Chinese sci-fi novel “Three-Body Problem” has long been popular in the West, since it was translated into English in 2014. In 2015, it won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. It is actually the first book of a trilogy
I first learned of the novel through Chinese social media. It was so hyped that I decided to skip it. Later on, I read a few things about the author, Liu Cixin, and firmed up my determination not to waste any time on the book. We mentioned earlier the Tencent adaptation, which is now also available on Rakuten Viki.
But the Netflix adaptation of the book looks interesting: it sparked a lot of discussion on Twitter (X), so I have decided to watch it.
The social media reaction from the Chinese corner was quite divided.
On one hand, you have the hardcore fans who were very disappointed that the adaptation is not loyal enough to the original Chinese version. Of course, it is offensive that the cast is not all Chinese. And the people who saved the earth (I guess, did not see Season Two yet) are Western elites.
Why use the Cultural Revolution as the trigger of the disaster, they asked. Why not use other atrocities in human history to start the story? Valid point but why not use the Cultural Revolution then? It really does not make much difference to me.
Many people were happy to see that the Cultural Revolution was depicted realistically in the show; this part was not seen in the “faithful” Chinese TV version. The lack of reflection on the cruelty of the Cultural Revolution is one of the great mistakes of post-Mao China. But then look at Germany’s recent “success” at reflecting the Holocaust, by making sure Palestinians have to be genocided, I am not sure we human beings are capable of reflecting on our own grave mistakes. And perhaps aliens should be called for, but not in 400 years because, by then we have warmed Earth completely.
Some others argued that the TV show was not realistic enough about the Cultural Revolution, which was way more cruel. One masterpiece from Chinese cinema that gave a good depiction of the Cultural Revolution is Farewell My Concubine. And the movie itself is very worth seeing if you have not seen it.
Cultural Revolution aside, the TV adaptation, which more or less follows Liu Cixin’s idea of saving human civilization, has too many holes for my liking. And the lack of legal authorities or basic ethics of the main characters is not only troublesome, but also begs one to ask if such civilization is worth saving (especially the Red Shredding scene). Liu is widely regarded as a poster child of “Industry Party”, a mainstream Chinese culture widely considered as lacking understanding of human society. And it shows in his Three-Body Problem novel. To me this is a very bad sci-fi work. What impresses me is that the tech-bros in the West are so charmed by Liu’s idea that they actually made the TV shows. It says more about the Western tech elites than anything else.
What do I think of the TV show? it is just another Marvel/DC superhero movie that everyone is tired of watching nowadays. I don’t know if there will be second season. (numbers look ok, so far)
A small-budget Taiwan movie made to the top of box-office in China in early March. I saw a short scene from the movie on X, it was just non-stop killing (way way more than three bodies).
BBC Chinese tried to find out why the movie was so popular in China. One reason is that the censorship has made the movies shown in China very boring and this violent movie is very entertaining. Another is that people in China feel the same way about the lack of justice in the society and they see violence as the only way out.
An X user said:
watched it on Netflix. good one. you might wonder whether the Chinese censors are too dumb to realize audience can easily read that gangsters-turned-cult org as a (unintentional) metaphor of the CCP
The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon is indeed viewable on Netflix right now.
Some reviews: Taipei Times,City On Fire, Rotten Tomatoes.
I recently started reading Amitav Ghosh, an Indian writer with many works that delve into colonialism and climate crisis. His latest book, Smoke and Ashes, “looks back at how Britain used the drug to pummel India, corrupt China and prop up its empire”.
I have been hooked by Mr. Ghosh and spent hours listening to his talks on YouTube. In one of his talks, he mentioned that the current Opioid crisis is just the Opium war reversed. I was very shocked to hear this. But shortly, I heard an interview on Fresh-Air: “How the Chinese mafia came to control much of the illicit marijuana trade in the U.S. “. Terry Gross mentioned:
“some U.S. officials argue that Chinese authorities have decided, as a matter of policy, to foster the drug trade in the Americas in order to destabilize the region and spread corruption, addiction and death here.”
