Innovation tops many agenda’s, from individuals, organizations and countries. But what innovation actually is and how to deal with it, outside high-brow and often mythical debates, remains illusive.Read More →
Strong rumors – denied by the government – suggest Taiwan is planning to defer payments for US weapon systems to the US, writes the Asia Sentinel. Defense expert Wendell Minnick suggests that would give the Obama administration a good argument to back out of already closed weapon deals.Read More →
The 88-year old French designer Pierre Cardin held a fashion show at the former Soviet aircraft carrier, docked in Tianjin, hoping to lure Chinese buyers for his firm. A smart move, Shaun Rein tells AFP.Read More →
Chinese millionaires get their first million together on average when they are 39 years old, 15 years earlier than their US counterparts, writes Forbes, based on the latest Hurun-report, produced by Rupert Hoogewerf. China has around 960.000 millionaires.Read More →
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou urged the U.S. to release F-16 fighters and submarines during a speech May 12 at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, writes Wendell Minnick in Defense News.Read More →
The number of millionaires (in US dollars) in Shanghai has been growing fast and the city now counts 80 billionaire, the latest Hurun report, composed by Rupert Hoogewerf, shows, according to the state media here and here. Real estate continues to contribute greatly to the growth of wealth.Read More →
The unusual fine of 2 million RMB (euro 200,000) for Unilever after announced prices rises caused a stampede, illustrates how inflation is becoming a headache for the authorities, Shaun Rein says in various comments.Read More →
The US could lose 1 to 2 trillion US dollar in revenue if they successfully scare away Chinese investors, writes Shaun Rein in CNBC, quoting a recent Asia Society report. “Fear mongering about China by American politicians and businessmen like Donald Trump has made Chinese think twice about investing in the U.S.”Read More →
In a short documentary rock musician Kaiser Kuo recalls the emergence of headbangers and metal in China, and the famous band Tang Dynasty. You can read his story also in our book: A Changing China. Read More →
Chinese have spent last year 13 billion US dollar on luxury goods, but only 40 percent in China itself, says Shaun Rein in CNBC. Because of the high tariffs luxury goods, including cars, are 20-30 percent more expensive on the mainland. “They are shooting themselves in the foot.”Read More →
Is China becoming an innovative force? Arthur Kroeber belongs to the bears in this debate, he tells Reuters, as the academic climate in the country is too much constrained. Not only lack of intellectual property protection and a failing educational system holds innovation back.Read More →
China’s economy is not under threat of a bursting property bubble, says Shaun Rein in CNBC. Property is being sold to people who can afford those assets, and can even stand a severe drop in value, unlike home owners in the US.Read More →