Traci.....

HISIRISHGEM · 04-21-2005, 01:54 AM

I was on that yahoo thread and saw someone who posted on the subject of Japan and China and wanted to post it here for you to see...

Today's Wall Street Journal had a front page piece on the brewing
tension between China and Japan. Here is a summary of key points.

On the surface the conflict is centered on crowds in China protesting
against Japan, sparked by new Japanese textbooks softpeddling Japanese
aggression and brutality in WWII. Lingering resentment over WWII is a
recurring theme in China since Japan occupied much of China from 1931 to
1945, and when the Japanese took the city of Nanjing in 1937 they
butchered tens of thousands of civilians. (not in the article, but about 300,000 civilians were murdered and about 20,000 women raped by Japanese troops over a 6 week period)

A second sore spot for protestors is Japan's current bid for a permanent
seat on the UN Security Council, a move that would likely strengthen the
US hand and weaken China's influence.

The Japanese Embassy has been under assault by yelling crowds and thrown
rocks, broken windows, Japanese shops have been vandalized and a few
Japanese individuals have been beaten while security forces stand idly
by and watch. (not in the article, but other articles have opined Chinese
people are frustrated with their own government, and perhaps the govt,
which usually does not permit assembly for protest purposes, is allowing
protestors to let off a little steam).

The article suggests these surface issues are obvious explanations, but
the root of the tension is competition between China and Japan for dominance
in the region. Historically China was dominant, in the 20th century Japan
has been dominant, and now in the 21st century there is an ongoing struggle
for influence in the region.

Beijing is also worried about Japan representing US interests, thwarting
China's ambitions for the region. US muscle is stretched thin with focus
in the middle east, and Japan has been relied on to help influence trouble
spots like North Korea. Japan's military budget is the world's 4th
largest at $42.5 billion, and though China says their military budget is $30
billion, it is believed to be more like $60 billion. Japan is the world's
2nd largest economy with GDP nearly half that of the US, but growth is
somewhat stagnant. China's economy, on the other hand, has been growing
at about 9% per year for the last 25 years, and if it lasts China's economy
will outpace Japan's by 2020.

While Japan currently has the upper economic hand, they do not have
nuclear weapons as does China, and Japan does not yet have the influence of a permanent UN Security Council seat as does China.

From the standpoint of money, which drives the leaders behind the scenes,
both countries need the tension to subside. When Hong Kong is included,
China is Japan's largest trading partner, having recently outpaced the
US. Many Japanese industries are deeply entrenched in China, providing not
only technology but jobs. Japan also provides foreign aid to China.
The question is whether economic interdependence can overcome the flames
of nationalism fanned by politicians in both countries, a tactic long used
by politicians everywhere to distract the populace from problems at home.
The immediate issue is Chinese resentment over the plan for Japanese
officials to visit a shrine to pay homage to their WWII dead, including war
criminals executed for their crimes.

There is no answer or resolution in the article, but it does a good job
of exposing the real issues. If you quarrell with any part of this, write
to the Wall Street Journal, not to me.

If you wonder whether this issue could interfere with adoptions, I seriously doubt it given how past trouble spots, like the US mistaken bombing of China's embassy in Kosovo, have not affected the adoption process.

So I guess this person thinks it won't hurt the adoption process even if there were issues between Japan and China.

Lisa67 · 04-22-2005, 04:30 PM

I know Traci is up here visiting the agency this week and am dying to hear how it all went!!

I'm so excited for her!

Thanks for the article. I"m going to read it over later since I hardly ever go to APC any longer.

Take care!

HISIRISHGEM · 04-22-2005, 05:12 PM

OOOOOOOOOOOoooh yeah!! I forgot!!! I can't wait to hear from her. I wonder if they ended up spilling the beans to the parents. ((shshshshshshsh))

Oh Im so excited for them!
I had to post that because I know she was worried about that happening so when I saw someone posting it wouldn't make a difference, I had to give her reassurance!

So if you don't go to that Yahoo site anymore, do you go to the other Yahoo sites? Do you have any others to recommend Lisa?

I can't wait until Traci gets back here with news!!

~Traci~ · 04-23-2005, 07:29 PM

We spilled the beans to my mom and brother! They were/are elated!

We figured since we were up here and we don't feel that there will be any complications or anything w/ us adopting that we could go ahead and tell them!

We're still in Boston, coming home tomorrow but won't tell IL's until Mother's Day!

The meeting was awesome!

Rebekah - Thanks for the article! You'd really like Lillian and everyone if you ever came here to meet them. They're just so nice and Lillian is quite a talker!

