Originally Posted by
ORDflyer
For those who are upset with TSA, let me share how a REAL totalitarian state handles you at the airport. Odd mixture of procedures. First go through a metal detector, but WITH shoes on. No big deal, then head down to the gate. Right before the jet bridge, show your bag for a check against liquids. No big deal, but then the woman shouts "SECURITY ChECK" and frisks me top to bottom, quickly efficiently and including genital area. Not back of the hand gentle either. Didn't see anyone asserting their rights, because you don't have any.
First of all, the PRC is authoritarian, not totalitarian. Second, the gate frisk you experienced was not at the instance of the PRC, but of TSA, which requires all U.S. airlines (I don't not about foreign carriers) to conduct
private screening at the point of origin to TSA specs. The people who inspected you were either private security or government employees who were "moon-lighting."
Originally Posted by
jiejie
Don't go babbling about a "real totalitarian state"--I find a lot more professionalism and courtesy in Chinese airports than anywhere at USA ones. And you never get the "Do you want to fly today" crap and such. The US is a lot closer to a police state than it wants to believe, and has very little room to go bleating to others about human rights and civil rights.
I agree 100%. I have often commented on the courtesy and professionalism of Chinese airport security.
Originally Posted by
Affection
Joining the others in stating that I've been to Shanghai and encountered no problems. My feeling in general is that in countries where the citizens have no rights, foreigners, particularly Americans, are treated with great respect, beause they want our money.
People have rights in the PRC. These rights differ from those in the U.S. and are also not deemed inalienable and inherent -- in that regard the U.S. is actually rather unique in the world. Please don't equate the PRC with Stalinist Russia (or, for that matter, Maoist China), in which people really did not have any rights.
Originally Posted by
moondog
Add me to the list of people that has spent a considerable amount of time flying around China and feels that system is far better than the TSA. Recently, since Chinese airlines have seemingly stopped serving beer in Y on domestic flights, I've gotten into the habit of bringing lounge beer on board... and haven't encountered any resistance at all; knock on wood.
Same here.
Furthermore, a sizable portion --perhaps a majority-- of the groper girls are nice people IME.
They are indeed. I make a game of trying to get them to smile.
Originally Posted by
neko
Similarly, the number of foreign visitors is also fairly small and they are subject to some level of scrutiny while in China.
Neither statement is correct. Foreigners can roam freely anywhere (and I have and continue to do so), except military installations, of course. In the first 10 months of 2010, China reported 75 million foreign visitors.
It sounds like you're about 30 years behind the times.
Originally Posted by
neko
Pretty much anyone getting on an airplane in China has already been subject to careful scrutiny of their personal history and political views, because being considered "politically reliable" is pretty much a requirement for having the kind of job/money that would allow someone to travel by air (or to be in the country).
This is absolutely ridiculous. Apparently you've never traveled in China. Airfares are inexpensive, even by Chinese standards, and you'll find a mix of leisure and business travelers, just as in the U.S. No one is "vetted" for political reliability unless they're Party members.
I think China's lightweight airport security reflects a mix of common sense (^) and the extremely heavyweight security apparatus in other parts of society (
).
You're completely wrong on both counts.
Originally Posted by
Loren Pechtel
I've gotten a little annoyed at the identity requirements but since my wife is a native speaker it's not a big deal.
It's stupid to have to keep registering that we are staying at such-and-such an address. Why can't they simply keep it on file?
We've never had to do this. How long do you stay?