14 ‘China is the safest country in the world!’Translation, travel, and the problem of ‘fit’
Jonna Nyman
Introduction
I want to talk about failures of translation, travel problems, and ‘fit’. The title of this chapter reflects a recurring theme from my research on Chinese security politics: the idea that China is incredibly safe. The quote is from an interview with a Chinese security expert, but the sentiment is one I encountered on numerous occasions in formal interviews as well as in ordinary conversations with Chinese friends over dinner or drinks. Whenever people asked me to explain the focus of my research, it was by far the most common response. In Mandarin, the word for security, anquan, also means safe, ...
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