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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.
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.
Interview: Grace Before Meals post-rocking Shanghai
We had a chance to talk to frontman Vic McEwan in between his band's crazy rehearsal schedule: 
Coming to us off a European tour, Australian band Grace Before Meals is set to play at Yu Yin Tang tonight at the Indie China Showcase, along with six other bands from around China.
Where: Yu Yin Tang 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号
Starts: Saturday, July 4, Showcase starts at 9pm
Cover: 50RMB
How did the band come about?
The band started as a solo recording project by me. As the recording was completed I realized that I wanted to play these songs live but didn't want to plat under a solo name such as Vic McEwan, so The name Grace Before Meals was born.
I started practicing these songs with my girlfriend at the time Sarah Moor. She is a drummer and also plays piano. We organized to play a show together and realized that it would be nice to have some strings and of course needed some bass guitar to round out the sounds we had recorded. I had played in a band called Box Freezer Romance with Amelia Reid for some time so asked to come and play at our first show. Another friend Fiona Berry, was a viola player and so we asked her to join us and play. After a few rehearsals and a gig we realized we really liked playing together, and somehow it just felt very easy.
Another friend from Box Freezer Romance, Penny McBride also had some rehearsals with us. She was busy for our first couple of shows but continues to play with us and is on tour with us here in China. Fiona Berry, the viola player, wasn't able to travel at this time so our line up for these shows is piano, percussion, xylophone, bass and trumpet.
Mostly the people in this band came together because they are all so lovely to spend time with. And Sarah Moor and I got married the day before we left on this 3 months European and China tour. So this is really our Honeymoon Tour.
Why the name Grace Before Meals?
Grace Before Meals was simply a name that I had had in my head for maybe ten years and thought a band would be good with that name. To me the name isn't about anything religious but about a moment of quite contemplation and thanks for the good things around you. Maybe these songs are the sound track to that moment of quiet contemplation before people engage with the FRENZY of life.
Your first show was in 2008- what's it like to be playing a worldish tour already a year later?
We have all played in other bands all our lives, and still do play in other bands. Organizing a world tour so quickly is a great way to utilize the fresh energy that we have together. We all have a lot of energy for this band, not just for the playing music side of it but for the organizing part and for creating different experiences, whether they are musical, cultural or whatever. This band is full of people who have all had interesting life experiences and love to explore and to look into the cracks to find the undiscovered beauties.
How do you factor instruments like a viola and clarinet into a band?
The viola is such a beautiful instrument and under utilized in what is loosely termed "rock music". To me it is like adding a lace collar or a beautiful antique necklace to an outfit; it has such a haunting, beautiful, sad and uplifting tone, all at the same time. How could we have anything other that a viola?
The clarinet is an instrument I have been playing for only a few years. It doesn't feature in our live show much because I am playing piano, but there are plans to have some songs that are based on the clarinet in our live set. These songs are being explored in rehearsals at the moment.
Now the question every band hates: How would you describe your music?
I would describe our music as beautiful and creepy creepy music, that sounds a bit like a haunted house. I think at the same time our sound manages to feel beautiful, like the first stages of love, and sometimes fearful, like you're a tiny child lost in a crowded market place and all you can see is the legs of tall adults and the deafening drill of human chitter chatter and endeavor. Complete loss with no plan of action for escape.
What do you know/think about the Chinese bands you'll be playing with at Yu Yin Tang?
We don't know much about the line up for the show at YYT. The person who has organized this show for us seems to be involved in some interested music from China so we are excited to play with some current underground players in this country. We are looking forward to seeing and hearing what is happening here.
What next after China?
We have many plans! When we get home to Australia on the 22nd of July, myself and Sarah will be traveling to Townsville in Northern Australia where we will be installing a sound installation along the foreshore of Townsville. This will be exhibited for a month as part of an outdoor sculpture festival.
