CHINA'S ANGRY YOUNG FOCUS THEIR HATRED ON OLD ENEMY (JAPAN)

Guardian ^ | 12/30/04

[areafiftyone]

Anti-Japanese fury is rising among internet users - a trend the state is keen to encourage

At 27 years old, Song Yangbiao is already earning a salary that his parents can only have dreamed of. He is better educated, more widely travelled and can expect to live a longer, healthier, wealthier life than any generation in Chinese history. You might think he is also more content. You would be wrong. Mr Song is not happy. He is furious.

So furious that he spends more than five hours every day venting his frustrations on the internet, where he has set up a site for tens of thousands of like-minded young Chinese people to air their grievances. So vitriolic and widespread are their web-based protests that the domestic media have labelled the affluent, academic and internet-savvy generation that they represent as the "angry young".

Like their namesakes in Britain in the 1950s, China's angry young men and women are the products of a fast-changing society in which rising expectations for the future contrast starkly with frustrations about the past and present. In private, their anger is amorphous, multi-faceted and idealistic. But in public, which usually means internet bulletin boards, their scope to let off steam is largely limited to nationalism. The explosive growth of the web in China, where the number of users is growing by more than 25% a year, is often cited by advocates of political reform as a source of hope for greater openness in the world's last big communist state.

But there is increasing evidence that the opposite may be true. Sites advocating democracy, religious freedom or union rights are closed down by the authorities and their operators often arrested. But there are countless sites like Mr Song's devoted to one of the few political passions permitted by the government: hatred for Japan.

Every day on the "My View of Japan" bulletin board, Mr Song and his contributors post reports of perceived slights by their neighbours, who are referred to at least once as "shitty little Japanese". Many predict that military conflict is inevitable, and some wish it would come sooner rather than later. "I'm 30 and a fire burns in my heart," writes one contributor. "Only war can extinguish these flames."

While hate-mongering is a feature of extremist internet chatrooms around the world, in China such inflammatory comments appear to represent anything but a small minority. In the past two years, small anti-Japanese protests have mushroomed into nationwide campaigns through the internet and mobile phone text messages.

Mr Song believes anger is natural, given what he sees as Japan's failure to properly atone for atrocities carried out by its troops during their occupation of China. "It is not the elderly who hate Japan, but those who were born in the 70s and 80s. We have grown up in a fast-developing country, but even though our country gets stronger and stronger, we have not been able to shed the humiliations of history and the fact that our persecutor has never admitted his crimes," says the bespectacled journalist. "The killers who slaughtered our people have escaped punishment and now live comfortably. Even if the government can accept that, we cannot."

Such views are common among China's young, and they are increasingly evident at a government level. Economically, ties have never been better. Japan is China's largest business partner, with bilateral trade rising by more than 30% in 2003 to a record 130bn yen (£650m). But political relations between Asia's two most powerful nations are at their lowest point for decades.

China's leaders have refused regular summit meetings with Japan's prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, since 2001, when he began annual visits to the controversial Yasukuni shrine to Japan's fallen soldiers, including war criminals.

"What we have now is a relationship that is economically warm and politically cold," said Professor Zhou Yongsheng from China Foreign Affairs University. "It is abnormal that the leaders of two such important nations have not met each other for three years other than on the sidelines of international conferences."

Compromise

The deterioration of relations is largely the result of one of the world's biggest diplomatic fudges. Japan's postwar restoration of diplomatic relations with its neighbours was based on top-level compromise rather than grassroots penitence. Instead of paying compensation - which would imply guilt - the government offered trillions of yen in economic aid.

This satisfied government leaders in Beijing, who used the money for dams, bridges and other prestige projects, but the Chinese public has been left largely unaware that their nation's economic growth has been partly bankrolled by Tokyo. Despite 3 trillion yen (£15bn) in grants and cheap loans over the past 25 years, few know that Xian, Xianyang and Guangzhou airports, as well as numerous other giant infrastructure projects, were built with Japanese money.

Mr Koizumi hinted last month that aid to China - which has been steadily cut over the past four years - could soon come to an end. The Japanese military named China as a threat for the first time in its latest defence white paper.

