Mooncake? Thanks... I'll have a drug dealer instead

As foreigners in this country, we are on the outside looking in. Sure, we can read through the general crap that's forced upon us by the media organs in this country and see for ourselves what takes place on a day in and day out basis, and extrapolate what is actually taking place. However, when it comes to actually getting hard information about things that take place, it's virtually next to impossible given the invisible barrier that divides us from the locals.

Often times things take place in this country that defy common 'western' logic. The tearing down of historic relics and sites to make way for neon-laden monstrosities... The mass crowds that gather daily at Tian'anmen Square to watch a flag be either raised or lowered... The fact that you have to wait a week to reacquire a lost bank card... the lists are endless. This post, though, relates to this past weekend's 'crackdown' on the drug dealers in Sanlitun.

No one who has ever been to Sanlitun can deny that there are drug dealers in the area on any given night, and many of them are of African decent. This is not to say that all the black men in Sanlitun are drug dealers. Case in point the detention of many an innocent victim from this past weekend's 'raid.' However, there can be no doubt that some of the men rounded up on Friday night were, in fact, dealing drugs. Drugs are illegal in this country, as they are everywhere else. And drug raids are common practice around the world. But the lingering question that surrounds this particular incident is why the crackdown took place at this point.

Live here long enough and you quickly realize that nothing that the authorities do takes place without a specific reason. Working in the media in this country I can unequivocally tell you that there is regimented structure to all things that you see, read or hear in the media. The same can also be said for any other governmental organization. So as to why this crackdown in Sanlitun took place at this particular point is intriguing. We are all probably familiar with the concept of Guanxi. Well, word around the campfire within known bar circles is that this particular crackdown was a direct result of Guanxi. I have come to know a Chinese bar owner in the area fairly well. His particular business is well connected to the local Sanlitun District police bureau. (For the sake of said bar owner, I am reluctant to go into the particulars of his connection) At any rate, a recent discussion with said bar owner that this 'raid' was the equivalent of a mooncake! Apparently, to extend some Guanxi within the local police bureau during this auspicious period of the year, known in China as the mid-Autumn festival (the raid came 5 days before the festival itself), instead of giving said upper echelon authority a box of salmon flavored pastry, they gave the gift of Guanxi through showing the resolve of the local police service to cracking down on the illegal drug trade. (this is probably how it would be phrased in the local media...if it was written about, that is)

It was also suggested to your dear narrator that this is only going to be the beginning. The lead up to the Olympic Games is going to see a significant move by the local authorities to reign in and keep tabs on we 'unruly' foreigners. Surprising? Not in the least...

中秋快乐我的非洲朋友们!