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'Bear' faced cheek

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posted Tuesday, 17 January 2006

As anybody who ever has done business in China will tell you, there are two golden rules that should be followed at all times if you want your dealings to bear fruit:

1) NEVER put a Chinese in a situation where they will loose face
2) NEVER question or insult any element of Chinese tradition

Unfortunately, nobody seems to have told this to the EU.

Unfortunate Remarks

Condemning the practice as being "cruel and uncivilized", the EU, last month, issued a blanket statement to Beijing. Demanding that China put an end to the practice of farming bears for their bile before the 2008 opening of the Olympic games, and linking China's treatment of animals to its image in the international community.
  "We want China to shut all the bear farms before the 2008 Olympics,"

Peter Skinner, Member of the European Parliament (Britain)

Predictably, China's response to this demand was, metaphorically at least, to politely request that EU member states insert their collective heads into the backside of a large bear. Then take five minutes out to reflect on why 'insulting a country's traditions', and 'threatening its face', are not good negotiating tactics.

This is to say, that the answer was a resounding NO.

The Rebutal

Speaking during a press briefing on animal welfare, made on 12 January, Wang Wei; the Deputy Chief of the State Forestry Administration's 'Department for Wildlife Conservation', strongly denied claims by the EU, that China's bear farms were "cruel and uncivilized". Stating firmly that farms were well regulated and that bears did not suffer.

Moving to dismiss any fears over the bear farming industry, and to confirm Beijing's continued commitment to it, Wang stressed that modern technology was now being using in China's bear farms, and that strict regulations meant that China had largely eradicated the cruel bear farming tools of the past.

Wang also took time out to stress the role that bear farms played in conservation: stating that each farmed bear saved the life of up to 220 wild bears, who would otherwise be poached for their gallbladders, and to denounce western environmental groups. Who he accused of using 'misleading' file-photographs - pictures that were many years out of date – which were representative of the way that Chinese bear farming was many years ago, but not of the way that it is today, in an effort to raise funds for themselves, and to smear the Chinese bear farming industry.
  “We have noticed that some organizations or individuals still use the past videos and photos or some illegal cases to cover or exaggerate the current status. This is actually distorting the facts and shows the intension of misleading donors for resource mobilization”

Wang Wei

As is customary for Chinese officials when making such accusations, Wang did not name any specific group as being involved in misleading fundraising practices, or provide any information that could be used to independently verify his claims.

White Makes Right?

Aside from ruffling feathers in Beijing, the EU's ultimatum to China has also not gone down to well among some observer's camps. With a number of China watchers accusing the EU of 'gross hypocrisy' and of possessing a 'typical white superiority complex'. Suggesting instead that the European Union might be well served if it directed its attention towards the so-called 'traditions' of its own member states, before it begins criticizing China of animal cruelty.

As such, observers directed attention towards EU members France and Spain. Noting that, while Spain continues to maintain numerous cruel practices towards bulls; including bull fighting and bull running, France recently signed into law a directive protecting Pate Foie Gras as a 'national institution'.

Pate Foie Gras is produced by force feeding birds with up to almost 1KG of food per day, resulting in organ damage, and causing the animal significant distress.

The production of Pate Foie Gras is currently banned in many countries, but France still persists in producing in the region of 14000 tons per year.

The 'Bear' Facts

Each year, China's bear farms are believed to produce approximately 7000kg of bile, half of which is used in modern and traditional medicine; where it can be used to treat ailments of the liver and gallbladder, and half of which is used in cosmetics and other luxury products; where it serves no useful purpose whatsoever.

Most of these luxury bile products are considered to be a 'cash crop' and are often sold to tourists, despite export restrictions. Bringing in a health profit for Chinese bear farmers and bile product sellers.
  "It is an added disgrace that an oversupply of bile is being used in products with no medicinal value”

Peter Skinner

At current market prices, bear bile can sell for $US4,500 per kilo.

According to EU statistics, China currently is currently 'framing'  approximately 7000 bears in aournd 200 active farms, though some outside estimates put the figure closer to 70 farms.

Tradition or Tragedy?

While bear farming is a tragedy in itself, what makes this situation all the more tragic is that bear bile is medically unnecessary.

Although bear bile is known to have some curative properties, its active ingredient, ursodeoxycholic acid (C24H40O4), was identified by Japanese scientists approximately 50 years ago, and is it now available in a synthesised form that is both, as effective as the bear based product, and readily available on the open market.

Current estimates put the current consumption of synthetic bear bile at 100 tons each year, with Japan, South Korea and China being the primary consumers.

According to Chinese herbalists, there are also at least 50 herbal alternatives to bear bile. Most of which are not only more humane, but also more affordable and easier to prepare and administer, than bear bile.
  "Research shows there are many combinations of herbs available that can be administered for ailments currently treated with bear bile. And they are easier and cheaper to use"

Dr. Lo Yan-wo, Herbalist and Traditional Chinese healer

However, despite the availability of a synthetic product, and numerous traditional alternatives to bear bile, many Chinese still prefer the 'natural' version. A situation that many observers have put down to a combination of Chinese superstition and pride. With many Chinese still holding on to the belief that the body parts of a strong animals are endowed with the animal's strength; thus will make potent medicines, and the idea that consuming expensive products, such as bear bile, is a legitimate symbol of status and power.
  "It's a mystique thing -- superstitious thinking. They believe a powerful animal should produce a powerful medicine."

Anthony Marr, Environmentalist

Image Problems

Though Chinese traditions have undoubtedly played a part in the continuance of bear farming, environmentalists have also voiced that Beijing's attitude to bear farms has been a great hindrance. Stating that, because bear farming is regulated by the state, many in China view it in the same light as the farming of any other livestock, and because protests against bear farms are 'discouraged' in the same way as protests for democracy, that there is little or no social pressure on bear farmers, or bile users, to stop.
  "People believe because it's farmed, it's okay."

Judy Mills, Wildlife Trade monitoring program, World Wildlife Foundation

A full English language transcript of Wang's speech can be found at http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/xw/t231011.htm

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View Comments/Add a Comment (14)


1. Johan left...
Wednesday, 18 January 2006 5:19 am

Yeah China really showed them. Man, that was one hellova face rescue. After that powerful rebuttal everybody will believe in China's modern bear farming technology.


2. Laythstag left...
Wednesday, 18 January 2006 5:20 am

I think anthropology should be a required course in all schools. The very first thing I was taught by my anthropology professor was that no culture is better or worse. She said that we should think how we would feel if some outsider came and said that what we do in our culture is evil, cruel or backwards.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged". I hate to quote the bible, but this quote does seem relevant.


3. Johan left...
Wednesday, 18 January 2006 5:25 am

As anybody who ever has done business in China will tell you 1) Chinese officials trackrecord of truth is... not good. 2) Enforcement of regulations in the Chinese countryside is not always THAT great. Some China observers would even say that these are understatements.


4. Johan left...
Wednesday, 18 January 2006 5:38 am

To Laythstag:

Did your anthropology professor also teach you that that no treatment of animals is better or worse?

Maybe sometimes it is better to judge than just passively stand by.

Sure Spain and France should be, and ARE criticised (often by EU parliament members), but anything in Europe pales in comparison to what is going on in China.


5. ACB left...
Wednesday, 18 January 2006 6:05 am :: http://angrychineseblogger.blog-city.com

Laythstag:

"The very first thing I was taught by my anthropology professor was that no culture is better or worse."

I didn't study anthrapology, I studied history, and I can sure tell you that the culture that taught German soldiers that Slavs were lower than cattle, or Japanese soldiers that it was OK to set fire to Chinese POW because they were 'backwards', most certainly IS worse than most others.

Johan:

"anything in Europe pales in comparison to what is going on in China."

Having comparative terms for animal cruelty is slippery sloap. Regardless of which is worse, both are wrong and should be stopped.

"Some China observers would even say that these are understatements."

You will notice my use of sarcasm. I think that we are of a like mind on this topic.


6. Huan Vu left...
Wednesday, 18 January 2006 7:07 am

ahhh, European soft power at work again!


7. William left...
Thursday, 19 January 2006 8:33 am

I'm learning cantonese, and I thought this concept of face was just restricted to Hong kong sar. There are two names for it there, diu gaa, and also mou min. seriously what is this face bullshit anyway? I feel you must make your own self respect for yourself. Even an african I know who is fluent in Cantonese can't help wondering about the issue of face. I have been to HK but didn't see anyone loosing face thankfully.


8. William left...
Thursday, 19 January 2006 8:34 am

I'm learning cantonese, and I thought this concept of face was just restricted to Hong kong sar. There are two names for it there, diu gaa, and also mou min. seriously what is this face bullshit anyway? I feel you must make your own self respect for yourself. Even an african I know who is fluent in Cantonese can't help wondering about the issue of face. I have been to HK but didn't see anyone loosing face thankfully.


9. ACB left...
Thursday, 19 January 2006 4:20 pm :: http://angrychineseblogger.blog-city.com

Maybe somebody else beter explain this one.