Hisahiko Okazaki, a Japanese security analyst, said China had "artificially rekindled" public hostility towards Tokyo. "The government sponsored a patriotic movement and the main target was Japan. Events had faded from people's memories, but the government revived them and made it into a national movement."

Chinese nationalist groups say it has become easier to operate since president Hu Jintao and prime minister Wen Jiabao came to power last year. "The new leadership have a stronger feeling of nationalism than their predecessors. So we have more space to carry out our activities," said Tong Zeng, founder of a group campaigning to reclaim a disputed island chain in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

In the past, government restrictions on anti-Japanese activity forced Mr Tong and his group to travel to Hong Kong to hire a boat to land on the islands, but now, he said, they can openly hire a boat on the mainland. Protests outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing used to be quickly broken up by police, but this year at least 10 have been permitted. Local media coverage has increased.

This partly reflects an easing of restrictions in many areas of Chinese public life. But many observers believe the Communist party is channelling public frustration into anti-Japanese xenophobia. "The ideological rationale of the Communist party has collapsed. This is one of the most divided and least egalitarian nations on earth," said a Beijing-based diplomat. "So the Communist party's legitimacy is now more dependent on its historical opposition to Japan."

With historical differences still far from solved and the two rivals increasingly competing for energy resources and political leadership in Asia, Mr Song predicts the nationalist passions of China's "angry youth" will grow.

"I think our hatred towards Japan is the inevitable consequence of growing Chinese power and democratisation," he said. "It is time that the world heard the voice of the Chinese public as well as the Chinese government. The two are not the same. You might even say they are disharmonious."

[areafiftyone]

Meet the future of China - YIKES!!

[2banana]

Wait until he finds put what the communists did to China...

[areafiftyone]

True. This guy needs a history lesson. And a good dose of reality!

[L98Fiero]

Bah, the same could be said about our own youth and our own country. What is the average age of the DU poster, I wonder. At least the Chinese kids hate another country intead of their own.

[MikefromOhio]

It is time to help and encourage Japan to rearm right now.

Japan is they only country in that region that can possibly hope to slow down the Chinese both militarily and economically. If we are behind them, World War 3, when it happens and it will eventually happen, will have the new Samurai on our side....

[RexBeach]

Yep. The rape of Nanking was an awful event...the Japanese Imperial Army killed how many? 300-thousand people? Many of them women and children? Good God.

I wonder how long it'll take this new generation of Chinese kids to put that horror behind them...if they can?

[Mamzelle]

Since online "dungeons and dragons" type multiplayer gaming is uber-hot in this part of Asia...wonder how this nationalism plays out in that internet genre...?

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

It is Time to let Japan go Nuclear - We will see the hatred than!!!!

[B Knotts]

I am no expert on Asian history, but it seems to me that the history of Chinese domination of Japan is non-existent, while the history of Japanese domination of China is long.

I would not mess with the Japanese, if I were them.

Japan seems to be going through a process now of wishing to reassert itself as an international power in its own right, so now is an especially bad time for China to start making any threatening noises.

[t-1000]

Make no mistake, Japan is armed to the teeth.

War with China will never come to pass.
Japan would nuke China in to the 16th century.

China can rattle the saber all it wants. They were and will always be servants to their Japanese masters.

[johniegrad]

The killers who slaughtered our people have escaped punishment and now live comfortably

Actually, the killers are almost all dead now and you are correct in your assessment of his indoctrination. The truth about their own history will never be taught them.

[snowman1]

Do you think for one minute that the regime is going to tell the kids that MAO and his ilk murdered more than 20MIL of their own people.

[t-1000]

Japan is already nuclear. Who are you kidding?
Do you think they just sat on their hands for the last 60 years?

The Japan and S. Korea are both nuclear. It is the worst kept secret in the Pacific.

[Prime Choice]

Anti-Japanese fury is rising among internet users - a trend the state is keen to encourage

There's no contesting the sheer destruction and depravity of Japanese war crimes before and during World War II. And what's worse is the Japanese refusal to acknowledge those war crimes (while at the same time pitching a fit about our dropping two a-bombs on them).

