From today's Standard:
With last year's Beijing Olympics successfully behind it, the mainland is counting down to its next big party: the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. But will the United States show up?
With deadlines approaching, the US contingent is scrambling for the cash from corporate sponsors for a national pavilion, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Companies are apparently hesitant to invest in a building in which their names and logos will be displayed subtly rather than splashed out front. Add to the mix the financial crisis and a US recession, and it's not hard to see the difficulties.
However, not turning up could, in many people's view, hurt bilateral relations and American commercial interests.
"I think it'd be tragic if the US isn't represented in this expo," said Nick Winslow, a theme-park expert who, with lawyer Ellen Eliasoph, was picked to develop a US pavilion and show. They say they have until April to raise the US$84 million (HK$655 million) estimated for the project. They have just US$500,000 so far.
A US no-show would really hurt America's image among the Chinese public, Sidney Rittenberg, a China consultant based in Washington state, told the paper.
"Most will feel it's a deliberate humiliation," he said.
"It's going to stir up a lot of bad feelings," including the possibility of boycotts of US goods.