10. Sarah left...
Friday, 20 January 2006 9:36 am :: http://www.journalscape.com/rhubarb/

To lose face is an important aspect in most cultures, believe it or not. However, the level of importance varies from country to country, culture to culture, and to some extent, individual to individual. In order to allow people to keep/maintain their dignity and self-respect, it is first necessary to know what factors "face" is based on: clothing, food, stature, skin color, or care for the environment? The possible factors are endless, and vary from place to place.

So the first requirement is to learn about the culture; what is important to the people. Then to decide how to act. If European "face" and Chinese "face" clash, then that is the job of diplomats and scholars, to work out a compromise where everyone's dignity and self-respect is preserved. Not easy but vital to relationships.


11. bert left...
Friday, 20 January 2006 11:14 am

Laythstag;

  • Why do you "hate to quote the Bible"?

  • Bert


12. ACB left...
Friday, 20 January 2006 4:19 pm :: http://angrychineseblogger.blog-city.com

Bert:

It is a touch cliche, and it makes you sound like you are preaching a message based on religious morals rather than social ethics.

I could quote from Hitler, but I would automatically be discrediting myself with half of my readers if I did so. It doesn't matter how valid the quote or how much wisdom is in it, because people will judge it on its source.


13. Me left...
Sunday, 22 January 2006 9:14 pm

I disagree with the mistreating of bears, but only people who completely do not use animal products have the right to tell others to do. Is skinning foxes for fur really less cruel than farming bears? How do you measure pain? Criticising sharks fins while continuing to eat foie gras, starving chickens for bigger eggs and clubbing seals is something I will never understand about the west.

China is not the only Asian country which regards cruel eating habits as a revered tradition. Whaling sucks too, and someone should slap an embargo on Japan for persisting to eat whale meat.


14. ACB left...
Sunday, 22 January 2006 9:50 pm :: http://angrychineseblogger.blog-city.com

I think that you've just discovered the nature of Hypocracy.

I know that I can't defend the cruel treatment of animals, but I don't think that vegans are the only people who can complain.

I personally do eat meat, eggs and have leather shoes etc, but, in my defense, I can say that the animal products that I used are gathered in a way so that the animal suffers as little as is practical, and then usually only at the time of death (hey, if I didn't make excuses, I might not be able to sleep at night).

Apart from a a few places, I think that real fur is pretty much a dead sector of the market in the west. Eating Sharks fins is highly critisized, seal clubbing is largely a myth perpetrated by a few people on a few occasions (again, there isn't much of a market for seal fur any more), a lot of countries have banned foie gras, and I can't speak for the chicken issue becaus eI don't know anything about it.

Whale's though is different. I don't eat whale meat because it's expensive and I disagre with the way that whales are killed (they are stuck with hooks and then slashed to death), but whales aren't nearly as endangered as the environmentalists would have you think.

You need to be careful on this one, there are a lot of myths put about by Peta and co.

The west is also rather hypocritical. After all, native Americans are permitted to snare animals in a way that has been detrmined so cruel that it is illegal in much of the free world, "because it is a 'tradition".

Inuit are permitted to hunt whales and club seals "because it is a 'tradition".

The Spanish are allowed to murder bulls "because it is a 'tradition".

The Irish are allowed to set packs of dogs on rabbits and foxes "because it is a 'tradition".

Under this western logic, shouldn't China be allowed to consume bear bile "because it's a tradition" (FYI, my personal opinion is that, since there is a synthetic version, there is no need to farm bears, so tradition counter for zipo in this case)

Again on to the hypocracy

You might not know this, but the only reason that whaling is opposed internaitonally is because whales are rare (and whaling is cruel, of course), and the only reason that whales are rare is because of OVER HUNTING BY THE WEST before the whaling ban (Japan never had enough of a fishing fleet to impact on the whale population before the west drove it on to the red data list).

Should Japan be punished and loose one of its 'traditions' because of western greed?

(I know that it's a bit wild as they are farmed animals but .....) If Japan were to hunt down and consume all but a few hundred of the world's cows and drive them onto the near extinction list, should we put sanctions on the US if it insists on eating traditional american food like hambergers and cheese-steak?

The same is true for a lot of animals like elephants. Elephants are rare because of hunting to supply the west with ivory pool balls, piano keys an meeningless trinkets. But now africans and indians who used elephants for labor, or consumed them are suffering, as are farmers who aren't allowed to kill elephants that destroy their crops.

And for fish, many nations (including Japan and China) now have fishing quotas in place that harm their traditional economies because of driftnet fishing by the west.