Another instant China expert

This is the reason I started this blog. Western media are full of “China experts” who can’t locate it on a map!

You know this is written by a clueless dude almost from the first sentence.

For years, Chinese economists have advocated liberalizing the exchange rate and allowing it to rise, weaning the country off its addiction to exports.

Really? Which Chinese economist to be precise? And what about those who think China should just give a finger? Have they all been exiled to Alaska? Now, if the US is willing to cede Alaska, maybe there’s a deal. But mind you, nobody wants California though.

ambitious provincial politicians such as Bo Xilai, the party boss in the western city of Chongqing, may defy the central government. If he wants bank loans to build popular projects such as affordable housing, it may be hard to stop him.

Jeez, what has this guy been smoking? Chen Liangyu, the party boss of Shanghai (which btw, is China’s commercial capital. I doubt Sebastian Mallaby knows it though) tried to stonewall the central government’s push to dampen the property market in 2006. Instead of being just the boss of a hinterland city, that guy actually sat on the Poliburo! What happened to him? How does 18 years prison term sound?

Now, of course, if you’re really bored, you can take all this as playing the “spot an idiot”game. If you use China and economics as the twin parameters, it’s really easy to win:)

Seems like Stephen Roach is also having fun playing this game, via Zero Hedge.