Monday, October 15, 2007

FT's going to the wrong party

It may be the great bastion of British capitalism and it may be pink, most certainly not red. But, we don't expect the Asia edition of the Financial Times to commit basic gaffes on significant issues such as the structure of the Chinese government. And, they make the mistake twice on the same page.

The "Week Ahead" section on today's back page suggests that Hu Jintao is hosting "the National People's Congress". No he's not boys. The National People's Congress is China's toothless apology for a parliament which passes its laws. What Hu is hosting is the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The meeting may be just as boring, but, given that the CPC still basically controls all key decisions in China, is actually much more important than the NPC over which Prime Minister Wen Jiabao presides.

Tut, tut, boys. Too much staying up late watching the rugby I fear and not enough time checking your facts.

No comments: