Sharon Stone's Karma Remarks

Since Sharon Stone suggested the Chinese earthquake was "bad karma" for Beijing's policies in Tibet last Thursday, many marketers has been busy doing damage control.

Sharon Stone is well-known in China. In a red-carpet interview at the Cannes Film Festival on May 22nd, she said "I'm not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else," Stone said. "I've been concerned about how should we deal with the Olympics, because they are not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who is a good friend of mine. And then this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?"

The actress’s comment sparked a swell of anger and a storm of criticism in China and beyond. Chinese bloggers suggested boycott everything related to her. They demanded apology for the sake of the 67,000 Chinese killed at the quake.

So did Sharon Stone. She said in her statement, "Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people," Stone said in the statement. "I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."

But the damage was made. Luxury retailer Christian Dior -- which uses Stone extensively in its advertisements -- had distanced itself from her remarks. It pulled all advertisements featuring the actress from stores across China and released a statement, “We absolutely disagree with her hasty comments and we are also deeply sorry about them.” It is very unlikely that Stone would ever reappear in the company's advertisements in China.

According to the Web-based database imdb.com, Stone has at least four movies coming up between now and 2010, including “Streets of Blood,” “Five Dollars a Day” and “The Year of Getting to Know Us.” But Cinema chains in China had already said they would not show her films.

One remark kills all. Celebrities and marketers should know better: Be sensitive to your audience, regardless it is Asian markets or not. Notice that the Chinese government had press conference AFTER Stone’s apology saying actresses should promote friendship between people. There are matters that marketers should just avoid.

Chinese around The World Unite Strongly

I usually don’t read the comments of New York Times articles. But I made an exception for Daniel Bell’s “China’s Class Divide”. I am pleased I did.

Daniel A. Bell is the author of “China’s New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society.” He has been teaching political theory at Tsinghua University – one of the most prestigious universities in China – since 2004.

After the tragic Sichuan earthquake, hundreds of Tsinghua students lined up overnight at a Red Cross station to donate blood and supplies. Others went to the earthquake zone, more than 1,000 miles away, to distribute aid. Bell thinks the disaster perhaps can do some good by helping dispel a widespread myth that the new generation of Chinese students is materialistic and selfish.

Bell further discuss about the global obligation of China which I was curious about readers’ feedback. So, I checked the comments. I was specially touched by the following response which is also one of the Editors’ selections:

It is truly natural that Chinese care about their compatriots in every critical situation. [They] help each other as much as [they] can. Chinese around the world are families. This is the Chinese values. Chinese consider being a Chinese as a glorious identification. They have a strong loyalty for their country. Whenever China faces difficulty, its people will unite quickly and strongly as a tough fist. I think this is very crucial for Chinese to conquer any big test facing them. Even during World War II fighting with invaders around the world, Chinese achieved full independence.

Chinese won't fear challenges, no matter what will happen in the future. Chinese around the world will come together and support each other, help each other, always work together. Go China!

It was from Greg, China. I could not agree more. As for the Chinese global obligation, I am still debating with my friends. I will blog it in a later day.

Sichuan Earthquake Shows Hope to the Future of Chinese

“In the aftermath of the great Sichuan earthquake, we’ve seen a hopeful glimpse of China’s future: a more open and self-confident nation, and maybe — just maybe — the birth of grass-roots politics here.” Such opening is so refreshing and enlightening. It was from Nicholas Kristof’s Earthquake and Hope on New York Times.

Chinese government has always been portrayed as a no-freedom-no-right communist by Western media (American and European). Most of the coverage is on unsafe products, trade surplus (i.e. deficit in the other countries), human right, property copyright, Tibetan freedom and other negative events. Different culture, and in some cases lower education level, somehow got translated into being uncivilized. To some, communist must be autarchic.

Sichuan earthquake proves them wrong. China has been changing to the right direction. I am glad Kristof shared his thoughts on NYT.

After the earthquake, the Propaganda Department instinctively banned news organizations from traveling to the disaster area. But journalists all around the country ignored it and rushed in. The order was withdrawn the next day. After then, the authority ordered media to focus on the outstanding relief effort. Yet journalists investigated why schools collapsed when government offices stand; and if there were corruptions. Apparently, media scored again.

Earthquake is sad. But I am very impressed by the overall positive attitude.

• Prime Minister Wen Jiabao rushed to the disaster area to oversee rescue operations.


• There are crying faces who lost their loved ones, but those who survive are thankful.


• Many children lost their limbs, but are grateful being saved.


