CMP Newswire
These are regular summaries of breaking news, important commentaries and other tidbits from Chinese media, translated with background by CMP staff.
- Beijing Press Office Hails Debut of "Beijing Spirit" Ad on CNN, Times Squarehttp://news.qq.com/a/20120201/000297.htm (2012-02-01) ― The external publicity office of the Beijing Municipal Government announced yesterday that a video advertisement plugging the “Beijing Spirit” (北京精神) would debut soon on CNN, on a mega screen on New York’s Times Square, and in other media. A report on the announcement began with enthusiasm: “The Beijing spirit that has been highly endorsed by residents [of Beijing] will this year go out into the world through a series of external cultural exchange events.” The core concepts of the “Beijing Spirit” campaign are: “Patriotism, innovation, tolerance and virtue” (爱国、创新、包容、厚德). Beijing authorities formally announced the four core concepts of the “Beijing Spirit” back in November 2011.
- Writer Hong Feng Attacked in Yunnan Villagehttp://news.qq.com/a/20120201/000231.htm (2012-02-01) ― Yunnan Online reports that well-known Chinese writer Hong Feng (洪峰) was seriously beaten and suffered three broken bones in an attack by villagers in Huize County on January 22, stemming from a dispute over rented land. Hong was quoted in the report as saying the attack was led by the head of the Party branch in Mawu Village (马武村) in Yunnan’s Huize County (会泽县), who was angry about land being used by Hong and his wife, Jiang Yan (蒋燕). Hong is still being treated in hospital.
- Popular blogger Han Han denies accusations he has used a ghostwriterhttp://www.china.org.cn/arts/2012-01/17/content_24429027.htm (2012-01-18) ― In recent days, popular blogger and social critic Han Han (韩寒) has been the center of controversy in China after a blogger called Mai Tian (麦田) alleged that many of Han’s writings were penned by others, including Han’s father. In a blog post earlier this week, Han Han denied the allegations, challenging his accusers to present evidence: “If anyone can prove these ghostwriting allegations, I’ll gladly award them 20 million yuan. I’ll stop all writing and transfer all copyrights for my previous works to my accusers.” In The Beijing News today, Chen Xiwo (陈希我) comes to the defense of Han Han by addressing related accusations that his image has been massaged by a team of consultants. Chen’s response: so what? Is there anything wrong with a celebrity getting help with their own packaging?
http://view.news.qq.com/a/20120118/000025.htm - Chen Fang: growth alone can’t fix social tensionshttp://view.news.qq.com/a/20120118/000027.htm (2012-01-18) ― In today’s China Youth Daily commentator Chen Fang (陈方) argues that social tensions in China cannot be resolved by spurring economic growth alone. Chen writes: “The point of economic development is to make the people more prosperous. Unfortunately, in our development model up to now, a number of local officials have placed more emphasis on the importance of development, always believing that issues of public welfare can be set to one side, that perhaps with development these public welfare issues will resolve themselves. In fact, once social tensions have gathered to a certain extent they will erupt again and again. Not only will public welfare issues be left unaddressed, but development will also be impacted.”
- Daughter of Party official in Shanxi province paid as health administrator while in collegehttp://view.news.qq.com/a/20120117/000019.htm (2012-01-17) ― Writing at The Beijing News today, lawyer Liu Changsong (刘昌松) explores the case of Yang Ye (杨烨), the daughter of the Party secretary of Shanxi’s Jingle County (静乐县), Yang Cunhu (杨存虎). Chinese media reported this week that Yang Ye has been paid more than 100,000 yuan over five years as an “administrator” for the province’s Center for Disease Control while studying full time at the Shanxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition to her salary and benefits, Yang’s tuition has been paid by the Center for Disease Control, media reported. Authorities in Shanxi responded to these revelations by formally issuing Yang Cunhu with a warning. In his commentary for The Beijing News, Liu Changsong argues that that Yang should be held criminally responsible for his actions, and that simple fines and warnings are not sufficient to discourage such conduct. In this case, of course, there is the further question — one Liu does not address — of what provincial-level officials were complicit.
