The emergence of China as an economic superpower

The "journey of harmony" has begun. China needs to spread its message of peace and cooperation by touring the Olympic torch in and around Lhasa. The flame is set for a 130-day tour within China and around the globe before setting foot back in Beijing. The relay will pass through Russia, United States, Britain, France, Japan and other Asian countries. In China, the relay begins with Hong Kong and Macau, concludes at Tianjin and Beijing. The torch will even climb up Mt. Everst (with some help). Tibetan response in June, when the torch will pass through the region of unrest, has yet to be revealed, although stars such as Indian national soccer team captain, Bhaichung Bhutia, is determined to shatter 1.3 billion people's dreams (China still has Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan on her side, though).

In other news, related or unrelated depending on how you see it, "Tibetans sympathetic to pro- independence activists are planning suicide squads to disrupt the Beijing Olympic Games in August," according to a report by Bloomberg. Although this may just be propaganda or an April Fool's joke, violent attacks at the Olympics is no laughing matter (recall terrorism at other Olympic venues--lots of examples). Using China's current international spotlight to highlight a cause is one thing, maiming innocent athletes and spectators by bombs is another. Before we know it, the world may proclaim Tibetans as insurgents or even terrorists. Western media claim that the majority of protest in Tibet has been peaceful, but we know otherwise.

Now in competely unrelated news, ethanol gasoline sales in Guangxi begun yesterday, making it the newest province to adapt alternative biofuels in China's overall scheme to lower air pollution. Interestingly, Guangxi is the largest domestic producer of manioc, accounting for 60% of the country's production. In additional to corn, which the Chinese government does not allow for production of ethanol because of the dangers of food shortage and price inflation, manioc, sugarcane and straw are becoming the key ingredients in Chinese ethanol production.