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China's Coal Addiction
Joel Brinkley
Before a large international audience in Shanghai for the World Expo, the director of China's National Energy Administration pledged to begin shutting down his country's coal-burning power plants and give 'greater priority to the development of clean and low-carbon energies.' If only that were true
Will China Rule the World?
William Pfaff
Possibly the most fashionable theme in current discussions of the future is whether China will replace the United States as the leading world power. That it will do so seems to be taken for granted in pop-historical circles, as well as among economic forecasters or futurists
Coping With China's Financial Power
Ken Miller
It is true that China's approach to economic development has turned that country into a lopsided giant, an export juggernaut with one huge financial arm. Never before has China had this much financial might, and it is now experimenting with how best to use it in its relations with other states. Although China sometimes sounds ambitious, it is being prudent.
China Is the Key to Handling Nuclear North Korea
Will Marshall
Engagement with North Korea has been a bust -- at least in South Korea's eyes. In sinking the South Korean warship Cheonan, the regime in Pyongyang also torpedoed the South's 'sunshine policy' of humanitarian aid and economic investment in the North. Let's hope the incident also shatters some illusions in Washington.
What China's Currency Reform Means For Investors
Rob Silverblatt
The Chinese government's move to allow its currency, the renminbi, to appreciate against the dollar provided a big boost for U.S. stocks as investors expressed their confidence that American companies will be able to gain a firmer foothold in China's notoriously protective economy.
Chamber of Commerce Aims to Boost Trade With China
Paul Bedard
It seems fitting that Avis, the 'We Try Harder' car rental firm, advertises on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website, including on the page that features bios of top execs. Because nobody tries harder to promote the cause of America's companies than the chamber's President Thomas Donohue. But Donohue has an additional job: boosting fair trade with China
Chinese Growth Expected to Boost Asian Markets Long-Term
Andrew Leckey
While Asian markets have been slowed this year by global worries and remain volatile, dramatic Chinese growth is expected to drive them ahead longer-term. That makes them hard to resist for investors, especially with lower stock prices, despite worries that China's economy and real estate market have come too far too fast
Korean Tensions: Waiting for China
Sheila A. Smith
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, after a measured response to the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel two months ago, announced Seoul's own actions, including a freeze in trade with the North. Lee also said that should another such incident occur, South Korea would take all steps necessary for self defense
The Geography of Chinese Power
Robert D. Kaplan
China's blessed geography is so obvious a point that it tends to get overlooked in discussions of the country's economic dynamism and national assertiveness. Yet it is essential: it means that China will stand at the hub of geopolitics even if the country's path toward global power is not necessarily linear
The Rise of Asia's Universities
Richard C. Levin
The rapid economic development of Asia since World War II has forever altered the global balance of power. These countries recognize the importance of an educated work force to economic growth, and they understand that investing in research makes their economies more innovative and competitive.
Latin America Must Diversify Trade With China
Andres Oppenheimer
There are reasons to worry about the future of the China-Latin America love affair. While China's massive purchases of Latin American goods have been a godsend to the region growing numbers of economists say China-Latin America trade flows are likely to grow at a slower pace in coming years.
China Should Be Ashamed of Its Aid to Haiti
Andres Oppenheimer
When China's President Hu Jintao visits Latin America, somebody should tell him in unmistakable terms: If China wants to be a well-respected world power, it should be a better global citizen. That's the first thing that came to my mind when I read the results of the UN Donors Conference for Haiti. The Chinese contribution was, to put it nicely, pitiful
The Google Syndrome: China's Corporate Woes
Rob Silverblatt
As business relations between the United States and China sour, many see Google's partial exit from the Chinese economy--the company still hopes to maintain a limited presence in mainland China--as a test case that other foreign firms will use to evaluate whether they can afford to ruffle Beijing's feathers.
Side by Side in Need for Green Growth: China and America try cooperation
Joshua Kucera
When President Obama took office last year, two of his top priorities were stronger action to stem global warming and a more collaborative, cooperative approach to solving international problems. By making climate change a primary focus in America's relationship with China the president sought to accomplish two goals in a single stroke.
Jolt for Energy Innovation: Government Investing
Kent Garber
The United States, as pretty much anyone will tell you, is racing China to develop clean energy technologies -- the wind turbines and solar panels and advanced batteries and energy storage devices of the future -- and there are a lot of people who are worried that the country is lagging, even losing, when it comes to innovation.
Who Will Be the New Global King of the Hill
William Pfaff
China and India stopped being part of what was called the third world when the Communist world disappeared in a shattering of global illusions in 1989. Since then there has been a search to find a new King of the Global Hill. The United States rejoiced for a few years in being the sole superpower, considering it an opportunity to remake the world according to its own advantage.
Google vs. China's Censors
U.S. & China Trade Barbs After Google's Ultimatum
Alex Kingsbury
What began as a quiet post on Google's official blog has ballooned into a full fledged international tempest, with the U.S. and China trading barbs about the role of the government in regulating the Internet. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday condemned cyber attacks and called for an Internet where all have equal access to knowledge and ideas
Google vs. China's Censors
Clarence Page
Google launched its China operation in January 2006 with high hopes. The democratizing benefits of increased Web access for the Chinese people, the Internet giant hoped, would outweigh the Chinese Communist Party's ferocious censorship and e-mail spying. Google also hoped to make shiploads of money. But that was then. Four years later Google threatens to walk away.
China on the Defensive After Obama's Climate Speech
Kent Garber
The United States is publicly and privately pressuring China to share more information about its carbon emissions. And that is putting China on the defensive.
China Mulling Clinton's Climate Change Offer
Kent Garber
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived for the final two days of the Climate Change Conference, the goal being to reach some sort of agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and she skillfully came with both an offer and a threat.
Taiwan: Not So Dire Straits
Bruce Gilley
Since 2005, the island republic of Taiwan has been moving toward a closer relationship with China. As with Finland, the shifts have been motivated by Taiwan's desire to preserve its autonomy and democracy by ameliorating Beijing's fears of U.S. influence in the region. And, as with Finland, the shift will come at some cost
A Visit with China's New Moguls
Clarence Page
As a guy who was raised in Cold War America, the dazzling ease with which communist China has accommodated capitalism is hard for me to fathom, but I was there to learn.
China Takes Tiny Steps on Climate Change
Kent Garber
China says that it's getting serious about tackling global warming. After President Obama pledged two weeks ago to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, China came out with its own plan, promising to slow the growth of its fast-rising carbon pollution
Obama Playing Nice With China
Joshua Kucera
When President Obama visited China, he had a good case to make to his hosts that he was trying to see things their way. He'd recently declined a meeting with the Dalai Lama in Washington and said that he wanted a strategic partnership with China. What did he get for his troubles?
Communist China Turns 60 and Reveals Its Insecurities
William Pfaff
Nearly every comment being published on China's celebration of its brilliant economic successes has in one way or another raised the question of the future of a country that once was the most ideologically driven of major powers, but today has no governing ideology, or philosophy, or mobilizing goals. This above all threatens the governing Communist Party
China Rising in Latin America, but Won't Overtake United States
Andres Oppenheimer
The latest figures showing that China is emerging from the global crisis sooner than anticipated is triggering speculation that China will soon overtake the United States as Latin America's top business partner. Granted, speculation about China's impending leap to becoming Latin America's top economic partner spread like wildfire recently when Brazil announced that it will trade more with China than with the United States this year for the first time. It sounds very interesting, but don't bet on it.
Working Together, Brazil, Russia, China and India Increase Leverage
Ian Bremmer
In 2003, a report authored by Goldman Sachs economists popularized the term BRICs -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- to describe a whole new category of emerging-market powerhouse. The report argued that with sound political leadership and relative international stability, the BRIC economies would together outpace the original G6 industrialized nations in dollar terms by 2040 -- a fundamental shift in the global balance of power. Since then, these four countries have assumed ever-greater importance in the international investment community's collective imagination.
Is the Economic Marriage Between China and U.S. on the Rocks?
Niall Ferguson Interview
China and America had effectively fused to become a single economy: Chimerica. The Chinese did the saving, the Americans the spending. The Chinese did the exporting, the Americans the importing. The Chinese did the lending, the Americans the borrowing. As the Chinese strategy was based on export-led growth, they had no desire to see their currency appreciate against the dollar. The unintended effect of this was to help finance the U.S. current account deficit at very low interest rates. Without that, it's hard to believe that U.S. financial markets would have bubbled the way they did from 2002 to 2007.
Bearing Witness 2.0: You Can't Spin 10,000 Tweets and Camera Phone Uploads
Arianna Huffington
China just delivered a stunning, real-world demonstration of the changes rocking -- and transforming -- modern journalism. When deadly riots broke out in the western province of Xinjiang earlier this month, the Chinese government sprang into message control mode. It choked off the Internet and mobile phone service, blocked Twitter and Fanfou (its Chinese equivalent), deleted updates and videos from social networking sites, and scrubbed search engines of links to coverage of the unrest. At the same time, it invited foreign journalists to take a tour of the area.
Addressing China's Fear Of North Korean Collapse
Joseph S. Nye Jr. Interview
It is by now a cliche to say that greater pressure from China can force North Korea to change. The problem is that China has two objectives: They want a de-nuclearized North Korea, but they also want a North Korea that doesn't collapse into chaos on their borders. The consequence of these cross-purposes is that the Chinese have been reluctant to use the leverage they have
America's New Energy Dependency: China's Metals
by Kent Garber
America's Clean-energy economy needs rare-earth metals to succeed and China has a near monopoly. In 2007, a standoff unfolded between China and several American companies. China was threatening to withhold supplies that keep refiners in business. A worried State Department intervened. Because the metals come almost exclusively from China, if the government had not acted, sources say, oil refineries could have been forced to shut down, possibly triggering shortages across the country.
Indian Ocean: Center Stage for 21st Century Struggles Between India & China
by Robert D. Kaplan
Competition between India and China suggests that the Indian Ocean is where global struggles will play out in the twenty-first century. The old borders of the Cold War map are crumbling fast, and Asia is becoming a more integrated unit, from the Middle East to the Pacific.
Tiananmen's Enduring Challenge
by Wang Dan
Twenty years have passed since our landmark demonstrations in Tiananmen Square for democracy and free speech and against corruption. And during this time, China has changed in important ways. Economic reforms have allowed millions of Chinese people to lift their families out of poverty, and many in China find their lives changed for the better. But the central causes the Tiananmen generation, students and citizens alike, took up remain unresolved: corruption, workers' rights, free speech and the need for government reform to address the needs of China's 1.3 billion people.
Deng Undone: China Halts Market Reform
Since the present Communist Party leadership took power, fresh market-oriented liberalization has been minor.
Such policies have been wound down and supplanted by renewed state intervention. In privatization, prices, even foreign trade and investment, the PRC was heading away from the market well before the financial crisis erupted.
Interview with India's Environment Minister
Jayshree Bajoria
India and China have long maintained their economic growth will suffer if they accept binding emission targets under an international agreement on climate change. Instead, they have called for mitigation commitments by the developed world and financial support from rich countries to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
Brazil, China & India Can Mitigate Global Crisis
Global Economic Viewpoint
Brazil, India and even China will not be able, by themselves, to correct the dysfunctions that produced the global crisis. But it is true that the economic power of these three countries can mitigate its negative consequences. ...
Why China & U.S. Not Ready to Upgrade Ties
Calling on the United States and China to do more together has an undeniable logic. Both Washington and Beijing are destined to fail if they attempt to confront the world's problems alone, and the current bilateral relationship is not getting the job done.
But elevating the bilateral relationship is not the solution. It will raise expectations for a level of partnership that cannot be met and exacerbate the very real differences that exist between Washington and Beijing.
Today, North Korea; Tomorrow, Iran - Nuclear Weapons
By Paul Greenberg
North Korea has been playing around with nuclear weapons again, this time setting off an even bigger underground explosion. To which the five veto-wielding powers at the United Nations have responded much as they did the first couple of times the North Korean regime defied the UN by setting off nukes: with oh-so-serious, oh-so-official statements.
Time to Test North Korea - Nuclear Weapons
Global Viewpoint
John Bolton, a leading neo-conservative official during the Bush administration, is a former U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security affairs and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. In this interview Bolton provides his opinion on North Korea's nuclear weapons testing and what the United States and the World needs to do in response
North Korea's Nuclear Weapon Challenge
Henry A. Kissinger
The Obama administration has so far dealt publicly with the North Korean challenge in an understated, almost leisurely, manner. The challenge goes far beyond the regional security issue. For the United States, it involves relations with an emerging superpower (China); relations with a re-emerging Russia; relations with key U.S. allies (Japan and South Korea); and a major escalation in the threat of proliferation to non-state parties.
Li Ning picks up Evan Turner and USA Diving
USA Diving has also inked a contract with Li Ning, making it the team's official apparel sponsor through 2012. The brand's other non-Chinese national team sponsorships include Spain and Argentina's basketball teams, and USA Table Tennis. Although these signings and Li Ning's opening of an Oregon concept store and R&D center have all lead to speculation that this could be China's first brand to become an international powerhouse, I've always said that these moves are more about creating an appearance for Chinese customers than about seriously competing with Nike and Adidas globally. Quoted in People's Daily, Ben Cavender of China Market Research Group puts it pretty clearly: ""What they don't admit to and what they are being slightly cagey about is that their strategy is to firm their position in China as a domestic brand. They can appeal to a certain Chinese nationalism by playing on being able to compete head-to-head with the major international brands because they have these big-time athletes." Related: Can China's hottest sportswear brand go global? Evan Turner image: Hi.baidu.com This article also appeared on China Sports Today
In what could be its biggest get yet, China's leading sportswear brand, Li Ning, signed NBA rookie Evan Turner to an endorsement deal Monday. Turner, the 2010 NCAA National Player of the Year, was selected second overall in the draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Li Ning already has bigger NBA names in Shaquille O'Neal and Baron Davis, but both were signed when they were well past their prime.
Job Ad: Executive Editor for new Urbanatomy family magazine
This is an advertisement. Candidate should have the editorial, writing and project management skills required to take a piloting role in a new magazine. An interest in family/kids issues (schools, health, and recreation) is essential. The successful candidate will also have the talents and personality suited to team work, rigid schedules, and a varied task load. Dedication, flexibility, and imagination will be highly appreciated. Please send a cover letter, resume and writing samples to hr@urbanatomy.com. A full job description is available upon request. More job ads. Information on how to place a job ad.
Yunnan cooperating with US conservative group on new 'abstinence education' program
The Educational Bureau of Yunnan province has recently instructed schools and universities to teach students to abstain from premarital sex and to ‘cherish their chastity’. The program; ‘No Apologies’ (无悔今生) is the ‘love child’ of an American conservative Christian organization - Focus on the Family (FOTF), whose main goal is "nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide”. Some of the things they teach include the dangers of pornography (sore wrists? Big phone bill?), the benefits that delayed gratification has on marriages (after so long, anyone will do), and the theory that sex distracts youngsters from realizing their dreams (because successful single people are eunuchs). Oh, and no fundamentalist Christian group is complete without a homophobic slur, right? They also preach the importance of ‘honoring the heritage of sexuality’ whilst condemning SpongeBob SquarePants for its pro-homosexual messages to elementary kids. Barney and Jimmy Neutron were in the firing squad too. Strangely enough, FOTF's co-founder, who was recently caught vacationing with a known male prostitute, wasn't. In the organization's quest to promote their Now, we're no doctors, but we’re pretty sure (really, really, really sure) that unless HIV sufferers walk around with ‘HIV’ stamped on their forehead, then telling whether or not a person suffers from the illness is almost impossible. The focus being on the maintenance of pre-marital chastity, the pamphlet also includes role-plays in order to fully verse students on what to say if they face a situation that could lead to sex. Role play scripts include: Boy: "If you love me, you will have sex with me." Boy: "It's very safe, I have a condom." Boy: "You are the only thing I want to dedicate myself to." Sassy! We love how it's only boys who are made out to be the horny ones. After all, girls can't really want it themselves, right? That'd be so... ungirly! Also, can you imagine anyone actually being shut down by these? Our guess: These phrases will work as well on innocent Yunnan girls as they did on Bristol Palin. When it comes to the ‘birds and the bees’, Chinese students have a pretty raw deal. They are either faced with the prospect of learning ‘what goes where’ from the internet (which could be pretty risky given the nature of some sites. Coming soon - ‘Why Chinese students love BDSM’) or from so called ‘sex-perts’ sharing their ‘sexpertise’ when parents don’t feel comfortable doing so. If you really want more than the current 32% of today’s Chinese youth learning about sex through school, do you really want them learning it this way?
young couple, girl pulling away from boys advances.rants message, they are now spreading the message in China by hitting the younger generations. Schools in Yunnan will soon be issued with a US-published booklet that contains topics on contraception (hopefully not just the rhythm method), how to maintain pre-marital chastity, things to consider with regards to abortion and rather bizarrely..... ‘how to tell whether a person is infected with the HIV virus’.
Girl: “If you love me, you would not want me to give up my cherished chastity.”
Girl: You want me to bet my future with that condom?”
