Latest news with #Qing
Hypebeast
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Ai Weiwei's ‘Zodiac Heads' Land in the Hamptons After Global Tour
Summary After traveling to more than 30 cities worldwide,Ai Weiwei's 'Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads: Gold' (2010) has returned to New York, the city where it first debuted. The celebrated sculptures are now on view atMother Nature in the Bardo, a group exhibition presented byBlackBookin Southampton through September 31. Launched at the Pulitzer Fountain in 2011, Ai Weiwei's largest iteration of the work, entitledZodiac Heads:Large Bronze, drew acclaim when they were inaugurated by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg alongside key art figures such as Julian Schnabel and Shirin Neshat. At the time, Weiwei himself was unable to attend the debut, as he was detained by Chinese authorities just a month prior and remained without a passport for four years. The series reimagines 18th-century zodiac sculptures that once adorned a Qing dynasty fountain before being looted by French and British forces in 1860. Ai's work recontextualizes these historic artifacts, exploring ideas around cultural theft, authenticity and restitution. Alongside Ai Weiwei,Mother Nature in the Bardofeatures works by Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and others. Launching in September, Ai Weiwei's 'Zodiac Heads (Bronze)' will be installed at Seattle's Olympic Sculpture Park led by theSeattle Art Museum. The 12 towering sculptures, reimagining looted Qing dynasty zodiac figures, will be arranged in a semi-circle at Ackerley Meadow. Mother Nature in the Bardo245 Country Road 39Southampton, NY 11968
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The coolest part of this Asian city is actually underneath it
It's day four of our 15-day Far Eastern Horizons cruise from Hong Kong to Tokyo aboard Viking Venus when we forgo the shore excursions to explore Zhongshan on our own. We stroll past whimsical urban art – rabbits racing snails, ducks marching in a line – all playfully tucked amid the layered plantings of trees and shrubs. Weekend markets line the path ahead, the aroma of coffee and fried pancakes drawing us along like the beckoning fingers of a cartoon wisp. The park's transformation started in 2017, but the neighbourhood's roots go back to the late 1800s when Taipei was under Qing dynasty rule. Then came the era of Japanese rule (1895-1945), a legacy still seen in the tidy street grid and abundance of ramen shops. We detour to Chifeng Street, known as 'Iron Street', where former scrap metal shops have been transformed into a creative hub of unique and design-driven stores. A time-worn belt from EWF Vintage, a pot of tea at Illumination Books and a playful snap inside the TiMELAB photo booth are the joys of exploring a neighbourhood. While many of the stores have had a modern makeover, it's the weathered bones of the century-old shop buildings that anchor the present to the past. Strolling deeper, the clang of metal from the remaining auto repair shops adds a raw, industrial rhythm to the street vibe. We see more of Zhongshan's creative soul inside the former US embassy, a Colonial-style mansion now home to the SPOT Taipei Film House. Though there's no time for an arthouse flick, we relax in the cafe like seasoned film buffs. From here it's a short walk to the Museum of Contemporary Art, where an impressive collection of works is housed inside a former 1920s elementary school. We finish on a lane at the edge of Linear Park, where a queue leads us to Mian Xian Ding, a Japanese-style shop stand serving traditional mian xian. For a handful of crumpled notes we receive a barstool at the crowded counter and a bowl each of gluey noodle soup. How much it cost or what was in it (oysters? intestines?) I'll never know, but every mouthful brings me closer to the heart of the neighbourhood, and the people who call it home. THE DETAILS Viking's 15-day Far Eastern Horizons cruise from Hong Kong to Tokyo (or the reverse) costs from $10,795 a person, based on double occupancy, flights not included. All meals, beer, wine and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, one shore excursion in every port of call, Wi-Fi, gratuities and speciality dining are all included. See MORE The writer was a guest of Viking Cruises.
