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Less than the whole truth ..(when a crisis darkens China's door)
Washungton Times ^ | August 8, 2007 | John E. Carey

Posted on 08/08/2007 4:33:48 AM PDT by IrishMike

With a public relations scandal involving food and other product safety looming if not already roiling for China on June 12, the vice minister for the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in China said, "We can guarantee food safety."

Starting in December 2006, news media had reported to the world on tainted (poisonous) products manufactured and exported from China. China denied the allegations but a steady "drip, drip, drip" of news revealed tainted pet foods, seafood, toothpaste, medical supplies, children's custard and even children's toys painted with lead-based paint.

But, by still claiming that food products from China were completely safe last June, China in fact demonstrated it "didn't get it." China doesn't know what almost every experienced American movie star, politician and prominent sports figure knows or will soon hear about as soon as a scandal breaks: come clean.

On Saturday, the official China news agency Xinhua quoted the deputy head of the State Food and Drug Administration, Hui Lusheng, as saying "Dealing with and preventing food safety risks is a long-term, arduous and complicated project." Finally, a probably reliable admission from China.

Why does China "not get it"? Why, when a crisis or scandal breaks, does China at first issue a denial and only reverse course once the mess is a firestorm?

First, China does not have a fully free and open media. During many scandals, especially largely internal scandals, China gets away without telling the truth or suffering consequences.

The second reason many believe China generally denies the truth to escape responsibility and public scorn is more complicated, cultural and deeply rooted in the communist system.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; corruption

1 posted on 08/08/2007 4:33:51 AM PDT by IrishMike
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To: IrishMike

We Americans do need to fully realize its a communist country that rules the people. Best possible solution is tighter import inspections, China will always want to feed its billions and the US wants cheap goods, each and every person in the US is supporting China on a daily basis by buying chinese goods, if we must buy from China it must be selective of quality.


2 posted on 08/08/2007 4:43:01 AM PDT by Eye of Unk
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To: IrishMike

At least John Carey gets it. Free trade with China has been very free for them. While for has it has been very expensive (in the long term, which is already beginning to show).

There is one GOP candidate for President who also “gets it”. It does not require a lot of research to figure out which candidate I mean. Not all of our enemies are shooting at us.


3 posted on 08/08/2007 4:44:16 AM PDT by David Isaac (Duncan Hunter '08)
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To: IrishMike

Slight correction:
China and Democrat Communist get away without telling the truth or suffering consequences due to cover-up by the unfree and corrupt media. Both generally deny the truth to escape responsibility and public scorn....


4 posted on 08/08/2007 4:44:20 AM PDT by iopscusa (El Vaquero. (SC Lowcountry Cowboy))
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To: David Isaac

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/08/07/bcnchina107a.xml


5 posted on 08/08/2007 4:48:33 AM PDT by IrishMike (As America wins, the Democrats and their apologists lose.)
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Big trouble in Big China.


6 posted on 08/08/2007 4:50:32 AM PDT by Enterprise (I can't talk about liberals anymore because some of the words will get me sent to rehab.)
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"Phase 1 is denial, Phase 2 is a flurry of activity that does little good but distracts the media, and Phase 3 is the "come clean and solve (or at least seem to solve) the problem phase."

Ha! The United States has no such needless phases. The Democrats and the MSM simply blames President Bush.

7 posted on 08/08/2007 4:51:44 AM PDT by Enterprise (I can't talk about liberals anymore because some of the words will get me sent to rehab.)
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To: IrishMike
On Saturday, the official China news agency Xinhua quoted the deputy head of the State Food and Drug Administration, Hui Lusheng, as saying "Dealing with and preventing food safety risks is a long-term, arduous and complicated project." Finally, a probably reliable admission from China.

The question is, are they going to undertake this long-term, arduous and complicated project? Or are they going to sweep the problem back under the rug?

My money is on the guy with the broom in one hand and the corner of the rug on the other. For far less than the cost of solving this problem, the Chinese can buy off every regulatory agency and politician in the World. The first step will be to eliminate any requirement that products be labeled with country-of-origin. Then they can disguise their products and not suffer in the marketplace.

As long as sales are strong, the Chinese will not care.

8 posted on 08/08/2007 5:00:18 AM PDT by gridlock (You cannot coexist with somebody who wants you dead.)
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To: David Isaac
At least John Carey gets it.

Who is John Carey?

9 posted on 08/08/2007 5:09:23 AM PDT by Maceman
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To: Maceman
Who is John Carey?

The author.

10 posted on 08/08/2007 5:15:00 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: Izzy Dunne

So he is, so he is.


11 posted on 08/08/2007 5:16:43 AM PDT by Maceman
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To: IrishMike
check out this great Forbes article regarding China's "Quality Fade" click here
12 posted on 08/08/2007 5:25:13 AM PDT by HOYA97 (Hoya Saxa = What Rocks)
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To: HOYA97

Thanks.


13 posted on 08/08/2007 5:33:17 AM PDT by IrishMike (As America wins, the Democrats and their apologists lose.)
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