Key words: Child bikini models at car show rev debate, China, US issues key for ASEAN talks

Child bikini models at car show rev debate

Organizers of an auto show in Wuhan, Hubei Province has become the target of public outcry after photos of child models posing in bikinis at the event circulated online.

The girls, no older than six, posed like adult models in bikinis at the 2012 Chutian Auto Culture Festival on November 16. The photos sparked a tirade of criticism online accusing the auto show, the modeling agency and parents for exploiting the children.

A manager with the Wuhan-based modeling agency 7-Wind Model Costume denied ever asking the children to wear bikinis while one mother involved said her daughter had gained confidence by participating in the show, the Global Times reported.

However, Chinese media largely sided with public opinion and chastised the parents and agency for making such young children pose in bikinis.

"Innocent children have been polluted by a mercenary company and muddle-headed parents," said a Beijing Times opinion piece.

The article not only asserted that such modeling can have a negative effect on a child's psychological development, but also railed against child modeling in general, saying "children may neglect their studies thinking modeling is easy money."  The paper also appealed for government intervention to prevent similar cases in the future.

Rednet.cn, a portal site in Hunan Province, said that "bikini modeling is obviously not for children", expressing concern that such may attract the "wrong kind of audience" and accused parents for putting their children in harm's way. 

"Children may like getting the attention and parents should encourage that, but not by making them wear bikinis," said the Rednet article.

Then why do parents allow kids to do so？The Shandong-based Qilu Evening News opined that behind every child model is a pushy parent living vicariously through their children.

"Parents impose their definition of success on children and try to fulfill it in the name of engaging with society."

The Legal Daily opined that "child modeling is exploitative by nature and "a form of abuse."

"The organizer gets press, visitors satisfy their curiosity and parents are compensated," said Legal Daily, "but they are consuming the children."

Related article:

Auto show stalls over preteen promo girls

China, US issues key for ASEAN talks

Newly re-elected US President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend an ongoing Southeast Asian summit on November 20, where China's role in the region and South China Sea disputes will be major issues addressed by Southeast Asian leaders.

Ever since the 21st ASEAN Summit kicked off on November 18 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Chinese media has speculated on the influence of these two nations, while stressing that cooperation is key for China to maintain a positive presence in the region. 

"As China is the largest ASEAN trading partner, cooperation with China is more urgent than guarding against any 'China threat'," according to a Global Times editorial.

"Although [the US] may subtly influence countries in the region through politics or its military, they have experienced this many times over the past four years, and is losing its effectiveness," read the editorial. 

"Some ASEAN countries have to make a hard decision about how to balance their interests between China and the US," said Zheng Hao, a commentator with Phoenix TV.

In order to settle regional concerns over its fast growth and its dispute with Japan in the South China Sea, Zheng suggests that China needs to stress policies of peaceful development and cooperation with the Southeast Asia.

The People's Daily echoed the importance of regional cooperation, while emphasizing how the global financial crisis has forced Southeast Asia to address environmental and resource issues. 

"Demand for food and energy at the expense of the environment in Asia has increased since the crisis took place, and as the largest energy consumers in the world, cooperation among Asian counties will have a global impact," commented the People's Daily.