The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
The coolest part of this Asian city is actually underneath it
It's day four of our 15-day Far Eastern Horizons cruise from Hong Kong to Tokyo aboard Viking Venus when we forgo the shore excursions to explore Zhongshan on our own. We stroll past whimsical urban art – rabbits racing snails, ducks marching in a line – all playfully tucked amid the layered plantings of trees and shrubs. Weekend markets line the path ahead, the aroma of coffee and fried pancakes drawing us along like the beckoning fingers of a cartoon wisp. The park's transformation started in 2017, but the neighbourhood's roots go back to the late 1800s when Taipei was under Qing dynasty rule. Then came the era of Japanese rule (1895-1945), a legacy still seen in the tidy street grid and abundance of ramen shops. We detour to Chifeng Street, known as 'Iron Street', where former scrap metal shops have been transformed into a creative hub of unique and design-driven stores. A time-worn belt from EWF Vintage, a pot of tea at Illumination Books and a playful snap inside the TiMELAB photo booth are the joys of exploring a neighbourhood. While many of the stores have had a modern makeover, it's the weathered bones of the century-old shop buildings that anchor the present to the past. Strolling deeper, the clang of metal from the remaining auto repair shops adds a raw, industrial rhythm to the street vibe. We see more of Zhongshan's creative soul inside the former US embassy, a Colonial-style mansion now home to the SPOT Taipei Film House. Though there's no time for an arthouse flick, we relax in the cafe like seasoned film buffs. From here it's a short walk to the Museum of Contemporary Art, where an impressive collection of works is housed inside a former 1920s elementary school. We finish on a lane at the edge of Linear Park, where a queue leads us to Mian Xian Ding, a Japanese-style shop stand serving traditional mian xian. For a handful of crumpled notes we receive a barstool at the crowded counter and a bowl each of gluey noodle soup. How much it cost or what was in it (oysters? intestines?) I'll never know, but every mouthful brings me closer to the heart of the neighbourhood, and the people who call it home. THE DETAILS Viking's 15-day Far Eastern Horizons cruise from Hong Kong to Tokyo (or the reverse) costs from $10,795 a person, based on double occupancy, flights not included. All meals, beer, wine and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, one shore excursion in every port of call, Wi-Fi, gratuities and speciality dining are all included. See MORE The writer was a guest of Viking Cruises.
Euractiv
5 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China
Roy Chun Lee is Taiwan's Ambassador to the EU and Belgium. Over the last 130 years, much like many European nations, Taiwan has forged a unique identity that unites its people, underpins its freedom and democracy, and has made it a global technology powerhouse. Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China (PRC), not even for a single day. Taiwan roughly matches the Netherlands in land mass, population, and GDP. Since the cession of Taiwan by the Qing dynasty to Japan in 1895, no government in China has ever exercised its jurisdiction over Taiwan. In fact, during the 75 years since the PRC's founding in 1949, Taiwan has existed as a sovereign state under its official name, the Republic of China (Taiwan). Taiwan's existence as a sovereign state is a simple fact; it does not require UN membership for justification. This is the status quo. Over the past 130 years, the people of Taiwan have cultivated a unique identity with a multicultural heritage, drawing not only from Chinese influences but also from the Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, and Taiwan's indigenous peoples, who are widely regarded to be the origin of all Austronesian cultures. Like the identity-building process of most European countries, Taiwan's journey has been a mixture of darkness and light, suffering and joy, struggle and triumph. Yet these elements are exactly what make the Taiwanese identity unique and render it a special, like-minded partner to Europe and the world, with or without formal diplomatic recognition. The existence of Taiwan as a sovereign nation with a unique identity is further demonstrated by its great achievements. It is an economic and democratic powerhouse. In 2024, Taiwan ranked as the world's 21st largest economy, larger than two-thirds of EU Member States. The Democracy Index places Taiwan 12th in the world and number one in Asia. Taiwan loves freedom just as we love semiconductors. The Human Freedom Index ranks Taiwan 1st in Asia, and the Index of Economic Freedom puts Taiwan 4th in the world. In the World Press Freedom Index, Taiwan stands between Spain and France, and again 1st in Asia. Indices are numbers, but they offer a good sense of relative performance across countries. Taiwan's performance in most indicators is on par with European countries. This is not to show off how good Taiwan is. Rather, this is the evidence to demonstrate that not only does Taiwan exist independently, but it is also an impactful and inseparable member of the international community. Unfortunately, instead of applauding Taiwan, the PRC has continually employed every available method to deny the existence of Taiwan. One of the most frequently used tools is to distort the meaning of UN Resolution 2758, arguing that the Resolution reflects a global consensus that Taiwan is part of the PRC. This is fake news. The following is a direct quotation from a speech delivered by European Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, on behalf of EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell in October 2024: 'United Nations Resolution 2758 is very short - only 150 words. And among those 150 words, the word 'Taiwan' does not appear. The resolution switched representation in the United Nations from the 'representatives of Chiang Kai-shek' to the 'representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China''. In short, Resolution 2758 provides no legal basis for the PRC to claim ownership of Taiwan or to deny the fact that Taiwan has existed as a sovereign, independent, and meaningful country for the last 75 years. Given the weakness of its legal arguments, the PRC has visibly doubled down on more aggressive and malignant tactics. Military intimidation against Taiwan and its neighbours has become a daily threat in an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo. Economic coercion that weaponises trade relationships is also common. Europe can help deter coercion in the Taiwan Strait. First, face the facts: Taiwan is a democracy whose sovereignty is exercised and enjoyed every day by its 23 million people. No amount of propaganda can erase that reality. Second, expose and resist coercion: Call out and reject the PRC's disinformation campaigns, economic blackmail, and military intimidation whenever and wherever they appear. And third, invest in partnership: Expand trade, technology, security dialogues, and cultural exchanges with Taiwan, so that shared values can become shared resilience. There is no question about Taiwan's status today. Only an authoritarian regime's denial of a reality its ideology finds inconvenient.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
