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From Our Own Correspondent: China

China

09/12/2013

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, China

Using South China Sea islands for peace, not war, and young Westerners working in China.

Humphrey Hawksley on the geographer with unusual ideas for for peace on South China Sea islands and Steve England on his nephews who now work in China.

There are increasing tensions in the seas around China and Japan, as those two countries, and several others, fight over disputed islands.  China has declared an air defence zone over one set of islands that it's arguing with over with Japan. Other rows are with Taiwan, a bit further south. Humphrey Hawksley travels to Dong-Sha, uninhabited but currently occupied by Taiwanese soldiers, where he meets a geographer with some rather unusual methods of working for peace, and corals, on these islands. 

Steve England is visiting China to go see his three nephews, who all now work in the country. He's not only impressed by the way many Westerners are now able, and willing, to have careers in China, but also by the array of new first names that young Chinese pick for themselves, so that Westerners can pronounce them.  Far from meeting Johns or Harrys, there's Jelly, Fizzy and - wait for it - Curtains. 

Presenter: Pascale Harter
Producer: Arlene Gregorius

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