Girl: Good! If I am your only, then you can wait until after we are married.”
Shandong deer refuses to drink water, only beer
The Telegraph has more information:
I was just in Qingdao for the weekend for the Beer Festival, but it looks like the real beer drinking fun was to be had in its northern neighbor Weihai. This deer has been known to knock back four beers over the course of the day and will often deny water in order to get more beer. Good thing it's Tsingtao, so no worries about the deer being dehydrated too quickly.
According to Zhang Xiangxi, who works as a waitress at the resort's restaurant, she discovered the deer's unusual tastes last November when she was cleaning up after some customers. She says: "I saw a bottle of beer was still half full so I playfully passed it to the deer. Unexpectedly it bit the bottle and raised its head and drank all the beer in one shot." Since then, says Zhang, whenever there is any leftover beer she takes it to feed to the deer. She comments: "It has a growing addiction to beer. To begin with it was half a bottle but now it is several big bottles in a row. Her daily feed is around two bottles of beer."
The Sohu report on it also reveals that locals think the environment may have had an impact on this deer's tastes. Apparently, beer is spilled a lot in that area, so deer probably end up drinking it even when waitresses aren't pranking them. Also included in the Sohu report is some hilarious "funny moment" jazz music, which the Today show segment unfortunately does not have.
Thursday Timewaster: Literal translations of Chinese songs
All of the different songs follow the same easy, but hilarious format. Ouzi makes a literal translation of the words of the song: for instance, “没有共产党就没有新中国" becomes "No the Communist Party, No the new China." Then he sings it in slightly tone deaf broken English and everybody, English-speaking or not, is entertained! Besides translating Chinese songs into English, apparently Ouzi has also tried his hand at translating English songs into Chinese. These efforts have not met with as much acclaim (though it could be that he chose James Blunt to translate. Maybe netizens have better taste in music than I thought).
We're not exactly who's behind these literal English translations of Chinese songs, but they seem to have gained quite a following! Youku user Ouzi (欧子, which could be literally translated into "Euro kid") has 27 videos of literal translations up on his page. The most recent one, about Chinese children's songs, was published 8 hours ago but has already garnered over 20,000 hits.
Tourists want to go to Shanghai most of all!
Is it our sexy Bund waterfront? The promise of haggling in old merchant gardens? The Expo (probably not)? Whatever it is, Shanghai beat out Beijing and Chengdu as the place international tourists want to visit the most in China! The poll, co-conducted by Gallup and Fudan University, found that Shanghai ranked top in most of 12 qualities, which included criteria such as attractiveness, culture, environment, individuality, integrity and investment value. It was deemed lower, however, in security.
Photo Set of the Day: Abandoned Buildings on Suzhou Creek
While one of them found a rollicking second life as a haunted house, there are other equally haunting buildings on Suzhou Creek that haven't been put to use. A member of our Shanghaiist Flickr pool, Hey It's William, went by last month to snap pictures of some of the abandoned, surprisingly graffitied, buildings by the water. More photos on the Shanghaiist Contribute page. To see your photos on our Contribute page, use Flickr and tag your photos “shanghaiist”. Or you can email your photos to photos@shanghaiist.com and they will automatically appear on our site (and here).
Shanghaiist Scrabble winners: Hoo Hoos!
Congratulation Hoo Hoos, for blasting past the competition at our most recent Shanghaiist Scrabble night! The five of you managed to throw up 1004 points worth of words onto the board, effectively beating out everyone else by quite a large margin! Hope you enjoyed the 250RMB worth of drinks and join us again for the next Shanghaiist Scrabble on September 28th.
Ask Shanghaiist: Should I be a pet foster parent/adopter?
Every year, during the Spring/Summer season, many animals are born and abandoned in the streets, gardens and parks of Shanghai. Jaiya’s Animal Rescue (JAR) and other animal rescue groups do their best to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home abandoned animals since all of them deserve a second chance in life. However, a major problem during this season is the number of animals being rescued coupled by the lack of foster parents and resources to help with this task. Do you how important is the foster parent role in the running of an animal rescue organization? Do you know about the different types of foster parents needed? In this article we present you four excellent reasons for being a foster parent while you are living in Shanghai and the different types of foster parents that you can be: 1 . Fostering is an ideal activity for people that love animals but cannot commit to having a lifelong pet in China. In fact, every additional foster parent that animal rescue groups can get represents in most cases the difference between life and death for animals abandoned in the streets, gardens and parks of Shanghai. Aside from regular day-to-day care (feeding, grooming, exercise), the responsibilities of a foster home may include basic training (housetraining, walking on leash, etc); behavior modification (to correct problems such as jumping, mouthing, barking, destructive chewing, dashing through doors, etc); socialization and temperament evaluation 2 . Most animal rescue groups in Shanghai do not have a shelter, so they depend on the help of rescuers and foster parents to take care of kittens, cats, puppies and dogs until they are adopted. The more foster parents they have, the bigger the number of abandoned and/or neglected animals they can help. In fact, a shelter is not a good option in many ways because dogs and cats can lose touch with being in a home environment. Hereafter, a network of foster homes can take a dog or cat in and give them the care and training they need: the one that can only be accomplished at home. Fostering also bridges the gap between total abandonment and a permanent home. Just think of a shelter dog's day: they can be in their cage (without human 3 . It is a hugely rewarding experience to give an abandoned and/or mistreated animal a second chance to recover its health, as well as to provide him with love and affection while he/she is waiting to get a permanent loving home. The most amazing thing is that rescued animals respond to your care with lots of love … they cannot talk, but certainly they show how much they appreciate all your efforts. Fostering a dog or cat may seem like a formidable task, but it is a very tangible way to make a difference. Everyone benefits: the foster parent gets to spend time with a special dog or cat, while an animal rescue group gets valuable help with rescued animals. The foster dog or cat gets a break from a very hard life of abandonment and neglect, and a second chance at becoming a cherished pet. Then, the new owners get a dog or cat that is better adapted to home life, and therefore has a better chance of remaining in the new home 4 . Pets reduce stress and anxiety! According to some studies, interacting with a dog or cat is a profound and effective stress reducer. It increases feelings of contentment and relaxation. Not for nothing dogs are described as man’s best friend! (even though for some people this applies to their cats!). Walking and/or playing with a pet is an effective mean of spending quality time at home, make exercise, reduce stress and anxiety, forget about the problems of the day ... and to give your foster cat or dog lots of love, exercise and entertainment! Please consider to be a foster parent … abandoned animals will appreciate your help with all their hearts! Animal rescue organizations such as JAR always need more foster parents. For you it is a great way to have a “temporary” pet here in Shanghai if you cannot adopt, miss your own pet from home, you want to have a furry companion in general or if your own pet needs a friend to play and have company. By being a foster parent you get a companion and help save an animal at the same time! In the particular case of JAR, it needs to have foster parents for emergency cases (1-2 days) or long-term to foster dogs, cats, kittens or puppies. In a similar way, JAR also needs “special care” foster parents who are willing to take in sick animals or animals that require bottle feeding in a regular basis every day. It would be ideal to have additional foster parents available during the holidays as sometimes foster parents, rescuers or adopters go on holidays (summer holidays, the October and May holidays, Christmas and Chinese New Year) or back to their home countries too. JAR is always grateful to foster parents because it takes dedication, time and love. When you see a five-day old kitten or puppy survive because of the efforts that foster parents make, it is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment! So, if you like the idea of being a foster parent, please send us an e-mail! The JAR Group will be very happy to have your help!!! Curious about what animals are up for adoption? Shanghaiist features some every month with our Pet of the Month articles. Both Jaiya's Animal Rescue and Second Chance Animal Aid have adopt-a-thons once a month for prospective new parents.
Last month, we asked the folks at Jaiya's Animal Rescue to help us write up a guide for what you should do if you find a stray animal and your heart won't let you let it be. Now we're tackling the question of whether or not you should consider offering your home to one of these animals, from either just a couple of weeks to permanently. Save allergy issues and time constraints, we think you should! And here's why:
(to determine whether the dog or cat is good with different types of people and other animals); medical care (dispensing medication, taking the animal to vet appointments), and of course plenty of playtime and snuggling.
contact) for more than 18 hours. If you multiply that by how many days they can be at the
shelter, then the risk with a long-term dog or cat is that they lose touch and exposure to a loving home, interacting with people and even with other pets.
forever.
Peking Uni Law Professor He Weifang: More press freedoms equal less revolt
The argument that more press freedom is the first step towards political reform here in China is not new. But it feels like, with Wen Jiabao's recent remarks on the very subject and new protections for independent press, the doors have opened for academia to discuss their right to... well, discuss. China Media Project has translated a blog post by Peking University Professor of Law He Weifang comparing Shanghai and Guangzhou's media during the World Expo and Asian Games, respectively. Namely how, while Guangzhou's media was a storm of criticism, Shanghai's media 'had been “had.”' The most notable quote, I think, is something I've discussed with various Chinese locals who've insisted that more media freedom would lead to more chaos in China: "The people can voice their resentment through the newspaper pages and on the Internet, and this means they don’t have to take to the streets, and even less likely are they to stage a revolt."
The next Shanghai Apple Store is located on Huaihai Lu
Back when we covered the opening of Shanghai's first apple store in the IFC building of Lujiazui, we mentioned that this was just the beginning of a full retail onslaught Apple had planned for China. Now several people have reported seeing the next Shanghai Apple Store on Huaihai Lu. One tipster, who sent in the first picture, reported that it was located at the corner where there "was a computer/electronics market not too long ago (before it got shifted further east on Huaihai)..." The other two pictures are from MIC Gadget. If what Apple's Senior Vice President of Retail Ron Johnson said was true, it is one of two other stores in Shanghai (and one of 23 in the entire country) that will open by 2012.
Job Ad: That's Shanghai magazine seeks senior editors
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Midweek Music Preview: Sassy Kraimspri, Black Violin and Jeff Lang!
If you're looking for non-live music stuff to head out to, we covered that back in our Pencil This In. WEDNESDAY After being no-noed by the police earlier this year, Oscar's is bringing back its open mic night - where "special emphasis is being focused on the 'communal jam global village attitude where all are welcome to come and entertain or just enjoy the space. " To help you enjoy the space, all ladies' cocktails are free, select beers are 2-for-1 until 11pm, and if you perform, you get a free beer as well. If you're in the mood for some Norway punk, Sassy Kraimspri hits Yuyintang tonight to throw up a mix between "Bosshog and Crass, Motorhead and PJ Harvey." That means that it'll be rockin' and soulful at the same time or something. 50RMB cover. THURSDAY ANTIDOTE brings you ‘Emil de Waal + Spejderrobot’ and Xiao He 小河 on September 2nd at Yuyintang. Something very different awaits you as intense drumming clashes with electro jazz. Experimentalism is the word of the evening. Cover: 30RMB Never thought violining could be cool? Check out Black Violin, two classical-trained violinists who combine pieces like those of Bach with hip hop, jazz and funk. We knew Shostakovich was due for a mash up with Jay-Z! Wild! And it's sponsored by the USA Pavilion, so it's free! FRIDAY Yuyintang welcomes all the local Shanghai school bands back on Friday night to rock out to their first school weekend (assuming Tyhoon Kompasu doesn't actually come). Come to see Five Fingers Dancing, Fivepence, Crossroad,Delusion and The Rank! 40RMB. SATURDAY Australian blues legend Jeff Lang returns to Shanghai to promote his new album, Chimeradour. Lang has been compared to the likes of Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix for inspired and unique performances. Doors open at 9 PM. Cover charge: 60 RMB, 40 RMB with student ID. On Saturday, Mao Livehouse is hosting Taiwanese indie group katncandix2. An indie duo began on the streets of Taipei, Sheng Zhe (guitarist/composer/producer) and Xiao Qiu (vocalist/lyricist) tell more stories about growth and being young in their 2010 new album, with folk-flavored songs such as the titular first single "Goodbye Prince", "Nice Day", "How Should I Put It?", and "The Traveler Who Cannot Return". RMB120, RMB150 at the door. SUNDAY We welcome Beijing's Hao Yun, folk singer and songwriter, to Yuyintang for a mellow Sunday night. Called the "new spokesman of city folk," he has signed onto Universal Music and recently released his first album. 60RMB cover.
All the live music picks for this city from now until Sunday. This week brings a smattering of southern Norway rock, some sassy Taiwanese indie, violinists getting all modern with classical pieces, local bands heading back to school and the return of Australian song maestro, Jeff Lang! If you recall, we interviewed him last year and were absolutely wowed by his performance. If these are all our picks, he's our pick of the week.
8:30pm to 11:45pm, Oscar's 1377 Fuxing Lu near Baoqing Lu, 复兴中路1377号
9pm, Yuyintang, 851 Kai Xuan Rd by West Yan'an Rd, 凯旋路851号
9pm, Yuyintang, 851 Kai Xuan Rd by West Yan'an Rd, 凯旋路851号
9pm, Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu near Hongqiao Lu, 淮海西路570号
9pm, Yuyintang, 851 Kai Xuan Rd by West Yan'an Rd, 凯旋路851号
9pm, Yuyintang, 851 Kai Xuan Rd by West Yan'an Rd, 凯旋路851号
9pm, Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu near Hongqiao Lu, 淮海西路570号
9pm, Yuyintang, 851 Kai Xuan Rd by West Yan'an Rd, 凯旋路851号
Princess Di's death anniversary used to sell underwear in China
Guangdong-based underwear company Jealousy International has been selling their Diana brand of underwear for years now. But to commemorate the anniversary of Princess Diana's death, they rolled out a new ad campaign featuring a half-naked Diana doppleganger playing a cello. Unfortunately, a British citizen was right there to capture it. And then he told the Daily Mail about it:
A British journalist who happened to see the images this morning was appalled. Sam Chambers said: 'I was just going to collect my baggage from the carousel when I saw it flash up on a rolling advertising screen and couldn't quite believe what I was seeing.'
Mr Chambers, who is originally from Kent, but has worked in China for a decade, added: 'I thought, surely not, because it was rolling quite quickly. So I waited to check when it came up again and, sure enough, there was an image of Diana.
'It's all the more striking because today is the anniversary of her death.'
The company told China Radio International that, from the beginning, the "Diana" line was supposed to honor Princess Diana's taste in underwear. Their website for the line depicts Diana's taste as very faux "French Romantic," which leads me to wonder if they ever actually saw anything she wore.
Typhoon Kompasu scares Shanghai's schools closed
While today has been delightfully not typhooning so far (cross our fingers, knock on wood), apparently scares about Typhoon Kompasu coming to town actually closed all Shanghai schools on the day they were supposed to start. So yay! One extra day of summer vacation for all! School will start up tomorrow, but I wonder when the typhoon will actually hit.
Watch: Timelapse of the Italian Pavilion at Shanghai Expo
The movie is made by Joe Nafis, whose great timelapse videos we've featured before. Love timelapse as much as we do? Here's a couple more of other pavilions by other people.
Last month, we asked you guys to submitmovies to the Italian Pavilion's My Expo Movie contest and possibly send your submissions our way too. Now someone has done so - and just in time for Vimeo to go back behind the GFW. Boo. Well, I suggest you either get a vpn and watch this anyhow.
Officials insist Shanghai smoking ban is working, 66 places fined
Update on Shanghai's smoking crackdown: It took three months for the smoking ban to nab one establishment. Now, according to Xinmin, that number has risen to 66 as of June 30. Another 1,345 were given a warning. Unfortunately, that's hardly... well, anything. There's probably 66 stores in one section of a street here in Shanghai. But officials insist that the overall smoking rate in the city has gone down. Stats collected by their team of anti-smoke regulating volunteers found that the smoking rate at banned locations dropped to 28.1% from 37.5%, while incidences where people were discouraged from smoking went from 19% to 51.9%.
Strike a Pose: Shanghai sashays ahead in world fashion
In the latest rankings, according to the Global Language Monitor’s annual survey; Shanghai and Hong Kong have come up trumps. Hong Kong, taking 2nd place, is now the highest ranking Asian city....ever, and Shanghai has taken 12th place. Both of these Asian metropolises have out placed Tokyo, and even helped remove Rome from the ‘Big 5’ as it dropped from 4 to 22; the biggest decline the ranking has ever seen. Shanghai is often coined the ‘Paris of the East’ and this history, the large expat community, and the increase in new and young designers coming to the city have helped Shanghai climb up the table. This year's league table documents the instability of the economic world and of global fashion - especially for Italy. Not only did Rome drop out of the top 20, Milan - after its rather disappointing fashion week - also fell out of the "Big 5," rolling down to number 6. New York reclaims its crown as number 1 and is followed by Hong Kong, London, Paris and Los Angeles. Also joining the Top 10 are Sydney, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid. The table is compiled using “GLM’s Predictive Quantities Index, a proprietary algorithm that tracks words and phrases in print and electronic media, on the Internet and throughout the blogosphere”. Unfortunately this method has come under scrutiny as academics believe that it can be influenced by “couch potatoes with no fashion experience”. Although these academics probably have a good point - bah humbug. We’ve taken 12th place, and that makes us look good - kinda! If you want to help Shanghai strut in to the Top 10 in time for next year’s league table then jump on the fashion band wagon now! Join the blogosphere by checking some of the best fashion blogs based in China, and go crazy! You may just want to lay of the seaweed though. 