...but Japan's war crimes against China pale in comparison to the atrocities carried out by the Communist Chinese against the rest of China's people. That cannot be denied. And that's why the ChiComs are eager to foment hatred of the Japanese; it keeps the rising anger directed away from their own deserving necks.

[Prime Choice]

Japan is already nuclear.

In terms of reactors? Sure. In terms of weaponry? Love to see proof.

[headsonpikes]

Love may make the world go round, but hate greases the wheels.

[AppyPappy]

The killers who slaughtered our people have escaped punishment and now live comfortably. Even if the government can accept that, we cannot."

I guess he never heard of Mao.

[manic4organic]

The difference is, their government is worth of hatred.

[Rebelbase]

" Japan would nuke China in to the 16th century."

Japan doesn't have any nukes.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

That is what I was thinking Tiananmen Square ring a bell with him. The only oppressor against his generation is his own government. Why not take some of that angry and kick the current regime out.

[Atlantic Friend]

Problem is, both nations are heavily in the process of reasserting themselves as major powers. And this time Japan will not enjoy the same kind of technological supremacy it had in the 1898 war, nor will it face a divided China like it did in the 1930s.

I wonder if they still have some territorial disputes ?

[Rebelbase]

"Bah, the same could be said about our own youth and our own country."

No way. There is nothing in US history that could compare to the rape and atrocities by the Japanese against the Chinese during the 1930's and 1940's.

China will return the favor in kind should there ever be an all out conflict with Japan.

[t-1000]

If you are looking for "hard" proof you will never find it.

First and foremost, Do you think Japan would have stood by and watch China and N. Korea go nuclear?

Come on?

The whole point of Japan not admitting it was to keep the N. Koreans from pursuing an Nuclear Weapons program.

Israel has the exact same thing going.
The same with Pakistan and India before they went public.

[B Knotts]

There is a dispute over the Senkaku Islands, which are claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan.

[Little Pig]

"I wonder if they still have some territorial disputes ?"

Does the Pope wear a funny hat?

China has territorial disputes with every nation that borders them or their territorial waters (and a few that don't).

[L98Fiero]

"No way. There is nothing in US history that could compare to the rape and atrocities by the Japanese against the Chinese during the 1930's and 1940's."

I was referring to the hate-type-speech on the internet, not any causal events. Internet groups seem to be the source for this article. That said, one could draw the same conclusions from DailyKos or DU except their hateful rantings are aimed at their own countrymen.

[t-1000]

"Japan doesn't have any nukes"

Sometimes in order to see what is there you must look at what you know is not there.

For instance. Japan does not have offensive weapons.
They have no major aircraft carriers, long range bombers, and or attack subs.

Knowing that, what do you think they do have to offset what they don't have?

For instance.
Most Banks do not have armed guards anymore.
Does that mean they don't have to worry about being robbed?

The bank merely replaced the guards with cameras and alarms. You don't see the alarms, but they are there.

So what you don't see, is an affirmation of what is there.

[Buckeye McFrog]

very true that Japanese occupation of China was brutal and horrific....but compare these lingering Chinese attitudes to the US-Japan relationship of today.

They launched a sneak attack on our Navy...and we dropped two atomic bombs on them....yet today we are close friends and allies. (Japan in my view is a better ally than a whole lot of others from whom we have the right to expect much more).

It is a testament to the necessity of at some point getting over even the worst of offenses and moving on.

[OXENinFLA]

beheading in the street

China Street execution (circa 1938)

[OXENinFLA]

http://www.thenausea.com/china.html

[Rebelbase]

"Knowing that, what do you think they do have to offset what they don't have? "

They have had the US for the past 59 Years. But in politics and war there are situations where alliances can end overnight.

Given the right circumstances (change in US leadership for one) the US could abandon a nuclear defense of Japan overnight.

[Tallguy]

I'd invite any of you to visit the discussion forums on StrategyPage.com for examples of Chinese nationalism run amok. They regularly ban posters from China who violate the rules of the forum in their enthusiasm.

[t-1000]

"It is a testament to the necessity of at some point getting over even the worst of offenses and moving on."

I think you speak the truth. Some of my best friends, have at one time, been rivals or even enemies of mine.

