Mark's Writings - Chinese Protestors ? Individual Expression? I think, maybe not.

Looking out my office window Tuesday morning, Chinese people are marching toward the Japanese embassy, which is 2 blocks away from my office. So far, peaceful looking. I can hear the shouting from my office on the 14th floor. They're a little ticked off at Japan for nationalizing those little islands (rock-piles) just east of here, previously owned by a Japanese private citizen. Today is an anniversary date of the 1931 Japanese invasion of China, leading up to WWII.


Its nice to see someone else's embassy getting attacked. Unlike the Shiites, we are not likely to see grenade rocket launchers here in Shanghai. However, they have vandalized the Toyota and Honda factories, which had to shut down operations today. Glad my car is a Volkswagen.

Chinese people. Protesting. It doesn't even look right. It looks staged. China government has many military people available, a neatly barricaded parade route for protesters to march around the block.  It would be great to see such passion from the Chinese people, if it was real. It's not like they routinely show an interest in unfair government, right!
Okay, you can't expect me to sit in my office, when there's a political uprising right outside the door! This is just too cool for school. I spent some time on the streets, got within a block of the Japanese embassy. Took some photos with my phone (not good quality photos, but you get the idea).


Well, its about the least spontaneous protest I've ever heard of. In fact, it followed a neatly scheduled, pre-approved route surrounding the embassy, precisely timed from 09:00 to 17:00. "protesters" were somehow (spontaneously?) organized in waves of about 50 people each, uniformly spread out along the perimeter on the "parade route" around the embassy. They needed to be spread out, because they were enormously outnumbered by the military/police.

The entire demonstration route was lined with soldiers in fatigues with riot gear (helmet, clear shield and a club), ready in a moment to put-down these unruly protesters...

...most of whom likely came to the area on the same bus as the soldiers.

Sort of like extras on a film set.

Look at the professionally printed banners and signs, including, of course, posters of Chairman Mao. I was thinking about a US protester who might find a stick, then duct-tape a scrap of cardboard to it with a message written by sharpie or spraypaint (credible protester).

The enlightened Chinese are not fooled by this. My colleague, who will remain nameless, described a day in college when he/she was assigned to protest the USA during one of our military actions a few years back.

My December marathon has been put on-hold, because it was sponsored by a Japanese company and had too many Japanese participants. So, it looks like the Chinese government is going to take it over and run it under their own brand.  Just like nationalizing a business, should be easy for them.   I tried to register, but the web site has been shut-down.   This is a big event, almost 30,000 runners last year. How many runners will be left if they pick off all the Japs ? I may have a chance at winning this thing !