For India's complex, growing economy, a lesson from China's Qing dynasty
For a large, fast-growing and complex economy like India, there is a necessity for a certain minimum size of the government. While this is true for every aspect of the government, it is particularly crucial for public services that touch ordinary citizens on a day-to-day basis such as law and order, healthcare and education. Together these determine the quality of life of an average citizen within the country. Technological advancements and innovations in governance models have led to unprecedented improvements in the efficiency of welfare programmes in India. This is a lived reality for 300 million Indians who have come out of poverty in the last 10 years. There are some sectors of the economy, however, that will require greater government investments in human resources. By most staffing norms, we have an acute shortage of nurses, policemen, teachers and public development officers. The ideological belief that smaller governments are better for the growth and development of a nation stands in sharp contrast to the economic reality of market breakdowns, particularly in areas of health, education and safety. Human resource investments in areas of public health, public education and law and order are critical for long-term economic growth and improvement in basic quality of life for an average Indian. Given the size and complexity of India, among the lessons from history, on the perils of evangelical allegiance to the ideology of a smaller government, the example of the pitiful demise of the Qing dynasty is worth recalling. In The Ideological Foundations of Qing Taxation, Taisu Zhang presents a compelling argument that the Qing dynasty's government size was notably small, primarily due to ideological constraints rather than structural limitations. Zhang posits that the Qing state's fiscal conservatism was deeply influenced by Confucian political ethics and the traumatic memory of the Ming dynasty's collapse, which was attributed to excessive taxation. This historical lesson led Qing rulers to adopt a cautious approach. Consequently, the government maintained a minimal presence in economic affairs, resulting in a grossly limited capacity to mobilise resources and people for state functions. The Qing state was small in actual personnel and ideologically committed to maintaining a light footprint. According to one estimate, the Qing state never employed more than 30,000 officials across the empire. In most counties, a magistrate and a few hundred local staff would administer populations of over 2 lakh. When compared to other contemporary states, the Qing government was exceptionally small. Zhang highlights that while European and Japanese states had tax-to-GDP ratios ranging from 10 per cent to 20 per cent, the Qing's formal tax revenue constituted only about 1 per cent of GDP by the mid-19th century. This stark contrast underscores the Qing dynasty's limited fiscal capacity and its implications for governance and state development. The ideological commitment to small government led to institutional practices that further constrained the government's size. Zhang's analysis reveals that the Qing dynasty's small government size was not merely a result of economic or administrative limitations but was fundamentally shaped by ideological beliefs that prioritised small government and feared the social and economic consequences of fiscal expansion. This ideological framework not only defined the Qing state's fiscal policies but also had lasting effects on China's economic development trajectory for two centuries. Within the context of India's current status, improving 'state capacity' for good governance is at the heart of most reforms — at the central as well as the state levels. The real economy of India is moving much faster than our traditional data are able to capture, hence our administrative capacity is constantly doing a catch-up. Technology is a great enabler and critical to modernisation, but not a complete substitute for human resources. There are limits, therefore, to development when merely based on technological and financial advancements. Shortage of human resources becomes a binding constraint to overall improvements in outcome. This is obvious in public health, public education and maintenance of law and order in particular – where no matter how much improvement occurs in infrastructure, budgets and technology – the feet on the ground remain a critical bottleneck. We need to recruit more people for public service in India, across different sectors and we need to do this urgently. India is a talent-rich nation. We have to ensure that the most capable and hardworking people are brought into public service. This requires innovations in recruitment and parity with the rest of the fast-growing economy to avoid long-term distortions. Parity in terms of pay as well as performance. Most public debates are limited to the differences in the pay structure (hence, regular Pay Commission revisions, etc). The time-use survey data reveals that an average government employee works fewer hours daily and has more leisure hours than private sector employees. Keeping the government sector small and privileged has long-term economic and social costs for the nation. While we modernise the economy, we must also modernise the state – by strengthening quality as well as its numbers. This is a critical need to sustain India's growth and development today as well as to meet our aspirations for the next hundred years — as the fundamental ideological flaw of the Qing dynasty shows. The writer is Member, EAC-PM