China is like a young man trying to get respect, by asking for it.
Repect must be earned not granted.
Unfortunatley China is going to have to learn this the hard way.

[FreeAtlanta]

I remember the plutonium shipments from France to Japan a few years ago, it made me furious.... now, that I read this, maybe it ain't so bad.

[pgkdan]

If I were in Japan I'd be very wary of China and North Korea. Talk about feeling vulnerable...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I'm very surprised to learn Japan is giving "aid" to Red China. The Japanese must know that nothing happens in NK without the foreknowledge and approval of the PRC.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I'm very surprised to learn Japan is giving "aid" to Red China. The Japanese must know that nothing happens in NK without the foreknowledge and approval of the PRC.

[t-1000]

"Given the right circumstances (change in US leadership for one) the US could abandon a nuclear defense of Japan overnight."

I don't have any proof the Japan has nukes.
I do know that they have the second strongest economy on earth.
They have the industrial and technology know how.

Do you think they would leave themselves vulnerable?
All that have worked for could be destroyed.
I don't thinks so.

[shuckmaster]

So long as we can get stuff cheaper at Wal-Mart, we don't need to worry about little things like this.

[Centurion2000]

To: Chinese Angry Young

Make no mistake, any attempt to conquer Japan will result in Beijing and the coastal cities getting WIPED off the map by Japanese nukes.

Think they don't have them ? Then bet your cities on the outcome.

[general_re]

Chinese nationalist groups say it has become easier to operate since president Hu Jintao and prime minister Wen Jiabao came to power last year.

Jeez, what the heck are they teaching kids in school these days? Anyone who studies Marxist theory should know that nationalism is a false consciousness. </sarcasm>

[DustyMoment]

Here's the problem as I see it. If we start with the results of the Harvard (Harvard, of all places) University study that cites the lack of political freedom as the primary cause of terrorism, we can begin to understand what is happening with China's younger folk. Their rage and frustration toward Japan is only a manifestation of the lack of political freedom they face in their totalitarian-dominated nation.

So, invoking history that is probably skewed the way that the Chinese government (more government school stuff) wants it, these Chinese young'uns vent their rage at the Japanese because venting their rage at their own government only gets them jailed or worse.

But, history has, yet, another lesson in store and it is one that could well affect our own kids. China and Japan are traditional enemies and, when Mr. Song and others of his generation assume leadership and power roles in China, their simmering rage could boil over into a war with Japan that could devastate and involve much of the rest of the world. Both nations are manufacturing and economic powerhouses (well, China is an emerging economic powerhouse; but it won't take them too much longer to actually achieve the status), and a war between them will affect America and force us to join in on one side or the other.

This is the lesson that history will teach us . . . . AGAIN, and the war that our kids will probably have to fight. Given the capabilities of both countries, I would expect it to be the next nuclear war . . . . a war that could devastate the rest of the planet.

[Teacher317]

At least the Chinese kids hate another country intead of their own.

Those Chinese who air their dislikes of their homeland tend to meet unpleasant consequences, therefore the Chinese "angry young" haven't had that influence since birth. Our younger generations have.

[Sam the Sham]

Imagine if German school textbooks were written by Holocaust revisionists who spoke about how German Gauleiters brought peace and order to Eastern Europe as they liberated it from French oppression. Pictures of SS-men bouncing smiling Polish children on their knees. Were you a Pole or an Israeli would you forgive Germany ? Would you forgive people who weren't the least bit sorry ? Wouldn't you hate them ?

Japan's determination to remember Hiroshima and the internment and total amnesia about comfort girls, the Rape of Nanking, germ warfare experiments, etc has made them hated throughout Asia.

[Rebelbase]

Good point. I missed it on the first read of your post.

[snowsislander]

I'm very surprised to learn Japan is giving "aid" to Red China. The Japanese must know that nothing happens in NK without the foreknowledge and approval of the PRC.

