Washington Post (September 28)
“Why on earth are the Chinese playing military games with Japan, threatening Southeast Asia or entering politics at all?” Columnist Anne Applebaum notes that China has avoided international conflict during most of the last decade. Doing so, has brought great benefits. China has landed major concessions in both Afghanistan and Iraq, while American troops are caught up in fighting. China has cornered the market on rare-earth metals and boasts 3 of the top 10 producers of wind turbines. It’s not in China’s interest to provoke fights with its neighbors. China’s diplomats and military are scary, but Applebaum points out “the scariest thing is the power China has already accumulated.”
Boston Globe (September 28)
Harvard is still reeling from the recession. When its endowment plunged in value, the university doubled its debt load to fund operations. Harvard’s debt soared to $6 billion over the past 3 years. According to the Globe, “Harvard is maxed out on debt for the foreseeable future. In order for the university to keep its AAA bond rating, its usual way of financing buildings, borrowing from investors, is effectively off the table.” Projects, such as the $1.4 billion Allston science facility project, are now being halted as Harvard look for ways to cut costs.
