Life and Travel in China

There's a lot of confusion right now about DeepSeek artificial intelligence. If I know life, and I already know life a little, DeepSeek will first be a curiosity, then it will become common, and finally it will be a virtual evil from China! Of course, I am not talking about the advantages of artificial intelligence, development, new opportunities and technological progress, but about political issues. All the values and advantages of this "device" will be covered by issues of human rights, the rule of law, false facts, changing history, etc. Western media may in a few months, maybe in a few years, will pay attention to the fact that DeepSeek presents views that are consistent with the line of the Chinese Communist Party, or that it manipulates and influences people's views. We know how Americans look at it. The Western world wants to influence in its own way, so this is just another chapter in the fight between two superpowers.

As you know, there is not much politics on this website, but I think I now know why Trump wants to reach an agreement with Putin so quickly on peace in Ukraine. The closer Russia gets to China, the worse it will be for the US. Two powers such as the Middle Kingdom and Russia, additionally supported by much of Africa and some Arab countries, would be a superpower. A huge threat to the US. So if the United States is to sacrifice Ukraine and most EU countries, they will do so. They cannot allow cooperation, trade and technology exchange between China and Russia to continue. This is visible even on the streets in China - Russian shops, Russian tourists, many Russian traders at the Canton Fair, crowds of Russians in Sanya. Americans need to break these ties a bit or at least loosen them.

However, the Chinese are a resourceful nation, very resourceful. Donald Trump is introducing higher tariffs on products from China, but... many Chinese companies already produce in the United States. I personally know a trading company that exports dietary supplements and pharmaceutical machinery. This friend has been living in Canada for a year. He involved his brother in preparing the factory in Seattle. Of course, they brought Chinese machines, Chinese engineers and managers to the factory. They will produce their own products and tariffs do not apply to them. Another friend of my wife sells mainly household appliances to the USA. Theoretically, the new tariffs threaten her company. That is why she started cooperation with a Malaysian trading company that will export goods to the USA on her behalf. Of course, at different customs duties. Resourcefulness!

Some would say that China has become "civilized", but I don't like this word - each nation, each tribe has its own way of life, its own habits. This word also reminds me of the drama of colonialism, when white people taught the natives how to behave in a "civilized" way - sometimes by cutting off their hands, sometimes by starting wars (civilization of aggression?). I would say that China has become calmer and more cultured. Specifics: drivers do not honk at passers-by, many people have stopped spitting/snorting in the street, almost no one is pushing to get on the bus/metro anymore, it has also become quiet at railway stations. There are plenty of such examples. This polite behavior can be seen on the streets, in restaurants and shops. China used to be such an urban jungle, you had to fight for survival, for food, for earnings, for a better place, for a customer. Scooter-taxis and motor-rickshaws in the countryside and in the provinces almost drove on people's feet to use their services. On the Shenzhen-Hong Kong border, shopkeepers were trying to convince people to buy water, snacks, etc. On every promenade and almost every major restaurant, beggars were harassing people. Life was just hard and every yuan counted. Now it is completely different and life there is easier for us, "white people". Some young people visiting China do not even know what it was like in the Middle Kingdom 20 years ago, what a huge step China has taken not only in terms of development, technology, but also behavior and culture! I had the opportunity to observe all this and I am impressed.

I like various experts presenting their "wisdom" in the media. A moment ago, an "expert" in PR24 claimed that coal mining in China is 3 times higher (compared to the 1990s), which means 3 times more pollution! Hmm... the pollution was really high, I remember Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ningbo covered with smog (you can see it in my photos), in Shenzhen it was always a little better, because there was more wind, close to the sea, so the air circulation was better. It is possible that coal mining is greater - because it is profitable there and there are many modern technologies. Only no major pollution is visible. First of all, now most cars are electric, many factories have changed their devices, machines and paint booths to newer models. Industry no longer generates as much pollution as it did 15-20 years ago. China has many modern power plants, including over 50 nuclear power plants. The Chinese people's awareness of ecology has also changed. In 2004, they could simply throw food scraps and garbage on the sidewalk, but no one does that now. Another issue is that there were many cleaners and street sweepers and the streets were never particularly dirty. Many people do not know China, do not see these differences, do not see how much the Middle Kingdom has changed. I would suggest such experts go to China and comment later.