China is exhibiting very little gratitude for Japan's aid. Here is the list of projects that Japan has funded for China for the most recent four years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003:

REGION	COUNTRY	PROJECT NAME	SECTOR	SUBSECTOR	PROJECT TYPE	DATE OF APPROVAL	AMOUNT OF APPROVAL (Millions; JPY)	MAIN PORTION (PORTION APPLIED TO REDUCED INTEREST RATE)				CONSULTING PORTION				EXECUTING AGENCY
								INTEREST RATE(%)	REPAYMENT PERIOD	GRACE PERIOD	TYING STATUS	INTEREST RATE(%)	REPAYMENT PERIOD	GRACE PERIOD	TYING STATUS
EAST ASIA	CHINA	BENXI ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (III)	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	1160	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		BENXI MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	LIANGPING-CHANGSHOU HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT	TRANSPORTATION	ROADS		2000-03-28	24000	2.20	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
EAST ASIA	CHINA	HAINAN EAST EXPRESSWAY EXPANSION PROJECT	TRANSPORTATION	ROADS		2000-03-28	5274	2.20	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		HAINAN EXPRESSWAY CO., LTD.
EAST ASIA	CHINA	XINXIANG-ZHENGZHOU HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT	TRANSPORTATION	ROADS		2000-03-28	23491	2.20	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	HENAN PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT (COMMUNICATIONS DPT.)
EAST ASIA	CHINA	GUIYANG ENVIRONMENT MODEL CITY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	6266	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		GUIZHOU PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	DALIAN ENVIRONMENT MODEL CITY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	5315	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		DALIAN MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	CHONGQING ENVIRONMENT MODEL CITY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	4412	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		CHONGQING MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	SUZHOU WATER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	6261	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		SUZHOU PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	ZHEJIANG SEWAGE TREATMENT PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	11256	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		ZHEJIANG PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	GUANGXI WATER SUPPLY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	3641	1.70	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		GUANGXI AUTONOMOUS REGION PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	KUNMING WATER SUPPLY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	20903	1.70	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	KUNMING MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	CHENGDU WATER SUPPLY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	7293	1.70	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		CHENGDU MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	CHONGQING WATER SUPPLY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	6244	1.70	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		CHONGQING MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	JIANGXI WATER SUPPLY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	4147	1.70	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		JIANGXI PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	HUNAN URBAN FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	24000	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		HUNAN PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	HUBEI URBAN FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	13000	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		HUBEI PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	JIANGXI URBAN FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-03-28	11000	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		JIANGXI PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	YELLOW RIVER DELTA AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES	AGRICULTURE		2000-03-28	8904	2.20	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		SHANDONG PROVINCIAL
EAST ASIA	CHINA	HARBIN ELECTRIC NETWORK CONSTRUCTION PROJECT	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	TRANSMISSION LINES AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS		2000-03-28	6070	2.20	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		STATE POWER CORPORATION OF CHINA
EAST ASIA	CHINA	BEIJING URBAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT	TRANSPORTATION	RAILWAYS	SPECIAL YEN (ODA) LOAN /ENVIRONMENTAL	2000-10-23	14111	0.95	40	10	TIED					BEIJING MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION
EAST ASIA	CHINA	XI'AN XIANYANG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL EXPANSION PROJECT	TRANSPORTATION	AIRPORTS	SPECIAL YEN (ODA) LOAN	2000-10-23	3091	0.95	40	10	TIED					CIVIL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION OF CHINA
EAST ASIA	CHINA	GUIYANG ENVIRONMENT MODEL CITY PROJECT(II)	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	8169	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	GUIZHOU PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	DALIAN ENVIRONMENT MODEL CITY PROJECT(II)	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	3202	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		DALIAN MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	CHONGQING ENVIRONMENT MODEL CITY PROJECT(II)	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	3289	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	CHONGQING MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	TIANJIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	7142	0.75(1.3	40(30)	10(10)	BILATERAL TIED(GENERAL UNTIED)	-	-	-		TIANJIN MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	DALIAN WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	3309	0.75(1.3	40(30)	10(10)	BILATERAL TIED(GENERAL UNTIED)	-	-	-		DALIAN MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	CHANGSHA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	4850	1.30	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		CHANGSHA MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	YINGKOU WATER SUPPLY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	2504	1.30	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		