As summer sets to leave us and stores begin to fill their rails with the latest autumn/winter collection; all of the fashionistas out there can be kept warm in the knowledge that they live in one of the ‘Fashion Capitals’ of the World."This year's list of the Top Fashion Capitals shows the global fashion industry remains in flux, with the relative decline of some of the previously leading players and formerly regional players emerging as significant new influences," Rebecca Payack, Manhattan-based fashion correspondent for Global Language Monitor.
The typhoon is coming! Typhoon Kompasu will spray Shanghai
While this morning was all blue skies and fluffy white clouds, the weather has changed quite drastically - and now, Shanghai's Meterological Bureau is saying that Shanghai's first day of school (tomorrow) will also welcome the first day of the Typhoon Kompasu. Expect heavy rainfall and winds between level 6 or 8 on the Beauford Scale (anywhere from between 39km/h to 74km/h). We'd argue from the storming outside that the MetBu's a little late - Typhoon Kompasu's already knocking at the door.
Shiliupu Dock (aka "16 Pu" - no kidding) now open for... not much, it seems
A stone’s throw away from the Bund is the Shiliupu docks. Recently rebuilt, for the hefty sum of three billion RMB, the dock saw its official opening on Saturday. Unfortunately, it seems that the only thing the dock is open for is critique. Shiliupu dock (Shiliu - 16, Pu - Stores) is one of the city's oldest wharf areas; it played an important role in the development of Shanghai and helped it to make a name for itself in the shipping industry. Unfortunately, it was also the dock that time forgot. Over the last couple of decades, growth on both sides of the Huangpu River, the development of Pudong, and the adoption of other methods of transport led to its decline in business. The dock was demolished in 2004 after the government declared that it would be rebuilt in to a ‘water tourist centre’. It was set to re-open alongside the Bund earlier this year, but construction took longer than expected. However, the delay was okay since this hotly anticipated new venture would combine the best of old and new, turning it into what Shanghai promised would be the world’s leading water tourist centre. With this in mind we were rather excited at the promise of sauntering along the river, grabbing some food, some conversation and lapping up some of the 150 years of history. We decided to head down there, camera charged, new writing pad, brand new biro! What greeted us, however, was one big wave of disappointment. The dock is being coined a ‘water tourism centre’. It boasts shops, leisure facilities, and restaurants to suit all budgets. On paper, this dock is pretty snazzy. Unfortunately, what you see is not what you get. On arrival you are struck with a slight level of confusion. Where is it? What is it? Am I here? Signposting clearly wasn't the designers’ forte (although apparently more are on the way). A small, discrete, yet colourful archway marks the boundary between the Bund and ‘16 Pu’ - the new hip modern logo (must have taken an age to think up, eh?). Along the promenade is 12 berths filled with sightseeing ships that look like they have seen better days. Unfortunately; the ‘new and old’ that was promised is only too evident from the commercial endorsement blazon across some of slightly run down boats. In berth 12 was a pricey little number. It looked like the Rolls Royce of the boating world and was named ‘Predator’. Several barges carrying logs sailing past it on the river provided a stark contrast. It seems that, whilst discrete, the archway leading to ‘16 Pu’ was acting like a glass wall. The crowds of people on the Bund virtually stopped and the promenade of Shiliupu dock was littered with only a handful of people. The architecture along the promenade is nice. It provides shade and the small grassy areas were nice to sit on. The up market restaurants along the promenade (who all missed a trick by not putting tables etc outside) were slightly out of our budget, so we decided to head below ground and check out the ‘commercial and leisure’ facilities that they offer. Unless you’re in need of a pound of carrots, some basil and a Haibao, you’re probably not going to find much. Groceries and more Expo souvenirs are probably not the first thing on your mind as you’re about to take a sightseeing cruise. Expecting some clothing boutiques, perhaps the odd souvenir shop, a high street store even, we were rather let down when we were greeted by a ‘Family Mart’. As we explored the three floors, things didn’t get much better; two expo souvenir shops, a smoothie bar, a burger king and two convenience stores. Other than that; every other retail unit was boarded up with large ‘Opening Soon’ signs. ‘Opening Soon’ yet no sign of development; don’t hold your hopes up! Clearly the docks operator, ‘The Shanghai Huangpu River Assert Management Co’, was pressured to open. Construction work on the building itself is still being carried out. There were entire corridors shut to the public....simply because there is nothing down there. Several escalators broken. Plants waiting to be installed. Water fountains had no water. We came across the waiting area and ticket office. Currently 2 companies operate from the dock and a 50 minute tour between Nanpu Bridge and Yangpu Bridge costs 100 yuan. There weren’t many people taking either company up on their offers though as they waiting room was barely half full. We spoke to a group of 7 American tourists waiting for their tour. One lady, Anna, 43, told us that she hadn’t even realised her group had left the bund! After informing them of a brief history of the dock, they said that it was a shame that they’ve gone down the ‘modern road’ and taken away its character. They said it could have had much more charm. Charm is definitely something it does lack. Given its entrenched historical roots, you can’t help but to feel that the developers could have done more. The promise of a ‘new and old’ partnership has not stretched much further than the Hyundai advertising on one of the ships; the oldest thing we saw was one of the cleaners! If, despite this, you fancy going down and having a gander (perhaps in a few weeks when the teething problems are ironed out) you can take the metro to Yu Yuan, leave via exit 1 and walk for about 5 minutes east along Renmin Lu. Alternatively, take the metro to Nanpu Bridge and take the 65, 928 or 910 bus from the bus station nearby.
Reminder: Shanghaiist Scrabble tonight!
What: Shanghaiist Scrabble Happy Hour
Where: Cotton's on Xinhua Lu, 294 Xinhua Lu, near Fanyu Lu (新华路294号, 近番禺路)
When: Tuesday, August 31, 6 to 10 p.m.
Drinks: 2 for 1 on house wines, house pours and Carlsberg drafts
From 6pm to 10pm, we'll be hoisting up our giant scrabble board and inviting everyone to engage in cunning word play. Rules rehash:
Shanghai men complain about the "visual harassment" of summertime clothing
Apparently, some Shanghainese are taking umbrage with girls' outfits this summer. Seems like, to beat the heat, girls are wearing less and less, and some people feel the extra skin is a "visual disturbance." In a survey on Xinhua, 55% admitted to being uncomfortable by the ways girls were dressing nowadays, and 62% of men even considered it sexual harassment! Jeez, you'd think with all the buddha belly baring, guys would be a little more open to letting us air some flesh.
Photo of the Day: Men and birds
More photos on the Shanghaiist Contribute page. To see your photos on our Contribute page, use Flickr and tag your photos “shanghaiist”. Or you can email your photos to photos@shanghaiist.com and they will automatically appear on our site (and here).
Photo by Natasia
Hunan House: A different way to do Hunan
Restaurant proprietor Cotton Ding has done such a good job with her establishments that people were inspired to document her life and offer her awards for having the best personality in F&B. So when she announced she would be opening a restaurant, showcasing authentic versions of her local cuisine (Hunan), I had to check it out. Now, to be honest, I'm not really sure what authentic Hunan cuisine is. I've been to Di Shui Dong, Guyi and a host of other joints around town, but the only thing I have to compare it to in actual Hunan is third-world-style village food made in towns even people from Hunan don't always know. Cotton's food at Hunan Houseis nothing like what I ate there - and thank goodness. Instead, I suppose the best way to describe it is Hunan menu favorites, gussied up. In fact, that's how I would describe the entire restaurant. Cotton has transformed the lane house where the middling Arugula used to be with the usual flair she gives old lane houses. The décor echoes themes from both of her bars - warm red tones matched with sleek white lines and art deco details. The top floor of the restaurant even has a cushy sunken seating area, much like Cotton's Xinhua. Dishes are, for the most part, served on clean white plates in geometrical shapes. The menu, printed on brown paper and bound with string, is divided into appetizers and then main ingredients (pork, chicken, vegetables etc.), though the line between appetizers and mains seemed tenuous. Most of the dishes were around the same size. The favorite appetizer of the table was the mashed eggplant (38RMB), presented in a stone bowl and with a pestle so that you could grind that eggplant to your heart's content. While it came with a sauce, we found it already flavored enough to be delicious on its own. Also a hit was the Sichuan classic “口水鸡 (ko shui ji)” or sesame chicken in chili sauce (48RMB), which didn't taste quite like any other sesame chicken I'd had before - one guest remarked that the sauce held a peculiar crab roe flavor. Amongst the mains, stand outs included the sauteed pork with cumin (18RMB per piece), which gave Di Shui Dong's famous cumin ribs a run for their money (an argument broke out over which was better; the table was split 50-50), and the shredded chicken hot pot (68RMB). Despite being a professed favorite of Cotton's, the cumin beef (58RMB) was a little uneven - some pieces were juicy and cooked just right, with enough spice to satisfy. Others were overcooked and had somehow become red pepper magnets, like little chewy warheads. Speaking of spice, you could come out crying red or barely heated depending on what you ordered. A wood ear mushroom salad (28RMB) may sound innocuous, but it had the table panting for water (which, I should mention, was quickly refilled by the competent staff). Meanwhile, the smoked bamboo shoots with smoked pork (58RMB), despite being dotted with little peppers, probably would still work with the most spice-phobic. Compared to other Hunan food purveyors, Hunan House is a bit on the expensive side - its target, like the two bars, seems to be towards expats (or fancy locals) looking for a more elegant, intimate night out. The atmosphere is reflected in the drinks menu, which shies away from beers and more towards wines and cocktails. With its cushy chairs and multitude of corners, it's a date place. Expect to spend about 150RMB per person. Hunan House is located at 49 Fuxingxi Lu near Wulumuqi Lu, 复兴西路49弄2号. Tel: 3461 1377
China India territory disputes hits Shanghai Expo?
China and India, never quite besties, are now at odds with each other over a whole host of issues. It seems that as the world's two most populated countries continue to gain economic and political influence, their relationship with each other has become increasingly strained. But who'd have expected the conflict to actually hit the Expo in Shanghai? The problem: maps at the India Pavilion were allegedly showing certain parts of Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh as belonging to India - claims that China contests. Arunachal Pradesh is an area that's located in the far northeast of India and contains parts China considers as sections of its Tibetan Autonomous Region. A 1914 treaty between Great Britain and the de facto independent government of Tibet established the McMahon line, which India now considers its northern border. But since the Republic of China (back then) wasn't a party to the treaty, China now disputes its legitimacy. There was a brief war over Arunachal Pradesh in 1962, but China ended it after conquering most of the area, declaring victory and then voluntarily moving back behind the McMahon line. It has more or less quietly sat there until recently. Unfortunately for India, China has chosen now to become especially prickly about its territorial disputes. On Friday, it denied a visa to Indian General B.S. Jaswal, apparently on grounds that he had worked in Kashmir, another area that's somehow politically iffy. According to Times of India, Chinese officials came into the Indian Pavilion in July and removed India tourism brochures with the offending map after "terrible pressure from its experts on Indian affairs as well as a postings in Internet blogs and discussion forums (like club.china.com) complaining about [them]." As it notes, "the Chinese government closely watches Internet postings to gauze public opinion and often acts on them to calm signs of dissent." India's Ministry of Defense has denied that the Chinese government was responsible for anything that happened at the Expo, saying there was no "factual basis" for the Times of India report, but ToI responded that several Indian pavilion officials, speaking on conditions of anonymity, had confirmed that their maps had been taken away.
Cash for Clunkers: Shanghai's e-waste recycling program
While most of the news about e-waste in China is on its deadly environmental impact, Shanghai Scrap argues that really, what people should be talking about now is the country's new comprehensive e-waste recycling programs - one of the best funded in the world. Not only is it saving the environment, it could give you great discounts on new tech! Thanks to the direct subsidies for purchasing old electronics, an informal market has sprung up to sell you dead tech to exchange for recycling vouchers. It's a win on all fronts - for you, for e-waste resellers and for the environment!
Shanghai Nightmare: We proved we weren't wimps, it's your turn now
The haunting grounds are set in a decrepit 108-year-old warehouse facing Suzhou Creek, and on the long, winding walk there, you feel yourself straying further and further from the safety of a quick rescue. At least that's how I felt when contemplating whether or not to run away from Shanghai Nightmare, now the world's largest haunted house. Maybe a little introduction is required: Shanghai Nightmare began last year - a plot hatched up by 26-year-old American-Chinese Gan Quan and his girlfriend Xu Jiali, who left their jobs at Intel to make nightmares come true. Last year's gig proved so successful that a second round was inevitable. This year, they collaborated with Erebus Haunted Attraction - the Guinness record holders for longest walk-through haunted house ever. The haunt took two masterminds, 20 workers and one month to build. 40 actors are ready in full costume with the help of special effects to deliver what Shanghai Nightmare website calls, "Thrilltainment". Beware of the warning they extend to those brave enough to venture ahead:
Prepare yourselves for the most heart wrenching, nail biting, and scream inducing experience
All of that, combined with the scaretastic reviews from other publications, made me seriously contemplate opting out of the whole "thrilltainment" idea. Quan's encouraging smile might have helped, if he wasn't dressed as one of the undead.
The anticipation was working its nefarious magic, and I found myself envying the crowd outside for not having to go in immediately (lines were a good hour long). Steeling my nerves, I locked arms tightly with my companions and barged inwards. At least I knew I had a safety word to scream out just in case. Too bad it wasn't "AHHHHHH!"
Once inside, my group was faced with eight doors - we chose one path and made our way into an elevator. After a hesitant walk into our first room, we were greeted with the much-publicized (from their advertisement video) girl from The Ring. Ok, they're right. It does cause a heart-in-throat thrill.
Unfortunately... or maybe fortunately, that was about as scary as it got. The rest of the walk proved relatively uneventful and much of the time is spent walking in darkness. A couple of great moments were capable of inducing some "Oh! I remember that movie!" moments, but few garnered the bloodcurdling screams Shanghai Nightmare had guaranteed. I even got a few laughs in for the whole experience (props for using special effects but a few are just too hilarious!).
Maybe it's because, even though I stay as far away from American scary movies as possible, I know the clichés. There were some scream-worthy moments, but more were what I would call "entertaining."
So if you're looking to piss yourself, the haunted house here isn't quite up to the standards of those in America, or the London Dungeon, not to mention the ones in Japan that can leave you practically scarred for life. But maybe that's for the better? Shanghai Nightmare's 'Wimp Board' already has 173 people who've screamed the safety word anyhow.
Shanghai Nightmare is worth a trip over to Suzhou Creek for the experience and a little lighthearted Halloween fun, but don't let the hype get your expectations too high up.
Shanghai Nightmare is located at 1295 Nan Suzhou Lu, near Chengdu Bei Lu, 南苏州路1295号. Get tickets here. 120 RMB for regular entry. 300 RMB for VIP access to cut to the front of the line.
Shanghai going undercover to stop prostitute rings
It's probably safe to say that police efforts to stamp out prostitution in China have a bad rep- and for good reason; considering the proliferation of pink Karaokes and massages, any "raid" seems arbitrary and possibly corrupt. That's probably why Shanghai police are getting rid of raids altogether, trying out a new route: undercover sex workers.
From Shanghai Daily:
Police said they are now planning to train dedicated teams of police officers and assistants who would work undercover on collecting clues to crack down on the sex trade.
The system will allow quicker information sharing among police departments to raise efficiency. When undercover officers detect sex deals, the venues will be shut down, police said.
Police said working undercover along with carrying out spot checks would be more effective than occasional raids in stamping out prostitution.
Unfortunately, knowing how transparent the policies of undercover cops here are, it's hard to see how this will make the cynical softer towards police interference. After all, it's not like citizens were complaining that police weren't finding enough prostitutes - just that every single one is hidden in plain site.
Our thoughts echo that of Ye Haiyan, who recently held a rally asking for legalization of the trade: if you really want to stamp out the problem, attacking it from the surface isn't going to help - there's too many factors in China making prostitution a viable option for girls, whether they're poor as dirt or just hankering for LV. Legalize it, offer these working girls protection and rights, and then watch the market take care of itself.
Pencil This In: Shanghaiist Scrabble Happy Hour... and other events!