Before that we have our double EP launch in Sydney, then in October we travel to Melbourne for a launch and also play a show in the middle of the country in a dried out river. This will be part of a theatre show about water and the current drought in Australia that turns water into a precious commodity like gold. The show is called Gold.
Four days after we get home to Sydney, we have our first show there as part of a ten month program of shows/exhibitions that are being funded by the Arts Council of The Australian Governement. It is a very exciting opportunity for us to be given some support to showcase some underground music and art from Australia. Ideally we would love to bring out a Chinese band or two to showcase as part of this series of shows.
Next year we plan on touring Europe and China again and hopefully to spend one month together in Frankfurt, Germany making a theatre performance together.
What are you expecting from your show on Saturday?
On Saturday we hope to experience a real part of Chinese underground culture. Hopefully we will get to give and receive at this gig. I think there are some interesting angles being explored in this band that aren't very common in typical rock music, so we are looking forward to sharing that and to sharing in a real experience of Chinese underground music. We hope to learn from every little part of it.
A big THANKS to all our Independence Day Party sponsors
Last Reminder: Shanghaiist + Boxing Cat Brewery July 4 Party
Mini Schedule Round Up: Saturday, July 4 Ctrip.com - One night at the Shanghai Shangri-La Read More on:
Where: 82 Fuxing Xi Lu near Yongfu Lu (复兴西路82号)
Cover: 50RMB, includes drink
Raffle tickets: 25RMB per ticket, 200RMB for 10
Music: The soulful sounds of Carlton J. Smith and some American tunes besides.
1:15pm - Carlton J. Smith begins to lay down his Independence Day grooves.
3:00pm - Charity Drinking Relay first round begins
3:30pm - Raffle first round begins
6:00pm - Someone carries you and your numerous prizes home
What can you win? Check out the list of fabulous raffle items:
Quintet Bed & Breakfast - One Night Voucher at their 5 Bedroom Bed & Breakfast
Hair Culture - Free Haircut from Hair Culture and 2 x 1000 RMB Gift Certificates
ZaZa Nail Spa - 500 RMB Gift Certificate
Crocs - 25 Pairs of Crocs
eno - clothing and accessories
Two Cities Gallery - jewelry
Laris - Brunch for 4, including Free Flow Champagne, Mineral Water and Juice
The Factory - Free Recording Session & Dinner
Mon Reve - 5 certificates of 50 RMB each for their Pastries
The Fat Olive - 500 RMB Gift Certificate
Awfully Chocolate - 2 Gift Certificates for cakes
Osteria - 2 Gift Certificates
Vargas Grill - 2 Gift Certificates for (Brunch for 2 People)
NAPA Wine Bar & Kitchen - 500 RMB Gift Certificate
Sherpas - 400RMB in Sherpas vouchers and two bottles of wine.
Ruby Red - 2 Bottles of THE Sauvignon Blanc, signed by the wine maker
Torres Wines - Bottle of Wine
MHD - 1 Bottle of Svedka Premium Vodka
Napa Reserve - 1.5 L Magnum of 2000 Howell Mountain Vineyards
Globus Wines - 2 Bottle of Schramsberg Napa Valley Sparkling Wine
Group Trade LTD - 2 bottles: a Viniterra Terra Malbec and a Finca Sophenia Altosur Cabernet Sauvignon
Closed Door - 500 RMB Voucher for Late Night Wine Lounge
Cantina Agave - Voucher for a Free Bottle of Tequila @ Cantina
REV Training and Coaching - 5 Personal Coaching Certificates (worth 2000RMB each)
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Xinhua to broadcast in European grocery stores
In a bizarre choice of expansion strategies, everyone's favorite news source (besides Shanghaiist) has announced that it will begin short 90-minute English broadcasts inside select European supermarkets in order to improve the country's image and media influence abroad. Xinhua's announcement is just one of several expansions of the Chinese government's recent 45 billion Yuan effort to expand its influence both domestically and internationally in recent times. After the unveiling of an English version of the Global Times and the expansion of The People's Daily's international coverage, it comes as no surprise that Xinhua would get its chance to hook a new audience as well. The question, though, is what China intends to actually do with its expanded media coverage. The central government's 45 billion Yuan program is first and foremost a response to negative international media coverage of the Olympics, so one would assume that the newly expanded Xinhua is simply intended to provide a better-harmonized version of the news abroad. As the Shanghai Expo looms only 309 days away (in case you forgot), it is possible that this is China's attempt at preventing a firestorm of negative international press similar to last year's pre-Olympics coverage. We're also still a bit puzzled by Xinhua's choice of media outlets and it seems like we're not the only ones. Last we checked, grocery stores are not at the top of most peoples' lists of most trusted news sources, or places where they would stop to watch tv. Perhaps it is just Xinhua trying to enter a market with seemingly untapped demand... and maybe not realizing that the reason its untapped is because the demand isn't there.