- China announces initial public feedback on proposed school bus safety ruleshttp://news.qq.com/a/20120117/000080.htm (2012-01-17) ― The Legislative Affairs Office of China’s State Council announced yesterday that it had received 2,818 comments by e-mail and 7,030 written letters from the public concerning a proposed new national ordinance on school bus safety (校车安全条例草案). The proposed legislation was announced late last year in response to a series of tragic accidents involving school buses across the country. According to coverage by The Beijing News today, one of the strongest comments in response to the proposed legislation was that more funds go to the building of schools rather than focus on the safety of buses themselves. More schools, said many Chinese, would mean schools were closer and long bus journeys unnecessary.
- Vice-President Xi Jinping: the United States must see China’s strategic objectives "correctly"http://news.qq.com/a/20120117/000027.htm (2012-01-17) ― In a ceremony in Beijing yesterday, China commemorated the fortieth anniversary of US President Richard Nixon’s visit to China and the normalization of relations between China and the United States. At the event, China’s vice-president, Xi Jinping (习近平), the presumed successor to current president Hu Jintao, said healthy relations between the two countries required that the United States “correctly ascertain China’s strategies and development path.” It was on February 27, 1972, that China and the US issued the Shanghai Communiqué, a diplomatic document pledging both sides to work toward the normalization of relations. English coverage of this story by China Radio International is available here: http://english.cri.cn/6909/2012/01/17/2941s676510.htm
- Migrant worker writes letter to railway ministry to protest difficulty of buying tickets ahead of Chinese New Yearhttp://news.qq.com/a/20120105/000116.htm (2012-01-05) ― Chongqing Evening News, a commercial spin-off of the Party-run Chongqing Daily, reports today that a commercial newspaper in the city of Wenzhou ran an article yesterday by a migrant worker from Chongqing making an appeal to railway authorities after finding it nearly impossible to arrange rail travel ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday. In the letter, published by Wenzhou Metropolitan Daily, migrant worker Huang Qinghong (黄庆红) said he had gone four times to the railway station and sat in long lines to buy a train ticket home for the holidays, but each time failed to get a ticket. Huang was told by railway personnel that he could purchase tickets online or by phone. Huang pointed out in his letter, however, that online and telephone ticket purchases are difficult for migrant workers who face economic difficulties. The return of migrant workers from the city to the countryside is an annually recurring theme for news media ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday.
- State Administration of Work Safety Spokesman Explains New Bus Safety Rules as Web Users Fume Over Latest Crashhttp://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2011-12/13/c_122415649.htm (2011-12-13) ― On Tuesday, as Chinese web users chattered across social media about China’s latest bus crash, which left at least 15 schoolchildren dead on Monday, the official Xinhua News Agency ran a live online chat in which State Administration of Work Safety spokesman Huang Yi (黄毅) explained draft rules on school bus safety released over the weekend. The draft rules were introduced following a public outcry over bus safety that followed a November crash in Gansu province, in which 21 people died, 19 of them schoolchildren.
- Global Times: Durban Exposes the Naked Selfishness of the Westhttp://view.news.qq.com/a/20111212/000035.htm (2011-12-13) ― In a strongly-worded editorial today, sprinkled with humor (intended?) and innuendo, the Chinese-language Global Times newspaper criticizes “the West” for its “selfishness” during United Nations climate talks in Durban, South Africa. The editorial’s points and criticisms center on the debate at Durban (and ongoing) over whether China can and should still be regarded as a “developing nation” (More: http://bit.ly/s91PUm). One of the more amusing rhetorical devices: “In Western society there is a very common habit, which is that men and women both change their clothes at least once a day, or at least change one item of clothing. In China, very few people have this habit, because people don’t have that many clothes, and they can’t use that much water, electricity and laundry detergent, to make themselves over freshly every day.”