MONDAY If you're at Expo, or thinking of going for the cheaper afternoon shift, check out the Malaysia Pavilion: Five standout acts from Malaysia’s Indie and Rock scene are here in Shanghai! The performers rock band One Buck Short and singer-songwriters Liyana Fizi, Ady Suwardy, Zalila Lee and Izzy Mohamed are showcasing the upcoming FEYST10 World Tour. The shows are free to all Expo ticket holders. TUESDAY Shanghaiist Scrabble Happy Hour is here again! Celebrate the end of August and drink your back-to-school blues away while engaging your brain in some righteous wordsmithery. With every two-for-one drink, you get five scrabble tiles: make words on our board, and the person with the most points at the end of the night wins 250 RMB worth of drinks at Cotton's! Chinatown hosts its first performance of Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit," a cooperation between their regular cast and actors from other recent Shanghai productions. Tickets are 150RMB for a seat and cocktail. If you miss it today, you can also go to see it on Wednesday or Thursday. WEDNESDAY Luo Fahui's show, "The Doom of Spring Flourish" has its open ing party at the FEIZI Gallery. Luo Fahui was born in 1961 in Chongqing, China and his oil paintings have since been exhibited both China as well as Madrid, London and Brussels. As a partnership with Shanghai Roots & Shoots, limited editions of the Artist Series Wine (Luo Fahui 2010) will be provided by Jade Valley Wine & Resort. For each wine bottle, you will get an artist's autograph and a tree planted in your name. THURSDAY Shanghai's premier cricket club, the Bashers, will be hosting a pub quiz at the Camel. To enter a team (they recommend 4) will cost 100RMB with all proceeds going to the Roots & Shoots Million Tree Project. There are prizes to be won and drinks specials on the night. The Shelter hosts a night of internactive music and media with ROM. icenine and olivepixel will be showing their cyberpunk audio/visual experiment on the screens while DJ Cavia and DJ Blaise will spin dubstep, rachetcore, and dark electronic. All the things you'd want to do this Monday to Thursday in Shanghai. On the schedule this week: Malaysian indie rock, Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit at Chinatown, Roots & Shoots events aplenty and of course - our awesome Shanghaiist Scrabble night!
5pm to 9pm, Malaysia Pavilion, Expo 2010 Shanghai China, 3588 Pudong Road, Shanghai
6pm to 10pm, 294 Xinhua Lu, near Fanyu Lu (新华路294号, 近番禺路)
7pm, Gosney & Kallman's Chinatown, 471 Zhapu Lu near Haining Lu, 乍浦路471号
5pm to 7pm, Feizi Gallery, 55 Fuxing Xi Lu near Wulumuqi Lu
7pm to 9pm, The Camel Sports Bar, 1 Yueyang Road
10pm, The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxingxi Lu
Watch: MKRide hits China's longest traffic jam
Ryan and Colin Pyle were hitting up Inner Mongolia on their ride across the whole of China, and unfortunately got caught up in the tail end of the jam, which stretched from "Huitengxile to Hohhot." Though they did have cameras on them, which means they were able to load up a fascinating little video about it(on Youtube). Lucky it's a motorcycle ride across China and not a car ride, eh? For more MKRide updates, click on our MKRide tag.
You know that thousands-vehicle-strong traffic jam that's ensnarled roads in Northern China? The one that stretched for 60 miles and 11 days, thankfully vanished before the weekend, but then reformed on another 19-mile section on the Beijing-Tibet Expressway? Apparently our friends at MKRide were stuck in that!
Week Around the Ists
Photograph by Jeanne Wilson
This Week in Shanghaiist
Submarine erects Chinese flag on seabed of contested South China Sea
If there's any nation that's been "showing some sack" recently, it's China. With rumors swirling about its grandiose naval ambitions - to draw a "string of pearls" across the Indian Ocean, dominate the western Pacific, expand influence across Oceania, just to name a few - China's neighbors have evidently become a bit bothered. However, most contentious of all is China's extraordinary claim to 80% of the South China Sea, a territorial matter which according to some reports, Beijing considers a "core national interest" - on par with Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang. The escalation of the South China Seas issue was widely reported after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's July 23 remarks at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi, where she called for a multilateral settlement of the many conflicting claims over control of the South China Sea and its riches in accordance with UNCLOS. Clinton's statement served to bolster the positions of smaller nations and was viewed by Beijing as a "sneak attack" on very this very sensitive area. Not to be outdone, it was reported on Thursday that China erected a flag on the seabed of the South China Sea at a depth of nearly 4000 meters, although it is not stated where exactly the flag-planting took place. Now, we all remember when the Russian Federation planted a flag on the bottom of the Arctic Ocean to assert its claim over that territory. While that is still a matter of dispute, if the Chinese get the South China Sea and the Russians get the Arctic Ocean, does this mean the United States owns the moon? Update: CCTV video of the submarine lauch and flag planting.
China's claim on the South China Sea“This success also shows that our country has become one of the handful possessing deep-sea manned submersible technology,” Liu Feng, the engineer in charge of the deep-sea dive, told television news.
Where is China's High School Musical?
That's right, 歌舞青春 (Musical Youth) was actually released into theaters two weeks ago! So why have we heard nothing about it and why is it playing in only one theater in Shanghai? We demand answers, people. In the meantime, above is the promo song for the movie. You can see quite clearly who's supposed to be the "Troy," the "Gabriella," the "Sharpay" and the "Ryan." There's also some cute graffiti spraying bad ass who'll no doubt add some 'tude to the whole bubbly teen affair.
Remember the Chinese version of High School Musical that would actually follow several College freshmen around Shanghai as they sang and danced to their hearts' content. Well, quite unceremoniously, it's out now.
Weekendist: Don't miss the Wall Lords Graffiti competition!
Check it and everything else that's worth doing in Shanghai this Fri/Sat/Sun! Want to indulge in some live music? Then take a look at our Midweek Music Preview. Oh teachers, we salute you. We know most of the international schools have started up now, so Cosmo Bar & Restaurant is dedicating a Friday night just for your end-of-summer sads. 98RMB entrance with your work ID for free flow on just about everything, plus a free appetizer. Start off the weekend long Wall Lords event at the Shelter on Friday night for the Graffiti Warm Up Party. We don't know if anyone will actually be painting anything, but you do get to catch Siegel Twins, Oralic Sound Machinese Beatbox Orchestra, Funky Soul Sister, and MCs Spax and Sharlatan. 20RMB. SATURDAY Shanghainese techno-all star DJ Ben Huang launches a new party brand ‘WUXING’. For his launch party, Ben is set to take us all on an epic 5-hour long set, traversing the best of real techno music from the 1990 s till the present day. Prepare to be taken on an awe-inspiring journey through the full spectrum of Ben's colourful musical pallette as he heads down to the underground to big-up the Shanghai techno scene. Cover: 30RMB For all those fans of Dada Bar, come out to celebrate their one-year anniversary. It's been a full year of everything from fashion shows to lectures to plain old clubbing since they first showed up on the Shanghai scene. Their usual DJ's will be playing through the night. They're claiming there are plenty of surprises and giveaways! There's no cover for the night. Call 150 0018 2212 for more information! Full moon beach parties are heading to the shores of Shanghai, intensifying Shanghais heat wave. MauMau, Heatwolves! and Steven Lorenz will be on hand to drop some dangerous beats. Tickets are 180RMB and includes entrance drinks, entrance to the venue and bus transfers. Tickets can be bought at the Bulldog Pub or at www.urbancatch.com SUNDAY It's time for the ultimate competition! Graffiti crews from Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand and Singapore will battle it out all day. Also happening: Djs, beatbox shows, a b-boy floor, a street market and an OTR-Sketch Corner & black book sessions. It's gonna be wild... and best of all, FREE!
While there are a couple notable events this weekend - including a launch of perennial Shanghai DJ Ben Huang's new party brand and Dada's first birthday bash - it's dominated by Wall Lords: a three day event of music, mayhem and, of course, graffiti.
FRIDAY
5pm onwards, Cosmo Bar & Restaurant, 1st floor, Hongchun Building, 3213 Hongmei Road
10pm, Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxingxi Lu
Shanghai 2010 hip hop jam at the Expo! Mark Hype and Jim Dunloop will join the folks from the Shelter party and Uprooted Sunshine Soundsystem to keep the hip hop running from noon to 9pm. There'll also be a live painting session with Cantwo, Wok, Shew, Jayflow & Artime Joe, Shiro and guests from the Wall Lords Finals. Also... a possible b-boy battle?
12pm to 9pm, Europe Plaza, World Expo
10pm, Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxingxi Lu
Dada Bar, 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu, Shanghai 上海幸福路115号 近法华镇路
Bulldog Pub, 1 Wulumuqi nan Lu near Dongping Lu
10am to 8pm, Jiangwan Stadium's Outside Basketball Court, 346 Guohe Lu, 江湾体育产， 国和路346号
Chinese Super League action! This week it's Shenhua v. Dalian. Get there by taking line 8 or line 3 metro to Hongkou football stadium station. Games seldom sell out - touts will offer you tickets outside the stadium, but don't pay more than 40rmb no matter what.
Hongkou Football stadium 444 East Jiangwan Lu 虹口足球场, 东江湾路444号
Ever-Spring Hall, neglected Shanghai landmark, wrecked by rainstorm
The silver lining to this dark cloud is that its destruction may actually make way for its revival - it's unintended demolition-by-weather has reminded Shanghai officials of its existence:
Oh gosh, here's some really sad news. Remember Ever-spring Hall, which we featured a photo set of just a couple of days ago? The last couple of rainstorms were not kind to it - according to Shanghai Daily, its roof has completely caved in.
The hall, although listed as a protected architecture by Huangpu District government, has been left unattended for dozens of years, stuck at the end of a narrow lane on Wutong Road, near its more famous contemporary, Yuyuan Garden.
A property-management worker blamed the government for inaction in protecting the architecture and said he was worried that the typhoon predicted for September might tear apart the whole building...
An official surnamed Li with Huangpu Culture Bureau said they were working on a proposal to conduct emergency repairs to the building and promised they would have it done before next Wednesday.
Conceding that the ancient building was under the bureau's protection, Li said that they had already made a plan to renovate it and had sent workers to the site.
When asked, those workers said they were actually working on some old man's house and had never been given orders to repair Ever-Spring Hall. But now that the building's in the news, maybe they'll have a change of jobs.
Look at this Shanghai lightning storm shot
Apparently, about 91.5mm of rain fell at once on Shanghai (according to measurements at the Expo), turning some streets into temporary rivers. The Shanghai Meteorological Bureau said we can expect similar weather throughout the weekend and into next week.
Yesterday's thunder and lightning flash flood rain storm was so close you felt like you could reach out and touch it. Luckily, no one seems to actually have (unlike this unlucky worker on Tuesday), but some of you did brave the storm to snap some amazing shots, like this one above by Shanghaiist Flickr pool contributor FrasSmith.
Watch: Herzog Days, the documentary of jailed bloggers
Last year in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, a 25-year-old woman was found dead. Her mother suspected that she was mass raped by a gang that had connections with the local police, but officials said she had died from "ectopic pregnancy." Three bloggers spread information online that they felt proved that there had been a criminal act. They were thrown in jail for slander. This week, the last of the three Fujian netizens was released. Filmmaker He Yang released an hour-long documentary, Herzog Days that tracks the trial and everything else. Global Voices pointed us to the video, which can be viewed with English subtitles.
Henan Airline displays fatal plane crash on its website
According to Xinhua, the jet “broke into two pieces while it was approaching the runway. Some passengers were thrown out of the cabin before the broken jet crashed to the ground... Witnesses said a huge blaze enveloped the wreckage and the flames reddened the surrounding forests. The blaze had been put out before dawn Wednesday.” By earlier today, Henan Airlines' president was removed and the entire company ceased operation. But in case you doubted witness and news accounts, you could just head over to Henan Airlines' website, which features a splash page with a collage of the burning wreckage front and center. The main headline says “Very deep sorrow over Henan Airlines' 8.24 air crash” and the rest of the text contains contact information and the most basic details of the crash. While I understand feeling the need to put up a tribute, this is quite a strange one. NYC Aviation argues that they should “fire their PR team ASAP,” but I'm guessing this probably isn't their work anyhow. Either Henan Airlines has completely folded and some official has put this up, or the website was hacked by someone who wanted to express grief over the crash.
It's rare that you see such a willingness to display the worst side of a company: On Tuesday night, 42 people were killed and 54 more were injured when Henan Airlines' jet crashed and burst into flames while trying to land in Heilongjiang, China. Sometime between then and today, Henan Airlines changed its website to put the crash front and center.
Inception China release date moved up, movie will be shown uncut
Someone has heard our prayers! Not only has the China release of Christopher Nolan's Inception been pushed up from September 21 to NEXT WEEK (Sept. 2), but it'll be shown completely uncut lest nobody understand the already "confusing" plot. So come next Thursday, who's free for a Shanghaiist movie date?
Shanghaiist
Shanghaiist is a website about Shanghai, China.Editor: Elaine ChowFounding Editor: Dan WashburnPublisher: Gothamist
Online Games Monthly - September 2, 2010
Factors Driving the Steep Increase in Chinese Poly Prices - September 2, 2010
Real Estate: Developers Overview - September 2, 2010
The China Report: Bank Lending Survey - August Update
Real Estate Weekly - September 2, 2010
Sina to Spin Off Microblog Service
Sina (Nasdaq:SINA) is planning to spin off its microblogging service for independent operation, Sohu reported September 2 citing unnamed sources. The company seeks an investment from an internet company to support the development of the microblogging service as well as investments from venture...
Hopson Buys Shanghai Land for RMB 1.25b
Guangdong-based real estate developer Hopson Development Holdings (0754.HK) plans to acquire 94,476.3 square meters of residential land in Shanghai for RMB 1.25 billion, guandian.cn reported September 1st.
Hopson previously...
Ping An Buys Majority SDB Stake
Ping An Insurance (Group) (2318.HK, 601318.SH) will acquire 1.64 billion shares in Shenzhen Development Bank (SDB) (000001.SZ), raising its interest in the lender to 52.39% from 29.99%, according to a Ping An announcement on September 2. As consideration for the deal, Ping An insurance...
PBoC Returns RMB 70b to Market
The People's Bank of China (PBoC) injected a net of RMB 70 billion into money markets in its regular open market operations this week, xinhuanet.com reported September 2.
The central bank sold three-month bills worth a total of RMB 13 billion at a rate of 1.5704% on Thursday, September 2, according...
A-Shares Up, Buoyed by Industrial and Pharma Cos
The Shanghai Composite Index increased 1.25% to close at 2,655.78, while the Shenzhen Composite Index climbed 1.84% to end at 1,172.34 on Thursday, September 2. Trading volumes on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges were 12.41 billion and 8.80 billion, respectively.
Metallurgical products manufacturer...
HSI Expands, Boosted by Airlines, Banks
The Hang Seng Index gained 1.19% to close at 20,868.92 on Thursday, September 2, in main board trading turnover of HK$66.13billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index increased 1.65% to end at 11,688.84.
Airlines gained today, with Air China (0753.HK, 601111.SH) gaining 4.33%, Cathay Pacific (0293.HK)...
Peak Q2 SSS at 12.5% YoY, Profit Margins Decline to 37.7%
Sportswear manufacturer and retailer Peak Sport Products' (1968.HK) Q1 and Q2 same store sales (SSS) growth stood at 15.3% and 12.5%, respectively, year-on-year, reported Sina September 1.
In the first half of 2010, Peak's revenues grew by 33.3% to RMB 1.81 billion and net income grew by 29.6%...
MoC Heads Game Deputation to Taiwan
China's Minister of Culture Cai Wu will lead a team of game industry senior executives including Shanda (Nasdaq:SNDA) President Tan Qunzhao, Giant Interactive (NYSE:GA) Vice Director Wen Xuhua and Kingsoft (3888.HK) Vice President Bi Zhenhua to Taiwan on Thursday, September 2, where...
Shanda Games Releases "AION" New Version
Shanda Interactive (Nasdaq:SNDA) game subsidiary Shanda Games (Nasdaq:GAME) has released "Heise Baofeng" (roughly "Black Storm"), a new version of its licensed 3D MMORPG AION, on September 1, qq.com reports. The version features new fighting rules and weapons, according to the report....
LDK Sues Canadian Solar for Default on 800MW Contract
LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) has filed a lawsuit demanding compensation from Canadian Solar (Nasdaq:CSIQ) for the breach of a 10-year supply contract signed in 2008, LDK announced September 1. Under the agreement, LDK planned to supply 800MW of solar wafers to Canadian Solar through 2018, with...