Shoppers in supermarkets across Europe will soon get the rare "treat" of watching short broadcasts from Xinhua while picking out their groceries.
Spring Airlines wants to make flying even less comfortable
In the new model, passengers would be sitting on something resembling a bar stool with seat belts tied around the waist. The president of Spring Airlines likened the experience to "catching a bus, with no seat, no luggage consignment, no food, no water." The plan would supposedly help the airline cut 20 percent of their cost while allowing 40 percent more room for passengers. If this is all sounding familiar, that's because Airbus tossed around the idea of standing seats back in 2003. Then they scrapped it, only to have the New York Times run a front page story on it in 2006. Ironically, Spring Airlines purchases their planes from Airbus and has asked them to help formulate a model that would accommodate the standers. The plan has yet to be submitted to Chinese aviation regulators so we are not sure if such a model would conform to airline regulations. If it were to pass, it might not be the worst idea in the world- while no Chinese airline has a fabulous reputation for comfort, people buy standing tickets and suffer through much longer journeys on trains every day.
In the latest addition to "brilliant ideas that China likes to try," Spring Airlines is now considering selling standing-only tickets to passengers on their flights. The budget airline currently has only 13 planes in their fleet and cannot meet growing demand for more flights from more passengers.
Dialogue of the Day: BBC grills Qin Gang
[laughter] Qin Gang (秦刚), Foreign Ministry spokesman: Quentin Sommerville: So now that the government has delayed the installation of this software, are the children of China, perhaps your children less well protected? Qin Gang: From Hecaitou
Quentin Sommerville, BBC News:
Qin Gang, do you have children?
[nods affirmative]
I ask you because a few weeks ago, you asked my colleague whether he had children when he asked a question about Green Dam Youth Escort. And you said that the Green Dam Youth Escort is essential to protect the children of China, and my colleague would of course understand that if he had children.
Everything I need to say on the subject, I have already said, so I have nothing to add to the matter. Okay. Next question.
(该说的话我已经说了。有关部门呢，已就这个问题呢，发表了（这个）谈话，所以我没有更多的补充。好，下面一个问题。)
2009 July 4th Rundown
Nothing speaks to Americans’ “can do” spirit more than Barbie, the ever young and ever plastic icon who has now laid claim to her own swath of Huaihai Lu, and her own David Laris restaurant (which we indeed enjoyed a few weeks back). Tomorrow, the Barbie Café is throwing their own “Barbie-que” and will be serving up American BBQ classics: burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, blueberry pie and the like. 85 RMB per person (minimum 2 people), 45 RMB for the tots. Those looking for a slight twist to their BBQ may want to consider teppanyaki at Kagen, which is offering a lunch buffet for 168 RMB. This is good teppanyaki folks, and guests who bring an official US identification will can enjoy free-flow sparkling wine as well. Grilled meat and free booze; why quibble, this sounds pretty damn American to us. Two-headed Hengshan Lu monsters Sasha’s and Zapata’s will have a celebration in their combined outdoor patios. 180 RMB at Sasha’s gets you access to their American BBQ and unlimited flow of America’s favorite brew, Stella Artois, 150 RMB gets you Mexican BBQ with unlimited Coronas and frozen margaritas. Looking for something a little more subdued, a little more cultured? Try Tale of 4 Cities, which is throwing their first July 4th bash in their wonderfully quirky art center location that overlooks a bizarrely quiet and tranquil human-made lake. 88 RMB for all you can eat and drink combo (beer only, we believe). Picture by laura padgett on Flickr. Eric Hu is Shanghaiist's Food Editor. Email tips, recommendations, and news and gossip about Shanghai's food scene to food at shanghaiist.com.
You know where we’re going to be tomorrow, but if for some in explicable reason you don’t have a hankering for some Kelley Lee BBQ and rapturous Boxingcat brews, here are a few other options in town. We’re not including the AmCham bash because Sheshan isn’t quite “in town,” plus we think it’s just a tad criminal to spend 350 RMB (non-member price) for an American Independence Day bash in this wretched economy.
Have you got the GUTS, Chinese youth?
Back when we were wee little children, we watched Nickelodeon's Guts with the same fanaticism our Gen-X uncles had for American Gladiators. The show, which pits kids against kids in a competitive sports arena was great for its messiness, its "safe" violence, and its schadenfreude (when that girl who looks a lot like the annoying kid in your math class falls off the giant yoga mat pyramid onto her face. ha!). We've grown up now, but we're happy to hear that millions of Chinese youth will be getting a taste of the childhood we remember - MTV's international division will be bringing Guts to China. Called 挑战小勇士 (tiaozhan xiaoyongshi), it'll allow Chinese kids their shot at athletic glory and humiliation on a giant foamy set, something the adults have been allowed to do for a while now. Source: Hollywood Reporter
Live Music This Weekend: Grace Before Meals, Monroe Stahr and RESO 6
Ugh. Summertime in Shanghai and livin' ain't all that easy. It's too darn hot one minute, sun showers the next. Luckily, Yuyintang have just installed a new air-con unit in the main room making it just that little bit less hot 'n' sticky. Live Bar? Well, they've got dirt cheap beers. And Soma Live? They seem to have melted away altogether for now. So here's where to get sweaty this weekend: Friday If you prefer the shock of the new to the comfort of the old, then Yuyintang is your place as they bring their regular New Faces Underground showcase to a Friday night. Having paid their dues playing to less than packed crowds on Wednesday nights, Baby Number 13, who go for a more plugged in sound live, will be heading the pack of new bands. Emo kids Forget and Forgive will also be there as will two bands chosen from last Wednesday's showcase. Australian duo Grace Before Meals are certainly making the most of their time in Shanghai. They only got into town yesterday afternoon, but they'll be at BeeDees tonight, YYT tomorrow and Live Bar on Sunday. There's really no excuse to miss them. Saturday But here we are, one week on and we can tell you that tonight at YYT you'll not only be able to catch the brilliant Duck Fight Goose (kind of a Miniless super group), but will also find Boojii and Self Party in action. And they're not even the headliners. Completing the mammoth line up will be Beijing post-rock outfit Pentatonic, indie-poppers Torte Bus, occasional Zhong Chi backing band Triple Smash (but doing their own stuff for once) and come around two of three to catch Grace Before Meals. Xiaoba Lezi will be hosting a second (now monthly?) meeting up at Live Bar with Ten’s, Sure, Larc Square, Gap and Blue Fantasy the bands getting folked up. Sunday Meanwhile, if you were passed out somewhere in the vicinity of the Boxing Cat Brewery come Saturday evening and missed them Friday night too, Live Bar offer you a final chance to see Grace Before Meals this weekend. Video: Monroe Stahr
Slip on your Fei Yues or Warriors and head on up to Live Bar tonight for their retro party. Monroe Stahr are the band to see with Knock in support. The good people at Live Bar have the following advice on dress code: "Retro party requires striped shirt, Jazz hat, old photo, or even retro make-up. Everything is alright if only it's retro." You have been warned.
