mrs Rupert Murdoch is Chinese national
I THINK SO that probably real reason he is buying a crib near Forbiben city

[Fishing-guy]

I hope you are also showing your clients the democratic ways. The younger generation Chinese, who have been exposed with democracy, will be in charge soon enough (in less than two decades, I bet).

It brings joys to me to see all these young bright entrepreneurial Chinese graduate students at church, who are returning home and who will one day bring democratic reforms to China.

[Dat]

No, I'm 99.999% sure being a creditor nation has nothing to do with it. You anti-China wackos really go off the deep end, don't you?

[eno_]

Seen any pictures of Chinese cities lately? It's a happening place.

[Tai_Chung]

He does a lot of business in China and he has a Chinese wife. It should be no surprise that he wants a house in China. It does not mean he plans on pulling his investments out of the United States.