China August PMI Rebounds to 51.7
Baolongcang Stores Close for Renovation
Wu-Mart to Open Ningxia Store
Taobao Bans Promotions of QQ Numbers
Coolpoint Energy to Acquire 31% of Li Ning
Tesco Shuts Underperforming Wuxi Store, Plans Return
A-Shares Slip; New Energy, Property Cos Slump
H-Shares Edge Up; Construction, Resources Ahead
Longfor Buys Hangzhou Land Parcel for RMB 610m
SDO to Launch Developer Competition in Sept
Tencent to Release "DNF" 9th Chapter
NetEase's "WLK" Takes Off
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Chinese Banks First Half Profits Expand 30% YoY
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Sinopec to Charge Electric Car Batteries
A-Shares Indices Mixed in Rising Volumes
Hang Seng Index Slides, Banks Weigh
Report: NEA Approves NW China PV Tenders
MOFCOM Releases E-commerce Report for '08-'09
Noah Ends Year With 94% Reduction in Profits
Suning Profits Up 56%, SSS Up 23% YoY in H1
Retail: Department Stores Monthly - August 30, 2010
Baidu (BIDU) Data Weekly - August 30, 2010
Tencent "QQ Speed" PCU Hits 1.4m
CPIC H1 Profits Jump 67% YoY
NetEase to Open New Servers for "WLK"
Giant Slates "ZT" Update
Changyou to Test "Chinese Hero" Intl Version
Gome: Beijing Gome Threatens to Terminate Agreement
Taobao Plans Home Deco Channel
R&F Acquires Hainan Land for RMB 227.2m
ABC H1 Profit Growth Tops 40%
SAFE Allows Trial Offshore Deposits for Exporters
CR Land H1 Rev Leaps 267.5% YoY
A-Shares Soar on Fed Pledge
Hang Seng Climbs 0.68%, Led by Mainland Cos
Gov't Advisor Hints at Looser Bank Deposit Rates
Ku6 Posts Q2 Net Loss of $11.77 m
Xunlei Releases Game Download Ranking
The China Report: Weekly Edition - Metals
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Insurers' 7mth Premiums Up 33% YoY
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Changyou Preps "IF" OB for 9/9
Tencent Acquires Stake in Thai Portal
A-Shares Continue to Rise, Agricultural Stocks Strengthen
H-Shares Dip, Electronics, Real Estate Weigh
The China Report: Special Edition - Potash
MIIT Announces July Telecom Stats, Op Revs Up 6.7%
Vanke Buys Guangdong Commercial Land
Changyou Buys Office Building in Beijing
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Dongxiang Q1 11 Book Value Up 11% YoY
Li Ning H1 Rev Up 11.2% YoY
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Longfor Buys Shandong Land for RMB 1.52b
R&F H1 Profit Soars 348%
Shanda Games to Release "WoooL" New Version
H-Shares Dip; China Life Slumps
A-Shares Edge Up; ChiNext Debuts Slump
KongZhong Posts $5.5m, WVAS Revs Down 33%
Intime Acquires Land Parcels in Zhejiang
iCafe8 to List on ChiNext
ZQ Game Preps MMO Alpha for 9/9
China Life YoY Profit Growth Slows H1 to 7.4%
Maoye Buys Property in Hebei, to Open Dept Store
Kingsoft H1 Profit Falls 21% Y-o-Y
PBoC Withdraws RMB 91b From Market
Four Property Cos Partner to Develop Tianjin Plot
Suntech to Build 100MW South African PV Plant
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Radio Free China has moved
Radio Free China has moved. Please visit the new location at: This site will remain here for another month or so if you want to look at past posts. Please update the rss feed to: blessings, Brother Barnabas
2004: TWO TRENDS IN RELIGIOUS LIBERTY By Elizabeth Kendal AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- For this end-of-year posting I wish to look at only two trends that were prominent in 2004 and are destined to escalate during 2005. 1)Perestroika. Openness, because of the way osmosis works, is the key which ignites an unstoppable trend towards reform. Openness must therefore be encouraged and used wisely as it provides the momentum and foundations for reform. Meanwhile perestroika (reform) is not an event that occurs at a moment in history, but a process that is fluid, and is a work-in-progress. 2)Liberty. Whose liberty? This is the question arising in multicultural democratic nations as growing Muslim minorities made zealous by the Palestinian Intifada, the War on Terror, and the growth of their own numbers, assert themselves politically and demand Muslim rights and privileges. These however, often involve the removal of others' individual freedoms. -------------------------------------- Events in 2004 in Belarus and Ukraine demonstrate the extent to which perestroika (reform and restructure) is fluid and remains a work-in-progress. Freedoms that were gained in Belarus in the late 1980s have been decisively drained away. Russia's freedoms are slowly and quietly seeping away. Governments can clamp down on freedom but they cannot undo the influence of even a short-lived openness. Ukrainians have just demonstrated that peaceful-people-power can depose corrupt oligarcs and bring political reform. Ukraine's peaceful "Orange Revolution" will stand as a model for action in other authoritarian former Soviet states. This is what can happen when a splintered opposition unites behind a leader of integrity and the people publicly support him or her, and the church prays. But as analysts note, the "Orange Revolution" was not "spontaneous combustion". For Ukraine, the Orange Revolution was the fruit of a society that has matured. In totalitarian Asia, the foundations that enable peaceful political revolution (some free mea, some political awareness, and the possibility of fair elections) are not yet mature, or even in place. Ukraine will however, stand as a model and inspiration to the region and beyond. It might be helpful though, and encouraging, to view totalitarian Asia in the light of Eastern Europe. People often think that Communism fell in an instant in Europe - the terms used are cataclysmic and instant: the Berlin wall "fell", the USSR "collapsed" - and grieve that in Tiananmen Square (Beijing, China), the tanks prevailed. However, it is more realistic and helpful to view these events, not as solitary, decisive "perestroika events" that win or lose the battle, but as positive or negative events in a larger, fluid "perestroika process" that has its own irresistible momentum. Regarding the Berlin Wall, while it did collapse in November 1989, that event was the fruit of a four year process of concerted undermining of the foundations. National transformation is not fast food. It cannot be purchased in a drive-through. It takes time, and if transformation is to occur without bloodshed, revolution and anarchy, then the foundations need to be replaced in advance. SOLZHENITSYN'S FRUSTRATION In 1990, five years after Gorbechev introduced glastnost and perestroika, and one year before the disintegration of the USSR, Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote words of frustration and fear ("Rebuilding Russia" Harper Collins 1991). These are words that we could apply to totalitarian Asia today. "Time has run out for Communism. But the concrete edifice has not yet crumbled. May we not be crushed beneath its rubble instead of gaining liberty." (p9). "And what have five or six years of the much heralded 'perestroika' been used for? For some pathetic re-shuffling within the Central Committee. The slapping together of an ugly artificial electoral system designed to allow the party to continue clinging to power." (p28) Deng Xioaping introduced economic openness and reforms to China in 1978, but how far has China progressed towards freedom? Is totalitarian Asia today in the same position Russia was in 1990? The momentum for reform is gaining. Whether they realise it not, the Asian Communist Parties and the regime of Kim jong-il may be facing a situation of reform or perish. ASIA'S PERESTROIKA-LITE Totalitarian Asia has learnt from Gorbechev's accidental political suicide that openness and reform, if not carefully managed, may eventually prove fatal. Totalitarian Asia operates therefore, a sort of glastnost-lite, and perestroika-lite. But since the demise of Gorbechev, the USSR and Communism in Europe, the reins are held especially tight in Asia to ensure that the process does not gain so much momentum that the Communist Party loses control of it. The best way to slow down reform is to slow down and manage openness. Everything, especially information, is controlled by those whose main aim now is to hold on to power. Solzhenitsyn grieved for Russia as we do now for totalitarian Asia, that the slowness of reform "represents years in the people's life given up to pointless suffering". (p35) However, he also notes that wholesale adoption of a foreign system can be ruinous and that patience is always better than a bloody and violent revolution which results in anarchy, which he describes as "the ultimate peril". AVOIDING ANARCHY Solzhenitsyn acknowledges in his chapter, "Is the system of government really the central issue?" that continuity and stability are essential to avoid anarchy, and hence, it is more important to resolve the most pressing issues of social reform before tackling government reform. Solzhenitsyn believed that the entire state organism could be eventually reshaped by introducing reforms gradually, progressively, starting at the margins and in grass-roots issues, whilst preserving the central authority until society is ready for political reform. This is, of course, exactly what has occurred in Ukraine. This, and not "regime collapse" or a revolution that would result in war or anarchy, is what must be encouraged and assisted in totalitarian Asia, including and especially North Korea, where the situation is so extremely dangerous. While we grieve for the 100,000 believers incarcerated in North Korean concentration camps, regime collapse in North Korea would probably lead to their slaughter as the military machine shifted into self-preservation mode. We do not wish for Korean Christians to be "crushed beneath the rubble" of a collapsing regime and system. We wish them liberty, so we pray for wisdom in 2005, for openness and reform to advance, and for liberty for the oppressed. "The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he turns it wherever he pleases." Proverbs 21:1 ---------------------------------- There needs to be public debate about whether religious groups, because of a constitutional right they have to religious freedom, can demand that they exercise their own religious law in a way that denies others that same constitutional right. This issue is affecting multicultural democracies that have growing Muslim minorities who are demanding Muslim laws and rights to accommodate those elements of Islamic law and culture that clash with Western, Judaeo-Christian-based laws and culture. PARALLEL OR GRID? Some governments are capitulating to Muslim demands out of sheer (or wilful) ignorance of what Islam permits and demands, or simply in order to capture the valuable Muslim vote or be politically correct and inclusive. Various degrees of Islamic arbitration or law for Muslims now exists in many non-Muslim nations - officially, as in Canada, and unofficially as in much of Europe, while the battle for Islamic courts is still on in Kenya. We often picture a society that permits both Western / Judaeo-Christian laws and Islamic laws as one that has two sets of laws running in parallel. But really the situation looks more like a grid, as the two systems - Judaeo-Christian and Islamic - regularly intersect and clash as they head in different directions. In Uganda, women have praised the government's new Domestic Relations Bill (DRB) 2003 (passed November 2004) because it prohibits polygamy, raises the marriage age to 18 years, protects against domestic violence and rape in marriage, which in turn protects against AIDS. The Bill promotes equal rights, bringing Uganda's laws in line with its own constitution. However, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) is protesting against the bill claiming it goes against the Islamic faith and Islamic laws and customs. Hopefully the Ugandan government will not be moved by such protests, and the protections and rights granted to Ugandan women will remain available to Ugandan Muslim women. Governments that capitulate to Muslim demands are actually stripping Muslims of their religious freedom and shackling Muslim women to the demeaning, discriminatory and oppressive demands and penalties of sharia. There can be no mistake, the two systems do not run parallel - they are in conflict. VILIFICATION Previously in the West, Muslims have had to endure the Western/European practice of open debate and free speech. Criticism was handled by apologists, not by lawyers. But times are changing. Limits are being placed on long-held and respected freedoms in order not to "offend", regardless of how unjustifiable that feeling of offence might be, as if the giving of offence is automatically an intolerable crime. In the process, all critical debate of Islam and the Qur'an by non-Muslims is being silenced. On 17 December 2004, in Victoria, Australia, two Christian pastors were found guilty of breaching the state's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001. The charge of vilifying Islam was brought against pastors Nalliah and Scot (photo, link 1) by the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV). The case was heard in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) over the course of nearly two years. The ICV claimed the pastors vilified Islam and thus breached section 8 of the Act in a Christian seminar entitled "Insight into Islam", held in a church in March 2002. The details are complicated and a more focused posting may be released in early February after penalties have been determined. The most serious element of this case is the fact that truth is not a defence. Section 8 of the Act states: "A person must not, on the ground of the religious belief or activity of another person or class of persons, engage in conduct that incites hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of, that other person or class of persons. Note: 'engage in conduct' includes use of the internet or e-mail to publish or transmit statements or other material." As noted by Andrew Bolt, an associate editor and columnist for the Melbourne (Australia) Herald Sun, 8 of the 13 reasons the judge listed in his summary of why he found the pastors guilty of vilifying Islam are actually quotes from the Qur'an. (Link 2). In fact at one point in the VCAT hearing, Daniel Scot was asked to justify his statement that the Qur'an is harsh to women. As he did, he was accused of further vilifying Islam with quotes from the Qur'an! Scot was ordered to refrain from quoting the Qur'an in his response to avoid further vilification of Islam! Section 11 of the Act provides that a person may be granted an exemption if the conduct was engaged in reasonably, in good faith, and in the public interest. However, the judge determined that: "Pastor Scot's conduct was not engaged in reasonably and in good faith for any genuine religious purpose that is in the public interest... Having made that finding, he receives no protection under section 11 of the Act." The President of the ICV, Mr. Yasser Soliman hailed the judgement as "a win for religious debate", adding, "This case lays some basic ground rules for religious debate in Victoria." Waleed Aly, a spokesperson for the ICV wrote in a Melbourne paper, that citizens have the right to "inform, but not inflame". This still leaves us with the problem of what to do with potentially inflammatory information. DHIMMITUDE This silencing of criticism has historically been part of the agreement with dhimmis, people of the Book living under Islamic domination. Dhimmis were granted "protection", that is, right to life in exchange for payment (jizya) and total subjugation. Any breach of the arrangement led to "protection" being withdrawn and a state of war resuming upon the individual or group. Laws that silence or punish negative criticism of Islam place non-Muslims in a position of dhimmitude. In Britain, Prince Charles recently met with Christian and Muslim leaders to broker efforts to end the Muslim death penalty on apostates. The London Telegraph reported, "The Muslim group, which included the Islamic scholar Zaki Badawi, cautioned the Prince and other non-Muslims against speaking publicly on the issue." (Telegraph 18 Dec 2004) Of even greater interest are the words of Ahmad Kamal Abul Magd, a prominent Islamic scholar who addressed the recent UN-sponsored seminar, "Confronting Islamophobia: Education for Tolerance and Understanding", on Tuesday 7 December 2004. Abul Magd believes the word "tolerance" is derogatory of Islam. "What we are aiming at is much more positive than the mere tolerance. Usually you don't tolerate something you admire or like but you tolerate something you are going to live with although you do not like (it)." (Islam Online 8 Dec 2004). Abul Magd is not interested in promoting tolerance - he is advocating that we should respect, admire and like Islam. He then gave reasons why we should revere Islam, reasons which were based on a totally revisionist view of history. THE PROBLEM OF THE MISSING ABSOLUTES Most Western governments are honourably keen to advance equal rights for all. But they are unwilling to face the fact that the "rights" of different cultures sometimes conflict. On top of this, they are so committed to secularism and appeasement that they can do nothing else other than advance the myth that all moral values (in the absence of moral absolutes) are essentially equal and good. They refuse to accept the fact that many Islamic laws and customs actually violate the laws of the land and the constitutional rights of citizens. They tolerate, and even advance, intolerance at the behest of pressure groups because that is preferable to, and easier than, imposing moral standards for the benefit of all citizens, including voiceless minorities (eg apostates and Muslim women). So what will it take for governments and societies to realise how precious and worth preserving are their Judaeo-Christian foundations, rights and freedoms? Will it take sectarian murder and violence, as was seen in the Netherlands this year with the murder of film maker Theo van Gogh, who was slain by an Islamic militant? This followed the screening of his 11-minute film on Islam entitled "Submission", the script of which was written by Ayaen Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born woman who fled an arranged marriage and became a refugee, apostasised in Europe, and became a Dutch MP in 2003. The Dutch are now looking at issues of immigration, multiculturalism and assimilation. In the light of the events of 2004, Bat Ye'or's new book "Eurabia" (due for release in April/May 2005) will surely beone of the most confronting, controversial and challenging books of 2005. STANDING UP FOR LIBERTY As Islamic rights are advanced in the non-Muslim world, Muslims who seek liberty find that sharia is an inescapable stalker, and non-Muslims are being forced to comply with elements of dhimmitude, commencing with self-hatred and advancing to submission. Standing up for liberty means standing against sharia for the liberty of Muslims, and against dhimmitude for the liberty of the rest of society. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) NALLIAH and SCOT 2) Playing with fire. By Andrew Bolt.
China's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for August stood at 51.7, 0.5 point higher than July, according to data released by China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) August 31.
HSBC's China Manufacturing PMI was 51.9 in August, up from 49.4 in
Hebei-based Baolongcang has been closing stores in groups for renovation following the company's acquisition by French retailer Carrefour (EPA:CA) from August 28 onwards, Hebei Daily reports. The company's stores are expected to be all re-opened by the middle of October, the report said.
Carrefour...
Beijing retail group Wu Mart (8277.HK) plans to open a store in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Province on September 16, linkshop.com.cn reported September 1. Wu Mart acquired a stake in Yinchuan Xinhua Department Store (600785.SH) for RMB 176.7 billion in April 2006, becoming the company's...
Alibaba's consumer-focused e-commerce site Taobao.com has released a notice to users of its promotional service "Taobao Zhitongche," requiring them to remove all information or promotions regarding account numbers for Tencent's (0700.HK) instant messaging service QQ before August 31, according...
Medicinal products distributor and energy saving air-conditioners provider Coolpoint Energy (8032.HK) has acquired approximately 30.9% of sportswear company Li Ning (2331.HK), Coolpoint announced August 31. After the acquisition, Coolpoint Energy will provide services for product endorsements,...
UK retailer Tesco (LSE:TSCO) announced plans to close its Wuxi, Jiangsu Province store on September 5, Modern Express reported September 1. The store recorded daily transactions of roughly RMB 200,000, compared with minimum operating requirement of RMB 300,000 per day for a store of 8,000 to 10,000...
The Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.6% to 2,622.88, while the Shenzhen Composite Index declined 1.31% to end at 1,151.17 on Wednesday, September 1. Trading volumes on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges were 12.72 billion and 9.36 billion, respectively.
New energy companies retreated, with...
The Hang Seng Index gained 0.43% to close at 20,623.83 on Wednesday, September 1, in main board trading turnover of HK$56.52 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index increased 0.84%.
Construction companies gained, with cement producers Luks Group (0366.HK) and Anhui Conch (0914.HK, 600585.SH)...
Chongqing-based real estate developer Longfor Properties (0960.HK) has acquired a 118,051-square-meter parcel in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province for RMB 610 million, guandian.cn reported August 31. The plots have been approved for commercial and residential use, according to the report.
