Across large parts of the world Christmas is fast approaching. Retail stores are already stocking the usual tat associated with the festivity while young children begin to prepare their wish lists. Those who have behaved well this year or changed their ways are expecting a bumper bonus.
Among those are the political administrations in London and Islamabad, who have written to Chairman Santa Xi Jinping asking for big new toys to play with – nuclear power reactors. Xi, who has taken on temporary festivity duties on behalf of Barrack Obama, whose sled has been grounded by the “shutdown”, has been only too happy to oblige. Both Pakistan and the UK will get Chinese-made nuclear power products.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron will reportedly keep his distance from China’s version of the Christmas grinch (we all know who that is). That’s considered a fair trade to solve the energy-price scandal that has been brewing for weeks.
However, like the absent uncle who shows up once a year to feast at the table, China is not really becoming a responsible adult willing to take on its familiar obligations.
Chairman Santa has opened his wallet not only to buy influence but also to find work for millions of Chinese elves working in factories across the eastern and southern coasts. Their traditional artisan crafts of toys and textiles are under threat from falling export orders and fewer clients at the annual Canton Trade Fair.
And Santa Xi can certainly afford to be generous – China’s GDP grew at the fastest pace this year in the third quarter. Still, not even he can fulfil every wish this year. Lenovo won’t wake up on Christmas day with Blackberry in its stocking.
