I have recently perused Nicholas Kristof’s NYT piece “China’s Man in Washington, Named Trump”(https://nyti.ms/3h2JXh8). One paragraph in particular caught my attention: “A joke in China suggests that Trump’s Chinese name is Chuan Jianguo, or “Build-the-Country Trump.” That’s because Build-the-Country is a common revolutionary name among Communist patriots, and it’s mockingly suggested that Trump’s misrule of the United States is actually bolstering Xi’s regime.”

Kristoff also avows that since Trump’s ascension to presidency, the American nation became highly polarized. This is reflected in the current administration’s policies on climate change, foreign relations with established U.S. allies, and COVID-19 prevention, all of which are rather ineffective. It also seems like Mr. Trump and his team diverged from the traditional priorities, including promoting free trade, human rights, and other quintessentially American values. As described thoroughly by John Bolton, all these factors contributed to the declining standing of the U.S. in global politics.

What is more, many people fall prey to CCP’s propaganda and its interpretations of Trump’s actions, which only enhances China’s reputation.

But that might not exactly be the case.

The CCP apparently failed to utilize the window of opportunity created by the ineptness of the Trump administration, as China could have grown to the position of a leader by filling in the void left by the U.S.

During the 2016 APEC Ministerial Meeting in Lima, Peru, Xi Jinping and his team actively supported the plans to establish the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, or FTAAP. In contrast, the United States withdrew its signature from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in early 2017. Coupled with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB), this move bolstered China’s capacity to influence global investments and trade, high-tech mergers and acquisitions, and, overall, expand its geostrategic influence on the entire globe.

At the same time, various propaganda films about great power competition, military industry, and science and technology surged all at once, and gained remarkable following around the world.

All this provided a window of opportunity for the CCP to slowly change its course. Around the same time, the distrust for POTUS among U.S. allies’ reached its apex. According to polls conducted by the Pew Research Center, the distrust for the U.S. president in the U.K. reached 75%, 72% in Japan, 70% in Australia, and stunning 86% in France.

Had the C.C.P,. begun to open up at that time, or at least resumed the governance style of the Hu-Wen administration, it could have reaped the benefits of promoting liberalism where the U.S. failed to deliver. It was the time for Beijing to gradually enhance freedom of speech domestically, pursue sustainable infrastructural projects, gradually reform unfair barriers to trade, transform its S.O.E.s, strengthen protections for private ownership, and vitalize its start-ups and enterprises.

Moreover, were China to cease the genocide in East Turkestan and refrain from cracking down on Hong Kong's semi-autonomy, it would have greatly enhanced its global international image. Additionally, if paired with slow but steady reforms, Beijing’s respect for sovereignty of its peoples would have attracted a large amount of foreign investment, which in turn would have continued to buttress the country’s growth.

It is China prerogative to remain idle.
It might still be possible for Chinese “Dream” to come true.
Yet, a historic window of opportunity is now closed.

Xi assumed the tools of proscribing and stalling, which are completely antithetical to the aforementioned window of opportunity.

Today, China is more authoritarian, less flexible, and fully deprived of horizontal accountability. Its reliance on wolf warrior diplomacy backfired: for example, the Swedish parliament sought to expel the Chinese ambassador to Stockholm. Also, Prague, the capital of Czechia, terminated its sister-city agreement with Shanghai and instead signed a new one with Taipei. Last but not least, we ought not to forget about the recent fiasco in the relations with the United States who ordered the shutdown of China’s consulate in Houston. All of this took its toll on China’s reputation.

Its international standing and inability to replace the U.S. as the major global power are not the only issues China is currently facing.
As it experiences multiple domestic and international shocks, China struggles to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and tame the disastrous floods of Yangtze River. The swarm of locusts of biblical proportions is also crippling Beijing’s institutional capacity and may soon lead to food shortages. In fact, the precarity of food supply further diminishes the level of trust for Chinese authorities.

In 2019, the Pew Research Center conducted a public opinion survey to examine the international views of China. In the U.S., Argentina, the U.K., Canada, Germany, and Ukraine, only about 30% of respondents claim a favorable view of China.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages in the U.S., as many as 73% of U.S. respondents view China unfavorably.

Recently, the C.C.P. is losing its focus by continuously shifting targets. In fact, I believe there is no need for the C.C.P.to rely on nationalistic appeals, since in this new century values, business relations, and fair competition are all far more important than greater than delusive blood ties.
China lies only 130 kilometers away from us. Of course, we welcome dialogue and seek to avoid misjudgments. But we also distinguish between the C.C.P. and China. While we do welcome dialogue, but we will not be coerced to talk under unjust preconditions or in fear.