- Tong Dahuan on Air Pollution Numbers: The Age of Official Deception is Overhttp://blog.qq.com/qzone/622007901/1323147815.htm (2011-12-13) ― Writing on his blog at QQ.com, columnist Tong Dahuan (童大焕) takes authorities in Beijing to task for not coming clean on the city’s air pollution measures last week, as numbers from the US. Embassy in Beijing were sharply at odds with official numbers. Tong writes: “I want to say that the age of [a Confucius said] ‘pushing the people to act but keeping them ignorant of the reasons’ is gone and will never return [i.e., the old politics of the government keeping people in the dark]. And the age of official declarations going again and again against the common sense of the public will soon be ushered into the past. In the world there is ever common sense and justice, and it’s not a matter of whoever’s mouth is bigger gets to have the say about what is true. . . If official language, in the eyes of the public, always leaves nothing but rumor, who will ultimately have the last laugh?”
- Central Economic Working Conference Emphasizes "Stable Economic Growth" for 2012http://news.qq.com/a/20111213/000078.htm (2011-12-13) ― At a economic planning session in Beijing yesterday, Chinese government officials said the emphasis for economic policy in 2012 would be “stable economic growth.” In its coverage of the Central Economic Work Conference, the official People’s Daily said that “the present round of crisis-prevention measures” (一轮反危机操作) would focus on tax cuts and incentives rather than stimulus spending.
- QQ Special Page Aggregates China Coverage of Boat Skirmish with South Koreahttp://news.qq.com/zt2011/hanguohjbc/ (2011-12-13) ― In what has been the most violent skirmish so far between Chinese fisherman and South Korean coast guard, one South Korean officer was killed yesterday and a second injured in an attack by a Chinese boat captain as coast guard tried to stop the Chinese boat. More coverage in English here: http://on.wsj.com/uazMOs
QQ.com, one of China’s most popular web portals, has a special page today aggregating coverage of this story, leading with a notice from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urging South Korean authorities to treat the Chinese boat captain humanely and protect his rights. - Beijing Police Investigating Death of Street Cleaner on Beijing Film Academy Campushttp://news.qq.com/a/20111206/000077.htm (2011-12-06) ― The commercial Beijing Times newspaper reports today that Beijing police are now investigating the death of a street cleaner on the campus of the Beijing Film Academy. Media reports say the cleaner had an argument with a student at the academy over the parking of a luxury vehicle. As the student and cleaner were fighting, police say, the cleaner suddenly collapsed and was later pronounced dead. Details on the student’s identity have not yet been released, but speculation on Chinese social media is running hot, with many making unsubstantiated claims that the student is rich, well-connected, or both, and that this case is a replay of the scandal involving the son of prominent Chinese vocalist Li Shuangjiang earlier this year (http://news.linktv.org/videos/china-rich-kids-gone-wild).
- Peng Xiaoyun: Let Public Debate Become a Dress Rehearsal for Democracyhttp://view.news.qq.com/a/20111206/000026.htm (2011-12-06) ― Two opinion pieces do not make for a trend, but it is interesting to not that the Chinese-language Global Times newspaper, which has a reputation for conservatism and nationalistic saber-rattling, has recently run pieces by both Peng Xiaoyun (彭晓芸) and Guo Yukuan (郭于宽) — veteran journalists at the liberal end of China’s political spectrum. In an opinion piece in the Global Times today, Peng writes about the potential of microblogs in China as a platform allowing for greater discussion of public affairs, a necessary preparation of the public for democratic reforms. The headline of Peng’s piece at QQ.com reads: “Let Public Debate Become an Exercise for Democracy.”
- Academic Corruption: Historian Yuan Weishi Shares Chinese Ad for Paid-for Journal Publicationhttp://weibo.com/1210520227/xArwVkafK (2011-12-06) ― Writing on his Sina Microblog account yesterday, Guangzhou historian Yuan Weishi (袁伟时) shared a group e-mail he received offering him (and other academics) the opportunity to pay 24,000 yuan (US$3,785) to publish a paper in Academic Exploration (学术探索), a Yunnan-based journal launched in 1993. The e-mail reads: “Publication can be arranged for submitted manuscripts in the January 2012 issue of Academic Exploration (Peking University Chinese-language Citation Index, Nanjing University Chinese Social Citation Index/CSSCI). No page fees (版面费) are charged. Please pay a handling fee (理事费) of 24,000 yuan (receipts not issued). . . “
- Wuhan Police Seek Breakthrough in Bombing Case Through Social Mediahttp://news.qq.com/a/20111205/000083.htm (2011-12-05) ― Chinese media report today that “Peaceful Wuhan,” the official microblog of the Wuhan Public Security Bureau, made a post yesterday asking the public to provide information about a recent bomb blast in the city, offering a 100,000-yuan reward for information leading to a breakthrough. On December 1, a bomb blast next to a middle school in Wuhan killed two passersby and injured 10 other people. Wuhan police quickly responded to the case on social media, even providing surveillance video taken of the street where the blast occurred.