¥30 (ladies free), 9:30pm, 721 Kunming Lu, near Tongbei Lu, 昆明路721号近通北路
¥30, 9pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
Free, 9pm, 433 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu. 大沽路433号，近石门一路
Last week, we boldly stuck our neck out and predicted that having Hans (Miniless head honcho plus frontman of Lava|Ox|Sea and Duck Fight Goose) working at Yuyintang might just mean more Miniless bands playing there. It was a brave, some would say inspired, forecast.
¥50, 8pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
¥30, 9pm, 721 Kunming Lu, near Tongbei Lu, 昆明路721号近通北路
Experimental music collective RESO will be throwing their sixth shindig at Yuyintang. Zhang Lin, something of an old hand with experimental and improvisational music, will be leading the way together with Porn Moon Twins, OK=NO and MTDM.
¥30, 9pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
¥30, 9pm, 721 Kunming Lu, near Tongbei Lu, 昆明路721号近通北路
Interview: Carlton J. Smith celebrating American soul in Shanghai
This coming Saturday, July 4th, Carlton J. Smith will help us celebrate the United States' 233rd birthday by performing at the Boxing Cat Brewery Fourth of July party. Born and raised in New York, New York, this R&B artist is a dynamic and engaging performer who writes, produces, and sings all his own music. Strongly influenced by a James Brown concert he went to as a child, his funky beats have given him the nickname "Soul Brother Number New" (first coined by James Brown's road manager), and he makes sure to live up to that name every time he steps on stage. His first visit to Shanghai was back in 2004 and is back to perform in China for roughly his sixth time. When did you first realize your passion for music? As a little boy, my mother took me to see James Brown. I was mesmerized and hooked on being an entertainer from that moment on. Since the 1990s. I'd like to think I've gotten better at it as time has gone by.
How long have you been writing, arranging, and producing your own material?
Where: 82 Fuxing Xi Lu near Yongfu Lu (复兴西路82号)
Starts: Saturday, July 4
Cover: 50 RMB includes a drink
Well, not having a formal degree in music hinders me somewhat, but I'm able to convey what's inside my head to the musicians I'm working with so it's a lot easier. Also, with the invention of such software as Garageband and Logic, it makes it a little easier to compose a song... though nothing will ever take the place of real live musicians.
What other genres of music do you enjoy listening to/playing?
I enjoy listening to hip hop (certain hip hop), old school country and western (they told the best stories), and of course classic rock.
I enjoy singing and performing rock. Hip hop is really just hte new funk so I try to have a hip hop beat inside all of my grooves when I'm doing original material.
You started Tru-Beat Productions in January 2000, what inspired you to do this and what exactly does this company do?
Tru-Beat was actually started for me by a young lady named Trudie Eppich. She saw me and believed in my talent and has been busting her ass to get whatever she can get happening for me and my career.
Every artist should be so blessed as to have someone believe in them to the extent that Trudie believes in me. God bless her.
Road manager for James Brown/Prince, Alan Leeds, named you "Soul Brother Number New", for those of us less familiar with the scene, can you explain what this title means and how you feel about receiving that tile?
Well, James Brown was known as "Soul Brother Number One" for years before he became "The Godfather of Soul." He was called that because he instilled pride in the African American race at a time when America was still treating us as second class citizens. Before James Brown, we were called negroes and coloreds and much worse.
After Brown recorded "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud," it became an anthem for us and a celebration of our heritage. That's when we began to refer to ourselves as being Black and we became very much aware of our glorious past.
Although, in my humble opinion, the ignorance of hip hop has done a lot of damage to us as a people and the way that we are perceived all over the world. Not to mention the tremendous amount of psychological harm it's done to our youth.