• Buildings were collapsed, but will be rebuilt.


• Schools could be ill-structured; those responsible will be punished.


• Food and supply were short; help is being transported over every day.


• No one fighting for limited resources. Everyone try to help each other.


• Chinese traveled from around the nation to volunteer.


• Mourning messages, articles, video, and animations flooded all major Chinese websites.


• Billions of dollars of donation were collected domestically and from overseas.


• Media offered a good balance of the coverage.

I do not know if such affirmative outlook is a result of pressure from the authority. No doubt it helps to heal those were hurt, unite the country, lift up the nationalism overseas, and build a positive image of the nation’s value around the world. I am pleased to see how Chinese united together. I am proud to be Chinese.

The Chinese Way

Chinese car manufacturer Chang Feng Motors was at NAIAS 2007 (North American International Auto Show). Base on the article "Chinese Show New SUV and Odd-Looking Concept" by Alexander Popple, American reporters are not used to the way the Chinese company set up the presentation. They found it very "strange". What they didn't know is that Chang Feng was just doing it the very proper Chinese way.

"When in Rome do as the Romans do." Apparently Chang Feng doesn't – at least didn't – think that way. You can't blame them. The "normal" American procedures are not respectful in the Chinese standard. Who in the company would have the guts to go against the Chinese value and follow the American.

So please understand the cultural different and try to appreciate the special ceremony. It is nothing but out of full respect to the new market and to the show. As for the "odd" design, well I guess I am not in the position to judge. They must have their reasons.

Cheng Feng, please consider some local adaptation. It may help business growth.

In case link doesn't work, here is the copy of the article…

Chinese Show New SUV and Odd-Looking Concept
Story Filed: 1/8/2007 6:45:00 PM EST
By Alexander Popple

SUV maker Changfeng Motor shows journalists a "propaganda film" at the unveiling of its latest models and states its ambitions for worldwide sales.

Changfeng Motor Company, China's largest maker of SUVs, in 2007 becomes the country's first automaker to exhibit throughout the entire auto show. (Compatriot firm Geely showed its car only during the Press Preview last year.)

To mark this milestone, journalists were invited to what turned out to the auto show's most unusual press event.

Auto show Joint Chairman Robert Thibodeau and local dignitaries exchanged gifts with Changfeng Chairman Li Jianxin in the type ceremony more usually seen at diplomatic events. Chairman Li then made a speech explaining Changfeng's 5-year plan: Expand production to 300,000 units, seek out foreign partners whose "advanced technology we can absorb" and, thanks to China's admission to the WTO, "face up to global competition."

That last point is code for raising standards to become competitive with the world's leading automakers, and prepare to start exporting to western markets such as North America.

The event turned a bit bizarre as journalists were shown, to use Changfeng's own description, a "propaganda film." For a few minutes, stirring images of uniformed workers assembling cars, comically speeded-up vignettes of Changfeng products in action, and even a photo of Mao Tse-Tung filled giant video screens; and as the rousing strains of "Jerusalem" reached a crescendo, the voiceover romped through a blizzard of statistics and split infinitives, only to finally inform us that "the dragons are taking off and the cheetahs are leaping."

Things came back down to earth with the unveiling of the Liebao CS6 SUV and Fiebao CT5 truck. There was a lot of interest in these vehicles: though they're partially based on time-expired Mitsubishi technology, Chinese engineers have made enough changes to make these vehicles their own. The styling isn't ground-breaking but it's good enough to be of interest and it's clearly a step forward of which Changfeng is justifiably proud.

There are five cars on the Changfeng stand, all of them more or less unusual, but the oddest by far is the Rhombic concept car. It's a lot less convincing than the production models. This car has four wheels, but they're not quite where you'd expect them to be. There are two in middle of the car and one each in the front and rear.

The front and rear wheels are for steering and the central ones are for traction. The cabin is made entirely of organic material, which appears to mean it was crafted out of bamboo by amateur basket weavers who've never actually seen a car.

Although this first foray into American car culture might have been a little clumsy, Changfeng has some impressive achievements under its belt. In 1996 it was an obscure military equipment maker and today it's a fully equipped vehicle manufacturer that even makes its own parts.

The cars on show in 2007 clearly don't reach the standards necessary for success in western markets. But Changfeng knows that perfectly well, and they're planning to fix it. On past evidence, it won't be long before we're attending a press briefing that has both authentic Chinese character and products with real credibility for western markets.

Things aren't going to get easier for the Big Three.

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