偽造紙巻きタバコ（２）

3月25日に当ブログで紹介した中国の瀋陽国際空港およびカンボジアのプノンペン国際空港で購入した免税のマルボロという銘柄の紙巻きタバコは、日本のフィリップモリス社より、偽物であるとのシロ判定が出たので、報告しておきたい。しかし、日本のフィリップモリス社はそれらが北朝鮮で製作されたかどうかを調べることができないとのこと。それはそれとして、私は中国の瀋陽市が北朝鮮との国境が僅か250キロ離れていること、そしてカンボジアは北朝鮮と特別な関係（シハヌーク前国王が築いできたもの）を持っていること、という２点からそれらの偽造紙巻きタバコがならず者国・北朝鮮の傑作であるに違いないと指摘したい。

また、日本のフィリップモリス社が中国とカンボジアにある当社の代表を通じて国際空港での偽造紙巻きタバコの販売を摘発するとその再発の防止を徹すると指示したそうです。

A View of Two Worlds: Dandong and Sinuiju

More photos

Dandong is a city at Liaoning Province of the Northeastern part of China. This part of China in general and this city in particular, has more than 4,000 years of history. This city is at the frontier of Northeast China, separated from North Korea, by Yalu River. It has about 2.5 million inhahitants, about one third live in the city, while the rest live in rural area. Until 10 years ago, agriculture was the main income generating sector, but it has transformed itself into a city which produces manufacturing goods, and also the city is now flourish with businesses related to service sector. Tourism has become an important source of income for the city too. Tourist spots include the eastern start of the Great Wall, White Stone Natural Reserves, Wulongbei Hot Spring, Phoenix Mountain, etc.

China's open door policy and market-oriented economic policy have indeed produced higher income, and thus higher living standards for its people. Dandong is a typical success story in China's impressive growth record. Per capita income in Dandong is more than 12,000 Yuan (2005, which is more than US$1,500).

The town across Yalu River is known as Sinuiju. Dandong-Sinuiju-Yalu River was the front line battle ground between the U.S. soldiers and Chinese People Liberation Army in 1951-52. A few years ago, the Great Leader of North Korea has designated Sinuiju as a Special Economic Zone for attracting foreign direct investment into his cash hungry country. However, the concept did not take-off for the Great Leader thinks developing nuclear weapons bring more benefits than allocating resources and attentions to promoting economic activities.

As a result, the disparity of economic well being of these two cities, and their landscapes, are in great contrast. The first two photos exhibit high rise buildings, a reflection of Dandong's economic growth, whereas the last two illustrate that Sinuiju is still trapped in subsistence economy (which remains as a fishery and an agriculture-oriented). Port facilities and boats are obsolete, and if observe carefully, one wonders how fishermen could use them productively and safely. Instead, perhaps, one might think they are being used as camouflage for illicit activities such as...... (you imagine).

About 30 years ago, similar contrasting view was observed in Shenzen (an agriculture and fishery village then) and Hong Kong. But now, that city has the highest per capita income in China. That transformation is an undisputed result of the power of openness and market principles. Alas, the Great Leader believes that a nuclear warhead is far powerful than the power of openness and economic incentives for his hermit kingdom.

Sakura and Spring

"A little madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King,
But God be with the Clown,
Who ponders this tremendous scene—
This whole experiment of green,
As if it were his own!"

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

既得権益：日銀人事

福田総理は４月８日に石川方明日銀副総裁（総裁代行）と渡辺博史前財務官（一橋大学教授）の二人をそれぞれ総裁と副総裁候補として衆参両議院に提示した。国会のねじれによって政府が旧大蔵省・財務省のＯＢ候補は拒否され続けている。3月18日のブログに書いたように、この同意人事を巡って、昨年の参議院選挙後に明らかになったにもかかわらず、政府・与党はその対応をしていなかった。むしろ、政府・与党は自らの怠慢を感じず、そしてマスコミを抱き込んで、「日銀の独立性を尊重し、政治の人事決定を介入してはならないと主張し、その無責任を野党側に押し付けている。

この事態を冷静に考えると、なぜ、政府・与党は旧大蔵省・財務省のＯＢから総裁と副総裁を任命したいかというと、これまでの慣習に拘っているからである。つまり、政治家と官僚の間に既得権益を守ることである。それに関してマスコミの正しい対応は政府・与党の既得権益の固執が如何に不健全かを訴えることであるが、残念ながらその役割が果たしていない。

また、約１億２０００万人の中から、旧大蔵省・財務省のＯＢに頼らず、日銀総裁および副総裁の要職に相応しい人材を選ぶことが困難なことではないだろう。このように考えれば、野党（特に民主党）の対応は決して無責任ではなく、むしろ彼らは国民に託された参議院における優位性を十二分に活かし、政府・与党と官僚の間の既得権益を排除することに貢献していると言って良い。それは政治なのである。

Congratulations, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan

Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN General Secretary and former Foreign Minister of Thailand, was conferred of the Degree of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa by the University of Bristol, on March 31, 2008. University of Bristol is one of the most famous universities in the U.K. Sir Winston Churchill was the Chancellor from 1929 to 1965.

Amitav Acharya, Professor of Global Governance, University of Bristol, provided an oration in this conferment ceremony. Dr. Surin was conferred for his outstanding records on (from Prof. Amitav Acharya's oration):

"First, there is the Surin the academician, blessed with a powerful intellect, the highest level education in both the east and the west, and a man of ideas that are often ahead of their time.

Then there is the Surin the people’s man, (I am deliberately not using the term politician) a man from the ivory tower who has his feet firmly on the ground, and who, unlike leaders of some Asian countries, actually contests and wins elections conducted freely and fairly

And last but not the least, there is Surin the statesman, from being foreign minister of a crisis-stricken nation desperately mobilizing international help, to being the secretary-general of the developing world’s most successful regional organization, a member and adviser to several of the world’s brain trusts.

The University of Bristol recognizes his substantial accomplishments of Surin the academician, Surin the people’s man and Surin the statesman. It recognizes his potential as ASEAN Secretary General to make a further significant contribution to the well-being of Southeast Asia and the international community."

Dr. Surin received his Ph.D from Harvard University, and the Degree of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from the University of Bristol has made him one of the rarest persons to have the best from two very prominent academic institutions in the left and right sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Congratulations, Dr. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan.