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China

After Chanel Perfume, Brad Pitt Now Hocking Cadillacs In China

ECONOMIC OBSERVER (China)

Worldcrunch

BEIJING - From Brangelina to Bradillac? You have to be in China, but car lovers and movie fans now have a new automotive pinup after Brad Pitt was named official spokesman for the luxury Cadillac XTS sedan, being rolled out especially for the Chinese market.

The parent company of the Cadillac brand, Shanghai GM, is betting big on Pitt's star power. Cadillac only sold 30,000 cars in the Chinese market last year, well behind other premium carmakers such as Audi, BMW, and Volvo.

Beijing's Economic Observer reports that several more Chinese automobile companies are now negotiating with other A-list Hollywood stars to endorse their cars. Last year, Volvo hired Jeremy Lin, the Taiwanese-American NBA basketball star, as the latest celeb to tout Western wares, becoming the face of the VOLVO S60.

Economic Observer notes that the company that attaches the greatest importance to celebrity endorsement is Mercedes-Benz China, which has signed up George Clooney, Roger Federer and Kobe Bryant.

Brad Pitt, himself, made advertising waves last year by becoming the first man to hock Chanel perfume. A true Oscar-caliber performance...?

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Geopolitics

D.C. Or Beijing? Two High-Stakes Trips — And Taiwan's Divided Future On The Line

Two presidents of Taiwan, the current serving president, Tsai Ing-wen, and her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou from the opposition Kuomintang party, are traveling in opposite directions these days. Taiwan must choose whom to follow.

Photo of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, is traveling to the United States today. Not on an official trip because Taiwan is not a state recognized by Washington, but in transit, en route to Central America, a strategy that allows her to pass through New York and California.

Ma Ying-jeou, a former president of Taiwan, arrived yesterday in Shanghai: he is making a 12-day visit at the invitation of the Chinese authorities at a time of high tension between China and the United States, particularly over the fate of Taiwan.

It would be difficult to make these two trips more contrasting, as both have the merit of summarizing at a glance the decisive political battle that is coming. Presidential and legislative elections will be held in January 2024 in Taiwan, which could well determine Beijing's attitude towards the island that China claims by all means, including force.

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