I still go to APC and mostly just read unless I have an important question (which I do so I'm going to go there and ask about the USCIS (or INS...whatever the heck it's called now!) in Dallas. I also go to a Paperchase Yahoo one (which wouldn't really apply to you since you're not in the Paperchase right now

) as well as a "waiting until 30" one. I guess it would apply to you since you're having to wait...just not until 30!

I can give you the link when we get home (Monday) b/c I'm on DH's computer in the hotel. I just couldn't stay away though!

TTYL
Traci

HISIRISHGEM · 04-24-2005, 05:09 AM

OOOOOOOOOOOoooooh Traci! i knew it! I knew you would tell!!ROFL I couldn't keep it in.
I told my grandma we were adopting from china (I'm not sure if she's going to live much longer because her bodies shutting down..kidneys, liver, etc.) I just wanted her to know. I told her that her name was Emma Grace and our boys name eventually would be Luke. She said Emma Grace?? Hm, maybe when you get over there, she'll be so cute you'll want to give her another name. ROFL I guess she doesn't like Emmas name.

I have to say I got irritated when I found someone else on the Yahoo site that named her daughter Emma Grace....and she's getting twins like I want.lol Like I'm going to be the only one with that name for my daughter?? I better come down off my High Horse and be happy for the other woman and thankful that God will grant me a child in the first place! Yup, I'm hard on myself sometimes when I have those not so nice attitudes.

Steven Curtis Chapman came to town last weekend. ((sigh)) thought we'd be able to see him and we couldn't. Our car is on the fritz.

avalanche · 04-24-2005, 06:52 PM

hi my question is for anyone that is not rich, single and live in ont, canada can adopt like me i am disable and i want to adopt disablily baby. i have been trying to adopt from the children aids downin my area but been told that it could take from 2 to 4 years before been told that you can adopt then on top of that it coudl take up to 2 to 5 years befor you get a baby. i can not wait all that time.
how do china adoption work and do you have to have thousands of dollars to do it
thank you kathy

~Traci~ · 04-24-2005, 11:17 PM

We're home!!

We're both so happy to be home...I have a HUGE list of paperwork to get together this week though! We did find out that we can't get twins

China has this stupid rule that if you've been married before that you can't have twins

Oh well, Chris was already talking about going back a year later to get another girl!

So we're going to tell IL's on Mother's Day!

Rebekah - I've seen some Aimee's around as well and I got irritated too but oh well, there are bound to be others w/ the same name!

I went to school w/ someone that was 1 year older than me w/ the same exact name (first, middle, AND last!) as well as born in the same month as me! She was the only other person that I knew w/ my same first name spelling until I was out of high school!

Kathy - Our adoption is costing about $20,000 including travel for 3 in China for 2 week. There is a great thread that's titled "China Adoption" in this board that has a ton of questions and answers. Also, www.adoption.com is where you can check out every county you could adopt from. You don't have to be rich but you do have to make at least $30,000 and you have to be 30. The time is also about 1 year from start to when you get home from China. There are sometimes "discounts" when you adopt a SN child and the waiting time is sometimes shorter. You will have to have your dr. fill out a medical form stating that you are able to care for a child with your SN as well as that your SN will not affect your longevity.

Good Luck!
Traci

avalanche · 04-25-2005, 01:05 AM

thank you traci
you have answer all my question now i know that i can not adopt because i do not bring in around 30,000. i am far from that. i guess i will have to keep trying to have on on my oun maybe i can get my doctor to help me more with this
thanks you
kathy from belleville on canada

~Traci~ · 04-25-2005, 01:37 AM

Kathy,

There are many other countries where the requirements are different. I would look around and check out other places.

I think for singles it's actually $20,000. It's $10,000 per person in the house including your adopted child...so if it's just you and the child it would be $20,000. Sorry, I was thinking about married couples and didn't take in to acct that you're single.

Good Luck!
Traci

avalanche · 04-25-2005, 01:47 AM

traci
i will keep looking i am hoping to be able to find a place that do not cost so much
i only bring on about 11,000 a year
but i will keep looking
thanks
kathy

HISIRISHGEM · 04-25-2005, 07:09 PM

Kathy,
Guatamala or Eizerbaizon (sp?) I think have limited income requirements. I do know that most countries will check into finances a bit to make sure that the parent can support a child financially as well as giving that child a loving home. Have you tried Foster to adopt program in your own country? Thats also an idea. Don't give up!

avalanche · 04-25-2005, 07:44 PM

yes i have tried to adopt here but it will take up to 2 to 4 years befro i would get aprove to adopt and then it coudl take up to 2 to 5 years more befor i could be place with a baby
thank you for the information
i will looking to it
i want to adopt a baby that is disabled mainly hard of hear or deaf or with some other handicapped
but mainly hard of hearing or deaf because i know what they are going through i am hard of hearing
kathy