自序
Preface to the Revised Edition
What are the basic issues most relevant to China today ? In September 2015, I published a book entitled 70 Questions about China, which was later reprinted with the addition of ten more questions as 80 Questions about China. Now, four years later, I am taking the two previous versions of the book as a foundation,removing some issues that are no longer relevant and adding some new issues and explanations that have cropped in recent years, I have now produced this book 50 Questions about China.
The number of questions actually is a reflection of the number of issues facing China today.
The reasons behind my writing this book are twofold.First, I feel that certain sc holars in the West and in Taiwan are misleading many people with their misinterpretations of China. Second, I hope to reach all of those who care deeply about Chinas future development. Through this book, I hope to clarify our understanding of China.
1.
Let us first start with the China scholars.
In recent years, whether we examine economists from some Western countries, including some Nobel laureates in economics, or the so-called China experts in Taiwan, we find they have consistently presented an idyllic picture of prosperity on the mainland. This image is based on Chinas long-term rapid economic growth, its role as a global economic leader,the idea that it has become the manufacturing factory of the world, and the near-mythical portrayal of the power of Chinese consumption, along with images of the towering skyscrapers in Chinese cities.
Many scholars truly excel in this art of merely praising the positive.
Of course, we cannot say that everything these scholars are saying is wrong. In fact, most of their arguments can be corroborated with real-world evidence and with various data that support their views. However, the problem is that this tells only one-half of Chinas development story and it completely ignores the other half. There is much talk about prosperity but little mention of issues such as the erosion of labor rights. These commentators applaud the speed of construction in China but they are unwilling to mention the number of casualties due to shoddy projects. They acknowledge the economic achievements of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) but they remain blind to its numerous political shortcomings. Although such descriptions are accurate, the methodology of these observers is flawed because only one side is presented.
Moreover, whether intentionally or unintentionally, these analysts avoid one very critical question: to what extent is what we are seeing in China genuine? This question is crucial, perhaps too crucial, which may be why it is rarely considered.
The purpose of the book is to reveal some things about China that are often overlooked due to "self-censorship." Of course, I am not claiming that what is presented here constitutes the entire truth about China, but I hope that this discussion of 50 issues related to China will serve as a necessary supplement to our thinking about China. At the very least, both positive and negative opinions should be heard, and just because our stance is one of opposition, our voices should not be ignored.
2:
Next, let us consider the students:
Young students today are becoming increasingly interested in China-related issues. After all, China is becoming closer to all of us, and it is impossible today not to care about what happens there . However, our discussions in university classrooms and in the media have traditionally been too narrow-minded when it comes to issues related to China. Our discussions about China have either focused on the relationship between Xi Jinping and the Crown Prince Party and/or his relationship with the factionalists, or about whether the "new normal" of economic growth will bring about a new Chinese “miracle” or will result in a "hard landing," and so on.
As a result: Current discussions about China mainly focus on only two perspectives: politics and economics. I believe this is the source of our biggest misunderstanding about China.
Why do I say this? Although China may be a “normal” country, Chinese society is definitely not a “normal” society. In Chinese society, there are political as well as economic distortions. If we only look at China from a political or economic perspective and ignore issues such as the collective mentality, the moral standards, the psychological issues related to the single-child generation, the historical memory of state violence, the overall prevalence of lies and deceptions, and so forth, we will never truly understand China. We would only be touching the surface and the true nature of the regime would remain obscured. No country can be truly understood by solely looking at its political and economic features, and in this respect China is certainly no different.
My goal here is to present China not only based on its political and economic qualities but also to examine issues such as culture, ethics, national characteristics, family relationships,historical memory, major events, among others, This picture of China, combined with its current political and economic features, will present a more complete representation of the country. Only with a complete picture of China can we possibly come to understand the real China today.
I must admit that deeply understanding China is a particularly challenging task because Chinas development has been unique and complex. I actually agree with formulation of the concept of "Chinese characteristics" proposed by the CCP. Indeed, China has its own peculiarities, making it difficult to draw simple inferences based solely on its historical experiences. I cannot claim that the 50 questions presented here necessarily encompass the entire picture about China, but I hope that through the discussion in this book, I have gone beyond the existing discourse and presented a fuller and more accurate description of China.
I know some may argue that I am only critical of the CCP, and thus I am too "radical" or simply "irrational." But, in fact, I do not accept academic statements that demand only "rationality, objectivity, and neutrality" because such viewpoints that are lacking in emotion obscure the true nature of any society, Chinese society included.
3.
I want to express here my gratitude to those many online friends who have silently supported me. Their encouragement on Facebook has been a tremendous driving force for me to continue moving forward. In particular, the earnest words from many young students in China have deeply moved and inspired me, letting me know that there is still hope for China.
I also want to thank the many teachers and mentors in Taiwan who have offered their help, especially Mr. Chen Hongzheng, who has consistently encouraged and supported me in my research and writing on China. I must give special thanks to the "Summer Star Historical Research Fund" based in the United States for sponsoring this writing project. Without this assistance, I would not have had the leisure time to engage in the extensive reading and contemplation that became the basis for this book.
I am also grateful to my colleague and good friend at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, Yao Renduo, for writing the preface . His comments have stimulated many of my thoughts, so in this new edition, I have retained his original preface unchanged word for word.
I want to thank my late mother, Ms. Wang Lingyun. During her short visit to Taiwan, although she was suffering from pneumonia, she carefully proofread the Chinese version of this book. There is no support that warms and encourages me more than the practical help I received from my mother throughout my life.
Finally, I also want to express my gratitude to all those who continuously smear, spread rumors about, and slander me, including the so-called "50 cent army" (the internet trolls).
Regardless of their motives, such despicable behavior only serves one purpose for me – it motivates me to strive for greater achievements and to make more efforts to respond to their negative attacks with positive energy.
?
Wang Dan
