BEIJING- A new year calls for new changes, new resolutions, new goals. Changes are always needed; changes to help us move forward. With the most problematic years in recent Chinese history behind us, we need change now in the worst way. Everything about our government is of the lowest quality and during our emminent reformation, nothing can be overlooked. The government must gain back the confidence of the people by first improving our army. Right now, it is downright embarrasing. If our nation remains in this state of chaos, the Chinese people will lose pride in their own nation. To rest of the world will take advantage of this weakness.

One source of our problems has been the Sino-Japanese War, which ended just two years ago. In that war, our weak foreign policy and even weaker army, humiliated our nation. After the Tonk Hak rebellion, the Koreans began an uprising. In a direct violation of the Li-Ito Convention, our government instructed the army to move in and supress the Koreans (1). Japan saw this contract breech as a malicious move and sent their own army. Our Defense Progam's quick and feeble defeat can be blamed on weak funding and old technology. Even though the war was over the nightmare had just begun. The Treaty of Shimonoseki allowed Korea to be independent. More importantly, it stripped us of Taiwan and the Liadong Penninsula, along with our dignity. A coalition of European countries returned the Liadong Penninusla to us soon after, but its return drained the public morale. "When I learned about that treaty, I felt like my glorious China had been reduced from a king to a pawn in Western society's chess game," said Tzu Shang-Qi, a merchant from downtown Beijing. Japan unleashed its knockout punch with the Treaty of 1896, where China was reduced to nothing more than a setting where Japanese countries were able to flourish. Seeing our people working in Japanese factories is just too much for me, and it should be too much for our goverment.

While I am proud to be Chinese, i would put a bag over my head at any mention of our government. To see Japan beat us so handily was a horrible sight. I don't care that this isnt politically correct, but the truth is that Japan is nothing next to China. You and I both believe that. But looking at the statistics, Japan is quickly pulling away. Well, I dont know much about statistics, but any idiot can look at a map and see how much larger we are than tiny Japan. Its almost preposterous. We know that we could be where Japan is right now, but we're not, and to move foreward, we will have to accept this defeat and rebuild.

My views may sound familiar to readers of my column. I felt the exact same way right before Li Hung-chang's new army. When asked if he felt confident in our government, Huang Zhi-Chi, a farmer from Lijiang, responded, "I have always been loyal, but they can only mess up so many times before I jump ship." Problematic and corrupt supply to the army is the reason for all of its shortcomings. The government reacted promptly, but still failed in conquering the problem. The underlying issue is that our government's structure is faulty. Confucianist beliefs simply do not work in the new world. Confucius himself would have adapted with the times, instead of keeping a ineffective system. China's government is separated throughout the country, without centralized organization, so no group has enough power to improve the national outlook (2). Even the government's best attempts fall short.

I say that we ditch the Confucian system. As a way of life, Confucianism works, but now we are behind and Confucianism is too gradual to give us the kick in the pants we need in order to catch up. I hate to say it, but we need to follow Japan's lead and ditch the old system. I know this is radical and that it is bound to provoke several angry letters, but it is the truth. Our in-between system simply isnt working. Japan has abolished their feudal system, caught up with Europe's Industrial Revolution, and adapted to western culture. This should be our goal for the new year. Expecting this in a single year is impossible, but if Japan can do it, we can do it three times better. Happy New Year.

Sources

1. "First Sino Japanese War," [http://www.encyclopedia.com/printablenew/43212.html] 18 June 1935

2. Tan, Chester, Sources of Chinese History, Columbia, New York, 1964.

Images

1. Chinese New Year Banners, http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html, 31 January 2002

2.Chinese Surrender, http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~clgaetan/dates.html, 31 January 2002

3. Chinese Flag, http://broker.buildingonline.com/chinese-hs.htm, 31 January 2002