That might explain why money laundering is one big item on the high-level talks agenda between China and the USA.
Back in 2022, after a mass murder at a marijuana farm (in Oklahoma), Consul General Zhu Di of the Chinese embassy visited the “American Fujian Association”, a cultural association that has been the subject of a few investigations.
And the community leaders posing with him in the photos? A number of them have pleaded guilty or been prosecuted or investigated for drug-related crimes, according to court documents, public records, photos and social media posts; it highlights contacts between Chinese officials and leaders accused of crimes (and before scrolling too fast down, try to guess who is the Consul on the photo)
It is probably what Mr.Ghosh was talking about! So, we are in the middle of an Opium War sequel.
The collapse of the Real Estate market is still ongoing. Price keeps falling, although not as fast as before. What is Xi’s response to the economic crisis? Xi wants an “economic growth underpinned by China’s increasingly advanced manufacturing industries”. Well, more production and weakened domestic demand means more exports.
That is why you see the third item on Yellen’s China visit is “overproduction”. All of a sudden, the whole world is worried by the export of cheap Chinese cars and other excellent products. Brazil launches China anti-dumping probes after imports soar.
And perhaps to convince the American business elites to stay with China for the ride, Xi actually met with them on March 27th for one hour and a half. For now, China needs American companies to produce inside China, because how else can China quickly “increase advanced manufacturing industries”, just look at Apple and Tesla.
According to a CNBC reporter,
Just got off the phone with one of the American CEOs who went to the China Development Forum (CDF) this week and met with Xi Jinping on Wednesday in China. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said “Business is still terrible,” and confidence in the economy is very low. 1⁄9
After spending nearly a week there speaking with the leadership and members of the business community, this CEO said there was no indication the country is is backing away from centralizing the economy. 2⁄9
He said wealthy Chinese are fearful and selling items that are seen as ostentatious, such as private jets, “because its dangerous to be rich in China.” He added that they are trying to get their money out of the country. 3⁄9
As for the CDF, there was very little reference to climate change, renewable, or decarbonization. This CEO said there were passing references to the private sector, but the focus always returned to support of the large, state-owned enterprises which dominate the economy. 4⁄9
He says in that meeting, Xi stressed the following: - that China’s economy hasn’t peaked 5⁄9
-every economy has difficulties and they have the capacity to address theirs
-said repeatedly they know how to fix their economy, that everyone has an idea about how to fix their problems but that they know how to fix their problems 6⁄9
-they know they have to provide at least 10 million new jobs every year to new graduates
-on semiconductors, that its not right for the US to try and constrain China’s economy
-that China is not a threat to the United States 7⁄9
-that the US should not try to hinder China’s growth
-Taiwan is a red line and that China doesn’t interfere with other countries’ borders, so other countries shouldn’t try to interfere with theirs
-that nuclear war would destroy humanity and we should never go there 8⁄9
-Thucydides trap is not inevitable and has to be avoided at all costs
-the governing system of China is not going to change
-They respect other forms of government, they ask respect for theirs. 9⁄9
Supposedly before the meeting with American CEOs, Xi also had a phone conversation with Biden.
Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute published its State of Southeast Asia survey report for 2024: for the first time in the region, when asked to choose between China and USA, people favour China at 50.5%. For several years before, the balance of regional opinion had been shifting steadily toward Washington, reaching 61.1% in the 2023 survey.
Some analysis: Is Southeast Asia Really Turning Toward China?: “it’s complicated”.
State of Southeast Asia Survey 2024: Taking the Region’s Pulse on the Israel-Hamas Conflict
Perhaps, as the international standing of the USA weakens by its support to the Gaza genocide, Xi sees some chance that the USA will have to share power with China in Asia?
And everyone on the Internet was wondering what Janet Yellen would eat in China. Last time, it was “mushrooms that can have psychedelic effects”.