Longfor...
Shanda Interactive (Nasdaq:SNDA) division Shanda Online Holdings (SDO) will hold a developer competition for Shanda's late August-launched open platform as part of their "Shengxing Plan" that will launch in September, Sina...
Tencent (0700.HK) plans to release the ninth chapter of its licensed side-scrolling casual game Dungeon and Fighter (DNF) in September, according to a posting on the game's official site on August 31. The company released the game's
NetEase (Nasdaq:NTES) has officially released "Wrath of the Lich King" (WLK), the second expansion of its licensed 3D MMORPG World of Warcraft, in mainland China, Netease announced August 31. Players can play up to 80 levels, explore new areas and dungeons and gain more powerful skills,...
China's 16 listed banks reported combined net income of RMB 343.4 billion in the first half of 2010, representing an increase of more than 30% year-on-year, China Business News reported August 30.
Among the 16 banks are included the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) (1288.HK, 601288.SH), which...
China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) (NYSE:SNP, 0386.HK, 600028.SH) plans to develop a electric car battery charging service in its existing gas station network, reports National Business Daily on August 31 citing company President Su Shulin. In October, China will release official...
The Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.52% to close at 2,638.80, while the Shenzhen Composite Index added 0.72% to end at 1,166.50 on Tuesday, August 31. Trading volumes on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges were 11.09 billion and 8.50 billion, respectively.
Shares in Nanning Department Store...
The Hang Seng Index fell 0.97% to close at 20,536.49 on Monday, August 30, in main board trading turnover of HK$56.89 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index declined 1.12% to 11,402.9.
Big-cap banks retreated, with Bank of China (3988.HK, 601988.SH) losing 1.76%, CITIC Bank (0998.HK, 601998.SH)...
China's National Energy Administration has approved bids submitted for a series of 13 photovoltaic power projects in northwestern Chinese regions and will release detailed results of the bidding soon, Solarbe.com reports August 31.
According to the report, a subsidiary of China Power Investment Corporation...
China's e-commerce trading volume reached RMB 3.1 trillion in 2008 and RMB 3.8 trillion in 2009, according to a report released by the country's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on August 30. Online shopping trading volume in the two years amounted to RMB 125.7 billion and RMB 258.6 billion, respectively,...
Shenzhen-based electronic dictionary and mobile learning device maker Noah Education (NYSE:NED) reported net income for fiscal 2010, ended June 30, of RMB 5.7 million, down 94.2% year-on-year and representing diluted earnings per share of RMB 0.14 ($0.02). The company's full year fiscal 2010 revenues...
Home appliance and electronics retailer Suning (002024.SZ) generated revenue of RMB 36.06 billion in the first half of 2010, up 31.90% annually, Suning announced August 31. Net income reached RMB 1.97 billion, up 56.03% year-on-year, according to the announcement. The company recorded same store...
Tencent (0700.HK) recorded peak concurrent users (PCU) of 1.4 million on August 14 for its in-house developed Q-style 3D online car racing game QQ Speed, according to a posting on the game's official site on August 30. The company plans to release a new version, "Yingzi Chuanshuo," for...
China Pacific Insurance (Group) (CPIC) (2601.HK, 601601.SH) made net income of RMB 4.02 billion in the first half of the year, representing an increase of 66.8% compared to the same period last year, the company reported August 29. The insurer recorded gross written premiums for the six-month...
NetEase (Nasdaq:NTES) plans to open an additional ten server groups for its licensed 3D MMORPG World of Warcraft on August 31, the day of the release of the game's second expansion, "Wrath of the Lich King" (WLK), according to a posting on the game's official site on August 28.
NetEase...
Giant Interactive (NYSE:GA) plans to release "Rexue Zhengtu," a new expansion pack for the classic version of its in-house developed MMORPG ZT Online, on September 3, 17173.com reported August 29. The expansion features three new playing modes, said the report.
Sohu's (Nasdaq:SOHU) online gaming subsidiary Changyou (Nasdaq:CYOU) plans to start limited testing of its martial arts MMORPG Chinese Hero: International Version on September 15, it announced on the game's official site on August 30. The company will start issuing activation codes...
Home appliances and electronics retailer Gome (0493.HK) ex-Chairman Wong Kwong Yu's (Huang Guangyu) Beijing Gome Electrical Appliance has threatened to terminate procurement and management arrangements with Gome if the listed company fails to adopt resolutions at a special general meeting proposed...
Alibaba's consumer-focused e-commerce site Taobao.com is planning a third vertical channel for home decoration products and services, DoNews reported August 27 citing unnamed sources. The site, jia.taobao.com, currently redirects automatically to the home deco subchannel of Taobao's business-to-client...
Guangdong-based real estate developer R&F Properties (2777.HK) has acquired a 15,413.97-square-meter residential land parcel in Haikou, Hainan Province for RMB 227.2 million, guandian.cn reported August 30.
R&F Properties generated net income of RMB 700.95 million in the first half of 2010,...
Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) (1288.HK, 601288.SH) made net profit of RMB 45.86 billion in the first six months of 2010, up 40.2% year-on-year, the lender reported August 27.
The bank recorded an 11.4% growth in deposits during the six months to reach RMB 8.35 trillion, while loans expanded...
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange will allow exporters which record revenue in foreign currencies to maintain some of their foreign currency earnings in offshore deposits in four trial areas -- Beijing, Guangdong Province, Shangdong Province and Jiangsu Province -- for a trial period of one...
Hong Kong-based developer China Resources Land (1109.HK) reported revenue of HK$12.41 billion in the first six months of 2010, up 267.5% year-on-year, in its interim report released August 27. Net income expanded 168.5% year-on-year to HK$3.46 billion, according to the report.
By August 22,...
The Shanghai Composite Index climbed 1.61% to close at 2,652.66, while the Shenzhen Composite Index hiked 2.63% to end at 1,158.22 on Monday, August 30. Trading volumes on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges were 11.05 billion and 7.58 billion, respectively.
Most sectors in domestic markets...
The Hang Seng Index climbed 0.68% to close 20,737.22 on Monday, August 30, in main board trading turnover of HK$49.25 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 1.2% to 11,531.72.
Mongolian Mining Corp has received approval from the Hong Kong Exchange to issue a $1 billion initial public...
Xia Bin, Director of the Finance Institute under the State Council's Development Research Center and a member of the Chinese central bank's monetary policy commission said China may consider allowing banks to set more flexible interest rates on deposits given current pressure from the consumer price...
Online video site Ku6 (Nasdaq:KUTV) recorded a net loss of $11.77 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the quarter ending June 30, 2010, as compared with losses of $10.99 million in the same period a year ago, the company report August 29. Total revenues for the period came to $2.39 million,...
Shenzhen-based download software provider Xunlei released an updated online game ranking based on client-end downloads from Xunlei's site gougou.com on August 30. The top ten online games for the week ending August 29 were:
1. QQ Dance (Horizon 3D, Tencent (0700.HK))
2. QQ Speed (Tencent)
3. CrossFire...
China's insurers recorded total premium revenue of RMB 903.91 billion in the first seven months this year, up 33.2% annually, ce.cn reported citing data from the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.
China's insurance companies recorded total premium revenues of RMB 799.86 billion in the
Sohu's (Nasdaq:SOHU) online gaming subsidiary Changyou (Nasdaq:CYOU) plans to start open beta testing of its licensed 2D Chinese fantasy MMORPG Immortal Faith on September 9, the company announced August 26. The game entered
Tencent (0700.HK) has agreed to purchase 2,496 shares, or a 49.92% stake, in Thai portal Sanook for $10.5 million, Tencent announced August 26. Sanook is a wholly owned subsidiary of South African media group Naspers (JSE:NPN), which is also a substantial shareholder of Tencent, according...
The Shanghai Composite Index increased 0.28% to close at 2,610.74, while the Shenzhen Composite Index climbed 0.85% to end at 1,128.49 on Friday, August 27. Trading volumes on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges were 7.04 billion and 5.32 billion, respectively.
Agricultural and bio-tech stocks...
The Hang Seng Index dipped 0.07% to close at 20,597.35 on Friday, August 27, in main board trading turnover of HK$51.55 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index declined 0.36%.
TCL Multimedia (1070.HK) plunged 15.88% today after the company announced on August 25 that it recorded net loss of...
China recorded telecommunications industry operating revenues of RMB 539.14 billion between January and July this year, up 6.7% year-on-year, with July alone contributing RMB 81.63 billion, the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced on its site on August 26.
The...
Shenzhen-based real estate developer Vanke (000002.SZ, 200002.SZ) has acquired four mixed-use land parcels with a combined area of 114,429.19 square meters in Foshan, Guangdong Province for RMB 728 million, guandian.cn reported August 27. The first parcel is approved for office and recreational...
Sohu (Nasdaq:SOHU) online gaming subsidiary Changyou (Nasdaq:CYOU) agreed to purchase an office building in Beijing for $146 million, Changyou announced August 25. The building is expected to have an area of 56,200 square meters and is expected to be completed and delivered by the end of...
Beijing-based sports brand China Dongxiang (3818.HK) recorded annual growth in same store sales in the first half of 2010 of 2%, while its order book value for the first quarter of 2011 expanded 11.8% year-on-year, Sina reported citing company CEO Qin Dazhong on August 25.
Dongxiang earned...
Sports brand enterprise Li Ning (2331.HK) recorded revenue of RMB 4.51 billion in the first six months this year, up 11.2% year-on-year, while net income grew 23.1% year-on-year to RMB 582 million, the company announced August 25. The company added a net of 229 stores in the first half of 2010...
Chongqing-based real estate developer Longfor Properties (0960.HK) has acquired 33 adjacent land parcels in Yantai, Shandong Province with a combined area of 136.6 hectares for RMB 1.52 billion, guandian.cn reported August 26. The plots have been approved for commercial, residential and recreational...
Guangdong-based real estate developer R&F Properties (2777.HK) generated net income of RMB 700.95 million in the first half of 2010, up 348% year-on-year, according to a company announcement on August 26. The company's revenue for the period grew 49% year-on-year to RMB 6.94 billion, the announcement...
Shanda Interactive (Nasdaq:SNDA) game subsidiary Shanda Games (Nasdaq:GAME) plans to release "Haidi Shijie" ("Submarine World"), a new version of its in-house developed MMORPG The World of Legend ("WoooL") soon, according to a posting on the game's official site on August 23. The...
The Hang Seng Index declined 0.11% to close at 20,612.06 on Thursday, August 26, in main board trading turnover of HK$54.83 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index declined 0.52% to 11,436.22.
China Life Insurance (NYSE:LFC, 2628.HK, 601628.SH) plunged 6.27% after the company reported net...
The Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.27%, closing at 2,603.48, while the Shenzhen Composite Index climbed 0.67% to end at 1,119.0 on Thursday, August 26. Trading volumes on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges were 8.03 billion and 6.27 billion, respectively.
Coal companies rebounded, with...
Wireless value-added service (WVAS) provider KongZhong (Nasdaq:KONG) second quarter net income came to $5.55 million, or $0.09 per diluted American depository share, compared with $3.16 million in the first quarter and $2.58 million in the second quarter of last year, the company reported August...
Hangzhou-based Intime Department Store (1833.HK) successfully bid RMB 645.6 million for eight land parcels with a total area of 134,567 square meters in Wenling, Zhejiang Province, Intime announced August 25.
Intime intends to use the land to build a shopping mall as well as develop the land...
Internet cafe solutions provider Hangzhou Shunwang Technology (icafe8.com) will begin trading of its shares on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange's ChiNext board under the stock code "300113.SZ" from August 27, the exchange announced August 26.
The company, established 2005, generates the majority of revenues...
PowerLeader (8236.HK) subsidiary Shenzhen ZQ Game Technology (Zhongqingbao Network) (300052.SZ) plans to start alpha testing of Tian Chao, its in-house developed 2D MMORPG, on September 9, according to a posting on the game's official site on August 26.
China Life Insurance (NYSE:LFC, 2628.HK, 601628.SH) reported net income of RMB 18.03 billion in the first six months of 2010, up 7.4% year-on-year, in its first half financial statements released August 25. The company recorded total revenues for the period of RMB 215.39 billion, up from RMB 195.74...
Shenzhen-based retailer Maoye International Holdings (0848.HK) wholly-owned subsidiary Zhongzhao has agreed to purchase a property with a gross floor area of 21,830.97 square meters in Baoding, Hebei Province for RMB 176 million, Maoye announced August 25. Zhongzhao plans to operate a department...
Kingsoft (3888.HK) recorded net income of RMB 156.66 million in the first half of this year, down 21% year-on-year, the company announced August 25. Revenue for the period increased 3% annually to RMB 492.01 million, with the company's entertainment software business contribution flat from last...
The People's Bank of China (PBoC) drained a net of RMB 91 billion from money markets in its regular open market operations this week, fx678.com reports August 26.
The central bank sold three-month bills worth a total of RMB 17 billion at a rate of 1.5704% and RMB 80 billion in three-year notes with...
Four real estate companies -- R&F Properties (2777.HK) subsidiary Beijing R&F, KWG Property Holding (1813.HK) subsidiary KWG Beijing, Agile Property Holding (3383.HK) subsidiary Foshan Agile and Shimao Property Holding (0813.HK) subsidiary Shimao Jianshe -- have established...
Photovoltaic (PV) module maker Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP) plans to build a 100MW solar station in South Africa in partnership with an unnamed local firm, Solarbe.com reported August 25 citing Suntech Business Development Manager Huang Xiaoxin. The South African government offered subsidies of...
Hangzhou-based real estate developer Greentown China Holdings (3900.HK) will lower its original construction target of 11 million square meters by around 2 million square meters, reports guandian.cn August 25 citing company Vice President Shou Bainian. Greentown will "face difficulty" completing...
Jiangsu-based integrated photovoltaic (PV) products manufacturer Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL) recorded a net income of $38.71 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to a net income of $44.54 million in the first quarter of the year and $18.6 million in the second quarter of 2009, the company...
Tencent (0700.HK) has released a new version of its licensed Ming Dynasty-based 2D martial arts MMORPG Da Ming Long Quan on August 24, 17173.com reported August 24. The version features four new areas with hidden treasure and advanced equipment, according to the report. The game entered...
Beijing-based sports brand China Dongxiang (3818.HK) earned revenues of RMB 2.15 billion in the first half of 2010, up 14.8% annually, the company announced August 25. Of the total, the company generated RMB 1.95 billion from distribution of the Kappa brand in China, representing growth of 16.6%...
E-commerce company Alibaba.com Limited (1688.HK) has agreed to acquire Auctiva, a third-party developer of tools for vendors on e-commerce site eBay (Nasdaq:EBAY). Auctiva has more than 170,000 active users, according to the report. Alibaba.com plans to integrate Auctiva's platform with...
Online game company The9 (Nasdaq:NCTY) made a net loss of RMB 65.82 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared with a loss of RMB 75.8 million in the first quarter of the year and a loss of RMB 79.2 million in the second quarter of last year, the company reported August 24. Fully diluted...
Shanda Interactive (Nasdaq:SNDA) game subsidiary Shanda Games (Nasdaq:GAME) plans to release "Hei'an Shendian," the second chapter of Dragon Nest, its licensed Dungeons and Dragons-themed 3D action MMORPG on August 26, according to a posting on the game's official site on August...
Giant Interactive (NYSE:GA) agreed to co-operate Shanghai YoYo SoftwareTechnology's licensed 3D fantasy MMORPG Piaomiao Zhilv Online, Sina reported August 25. Giant will provide on-ground marketing and other support to the game, according to the report. The game, developed by Taiwanese...
Guangdong-based Agile Property Holdings (3383.HK) sales under contract for the first seven months of 2010 came to RMB 12.1 billion, or 1.21 million square meters, while its sales by August 19 reached 1.36 million square meters, equal to around 53% of its full year target, the company announced...
Ping An Insurance (Group) (2318.HK, 601318.SH) recorded net income of RMB 9.87 billion in the first six months of 2010, up 27.9% year-on-year, according to the insurer's interim report released August 24.
Ping An wrote gross premiums of RMB 85.08 billion in the six months, up from RMB 59.5...
China continues to work towards the introduction of a property tax, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Finance Department Director Yu Lin said quoted by China Securities on August 25. Property taxes will form a stable main component of local government tax income, Xu said.
The Hang Seng Index slipped 0.11% to close at 20,634.98 on Wednesday, August 25, in main board trading turnover of HK$58.05 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index ended 0.67% lower.
Airliners slumped Wednesday, with Cathay Pacific Airways (0293.HK), Air China (0753.HK, 601111.SH) and China...
JLM Pacific Epoch
JLM Pacific Epoch is a China focused, independent research firm. The company provides global investors with unbiased big-picture insight as well as proprietary data, primary research, and analysis.
China's New Prosperity Leaves Rural Women Behind [VOA]
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service
PERESTROIKA
--------------------------------------
LIBERTY
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Links
http://community.webshots.com/album/233515462eSqZeM
Herald Sun. 22 Dec 2004
http://heraldsun.news.com.au/printpage/0,5481,11754577,00.html
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Elizabeth Kendal is the Principal Researcher and Writer for the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) www.worldevangelical.org/rlc.html. This article was initially written for the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty News & Analysis mailing list.
