China's Yao Ming wins Party award

[Clandestino]

I think this is a big political sign of the way china is headed...



By Louisa Lim
BBC News, Beijing



Yao Ming's contract is worth nearly $18m
Communist China has officially named a multi-millionaire basketball star, Yao Ming, as a model worker.
It is an annual award given ahead of the Labour Day festivities on 1 May. But this year's choice has sparked controversy.

China's model workers were once picked from the ranks of the humble.

The award used to be reserved for selfless state-sector workers who devoted themselves to Marxist principles.

Bus conductors, teachers and plumbers were among the recipients.

The fact that a migrant worker such as himself can receive an award shows the development of society

Yao Ming
However, this year's model workers are headed up by basketball player Yao Ming.

His choice has been much debated in the media. Not only is he resident in the US, but his team Houston Rockets gave him a four-year contract worth almost $18m.

Many feel these two facts should disqualify him from the running. One paper noted acidly that one quarter of model workers in one particular province lived below the poverty line.

But Yao Ming has professed himself to be delighted with the honour.

"The fact that a migrant worker such as himself can receive an award shows the development of society," the Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

[The Ressurrected One]

That is interesting.