IMAR celebrations

The Chinese Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) is celebarting its 60th birthday. The region was set up in August 1947, more than two years before the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

China's vice president Zheng Qinghong flew to Hohhot to attend the celebrations. So what is there to celebrate? According to the Chinese government, the economic development and prosperity of the region. Its per capita GDP reached 20,047 yuan last year, ranking 10th nationwide, up from 16th in 2000. The region is also the home of a few strong brands, such as Mengniu and Yili dairy products and Erdos cashmere.

The Chinese leaders also claim that the Mongolian culture and language are protected, supported and flourishing. Some Mongolian nationalists dispute this. They say the use of the Mongol language is dying out because students are forced to use Mandarin Chinese.

However, there is a better explanation. Inner Mongolia is part of China. Unless students want to stay there whole lives on the grasslands, being able to speak the Chinese language is certainly a big advantage. It's the same like people in Western Europe learning English. People in Flanders speak Dutch, but apart from Holland, Suriname and the upper class of Indonesia, how far outside the border can you manage if you don't speak English? Even if Dutch and French-speaking Belgians get together, they use English to communicate. So, Inner Mongolians will want to learn Chinese and if they interact more and more with Chinese-speaking people, that is the language they will use most.

Mongolian is a beautiful language, people should cherish it and continue to use it. But people also need jobs. If speaking Chinese helps you get a better job, are you going to stick with Mongolia?. Are Chinese-speakers sticking exclusively toh Chinese? No, they are learning English. Because it gets them a better job. And the opportunity to communicate with more people. Does this mean that Washington is forcing the Chinese to learn English? The U.S. is doing many bad things, but this is not one of them. Likewise, people should not accuse the Chinese government of deliberately suppressing the use of Mongolian. Chinese, like English is a powerful magnet. But there will always be a proud place for Mongolian.