China Arrests 11 Falun Gong Members for Posting Torture Photos on Internet [VOA]
Reporters without Borders says at least 20 other Falun Gong members are in custody for posting photos to Internet [more]
Tsunami toll still rising. The Daily Telegraph, Conservative daily of London, England [Breaking News Headlines from Around the World, Powered by Worldpress.org]
Chinese aid joins world rescue. CHINAdaily Dec 28 2004 6:28PM GMT [Moreover - China news]
HK people warmly participate in relief of tidal waves disaster. Xinhua News Agency Dec 28 2004 6:21PM GMT [Moreover - China news]
Chinese Activist Wins Press Freedom Award [VOA] Despite repeated government efforts to silence him, Liu Xiaobo refuses to back down. The former Beijing University teacher has been in and out of prison since 1989, when he spoke out in support of the students involved in the pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square. Wednesday, the organization Reporters Without Borders honored his courage and his commitment to a free press, naming him the leading defender of press freedoms in 2004. Vincent Brossel of Reporters without Borders says Mr. Liu has consistently championed an open society, and has called for the release of jailed reporters, at a risk to his personal freedom. "He's facing a real risk," said Vincent Brossel. "He has been fighting for freedom of expression for years. He can be arrested at any time." Forty nine-year-old Mr. Liu is the director of the Chinese PEN Center, the country's only independent advocate for the rights of journalists. He spent two years in jail for participating in the 1989 democracy movement. In 1996, the government sentenced him to another three years in a labor camp for criticizing the Communist Party. Earlier this year he published an online essay that criticized government use of subversion charges against some journalists. Authorities cut off his telephone and Internet service in May, and repeatedly denied his requests for a passport. He and two other prominent intellectuals were briefly detained earlier this month, accused of revealing state secrets to foreigners. Mr. Brossel says Beijing once again trying to tighten its control over its social critics, and cited a number of recent actions. "Officials are targeting respected intellectuals, journalists, freedom activists in the past three days one journalist has been arrested and one farmers' rights activist was under detention," he said. Other press freedom awards went to an Algerian journalist who was jailed for libel after exposing corruption, and a Mexican weekly newspaper that saw three of its reporters killed after a series of investigative reports.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) official unveils the 3 winners of the RSF - Fondation de France Prize 2004
Liu Xiaobo, a prominent Chinese dissident, has won an international award as a defender of press freedoms. The announcement comes as a number of prominent activists in China are being arrested or detained.
Chinese workers blog in protest. From Poynter E-Media Tidbits, Fons Tuinstra reports from Shanghai that "Chinese strikers use weblogs for their struggle. " The worker's blog is here. The first article on the blog is the New York Times report on their strike. This is... [China Digital News]
China breifly detained 'outspoken' editorial writer. From Reuters, via the New Zealand Herald: "China has arrested the chief editorial writer at China Reform magazine, continuing a Communist Party campaign to silence outspoken liberal intellectuals, sources familiar with the case said on Tuesday. Journalist Chen Min, who... [China Digital News]
China turns on intellectuals. Chinese police arrest one of the country's most influential journalists in campaign to stifle critical discussion. [Guardian Unlimited World Latest]
Unseasonal strife in Santa's little sweatshops. Chinese workers in the sweatshops of Guangdong have been demonstrating their discontent by striking, smashing their factories, and not turning up for work. [Telegraph News | International News]
HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES TO PROTEST CHINA’S POLICY OF REPATRIATING NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES
By John M. Lindner
Special to ASSIST News Service
WASHINGTON, DC (ANS) -- Human rights advocates are planning a worldwide protest this Wednesday, December 22, against China’s policy of repatriating North Korean refugees.
The protests are scheduled to be held at Chinese embassies and consulates in major cities worldwide, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Toronto, Houston, London, Tokyo, Osaka, Sydney, Seoul and Pusan. The campaign is being planned by South Korea based International Campaign to Block the Repatriation of the NK Refugees.
Mrs. Suzanne Scholte of the North Korea Freedom Coalition will lead the 11 a.m. protest in Washington, D.C. at the Chinese embassy, 2000 Connecticut Ave., N.W. A crowd of about 100 persons is expected to join in the D.C. protest, representing a score of U.S. human rights agencies, including the Wilberforce Forum and the Defense Forum Foundation.
Hannah Song of Liberation in North Korea (LiNK) will lead a protest at China’s Mission to the U.N. in New York. LiNK was started by a Yale student in March 2004 and has rapidly grown to 70 chapters across the U.S., with additional chapters in Europe and South Korea.
The protest movement carries the endorsement of U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Congressmen Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Christopher Cox (R-CA). President George W. Bush signed into law the North Korean Human Rights Act (H.R. 4011) on October 18, which defends human rights of N.K. refugees, sets stricter guidelines providing humanitarian help for those suffering in N.K., and provides for NK refugees to seek asylum in the U.S.
According to U.S. News and World Report, more than 400,000 persons are believed to have perished in North Korean prison camps the last 30 years. At least 200,000 are currently being detained and brutalized in government-run gulags. Two of the camps are larger in area than the District of Columbia, and a third is three times the size of D.C.[1]
The regime of North Korea President, Kim Jong Il, is also responsible for the 4 million North Koreans who have died of starvation since 1995, using international food aid to stockpile the nation’s military complexes instead of feeding its people.[2]
South Korean human rights groups estimate that more than 200,000 North Koreans are living in hiding in China, waiting for a chance to defect to South Korea. There they are welcomed by ethnic Korean Christians and Chinese nationals, but if caught by China’s military police, are forcefully repatriated back to North Korea, where they face inevitable punishment, imprisonment and even death.
According to North Korean law, defection is punishable by death, and just attempting to defect is considered treason.
Nearly 6,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the Korean War ended in 1953, including 1,139 in 2002, 1,281 in 2003 and about 1,500 so far this year.
China’s policy of repatriating NK refugees violates the 1951 U.N. Convention on Refugees, of which China is a signatory.
At the protest in D.C., Scholte plans to read aloud the list of North Korean defectors seized by Chinese authorities.
“Reading the list is important,” Scholte told ASSIST News Service in an email.
“Having been involved in a number of protests, I did wonder whether reading this list was having an impact since the Chinese usually blocked us from delivering the list and petitions to their embassies at past protests. Earlier this year in March during the International Conference on North Korean Human Rights and Refugees sponsored by the Citizens Alliance and held in Warsaw, Poland, we read this list once again in front of the Chinese embassy. In August, 6 months later, I got this email from Human Rights activist Sang Hun Kim:
“I have very encouraging news for you, Suzanne! As you must have been informed, Mr. Kim Hee-tae was found ‘not guilty’ by the Chinese court and he is now with me in Seoul. One of the first things he told me was that sometime last March, he managed to keep a radio at night in the prison...and, one night, heard your voice calling his name in front of the Chinese Embassy in Poland through Radio Free Asia. Isn't it amazing! He was so encouraged and filled with new strength to fight at that time.”[3]
“China cannot avoid international scrutiny for her treatment of North Koreans and their human rights defenders,” says a LiNK press release. “On December 22, 2004, we ask that those of conscience voice their outrage at this grave and tragic injustice.”
Participating agencies based in South Korea include the NK Network for NK Democracy and Human Rights, the Pnan Organization, the NK Defectors Association, the International Coalition for NK Human Rights, the Commission to Help NK Refugees, the NK Defector Businessmen’s Association, the Save Choi Young-Yun, and the Durihana Missionary organizations. [4]
The Save Choi Young-Hun group was founded out of concern for Mr. Choi Young Yunj, a South Korean human rights activist who was part of the failed boat people rescue, was arrested by the Chinese, and has been in prison for two years, according to coalition spokesperson, Eileen Choi.
A complete list of NK detainees can be found at www.nkzone.org and scroll down for “the List.”
A complete list of participating organizations can be found at www.nkrefugee.org/ and click on “campaign plan.”
______________________________________________________________________
Chinese President Hu Jintao hailed the success of the "one-country, two systems" policy in Macau Monday, as he led 5th anniversary celebrations of the former Portuguese enclave's return to China. But the Chinese leader expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership of Hong Kong. On his first visit to Macau as China's president, Hu Jintao praised the territory's record in the five years since its return to Chinese sovereignty. The territory, administered by Portugal for more than 400 years, is enjoying an unprecedented economic boom, fueled by foreign investments in its recently liberalized gambling industry. Mr. Hu says time has proven that the "one country, two systems" formula is, in his words, "entirely correct". China's late leader, Deng Xiaoping, crafted the concept of "one country, two systems" to deal with the then impending return of Macau and the British colony of Hong Kong in the late 1990s. The policy provided for a high degree of political autonomy for the two territories and preserved their capitalist systems, despite China's communist system. The model was also meant to entice Taiwan, which has been self-governed since 1949, to return to Beijing's rule. But while Macau has experienced stability and growth, Hong Kong has been beset by economic and political troubles since Britain handed it back to China in 1997. The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome last year and demands for greater democracy have been among the many challenges the local administration has faced. Beijing has refused to allow universal suffrage in Hong Kong in 2007 and 2008, when the next elections for the territory's legislature and chief executive are scheduled - prompting mass protests earlier this year. On Sunday, Hong Kong's government suffered another embarrassment, when a court challenge forced it to scrap a $3 billion privatization of the commercial assets of its public housing estates. At the Macau celebrations Monday, President Hu publicly berated Hong Kong's leaders, including Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, who stood by looking uncomfortable as Mr. Hu spoke. Mr. Hu told officials to reflect on what Hong Kong has gone through since returning to China, examine its shortcomings, and improve its capabilities. President Hu has not visited Hong Kong since becoming China's president and Communist party leader last year.
Chinese President Praises Macau, Criticizes Hong Kong [VOA]
TORTURED FOR THE LORD
By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
CHINA (ANS) -- While Americans gear up to celebrate Christmas and enjoy God’s blessings, numerous Christians in China are carrying their cross for Lord. In His Name they are tortured, jailed, detained, tortured, fined or separated from their families.
The Committee for Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China’s (CIPRC) Chief Secretary John Lee sent this compelling and yet tragic story of the torture that four Christian evangelists suffered because of preaching the gospel.
Lee explained by e-mail how his organization obtained the account. He wrote, “God has moved many brave Christians in China in interviewing and collecting the persecution cases. Then they smuggle these reports to us in the United States. In the past several years, we have received thousands and thousands of the bloody cases. (But) we have lost many people because of this.”
Lee added, “Due to the nature of our ministry, our organization has become the target of the Chinese Communist Party’s ‘secret force’ in the U.S. They tried various means to stop us, such as stalking, intimidating, etc. But ‘The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”
With that in mind, Lee wrote, “What should we do when knowing what have happened to our brothers and sisters? Where is our own cross? ‘Jesus said, ‘And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’” (Luke 14:27)
A Tragic Story
According to the account from CIPRC, on Feb. 23 2003 four Christians were arrested and brutally tortured by police from Boli County, in China’s Heilongjiang Province.
Four policemen led by Weidong Sun from Chenxi Police Station drove two cars to Xiuying Chen’s home, and arrested Dan Deng, 38, an evangelist who rented a room there. There the police waited for three other Christians coming to meet Deng. They were Qingshan Qi, 29, Shengbin Man, 23, and Jiyan Cheng, 49.
At the police station, Sun and other officers surrounded Qi. Without any warning, Sun grabbed Qi’s hair and pushed his head between Sun’s thighs. The other two officers then kicked him in the back with leather shoes before slapping him on the face and kicking him on the ground for more than a half hour. Then they searched Qi, seizing 400 RMB ($50) and a variety of possessions. The police then demanded that Qi tell them the names of other Christians and where they met.
When Qi kept silent, the officers forced him into an excruciatingly painful posture known as “motorcycle-riding” – where the upper body is bent forward and one’s legs are stretched out. Officers then kicked Qi in the back between 50 and 60 times.
After about an hour, Sun took a chair and sat in front of Qi, saying, “I will see how long you can bear. I swear to make you confess!” Then with one hand holding Qi’s right arm, he used his other hand to hold a cigarette lighter and repeatedly burn Qi’s palm.
Later that day, Cheng was dragged into a room and put onto a “tiger” chair. There her legs were tightened, her left hand was tied to the chair’s low back while her right hand was attached to the upper back portion of the chair. Then the police officer forced her right arm down, making her scream in pain. When another officer saw that this wasn’t having the desired effect, he started slapping her face for a while.
Then another policeman came and continued the torture. Lifting Cheng’s clothes and starting from her breast and working on down, he pressed his fingers between her ribs. This caused such extreme pain she felt her heart was going to come out of her body.
The torture continued with a different officer – this one using a needle. He stuck the needle into Cheng’s knee between her bones a number of times and twisted it brutally. Then he started to poke her arms with the needle. Cheng’s legs were covered with bruises. Finally, the officer poked the needle through her upper lip.
Man was also beaten up. One policeman bashed his nose and followed that by grabbing his hair and smashing his head onto the wall. Sun pushed Man’s head against the corner of a steel cabinet, and then forced him to assume a posture known as “airplane-driving.” Another officer kicked Man on the back between 30 and 40 times for about an hour. The police confiscated his money and possessions. He was beaten again twice before being sent to the detention center.
Deng was interrogated for eight hours the next morning. He was brutalized so badly that his face was deformed.
Around 6:00pm the same day the police sent all the evangelists to the county North Jail. On March 10 they were transferred to the county detention center.
Qi was bailed out by his family at 4000 RMB ($500). He was released at about midnight on March 10.
Cheng was half dead from the torture before being released at midnight the same day.
Man was detained for 48 days. On April 12 his family bailed him out for 800 RMB ($100).
Deng was assigned to cook at the detention center but escaped and nobody knows where she is now.
According to CIPRC, the group was founded in 2000 in New York. Its objectives are to reveal the plight that the Chinese house church Christians have suffered, and to call on believers in the free world to help their brothers and sisters in the persecuted church.
For additional information about CIPRC go to www.china21.org
NORTH KOREA'S BALANCING ACT
- plus two articles on two kidnapped South Korean pastors
By Elizabeth Kendal
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service
AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- NK AMENDS CRIMINAL CODE TO ASSIST MARKETS AND CRUSH DISSENT
Park Song-wu reports for the Korea Times, "North Korea has strengthened legal measures to protect private property in a recent revision of its criminal law, while stiffening penalties for anti-state crimes, according to a copy obtained by a local broadcaster.
"North Korea experts in Seoul said the revision, the fifth since 1950, can be understood as Pyongyang’s efforts to achieve two goals at the same time – safeguarding its communist regime and boosting its impoverished economy." (Link 1)
While prison sentences for theft, counterfeiting, evading tax and infringing copyright have been increased, so too have sentences for "anti-state crimes". Instead of facing a prison sentence of 5-10 years, those participating in armed riots will now receive "more than 5 years" – the ceiling has been abolished. Instigators of armed riots will face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Likewise, defectors who flee North Korea in an act of betrayal will also face "more than 5 years", instead of 5-10 years. Those who have defected, but are willing to declare loyalty to the regime and confess to being "economic migrants" will be pardoned upon their return. In future, those who flee for "non-political reasons" will receive two years in prison instead of three.
One new subject for punishment under the revised criminal law is keeping or distributing "anti-state broadcast materials". A person found guilty will receive a 2-5 year prison sentence. According to the Korea Times, "Experts believe the clause was created to prohibit North Koreans from listening to U.S.-funded radio broadcasts that will be bolstered next year with the endorsement of the North Korean Human Rights Bill in October."
Another new subject for punishment is the distribution of culturally "obscene" materials such as CDs, videotapes and music.
The Korea Times reports that Professor Ryoo Kihl-jae of the Graduate School of North Korean Studies at Kyungnam University questions Pyongyang’s intentions for the revisions of the criminal law. He believes that criminal law is not important in North Korea and the authorities will punish whoever they want using other means. Professor Ryoo believes the purpose of the revision is purely to make the world aware of North Korea's criminal law and of the penalties law-breakers will suffer. It is designed to give confidence to investors, and deter reformist agitators and "anti-state" agents.
MARKET REFORMS PRODUCE OPENINGS
The Kim jong-Il regime introduced market reforms in July 2002. The reforms, however, sent inflation soaring and drastically widened the income gap. Paik Hak-soon, director of North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute, told the Korea Times that, "Kim Jong-il is now trying to prevent social problems from drastically undermining his regime."
The free-market reforms have also brought many North Korean traders into contact with the outside world. As noted in a recent Washington Post (WP) article entitled, "For North Korea, Openness Proves a Two-Way Street" (13 Dec 2004), "...diplomats, analysts, intelligence sources and recent defectors say that the once airtight lid on information in what is known as the Hermit Kingdom is gradually loosening."
The WP article states, "Asian intelligence sources estimate that as many as 20,000 North Koreans -- particularly those trading in the newly thriving border area with China -- now have access to Chinese cellular phones, from which they can make undetected international calls in large areas of northern North Korea." Also, at the new Kaesong Industrial Park near the border with South Korea, and the tourist resort at Mount Kumgang, South Korean firms are directly employing and paying North Korean workers for the first time.
The WP quotes Sohn Kwang Joo, managing editor of the North Korea Daily (a Seoul-based website) as saying, "North Korean people and the elite bureaucrats all want more reform. But the faster the doors open, the more vulnerable becomes Kim Jong Il's tight grip of the nation. Kim Jong Il will therefore try to control and limit the opening. But as more people cross in and out of the border, there are more mobile phones, and more flows of information, the North Korean people will begin to realize the truth about Kim Jong Il."
David Wall, an associate fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, recently traveled along the China-North Korean border and wrote a report that was published in the Japan Times. (Link 2)
He notes that Koreans have been crossing the frozen border rivers for generations and at least 2.3 million Koreans now live in China along the North Korean border. He says there have been between 200,000 to 300,000 recent illegal arrivals and, "The Korean communities are easy to identify by the many Christian churches, complete with spires and crosses on top." Wall believes that the immense vastness of the refugee/illegal immigrant situation makes it simply unmanageable for Chinese police who, he says, tend to leave the "migrants" alone unless they engage in criminal activity or publicly expose themselves in media stunts.
Wall says, "There is growing legal and even cross-border investment in which the Chinese Korean community is active. Every day hundreds, sometimes thousands, of traders and tourists cross the borders. They are not closed. It is easy for the migrants to move between the communities and send goods and money back."
MAINTAINING A TIGHT GRIP
North Korea is following China and Vietnam and gingerly opening up and reforming, to some degree, under a dictator who will not permit his rule to be threatened and who will, in any way, be propped up and supported by China in the event of any threat. The reforms are threatening the regime, so to ensure that situation does not get out of control, the regime (especially when it feels threatened) slows the process down and tightens its oppressive grip in a perpetual give and take balancing act.
Hamish McDonald reported to the Melbourne AGE (Australia) on 29 November that Pyongyang has asked the United Nations aid agencies to cut their foreign staff in the country by half. The regime has also said that it wants all international non-government organisations to quit once current programs are ended. There are five UN agencies, with about 64 foreign staff, operating inside North Korea. McDonald writes, "A narrowing of the world's main window into North Korea - through international aid organisations - could fit with the scenario of a hardliners' backlash, some UN officials speculate."
North Korea specialists in South Korea and China are positive that Kim's grip on power is rock solid, and that there is no imminent threat of regime collapse. However, Cho Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification told Reuters recently (26 Nov 2004), "I think there will be a drastic change to the Kim Jong-il regime at a certain point in time. But the change to the power structure is not likely to come from below. The change is likely to come from a high level, and once it happens, it's going to move very quickly."
Cho Min seems to believe that "change" (and he uses that term quite ambiguously) is inevitable, given the momentum now for openness and reform.
Next year – 2005 – will be the fifth anniversary of the signing of the North-South Joint Declaration at the historic15 June 2000 Reunification talks in Pyongyang (see link 3), and the 60th anniversary of Korean independence (15 August 1945 – liberation from Japanese colonial rule). And we continue to pray.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
TWO ARTICLES ON TWO KIDNAPPED PASTORS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
South Korean pastor, the Reverend Ahn Seung-un (60), is believed to have been kidnapped from Yanji city while assisting refugees on the China/North Korea border in 1995. He has now emerged in North Korea, working for the official Korean Christian Federation and tightly controlled by North Korean guards.
Ex-South Korean Pastor Works for N. Korean Christian Federation
Korea Times, 7 Dec 2004
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200412/kt2004120717520311990.htm
------------------------
South Korean pastor, the Reverend Kim Dong-shik (57) was kidnapped from Yanji in 2000. He remains missing. On Friday 10 December, a 35-year-old Korean national named Ryu was detained in South Korea and charged with pastor Kim's abduction. Ryu was trained in Pyongyang and worked with a team of 10 North Korean agents to abduct pastor Kim whose name was on a list of those targeted by Pyongyang for abduction.
Government Urged to Press for Release of Kidnapped Pastor
By Reuben Staines, Park Song-wu
Korea Times, 14 Dec 2004
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200412/kt2004121416470311950.htm
Links
1) NK Adopts Market-Friendly Criminal Law
Korea Times 8 Dec 2004
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200412/kt2004120816030010440.htm
2) No witch hunt for North Koreans in China
By DAVID WALL, Special to The Japan Times, 6 Dec 2004
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/geted.pl5?eo20041206a1.htm
3) North-South Joint Declaration
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/791691.stm
Radio Free China
News from China & asia with a focus on human rights and religious liberty.
"Do you know what I want? I want justice--oceans of it.
I want fairness--rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want." [Amos 5:24]
Chang'e I survives its darkest hour
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Second human bird flu fatality in Feb.
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China to hear largest fake receipts case
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China tightens M&A rules for listed companies
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China loses hope for title to Japan
China had their title hopes dashed in Chongqing on Wednesday as they were beaten 1-0 by Japan at the East Asian Football Championship (EAFC).
China denies US steel energy subsidy report
A Chinese industry group on Wednesday denied the claims of a US study released last month, which stated that massive government energy subsidies had fueled the country's steel exports.
Wu Bangguo meets Japanese guests
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Plan in place to tackle pollution in dam area
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Heroes come in many colors
Qian Xuesen, regarded as father of China's space program, has been named one of the 11 people that inspired China the most in 2007. Over the past six years, the CCTV programme of "Inspiring People" has given honors to more than 60 persons.
6 killed in Guangxi coach-truck collision
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Alarm removed in snow-hit areas
China's State Disaster Relief Commission and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have canceled emergence alarms in seven provinces ravaged by the worst blizzards and winter storms in decades as of Friday.Β
-Donations to disaster-hit areas reach 1.45b yuan
Trade surplus falls to lowest since May
The country's trade surplus last month continued its downward trend to US$19.49 billion, with efforts to curb exports paying off and imports rising, customs authorities said on Friday.
Calls for national insurance fund
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Suspect arrested for killing nine
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I will go to the Olympics: Bush
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Restaurant fire kills 11 in E. China
Eleven people have been killed in a restaurant fire at 1:50 AM Friday in Yiting Town, Yiwu City, east China's Zhejiang Province.
WTO steps to resolve tax dispute respected
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2 teenage skaters drowned in Yunnan
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China cuts roaming service charges
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WHO sees legacy of health from Games
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Top News
Visitors to Olympics urged to get permits
Beijing police will begin to check temporary residence permits from tomorrow.
Scientists: Rising seas threaten erosion on shores
Large swathes of deltas along China's shore are threatened by erosion as sea levels rise, oceanic authorities said.
Taiwan announces candidates for leadership election
The list of candidates for Taiwan's coming leadership election was announced on Friday, local media in Taipei reported.
Airport in Beijing beefs up security measures
Police at Beijing Capital International Airport are about to take delivery of new hi-tech devices intended to fight terrorism during the Beijing Olympic Games this summer.
Crucial rural knowledge
The second national census on agriculture shed needed light on the latest progress and problems in the development of agriculture and the countryside. Policymakers should make full use of the basic data to boost rural development more effectively.
Commuters in Beijing asked to give up bus seats
Beijing authorities yesterday launched "Seat-giving Day" to encourage people on public transport to give up their seats to those in greater need, in the latest bid to improve civic-consciousness ahead of the Olympics.
New bins for sorting waste in Shanghai
Residents in Shanghai were given new garbage bins yesterday to help them reduce waste and recycle more.
Favoring foreign products 'improper'
It was "improper" to consider only foreign brands when calling for public tenders in governmental procurements, Guangzhou's vice-mayor said yesterday.
Rural facilities improved: Survey
Rural infrastructure and social services have improved remarkably in recent years, thanks to government efforts to boost the countryside, the nation's latest agriculture census has revealed.
Beijing becomes China's largest advertising market
Beijing is China's largest advertising market with revenues of 31.3 billion yuan (US$4.4 billion) last year, up 21 percent from 2006.
Paraglider dies after East China Sea plunge
A man piloting a powered paraglider died on Thursday afternoon after his aircraft suffered a mid-air breakdown and plunged in the East China Sea off Fujian Province.
Unprecedented press access to CPPCC
The media will get an unprecedented level of access to all 56 panel discussions of the first plenary session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC) next month, Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao reported Thursday.
Premier's visit brings hope to Henan AIDS-hit villages
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to several AIDS-hit villages in Shangcai County in the central Henan Province in November has left villagers with great hope of leading a better life.
Direct farm subsidies to help post-disaster reconstruction
China is allocating billions of farm subsidies in advance to support spring ploughing as part of its post-disaster reconstruction efforts, Xinhua learnt from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Thursday.
Donations for snow-hit areas reach 1.53 bln yuan
Public donations for China's snow-hit areas have reached 1.53 billion yuan (US$214 million), the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Thursday.
Coast guards to get 7 law-enforcing vessels
China will build and deploy seven law-enforcing vessels for its coast guard operations in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zones in the coming three years.
Lantern Festival embraced with joys after snow disaster
Chinese have celebrated the Lantern Festival, the formal end to the lunar new year festivities, Thursday across the country with joys after the worst snow disaster in 50 years.
ATM 'thief' back in court
A court in south China on Friday began a rehearing of the case of a 24-year-old migrant worker who was jailed for life last year for taking cash from a malfunctioning automatic teller machine.
US$5.3 billion allocated to improve water infrastructures
China has allocated 38 billion yuan (US$5.3 billion) for water infrastructure this year, an increase of 11.8 percent on the financial input for 2007, Chen Lei, Water Resources minister said on Thursday.
Police seize 7 illegal DVD production lines
Chinese police confiscated seven illegal production lines of DVDs recently in three separate cases in south China, the national office for crackdown on pornographic and illegal publications said on Thursday.
China
Desperately digging for dozens
'Straddle bus' passes research test: inventor
THE "straddle bus," a newly developed vehicle that may reduce traffic jams by about 30 percent and is less costly than an urban subway system, has theoretically proved workable, according to its designer.
A work...
Scantily clad 'Diana' draws ire
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Death sentence lightened for mogul
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The...
WWII remains found
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White bones of the dead were...
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In a paper published...
Shanghai Daily: National
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Shanghai Life and How to Print Flyers Cheap
© madtpt
Life in Shanghai is what you make it. Most big cities are like that. If you let it, a job in most cities will eat your life. If you can set clear boundaries between what's professional and what's personal you can maintain the balance in your life - do a job well and still have time for some sort of private existence.
Sometimes your professional life and personal life do manage to overlap, though. And that can be okay. I recently needed ...
Twittering from the Grand Wall (Thanks to Dell Coupons)
© BenBenW
It's easy in the investment world to think of China as one big business opportunity. But if you actually get to go to China, remember to budget a little time for seeing the place. Because China is much more than a business opportunity. It is a cradle of civilization filled with wonders, both natural and manmade.
A friend of mine was able to spend a couple of days touring China as part of a small delegation of business people from his state. ...
Seen that? - Hong Kong Remains at the Epicenter for Venture Deals
Hong Kong Remains at the Epicenter for Venture Deals China Venture News Hong Kong Venture Capital Association's chairman Vincent Chan, and the managing director of JAFCO Asia, maintains that the gateway to China is still at the epicenter for venture capital ...
Seen that? - Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Is Not a Fable in China
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Is Not a Fable in China China Venture News Everyone's talking but no one's listening. Yahoo's 1 billion dollar 40 percent stake in Alibaba, China's largest e-commerce firm does not illustrate that a Net bubble ...
8D World a Hit in China
I came across an excellent example of marketing a product in China. The story interests me both as a a China geek and an educator. The product involved is virtual world software designed help Chinese school kids learn English.
Educational gaming is, of course, big business. A company called 8D World is using the concept to teach English to kids in China. Their virtual world (Wiz World Online) requires participants to properly pronounce English words to get points in a virtual game.
...
China-US Relations: Bad for Business?
© rajkumar1220
I've seen a number of stories recently about the U.S. relationship with China, and how it seems to be headed downhill. It's hard to image that such a decline won't have business implications. Google's China problem seemed to personify the larger situation for a while. It has to do at least in part with differences in values...
China-U.S. relations is a constant topic of news. The two countries are the only two real superpowers in the world and they have become more ...
Seen that? - Intel Capital and China Policy Roadmap
Intel Capital and China Policy Roadmap China Venture News With no Abatement in the gold rush of US VCs into China, I continue my conversation with author and researcher, Jonsson Yinya Li, on his observations in his new book, Investing in ...
Baby Shower Favors, and What Not To Take to the Hospital
© joshDubya
To say Chinese culture has its eccentricities would be an understatement. Many of the most basic thought processes are different from what most Western visitors are accustomed to. Understanding things like the importance of relationship in Chinese culture (we tend to be far more independent) or the role of authority simply baffles many visitors from Europe and the US.
The details of life often hold hidden meanings. At least those meanings are hidden from Western visitors (they're obvious to locals). One of ...
Saving Money with Kmart Coupon Codes
© Joe+Jeanette Archie
You get in your car to go to the mall. That's not far... a few miles. A few miles and 11 stop lights. Usually you get caught at seven or eight of those 11 traffic lights. (Why don't you ever beat the odds and get caught at less than half of them?) Whatever. Thirty-four minutes later you're FINALLY at the mall. That means that with sitting in traffic and waiting at red lights, you averaged what? Fourteen miles and hour? Personally, I ...
Venture Capital Coming of Age in China
© kalleboo
Entrepreneur Corner shares an optimistic perspective on venture captial in China.During the past several years, China has gradually become one of the most attractive investment markets in the world, largely due to the diversification of industries, the relative cost base and the tremendously increased domestic market...But the article goes on to point out that China's not immune from the financial crisis.
The question for VCs is really the same question that most of the world is asking: Can China maintain its growth? ...
China's Economy is Heating Back Up
© Emile Bremmer
Chna made economic news this past week by announcing that its gross domestic product grew 10.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009, and that as far as China was concerned the recession was now over. The Chinese are more worried about inflation than recession and they plan to take steps to bring their growth under control.
Growth had been projected at around 9% for the quarter. So the growth rate of almost 11% was a bit of a surprise. Many analysis ...
Senate Looks at Regulating Payday Loans
© rinkjustice
Payday loans have drawn a lot of media attention recently as the US Senate looks at increased regulation for the financial industry. The U.S. Senate to wants to create a new Bureau of Financial Protection that would protect the interests of U.S. consumers.
Think about the logic. You can use a cash advance on next week's pay check to pay last month's electric bill. Or get a quick and easy payday loan to make a down payment on a new car. It ...
China Venture News
China Investment News
Compulsory Peking Opera course questioned
China's latest effort to promote traditional culture among its younger generation has raised controversy in a nation where diverse opinions and options are gaining a grudging respect.
Part 7: On Religion and Social Harmony
Part 6: On Religion and Science
Part 5: On Chinese and Western Cultures and Philosophy
Part 4: On Religious Beliefs in China
Part 3: On Religion and the Spirit
Foreword
I had never imagined that I would one day be the co-author of a book about a topic like the present one. Without the congenial discussion between Dr. Luis Palau and myself, there would not have been the proposal that we join hands to put out this book.
New dinosaur species identified in Zhejiang
Chinese and Japanese scientists have confirmed a dinosaur fossil unearthed in eastern China's Zhejiang Province in September was a new species of the animal.
Taiyuan celebrate Lantern Festival
Residents of Jinci Town in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan perform traditional folk arts to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which falls on February 21 this year.
Pilot projects to teach kids Peking Opera
China's education department will start pilot projects to teach students in primary and secondary schools how to perform Peking Opera, one of the nation's unique cultural treasures.
Writers depict heros fighting snow disaster
Chinese poets and writers are producing new works depicting people who emerged as heroes fighting the snow and rain disaster that have affected many areas of the country since mid January.
Crossing the bridge of trumps and tricks
Bridge is an age-old game with new-found fans, including here in Shanghai where a dedicated bunch of players, keen to test their mental skills, gather each month to do battle.
The marks of a masterpiece
The local skill of making Lu'an inkpads has been listed as part of the nation's intangible cultural heritage.
Four city museums to offer free entry in March
Four museums and memorial sites in Shanghai will start a trial next month to offer free entry, Oriental Morning Post reported today.
Culture
2010 FIFA World Cup
- "The Champions" Painting by Paul Junior Kasemwana
- Spaniards Adorned with Medals and Trophy
- Iniesta Celebrates his World Cup Winning Goal
- Stekelenburg Shows his Dejection
- Arjen Robben closes down Xavi Hernandez
- Sergio Ramos Missed Header Opportunity
- Iker Casillas saves Arjen Robben shot
- Navas and Van Bronckhorst Battle for the Ball
- Spain Celebrates 1-0 Victory
- Posing with World Cup Trophy
- Top Marks for South Africa's World Cup
- World Cup Firsts Recap
- History of the FIFA World Cup
- Vuvuzela: Symbol of the 2010 World Cup
- At Last Americans Becoming Soccer Fans
- FIFA World Cup Trivia
- World Cup Soccer Can Have Political Impact