YINGKOU MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	TANGSHAN WATER SUPPLY PROJECT	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	2841	1.30	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		TANGSHAN MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	SHAANXI LOESS PLATEAU AFFORESTATION PROJECT	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES	FORESTRY	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	4200	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		SHAANXI PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	SHANXI LOESS PLATEAU AFFORESTATION PROJECT	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES	FORESTRY	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	4200	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		SHANXI PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	INNER-MONGOLIA LOESS PLATEAU AFFORESTATION PROJECT	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES	FORESTRY	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	3600	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		INNER-MONGOLIA AUTONOMOUS REGION PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	ZIPINGPU MULTI-PURPOSE DAM CONSTRUCTION PROJECT	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	MULTIPURPOSE DAMS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	32199	1.30(1.8	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	SICHUAN PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	GANSU WATER-SAVING IRRIGATION PROJECT	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	6000	1.30	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		GANSU PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	XINJIANG WATER-SAVING IRRIGATION PROJECT	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	IRRIGATION AND FLOOD CONTROL	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	14400	1.30	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		XINJIANG UYGUR AUTONOMOUS REGION PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	CHONGQING URBAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT	TRANSPORTATION	RAILWAYS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	27108	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	CHONGQING MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	HEILONGJIANG HEIHE-BEI'AN ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT	TRANSPORTATION	ROADS		2001-03-30	12608	1.80	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	HEILONGJIANG PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	SHANDONG TAI'AN PUMPED STORAGE POWER STATION PROJECT	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	POWER PLANTS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	18000	0.75	40	10	GENERAL UNTIED	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	STATE POWER CORPORATION OF CHINA
EAST ASIA	CHINA	HUBEI SMALL-SIZED HYDROPOWER PROJECT	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	POWER PLANTS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	9152	0.75	40	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		HUBEI PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	GANSU SMALL-SIZED HYDROPOWER PROJECT	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	POWER PLANTS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	6543	0.75	40	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		GANSU PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	LIAONING TELEVISION & RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT	TELECOMMUNICATIONS	BROADCASTING		2001-03-30	3210	1.80	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		LIAONING BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION BUREAU
EAST ASIA	CHINA	WUHAN URBAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT	TRANSPORTATION	RAILWAYS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	2894	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		WUHAN MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	SHUOXIAN-HUANGHUA RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT(‡W)	TRANSPORTATION	RAILWAYS		2001-03-30	11581	1.80	30	10	GENERAL UNTIED	-	-	-		SHENHUA GROUP CORPORATION
EAST ASIA	CHINA	SHENYANG ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT(II)	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2001-03-30	6196	0.75	40	10	BILATERAL TIED	-	-	-		SHENYANG MUNICIPAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Xifan Environmental Improvement Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2002-03-29	9764	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Xifan Municipal Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Anshan Environmental Improvement Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2002-03-29	14525	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Anshan Municipal Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Taiyuan Environmental Improvement Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN MULTISECTOR	ENVIRONMENTAL	2002-03-29	14144	0.75	40	10	General Untied	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	Shanxi Provincial Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Chongqing Environmental Improvement Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2002-03-29	9017	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	Chongqing Municipal Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Beijing Environmental Improvement Project	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	GAS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2002-03-29	8963	0.75	40	10	General Untied	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	Beijing Municipal Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Ningxia Afforestation and Vegetation Cover Project	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES	FORESTRY	ENVIRONMENTAL	2002-03-29	7977	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Shanxi Xilongchi Pumped Storage Power Station Project	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	POWER PLANTS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2002-03-29	23241	0.75	40	10	General Untied	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	State Power Corporation of China
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Shaanxi Higher Education Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2002-03-29	6021	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Shaanxi Provincial Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Gansu Higher Education Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2002-03-29	4665	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Gansu Provincial Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Sichuan Higher Education Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2002-03-29	6131	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Sichuan Provincial Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Chongqing Higher Education Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2002-03-29	4683	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Chongqing Municipal Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Yunnan Higher Education Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2002-03-29	4540	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Yunnan Provincial Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Hunan Higher Education Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2002-03-29	4682	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	-	-	-	-	Hunan Provincial Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Gansu Province Road Construction Project	TRANSPORTATION	ROADS		2002-03-29	20013	2.2	30	10	General Untied	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	Gansu Provincial Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Hunan Province Road Construction Project	TRANSPORTATION	ROADS		2002-03-29	23000	2.2	30	10	General Untied	0.75	40	10	Bilateral Tied	Hunan Provincial Peoplefs Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Henan Environmental Improvement Project	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	GAS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2003-03-31	19295	0.75	40	10	General Untied					The People's Government of Henan Province
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Anhui Environmental Improvement Project	ELECTRIC POWER AND GAS	GAS	ENVIRONMENTAL	2003-03-31	18558	0.75	40	10	General Untied					The People's Government of Anhui Province
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Yichang Environmental Improvement Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2003-03-31	8460	2.2/0.75	30/40	10/10	General Untied					Yichang Municipal People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Nanning Environmental Improvement Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	WATER SUPPLY, SEWERAGE AND SANITATION	ENVIRONMENTAL	2003-03-31	12115	0.75	40	10	General Untied					Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Gansu Afforestation and Vegetation Cover Project	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES	FORESTRY	ENVIRONMENTAL	2003-03-31	12400	0.75	40	10	General Untied					Gansu Provincial People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Inner Mongolia Afforestation and Vegetation Cover Project	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES	FORESTRY	ENVIRONMENTAL	2003-03-31	15000	0.75	40	10	General Untied					Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Hunan Environmental and Living Conditions Improvement Project	SOCIAL SERVICES	URBAN/RURAL COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE	ENVIRONMENTAL	2003-03-31	7882	0.75/2.2	40/30	10/10	General Untied					Hunan Provincial People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Inland Higher Education Project(Regional Vitalization,Market Economy Reform Support,and Environmental Conservation) Xijiang Uygur AutonomousRegion	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2003-03-31	4598	0.75/2.2	40/30	10/10	General Untied					Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Inland Higher Education Project(Regional Vitalization,Market Economy Reform Support,and Environmental Conservation) Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2003-03-31	4606	0.75/2.2	40/30	10/10	General Untied					Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Inland Higher Education Project(Regional Vitalization,Market Economy Reform Support,and Environmental Conservation)Guizhou Province	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2003-03-31	4593	0.75/2.2	40/30	10/10	General Untied					Guizhou Provincial People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Inland Higher Education Project(Regional Vitalization,Market Economy Reform Support,and Environmental Conservation)Anhui Province	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2003-03-31	4478	0.75/2.2	40/30	10/10	General Untied					Anhui Provincial People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Inland Higher Education Project(Regional Vitalization, Market Economy Reform Support,and Environmental Conservation)Henan Province	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2003-03-31	4699	0.75/2.2	40/30	10/10	General Untied					Henan Provincial People's Government
EAST ASIA	CHINA	Inland Higher Education Project(Regional Vitalization,Market Economy Reform Support,and Environmental Conservation)Jilin Province	SOCIAL SERVICES	EDUCATION		2003-03-31	4530	0.75/2.2	40/30	10/10	Genral Untied					JilinProvincial People's Government
TOTAL OF THE AMOUNTS OF APPROVAL (YEN MILLIONS)							689616

The links in the first half or so of items are broken (my quick surgery seems to have been quite clumsy), but the latter half (which I didn't edit since they were obviously complete) seem to work.

[bobjam]

Isn't China something like 0-3 in the last 1000 years in wars against Japan?

An oppressive regime with a large and restless young generation can be a dangerous situation. Iran has the same problem. I wonder what these people have to say about America? After all, it was America who defended China against Japan in WWII. Then again, they probably don't teach that in Chinese schools.

[areafiftyone]

I don't think they care for America that much either. Alot of them are brainwashed.

[Bryan]

These guys are serious. They have several levels of reserves and National Guard, adding up to nearly 100 million men. Armament consists principally of mortars, RPGs, machine guns and the ubiquitous AK-47 assault rifle. Very low-tech, but 100 million men.

Their current five-year plan, however, suggests that it isn't Japan that they're after. The traditional invasion route of the Mongols leads into Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and from there to the Persian Gulf oilfields. Heavy truck production is growing by leaps and bounds, and they are building three superhighways from east to west across Sinkiang province.