But I'm digressing.
I filmed a movie directed by Barry Levinson entitled "Liberty Heights" and in the film I was asked to portray James Brown. That's when Alan Leeds first gave me the nickname of "Soul Brother Number New" and I've done my best to uphold it every time I step on a stage... no matter how horrible the venue or what the pay is.
I feel as if I'm representing James Brown, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, the Heroes of Motown, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, So on and so forth.
How do you feel about being given the title of "R&B King of New York"?
The same way I feel about the title "Soul Brother Number New." But I haven't been in New York in so long I feel as if I have to go back and reclaim my throne!
I'm working hard on some incredibly funky music that will help me achieve this lofty goal!!
What made you decide to start performing internationally?
I'd love to be able to say there was some sort of divine light that appeared in my bedroom window one night and told me to go forth and spread the Gospel of Soul Music...
But in actuality, some band canceled at the House of Blues and Jazz and I was called in as a last minute replacement and Voila! Here I am!
Are you coming prepared in your red, white, and blue?
No, that's a little too "Rocky"-ish for me! I think I'll just wear something nice.
Xinhua: USA Pavilion NOT confirmed yet
So despite the U.S. promising to be at Expo 2010 and Hillary Clinton allegedly confirming its participation, Shanghai World Expo organizers still haven't actually received the letter of confirmation, according to Xinhua. It's only when this letter gets into the Shanghai World Expo's very eager hands that a country's pavilion is truly confirmed, apparently a completely different matter than whether someone has been appointed as Commission General of the pavilion. So why did the U.S. Secretary of State publicly appoint Jose Villarreal to his Commission General position if nobody had yet to actually apply with the Shanghai organizers? It's all too confusing for us so we'll just direct you to the much more capable hands of Shanghai Scrap.
Around Shanghai: Disneyland rumors, real estate highs and lows, and laowais get to stay longer
Today's Links: The Shishou truth, a controversial opinion on Yao Ming, and Hong Kong marches
Green Dam protesters celebrate censorware twist [Updated]
The planned protests against the Green Dam Youth Escort turned into celebrations on Wednesday, when Chinese authorities suddenly postponed their order of the infamous censorware program. In turn, Lots of young Chinese netizens gathered to turn their Green Dam anger into a feast. The event, held in the trendy "Green Zone" in Beijing, was supposed to be a part of a larger Internet boycott against the Green Dam on the day mandatory installs were to begin. But it changed into an all day party as news of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's abrupt indefinite postponement reached the objectors. Around 200 Beijing residents dressed in t-shirts mocking Green Dam arrived to celebrate their victory in the war against censorship. Festivities included matching T-shirts, breakfast, censorship talks and an all-day E-party. Artist and activist Ai Weiwei, who organized the internet boycott and the protest event, told Reuters:
"This is a very rare example for the government to suddenly push back an important decision the night before it is due to be rolled out."
Chinese authorities has been under a lot of pressure, not only from the general public, but also from several trade groups and the European, American and Japanese Chambers of Commerce. The U.S. National Association of Manufacturers had even sent a letter of protest, claiming that the Green Dam “raises significant questions of security, privacy, system reliability, the free flow of information and user choice.”
The cancellation of Wednesday's deadline could be seen as an indication that China is having trouble censoring its citizens and willing to listen when they speak up. Not forgetting that a postponement is not quite the same as an outright cancellation, Ai Weiwei promised that his group would continue to keep an eye on the Chinese government and expressed a strong belief that the young people of China would continue to fight censorship.
It's especially important to be cautious since MIIT has already told China Daily that it was only a matter of time before the rule gets implemented and that "the government will definitely carry on the directive on Green Dam."
Meanwhile, several computer companies have already begun installing the software in new computers anyhow. Lenovo, Sony, Acer, Asus and BenQ have all agreed to include the software on new computers, according to the Telegraph. Considering their market share in the Chinese PC market, it almost feels like the protests were for naught and the celebrations came much too early.
