BU Now » China

China squeezes foreign automakers

Jo Breiner — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:32:16 +0000

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese government is considering forcing foreign automakers to reveal their electric vehicle technology in exchange for market access. Dean Emeritus of BU’s School of Management and former Ford executive, Louis Lataif says China may well become a global leader in EV over the coming decades.

“However, China need not hijack competitive technologies by closing their market to any who would not share their intellectual property. The precedent it creates is untenable and the potential for trade retaliation enormous.

“Given the ramifications and the criticism levied around the world and inevitably from the World Trade Organization, China will likely modify the policy considerably before it is ever implemented.”

Contact Louis Lataif, 617-353-2668, lelataif@bu.edu

Afghanistan’s mineral future

Dick Taffe — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:39:04 +0000

Word that war-torn Afghanistan has at least $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits already has that country’s officials scrambling to start the process of opening up the nation’s reserves to international investors. Anthropology Professor Thomas Barfield, who also is president of the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies, says cashing in on the potential will take significant infrastructure building which will require security and likely involve investment from China. Barfield discusses the prospects and pit fields of Afghanistan’s mining future in a BU Today interview.

“The work needed to put in the infrastructure and the side effects — better transportation systems, electricity, jobs for people — that’s going to have an enormous impact well before we get to the question of payment of royalties.”

Contact Thomas Barfield, 617-353-2195, barfield@bu.edu

North v. South Korea tensions mount

Dick Taffe — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:46:44 +0000

With military and political tensions increasing daily on the Korean Peninsula, Secretary of State Clinton says America will stand by South Korea as it seeks UN action to redress North Korea’s apparent sinking of South Korean warship. International relations Professor Thomas Berger, a specialist on government and political culture in East Asia, says today’s situation has “disturbing parallels” to the 1930s when economic turmoil and political weakness let to events that resulted in World War II.

“The international community is faced with a series of unfortunate events, any one of which by themselves could be managed, but which taken together could prove catastrophic … We can only hope that the international community – including the United States – shows greater wisdom this time around.”

Contact Thomas Berger, 617-353-5351, tuberger@bu.edu

China counters Google

Dick Taffe — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:53:10 +0000

After Internet search giant Google redirected millions of Chinese users too its uncensored Web site in Hong Kong, the Chinese government countered by blocking access to the alternate site. Political science and international relations Professor Joseph Fewsmith, a China expert, says move by the government that insists on censorship wasn’t a surprise.

“I’m surprised Google thought there was room to negotiate on that [censorship] point.”

Contact Joseph Fewsmith, 617-353-6344, fewsmith@bu.edu

China defends economic policies

Dick Taffe — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:19:40 +0000

In his once-a-year news conference, China’s premier sought to deflate pressure over Chinese economic policies and promised cooperation in revving up the global recovery. International relations Professor Kevin Gallagher, author of “The Dragon in the Room: China and the Future of Latin American Industrialization,” says says its good that China is pointing to other countries for their protectionist tendencies.

“The U.S. and others can’t have their cake and eat it too — by taking China to the WTO when China is violating rules then crying ‘protectionist’ when the U.S. is taken to task.”

Contact Kevin Gallagher, 617-353-9348, kpg@bu.edu

Google may quit China

Dick Taffe — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:44:24 +0000

They’re still trying to gauge the fallout of Google threatening to pull its business out of China because of massive cyber attacks against the Internet-search giant. International Relations Professor Joseph Fewsmith, an authority on Chinese domestic and international politics, says this big news.

“It has obvious implications for all businesses operating in China. No doubt this will be one of several important topics Clinton will be discussing in China next week.”

Contact Joseph Fewsmith, 617-353-6344, fewsmith@bu.edu