- Veteran Journalist Sums Up State of Chinese Media on Weibohttp://weibo.com/1224623833/xAvGm4IXb (2011-12-05) ― Writing on his microblog account at Sina Weibo today, freelance journalist Fu Guoyong (傅国涌), who writes for Southern Weekend and other publications, summed up China’s media today as follows: “A journalist asked me how I assess the media today. I said, strictly speaking, there are no relatively independent popular [or "non-governmental"] media today. While there are a large number of marketized media (市场化媒体), it is still the Party media behind them. Though we can’t really say that everyone must simply accept control by propaganda organizations, their mouthpiece function surpasses their monitoring function. There is only a Xinhua Daily (http://xh.xhby.net/newxh/html/2011-12/05/node_2.htm) tradition, only a Party mouthpiece tradition, not a L’Impartial tradition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Kung_Pao) or a Shen Bao (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shen_Bao) tradition.” L’Impartial (or Ta Kung Pao) and Shen Bao were celebrated independent Chinese newspapers during China’s Republican era.
- Global Times: China Has No Responsibility to Take Part in Iran’s Suppressionhttp://view.news.qq.com/a/20111205/000009.htm (2011-12-05) ― In an editorial today, the Chinese-language Global Times comments on the ongoing international controversy over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying that China has no responsibility to get involved without available proof that the country is developing nuclear weapons technology. The editorial says: “China resolutely opposes Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, but there must be clear evidence to prove that Iran is behaving in this way before our country can take part in sanctions over related activities. Right now there are two dangers. The first is that Iran might be secretly developing nuclear weapons; the second is that the West is seeking to undermine Iran in the name of opposing nuclear weapons. We do not believe that between these two dangers, either danger can be said to be the lesser.”
- China National Radio: China Telecom Announces it Will Cooperate With Anti-Monopoly Investigationhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111202/001302.htm (2011-12-02) ― According to a report by China National Radio, China Telecom announced on its official website today that it will “actively cooperate” with an investigation by China’s National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) into monopoly practices in the telecoms sector, which is dominated by China Telecom and China Unicom.
- Ministry of Health: New Milk Quality Standards Not Influenced by Companieshttp://news.qq.com/a/20111201/000183.htm (2011-12-01) ― China’s Ministry of Health responded in state media today to public concerns that new quality standards for the milk industry in China had been influenced by major milk producers in the country, as some experts have publicly alleged in recent days. The MOH said the new standards had been drafted by 70 experts, including 24 from various universities and government quality control agencies, and 9 representatives from milk companies (Abbot, Mead-Johnson, Danone, Sanyuan, Mengniu, Yili and Guangming). The other 37 “experts” were not specified.
- Chinese Media Cover International Aids Dayhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111130/001577.htm (2011-12-01) ― On the occasion of International Aids Day (December 1), many Chinese media have done reports or special features on HIV-Aids in China. News reports put the official number of HIV-positive Chinese at 780,000 “by end-of-year 2011.” QQ.com has created a special aggregation page today (http://news.qq.com/zt2011/2011wad/index.htm), which includes news and commentary as well as photos, video and essential information about HIV-Aids.
- Suspect Detained by Beijing Police for Issuing Threats on Social Mediahttp://report.qianlong.com/33378/2011/11/24/118@7521338.htm (2011-11-25) ― China National Radio and other media report today that Beijing police have detained a suspect alleged to have issued violent threats against another person on a domestic Twitter-like microblog site, in what appears to be the first case in China of law enforcement action taken into response to threats made on social media.
- Guangming Daily Editor-in-Chief Named New Head of China Central Televisionhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111124/001074.htm (2011-11-24) ― The official Xinhua News Agency announced in a news release this afternoon that Jiao Li (焦利), who has served as head of China’s state television broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) since May 2009, is being replaced by Hu Zhanfan (胡占凡), the current editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily newspaper. The Xinhua release said “other arrangements” were being made for Jiao Li but did not offer specifics.
- Former Editor-in-Chief of China Land Resource News Given 13-year Prison Term for Briberyhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111124/000802.htm (2011-11-24) ― The official Xinhua News Agency reports today that Liu Yunzhou (刘允洲), the former editor-in-chief of China Land Resource News (中国国土资源报) [www.clr.cn], has been sentenced to a 13-year prison term for allegedly accepting bribes relating to Zhejiang’s Hengdian New Summer Palace, a large property project.
- Prominent Social Media Users Report More Active Deletion of Postshttp://weibo.com/1336056181/xyOJliH13 (2011-11-24) ― A number of prominent social media users in China, including journalists, lawyers and academics, have reported experiencing more intense censorship of their posts on Twitter-like platforms such as Sina Weibo and QQ Weibo. In a post today called, “Please return the space to speak the truth to microblogs,” journalist Yu Shenghai (余胜海) writes: “Lately many of my microblog posts have been deleted.” Hang Zhiguo (韩志国) and Yu Jianrong (于建嵘), both prominent Beijing scholars, have also recently reported that many of their social media posts have been “harmonized,” a common Chinese slang for censorship, and that they have received official “ultimatums” (通牒) from platform managers.
- Siemens Faces Image Crisis as Chinese Campaign Against Faulty Productshttp://view.news.qq.com/zt2011/siemens/index.htm (2011-11-24) ― Earlier this week, celebrity Chinese blogger Luo Yonghao (罗永浩) launched a public campaign through Chinese social media against the German household goods manufacturer Siemens, alleging that its refrigerators sold in China are faulty and that the company has failed to respond to repeated customer concerns. In a video released online in China, Liu and others smashed Siemens brand refrigerators with sledgehammers before posing for a group photo holding up signs that read: “Gently demanding that Siemens admit to and resolve problems with its refrigerator doors.” http://v.ku6.com/show/eJw2eImY_8WW28YI.html Chinese media coverage today quotes unsubstantiated claims by Chinese blogger Wang Xiaofeng (王小峰) alleging that media have been warned by a public relations company representing Siemens that advertisements would be pulled from any media reporting on Liu Yonghao’s destruction of Siemens brand refrigerators.
- New Guangdong Regulation Allows Set-up of Social Organizations Without Parent Organization Sponsorshiphttp://news.sina.com.cn/c/2011-11-24/023323514845.shtml (2011-11-24) ― According to a report by the official Xinhua News Agency, China’s southern Guangdong province has introduced new regulations allowing social organizations (社会组织) to register directly with the Ministry of Civil Affairs without sponsorship by a so-called “competent organization” (主管单位), generally superior bodies with Party or government affiliation that serve a direct supervisory role. The new regulation is part of a recently-introduced Guangdong policy program to manage and foster the development of social organizations. The impact of the regulations in practical terms of course remains to be seen. Beijing Normal University professor Wang Zhenyao (王振耀) yesterday called the regulations “an advantageous breakthrough,” and said they would lower the threshold for the creation of social organizations in the province.
- China Red Cross Denies Forcing Students to Pay Membership Feeshttp://news.qq.com/a/20111123/000911.htm (2011-11-23) ― The Red Cross Society of China, a government-run charity organization, issued a public statement today denying that Chinese primary and middle school students have been “forced” by some of its local branches into joining the organization and paying membership fees. The claims were made in a report yesterday from China Economic Weekly, a spin-off publication of the CCP’s official People’s Daily newspaper (http://news.qq.com/a/20111122/000034.htm). The Red Cross Society of China, which has faced repeated scandal this year over its use of charity funds, maintained today that membership in the organization was strictly voluntary and that membership fees nationally for students had been capped at 5 yuan.
- Oriental Morning Post: Villager Detained 232 Days Before Release Without Trialhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111123/000211.htm (2011-11-23) ― Shanghai’s Oriental Morning Post reports today on the case of petitioning Guangdong villager Liu Qiyi (刘启意), who was apparently detained by local police in Huidong County (惠东县) on October 21, 2009, and charged with “harming social order.” Police reportedly referred Liu’s case to prosecutors on February 3, 2010, but it was not only June 9 of the same year that the courts decided to release Liu without a trial.
- Hebei Official Fired in 2008 Poison Milk Scandal Appears at Provincial Party Meetinghttp://news.sohu.com/20111123/n326571653.shtml (2011-11-23) ― Chinese social media buzzed with anger today after news media reported that Wu Xianguo (吴显国), one of the most senior officials removed in the midst of the 2008 poisoned milk scandal, was present at an annual meeting of top Hebei Party officials on November 18. Wu is the former top leader of Hebei’s Shijiazhuang city and a former member of the provincial standing committee of the CCP. His presence at the meeting suggests he is still active in Hebei politics three years after the milk scandal, which centered on the Shijiazhuang-based milk company Sanlu.
- Lessons in "Virtue" Mandated for Chinese Civil Servantshttp://politics.caijing.com.cn/2011-11-02/111370745.html (2011-11-02) ― According to The Beijing News, China’s State Administration of Civil Service (国家公务员局) has recently released a document calling on all government employees in the country to complete at least 6 hours of training on “professional ethics” during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015). The plan said training would focus on employees at the “grass-roots level” who deal most directly with the public. A post on this news story by the official microblog of Caijing magazine included a cartoon in which a bulldozer labeled “forced demolition” busts through a wall labeled “virtue” — the implication being that training on ethics and morals is fruitless so long as local leaders are empowered to act with impunity.
- China Youth Daily: Top Gansu Official Promotes "Cure by Pigs Feet" On Official Health Ministry Websitehttp://weibo.com/1642088277/xuPoPhURe (2011-10-28) ― The China Youth Daily, a newspaper published by China’s Communist Youth League, reports that Liu Weizhong (刘维忠), the head of the provincial health office in China’s Gansu province, has promoted “cure by pigs feet” on the office’s official website. Liu recently drew attention nationally when he encouraged practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to offer medical advice through social media. The China Youth Daily quotes experts as saying that the presence of pharmaceutical suppliers on the office’s website, and Liu’s advocacy of TCM are classical cases of stepping beyond the bounds of one’s official authority.
- Bo Xilai: Why Socialism is Superior to Capitalismhttp://politics.caijing.com.cn/2011-10-28/111183786.html (2011-10-28) ― Chongqing’s populist Party secretary Bo Xilai (薄熙来), a top contender for a position on China’s powerful Politburo Standing Committee in next year’s leadership transition, told a meeting of Party newspaper editors this week that “socialism is superior to capitalism in that it thinks about the majority of people, about common prosperity.” “This is a road different to that of the West,” said Bo, “and it is a road that the Chinese people must and can take.” But Bo Xilai warned Party leaders against complacency and inactivity, saying that if they were “overcautious and indecisive, warily protecting their own ‘shuttlecocks’, then they would be unable to accomplish anything.”
- QQ Special Topic: The Chilling Sage of Mei Xiaoyanghttp://view.news.qq.com/zt2011/xiema/bak.htm (2011-10-28) ― In a special page posted today to aggregate coverage and opinions, QQ.com deals with the sad and complicated case of Mei Xiaoyang (梅晓阳). The wife of veteran investigative reporter and CMP fellow Yang Haipeng (杨海鹏), Mei was recently convicted this month to four years in prison by a Shanghai court in allegations stemming from a management buyout (MBO) at her state-run landscape design company in the late 1990s. Mei has claimed that she is an unwitting victim and and has fallen prey to a corrupt system. One of China’s most prominent journalists, Yang Haipeng has posted actively about his wife’s case on social media over the past year. A full account of her Mei Xiaoyang’s story is posted to Yang’s blog: http://yanghaipeng.blog.ifeng.com/article/13691045.html
Yang and Mei have a seven year-old daughter. - Global Times: China Has Reason to be Happy About Changes in Burmahttp://view.news.qq.com/a/20111028/000030.htm (2011-10-28) ― An editorial in today’s Chinese-language Global Times argues against the idea that a relaxing political climate in neighboring Burma heralds a lesser friendship and a poorer trade relationship with China. Burma’s new president, Thein Sein, has led a series of changes in the country since being chosen by the national parliament last March, including the release of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and hundreds of other political prisoners. Last month, Thein Sein announced the suspension of a controversial Chinese dam project under construction in Burma’s Kachin State.
- Global Times: US Not Strong Enough for "New" War in the South China Seahttp://view.news.qq.com/a/20111027/000037.htm (2011-10-27) ― In another saber-rattling editorial today, the jingoistic Chinese-language Global Times newspaper analyzes the rosy prospects for Chinese successes in the event that military conflict breaks out in the South China Sea. The central argument in the piece is that the United States does not have a real interest in involving itself, and “does not have the strength to set off a ‘new’ war.”
- Zhang Qianfan: The Time Has Come to Eliminate Residency Restrictions on College Entrance Examhttp://view.news.qq.com/a/20111027/000030.htm (2011-10-27) ― Writing today at Southern Metropolis Daily, Peking University constitutional scholar Zhang Qianfan (张千帆) argues that the time is right to get rid of current restrictions that make it impossible for students with outside registration papers — usually the children of “rural” migrant laborers in China’s cities — to take the college entrance examination where they live. Zhang argues for one uniform national exam in place of the current system of 17 separate exams.
- China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Responds to News of Gadhafi’s Deathhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111021/000576.htm (2011-10-21) ― In a short interview-style news release on its official website today, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered its response to the news of the death of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. “Question: According to news reports, Gadhafi has been killed by the Libya’s National Transitional Council and his death has been confirmed. What is China’s response to this? Answer: We have seen related reports. A new chapter was already previously opened in Libya’s history. We hope a tolerant course of political transition can be opened quickly, preserving national unity and solidarity, quickly bringing social stability, and rebuilding the economy so that the people can live happy and prosperous lives.”
- Foshan Toddler Xiao Yueyue Dies in Hospitalhttp://news.inewsweek.cn/news-15370.html (2011-10-21) ― Chinese media report today that two-year-old Xiao Yueyue, who was struck twice by vehicles on a street in Foshan on October 13, and callously ignored by passersby until one woman finally stopped to assist her, died in hospital early this morning. Xiao Yueyue’s case has shocked China, sparking a debate over ethics, morality and social responsibility in Chinese society.
- Xiao Yueyue, Victim of Hit-and-Run in Foshan, Still in Critical Conditionhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111018/000113.htm (2011-10-18) ― In a follow-up report today on the case of Xiao Yueyue (小悦悦), a two year-old girl in Foshan, Guangdong province, who was struck twice by passing vehicles and left bleeding in the middle of the road as at least 18 passersby ignored her, Guangzhou Daily reports that Yueyue is stabilized but remains in critical condition in a Guangzhou hospital. QQ.com has set up a special feature page on the case, which is drawing broad national attention: http://news.qq.com/zt2011/fsnt/index.htm
The China Media Project has a round-up of the case here:
http://cmp.hku.hk/2011/10/18/16469/ - Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China’s Joint Statement with Vietnam on Maritime Issues Has "Nothing to Do with the Philippines"http://news.qq.com/a/20111018/000100.htm (2011-10-18) ― In a piece promoted to the top of the news sections at major internet portal sites today, The Beijing News reports that a spokesman from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at a press conference yesterday that an October 12 joint statement between China and Vietnam on resolving maritime issues has “nothing to do with the Philippines.” In recent days, the Philippines has voiced opposition to the joint statement, calling instead for a multilateral approach to ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea. Xinhua News Agency’s report on the joint statement is here: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-10/12/c_131185606.htm
A China Daily report on the response from the Philippines is here: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-10/18/content_13920822.htm - Russian Quake Felt in China’s Heilongjiang Provincehttp://news.qq.com/a/20111014/001148.htm (2011-10-14) ― Chinese media report that an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale was felt in many areas of China’s northern Heilongjiang province. The quake occurred in Russia’s Amur region at around 2:10 pm today. According to a report from Platt’s, the earthquake’s magnitude was 6.1.
- Flying Leopard Fighter Jet Crashes at Shaanxi Air Showhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111014/000942.htm (2011-10-14) ― China’s official Xinhua News Agency reports that a Flying Leopard (飞豹飞机) fighter jet crashed at an international air show in Shaanxi province at around 10:45 am this morning Beijing time. No information was available yet concerning casualties. Eyewitnesses told the Xinhua reporter that the plane was making a dive during a performance when it suddenly dropped and crashed. Chinese internet news portal QQ.com has set up a special page on the incident, with aggregated news, pictures and videos.
- 56 die in three highway accidents on last day of October holidayhttp://news.qq.com/a/20111008/000063.htm (2011-10-08) ― The Beijing News reports today that 56 people died in three separate serious car highway accidents in China yesterday. In the most serious accident, which occurred near the city of Tianjin, 35 people were killed and 18 injured, most of them college students from Hebei province.
- Bankruptcy crisis in Wenzhou impacts nearly 90 percent of familieshttp://news.qq.com/a/20111008/000146.htm (2011-10-08) ― On October 4, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid an official visit to the southern city of Wenzhou, long known for its entrepreneurial streak, to address a crisis of surging bankruptcies in which small and medium-sized businesses have defaulted in startling numbers on high-interest loans provided by private lenders in recent years, as larger banks have refused loans to smaller enterprises. The Beijing News reports today that the crisis has “dragged in” close to 90 percent of families in Wenzhou, where private lending has become a common form of investment. Since April this year there have reportedly been regular suicide attempts by company bosses in Wenzhou, and since last month alone there have been 25 documented cases of bosses jumping from buildings or throwing themselves in front of traffic.
- The Beijing News: Migrant Worker Commits Suicide on Beijing Construction Sitehttp://news.qq.com/a/20111007/000104.htm (2011-10-07) ― The Beijing News, a commercial newspaper in Beijing that recently came under the control of the city’s propaganda department, reports today that a migrant worker was found dead in an onsite dormitory Wednesday after apparently hanging himself. The report said fellow workers from his hometown believed he had committed suicide under extreme economic and family pressures. The case is still under investigation, the newspaper said.
- Explosion at factory in Inner Mongolia Kills 1, injures 6http://news.qq.com/a/20111007/000430.htm (2011-10-07) ― According to a report by the official China National Radio, an explosion occurred Thursday morning at a chemical factory in Inner Mongolia, killing at least one person and injuring six people. The report says one person is still listed as “missing.” The explosion occurred in Wuhai (乌海市), a prefectural-level city in Inner Mongolia.
- Global Times: South China Sea is "the Ideal Field of War"http://news.sina.com.cn/pl/2011-09-27/102323224062.shtml (2011-09-27) ― A hardline editorial in today’s edition of the Global Times newspaper, a spin-off of the official People’s Daily newspaper known for its nationalistic tone, argues against the backdrop of recent territorial disputes in the South China Sea that the region is an “ideal field of war from China’s standpoint” (要说战争, 我们可以先看看到底谁最害怕在南海开战). The editorial reads: “If it comes to war, we can look first at who is most afraid of war breaking out in the south seas. Right now there are more than 1,000 oil wells operating in the south sea, but China doesn’t have a single one; there are four airports on the Spratly Islands, not one of which is mainland China’s; nor does China have any important economic facilities there. As soon as war broke out . . . the south sea would become an ocean of fire, and those oil rigs towering from the south sea would become burning torches. Who would be harmed the most? As soon as war came, those Western oil companies would have to leave, so who would suffer greatest?”
- CCTV Nightly Newscast Gets a "Makeover"http://view.news.qq.com/a/20110926/000026.htm (2011-09-26) ― Chinese media report today that “Xinwen Lianbo” (新闻联播), China Central Television’s official nightly newscast, has brought on two fresh anchors, Ouyang Xiadan (欧阳夏丹) and Lang Yongchun (郎永淳). While coverage of the newest members of the “Xinwen Lianbo” team suggested the program was undergoing a “makeover” (改版), the changes are more cosmetic than substantive. The primary role of “Xinwen Lianbo” is still to convey the Party line and news focusses on the activities of top Party and state leaders.
