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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Protesters in LA, Atlanta take CNN to task over commentator's remarks about China

World Apr. 20, 2008 - 03:15AM JST ( 8 )

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8 Comments

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BetzeeApr. 20, 2008 - 08:15AM JST

Speaking about the U.S. trade deficit with China, Cafferty said: “We continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export, you know, jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we’re buying from Wal-Mart.”

Such pronouncements are a sign of things to come in US-PRC bilateral relations. For those who remember the politics of the US trade imbalance with Japan in the 1980s, this is going to be much worse. Comments such as this will not go down well with the post-Tiananmen crackdown generation, now college age, who have been raised on a daily dose of nationalistic pride.

There's no doubt the Chinese will fire back, "The reason for the trade deficit is because nobody wants to buy American junk." The Japanese said essentially the same thing, although in more polite language, in the 1980s.

In the case of the PRC, it is practicing a policy of mercantilism when everyone else thinks we have a free trade regime. Free trade requires countries to give something up something in order to get something. But the Chinese keep their currency undervalued in order not to lose the southern China-based sweatshop industry which provides jobs for redundant rural labor (of which they have a massive amount). At the same time, they have moved into higher-value-added items and hence they are running ever widening trade deficits with more countries than just the USA.
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rjd_jrApr. 20, 2008 - 09:15AM JST

While I think this Cafferty's remarks were unprofessional and uncalled for, and totally understand the feelings of these protestors (for those who don't get it, just imagine Ishihara saying American products are junk and run by a bunch of goons, the horror!), I'm not going to lie that it is a little disturbing to see them waving Chinese flags, singing Chinese songs, and making this an entirely pro China issue. That's not gonna win them any sympathy from Americans. It's like illegals marching to demand their rights in the U.S. waving Mexican flags. Very, very disturbing.
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Loki520Apr. 20, 2008 - 09:24AM JST

They understand free speech? Does that include those who speak out on Tibet?
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KwaabishApr. 20, 2008 - 10:48AM JST

"They understand free speech?"

Loki, spot on. Imagine what would happen if the Japanese, Americans, Brits, French, etc. were waving their country's flags and protesting in front of CCTV/Xinhua in Beijing denouncing their censored and filtered propaganda...
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skipthesongApr. 21, 2008 - 12:36PM JST

This guy is done and its a shame. Shutting people up through political means will cause a backlash in the future.

rjd jr, you are correct but you don't go far enough. Can you imagine if a bunch of other nationalities protested in China against them?
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skipthesongApr. 21, 2008 - 12:37PM JST

to the protester "I think he’s jealous of China."

Why would he be jealous? Is there something about China that puts it above all else?
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skipthesongApr. 21, 2008 - 12:38PM JST

China is in serious need for integration and multiculturalism ASAP.
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presto345Apr. 22, 2008 - 09:08PM JST

Let's get this straight. The issue is not free speech or that Cafferty is a racist. He overstepped it, he was out of line. CNN or any other news network doesn't need this kind of commentator.