The only fair prerequisites are those of reciprocity, mutual respect as well as fairness and openness with respect for the rule of law.
Source: Pew Research Center

最近看到紐約時報中文版的一篇文章
<美國的川普，中國的「川建國」>，其中一小段是這樣的

「在中國，人們戲稱川普的中文名字是川建國。那是因為建國是共產黨愛國者中一個普遍的革命人名。它在諷刺地暗示川普對美國的治理不當實際上是在鞏固習近平的政權。」

裡面也提到，川普在任的幾年，國家更分裂，對於氣候變遷，傳統美國盟友，乃至於疫情處理等都相當拙劣，對於美國傳統的自由貿易、人權等價值也基本上都沒有太大興趣。這些方針，導致美國在世界的評價降低，波頓的新書也多有描述。

除此之外，許多不幸相信中共宣傳，又或者是中共圈養的小粉紅，特別故意愛宣傳川普增強中國的威望。

但這不是真的。

中共完全沒有掌握美國做得不夠好的地方，去增強其在世界的領導力。

在2016年時，秘魯的亞太峰會舉行期間，習近平政權爭取（RCEP）及亞太自由貿易區（FTAAP）談判；對比2017年初，美國剛宣布退出ＴＰＰ，加上中國到「一帶一路」和亞洲基礎設施投資銀行，中國當時在世界全面發揮投資貿易、高科技併購還有其地緣戰略的影響力。

也是那個時候，各種的大國崛起、大國軍工、大國科技的宣傳影片此起彼落，似乎正準備要在世界舞台發光發熱。

這曾經是中共慢慢轉向的一個機會之窗。彼時（2017)美國盟友對美國總統的不信任度達到歷史新高，根據皮尤研究中心的資訊，英國對於美國總統的不信任度達到75%、日本72% 澳洲70% 法國更高達86%

如果那時中共開始有限度的改革，對內放寬言論自由，或者至少維持在胡溫當時的水中，對外追求有責任的基礎建設，逐步緩慢減低不公平的貿易壁壘，對於國有企業改革，增強私營企業、新創企業的活力。

停止對新疆迫害，不干預香港自治，不僅國際形象會大幅改善，哪怕是緩慢但是穩健的改革，也會讓大量吸引外資，讓中國的活力持續前進。

哪怕是什麼都不做也好

那或許有這麽一點可能性，中國「夢」是可以前行的

但是歷史機緣的大門已經關上。

習、禁、停、放棄了這個機會之窗，徹底的走向相反的方向。

更專制、更沒有彈性，更沒有任何制衡的力量。各種戰狼外交，讓瑞典議員提案驅逐中國大使，捷克布拉格市長與台北簽訂姊妹是，就解散上海與該市關係、被美國關閉領事館、各種讓中國形象低下的事情，中共都沒有少做。

中共不但完全沒有辦法取代美國，在多重國內外的衝擊之下，又是瘟疫，又是超大水患，緊接著蝗害，還有進來的糧食不足問題，正在面臨巨大的瓶頸。

而糧食的命脈，卻恰恰又在對他最不信任，對中共價值最反對的國家聯盟

根據皮尤研究中心:Pew Research Center2019調查各國對中國的喜好度，美國、阿根廷、英國、加拿大、德國、烏克蘭等，對於中國的喜好度都在30%上下

而2020疫情後美國對於中國的不信任度，更高達73%。

最近中共在演習，又要玩轉移目標的手段，對於中共，其實不必再有民族主義的同情，因為新的世紀，價值、商業模式、公平競爭的制度大於血緣幻想。

中國離我們只有130公里的距離，我們當然歡迎對話，避免誤判。但我們同時也區分中共與中國，歡迎對話，但不在前提、條件、恐懼之下對話。

如果真的要有前提，那就是對等、尊重，還有公平公開法治的方式會晤。

資料來源：皮尤研究中心:Pew Research Center
（美國著名的民調機構和智庫機構，https://www.pewresearch.org/）

《明周》今天收到伊利沙伯醫護人員W（化名）投訴，指出他所工作的隔離病房由即日起不獲分派N95口罩。

W指出，根據醫管局指引，病人如是列入「Enhance Surveillance」的類別，便可按情況自由選擇N95或外科口罩。然而，當局近日因貨源不足，決定收起N95裝備不供醫護使用，他表示十分憤怒和無奈。

「院方跟我們說，要病房有確診個案才准用N95。如果對着一般沒有『signs and symptoms』、只是『enhance surveillance』的病人都不能用。」

他所在的隔離病房，是沒有雙門及適當穿戴保護衣的空間，但同時會接收不少急症室送上來的個案。「昨日收到個個案，病人沒有直說外遊歷史，我們走去追看入境紀錄才發現他去過湖北旁邊的省市。」面對這堆源源不絕的「隱形病人」，他們以後連一個基本保護自己的N95口罩都不能戴。

