The discussions on March 5 will center on the following questions, built to stimulate dialogue on the the Opium War film and related issues pertaining to China's interaction, both present and future, with the Internet. (Use your browser's "Back" button to return.)

Our online discussion board (or "wwwboard") offers a virtual forum as a supplement to the forthcoming real-life dialogue. Please consider the following questions and the issues they raise, both before and during the conference. If you wish, use the wwwboard to discuss possible answers. (Those questions below which have already been posted to the wwwboard are links: simply click on the question to go to the wwwboard, find the question, and add your response!)

Implications of the Opium War

History
• What factors not evident in the Opium War film contributed to the outbreak of the war? (e.g., changes in international trade structures)
• How did widespread opium use finally end in China?
• Did Commissioner Lin make grave errors in his approach to ridding China of opium, or was his failure inevitable? What could the Chinese have done? How much of the failure could be attributed to domestic political weakness? Military weakness? Qing desire to retain power?
• Is Lin portrayed as a hero? Was he? Is he considered a hero in today's China?
• When the war started, was the Qing Empire already in a state of decline? If so, what factors contributed to this decline?
• The English could have taken much more territory. What factors prevented them from doing so?
• Why was China ultimately damaged by contact with the West in the 18th century, as opposed to other Asian nations like Japan?
• When/why did Hong Kong's 99-year lease come into effect?
• Was Opium possession and/or use legal in England? Was its use in England as widespread as in China? Why/why not?

Art/Filmmaking
• How does this film differ from a western film? What elements of difference, if any, can be attributed to: distinctly Chinese cinematography? distinctly Chinese ideology or social influences?
• Does the lack of "victory" in the film itself (a very sad ending) detract from its appeal as a movie (i.e., no hero/heroes win, make us feel good, etc.)? Did the film's screening during the July 1, 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China enhance the film's appeal? If so, how? Why?

Politics
• Does the film accomplish its self-stated goal of becoming "China's Schindler's List?"
• What are the politics of forgiveness re: the Opium War? Did Britain ever formally apologize? Why/why not?
• Does the failure to widely release the Opium War film in the United States represent a double-standard on the part of the U.S.? (as the United States criticizes China for preventing the release of some U.S. films...)
• How was the film received in England? How widely was it released? In Hong Kong? Taiwan?
• What is the film's message, if any, to Taiwan? to Tibet?
• Some believe if there is to be "one China" it will be/is in the cultural sense. Does this film play into this concept?
• Is the film solely, or primarily, propaganda? Is it intended to inspire nationalism? If so, has it been effective?
• Did the film have political goals? A political message? Does the film contain distinct layers of messages (e.g. nationalism on its surface, a critique of modern trade underneath, etc.)?

Commerce
• Modern parallels to the opium trade (e.g. the Internet, tobacco, technology transfer, the Western 'open trade' mantra, etc.) exist. To what extent are these true parallels?
• To what extent does the film vilify Britain's desire for free trade? Is this a direct critique of free trade and its impact on China?
• In what ways would/does modern China benefit from free trade? How could/does free trade harm China?

Human Rights
• To what extent is the movie a call for openness with the West?
• How do the differing debate styles (British Parliament vs. Chinese court) reflect regard for the individual? How can we interpret these differing styles of governance in the modern context?
• Does the film call for Chinese sovereignty and freedom from oppression from abroad? If so, could this qualify as a "human rights" message? If so, would the international community, or simply the West, interpret it as such?

Connecting the Chinese and American Societies Digitally - China and the Internet

• The Internet is at once an empowering and, at the same time, potentially harmful tool. How have countries approached this dilemma up to now? What are some viable strategies for future approaches?
• Universal access is the key to making the Internet a viable medium. Or is it? What could the average Chinese citizen gain from the Internet, assuming access is not a problem?
• How do we increase PC ownership when in some countries, the cost of a personal computer equals several year's salary? Will the Internet divide society between rich and poor?
• How can we empower the people of China to gain maximum benefits from computer and Internet usage?
• Would China and Chinese students at Harvard be served by an educational Chinese-language website at Harvard:
  • a.) ... on which students would tell their stories of engaging Harvard and Harvard-taught ideas?
  • b.) ... on which course content was offered by Harvard professors and discussion groups organized on property, privacy and financial institutions (just for a start)?
• How can we maximize the learning potential of the Internet?
• What effect would increased Internet usage have in China? What are the realistic parameters of the Internet in China? What percentage of China's ascendancy is taking place through the Internet? How will that percentage shift in the future?
• Does China have the required technological infrastructure to support Internet growth? What will China have to do to further develop its Internet connectivity? How can the United States bolster China's Internet training/education?
• China currently sees business applications as a key component of the Internet (witness the rapid government approval of business-focused resources such as China Wide Web). What other arenas will receive government support in the days ahead? Is it possible to have a business-only Internet?
• What benefits will the US receive from being better connected with China over the Internet? What dangers will the US face if it does not establish a better connection with China over the Internet? What aspects of Chinese society should/will China focus on delivering to the U.S. via the Internet?
• What obstacles will China face if it does not establish a better connection with the U.S. over the Internet?
• What is China's methodology for accepting or rejecting U.S. and other Internet content for entry into the mainland? Is this methodology currently considered adequate by the Chinese government?
• What Chinese language Internet sites are most popular today? What Chinese language Internet content do Chinese most need?
• How does the Chinese government currently use the Internet?
• What are China's long-term plans for its existing intranet? Is strengthening this intranet to the detriment of the Internet itself a viable for China's future? Why or why not?
• How will the Internet benefit international relations? The international economy?
• What is the goal of the Berkman Center's Bilingual Web site? What changes would it ultimately hope to promote in U.S. and Chinese culture? How would it hope to enhance communication between China and the United States?