「較少人留意的是，戴N95好焗，令人好難唞氣。很多時候導致我們鼻涕狂流，但是就算濕掉，同事怕浪費都不捨得換。」他形容，長時間戴N95口罩工作絕不好受，但這是他們的最後防線。

他眼看不少前線醫護同事，面對確診個案，即使物資短缺仍然「頂硬上」：「例如有個病人一小時要抽三次血，我們為了慳保護衣留在病房一小時，Full gear（保護衣、N95口罩、Face shield）穿上身，汗流浹背，眼罩面罩都在起霧。你以為我們真的在浪費嗎？」

每次除保護衣更是膽顫心驚：「每個步驟跟着做，包得適當，確保身上沒有污染物。」每除一樣，都要洗一次手，一天來回洗無數次，他們很多人的手都洗到「爆拆」幾乎爛掉。

而他認為，相反高層心裏只有盤數，「經常只是呻說沒貨源，做靚stock條數。那我們的生命呢？」

他選擇做醫護，早已預備好面對各種傳染病風險，如愛滋病、肺結核等等，花了很長時間學習所有防護裝備。到了危急關頭，高層卻收起一切，讓他們識但無裝備可用。

W頓了頓，欲哭無淚拋下最後一句，「難道等我們都受感染才能戴嗎？」

【我的新式教學法，被報導出來了】

法國波爾多葡萄酒學院，在全球擁有超過250位國際認證講師。我從2008年獲得認證，至今已經超過10年，在國際講師社群裡，屬於資深的那一輩。但是我教葡萄酒已經將近20年，在這20年當中，我不斷精進自己，最後，我發現不但要精進自己的知識，也要精進自己的教學功力。

在近年來，我嘗試不同的教學方法，不斷突破與改變，每當我得到新的啟發與成功經驗，我也分享出去，試著影響同儕講師。今年的一些契機，讓我一口氣收成了過去幾年的努力。讓大家看見，講師，不但要有料，而且要會教。

波爾多葡萄酒學院今年年初舉辦講師年會，鼓勵講師多多運用新式教學法，我深有同感，立即著手為2019的波爾多葡萄酒學院大師講堂（台南場與台北場），設計了全新的內容與課堂活動。

課後，我把這兩場的規劃心得與課堂實際操作經驗，分享在波爾多葡萄酒學院國際認證講師專屬的內部社群裡，還把整個課程的直播，濃縮剪輯成有註解說明的教學短片，附了英文字幕，希望其他國際講師都能從我的文章與短片裡，得到教學方法與課堂設計的啟發。

這兩場大師講堂不只在台灣業界留下迴響，甚至「驚動」了法國波爾多葡萄酒學院。當他們計畫要針對新式教學法做一份專題報導，便想到了我。這份報導在最近一期電子報刊出，還附了一張我今年回波爾多參加培訓的照片。

報導裡提到我所說的：「在課堂裡，講師講得愈少，學生學得愈好。這不意謂講師偷懶，恰恰相反，講師在課前反而要做更多準備工作，包括設計課堂活動、分組討論、遊戲化教學等。這些非傳統講述式的課堂操作，目的是要讓學生參與實作與主動思考。準備課程的時間增加了，但是教學效果也提升了，非常值得。」

為了濃縮龐大的酒類知識體系而不至於簡單到出了錯，我不斷學習研究。
真心想把我所面對的人教會，我不斷精進課堂教學方法與技術。
像我這樣的講師，站在你的面前，你分辨得出來嗎？

（節錄）
Using the Montessori method

“I really love the new teaching techniques the Bordeaux Wine has showed us“, states Paul Wang, based in Taiwan. Since his accreditation in 2008, he has participated in a workshop with Franck Thomas[1] at the convention, which has enabled him to enhance his teaching methods. Paul writes very detailed posts about his methods, which he shares on the Bordeaux Wine School tutor’s Facebook page Wine O’Club. He is convinced that “the most efficient way of learning is by participating” and encourages tutors to break away from conventional lecture-style teaching methods. “Ideally, the teacher should only speak 20% of the time, according to Franck Thomas. Speaking less does not mean the tutor is lazy, quite the opposite, insists the Taiwanese tutor. “This means spending even more time beforehand developing activities (discussion groups, presentations, games, etc.) so that students can get involved and learn independently. I now spend a lot longer preparing my courses, but the results are definitely worth it.”

【報導全文】
https://www.ecoleduvindebordeaux.com/…/take-your-training-…/

【2019波爾多葡萄酒公會大師講堂】台北場照片
https://www.facebook.com/paul.peng.wang.wine.beer.spirits.specialist.taster/posts/2308001019309370