Read more on the web :
Green Dam protest turns to celebration for over 200 Chinese youth [The Examiner]
Chinese Web Users Celebrate Green Dam About-Face [newsfactor]
Chinese bloggers hail Green Dam ‘victory’ [Financial Times]
Music: Indie China Showcase at Yu Yin Tang
Presented by IndieChina.com, a site founded in 2004 to promote and publish artists, brands, and products from China's independent music scene, the event will host six bands from China, as well as a special guest from Australia. Here's the full lineup: Grace Before Meals - (post-rock) Tickets are 50 rmb per person and 40 rmb for students.
If you're still coherent after our July 4 Shanghaiist + Boxing Cat Brewery Party this Saturday, head over to Yu Yin Tang for their Indie China Showcase... because nothing follows burgers and beer on July 4th quite like some experimental post-indie math rock that makes you gaze at your shoes.
Torte Bus - (folk, indie-pop)
Pentatonic (post-rock)
Self Party (shoegaze)
Triple Smash (post-rock)
Duck Fight Goose (math rock)
Boojii (experimental rock)
Indie China Showcase starts at 9 pm. Yu Yin Tang is located at 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu near Kaixuan Lu (延安西路1731号入口在凯旋路).
US confirms participation in Expo, but funding still unclear
However, even with Clinton's support and PepsiCo laying down the cash, it is still unclear exactly how the US plans to finance and implement its plans for the pavilion, which is due at the opening of the Shanghai World Expo in 310 days. The future of the US's involvement in the 2010 Expo has been in doubt for quite a while, as private funding has so far failed to meet the total budget of US$61 million set by the pavilion organizers. The continued lackluster support has drawn exasperation and prodding from those involved and Chinese officials have repeatedly warned against the possibility of the US's absence from the Expo. To add to the mess, the US has already missed the construction deadline, which will most likely end up being extended until the US can gather enough funds. In a prolonged drama filled with barely anything but bad news, PepsiCo's announcement is the break that the pavilion organizers have been longing for. As the US Pavilion's newest "Global Partner," PepsiCo will become the pavilion's exclusive non-alcoholic drink and snack provider. Perhaps even more important to the pavilion, though, are the 5 million US dollars that PepsiCo will contribute to the building of the US Pavilion. Yet, even with Pepsi's vital partnership, no one seems to know exactly how much funding the pavilion really has. The AFP is reporting that the USA Pavilion steering committee has only raised a measly US$2.8 million out the required US$61 million, but has US$36 million "under negotiation." Shanghai Daily, on the other hand, has the total figure at US$35 million collected or pledged, while BusinessWeek is reporting that fundraisers have gathered less than a third (US$20 million) of the required funds. And of course, the official USA Pavilion website has nothing to say as far as concrete numbers. At this point, beyond PepsiCo's 5 million, we aren't even really sure if they have any funding at all. A flurry of recent activity regarding the US Pavilion at next year's Expo has resulted in US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirming the United States' participation in the Expo after the USA Pavilion organizers announced PepsiCo signing on in a US$5 million deal.
Sleeping can be an art, too!
Who says that sleeping cannot be creative? A German photographer focused on Chinese people sleeping on the street for the six years he was in China, shooting over 750 photos in all. His photos attracted both media and netizen attentions. This photographer, known only as Bernd, said he hoped that people will not misunderstand him and explained that these photos are not to humiliate anyone, but rather to show Chinese culture in another perspective. Here are some photos from Bernd's website, www.sleepingchinese.com. Bernd told the reporter:
"我发现人们在任何地方都能入睡，这在其他地方非常罕见。自从我拍了第一张做被子的人打瞌睡的照片后，我拍的睡觉照越来越多，我的朋友们甚至每次给我打电话不问"你好"，而是问"有新照片么"?"
"I discovered that people can go to sleep at anywhere(in China); it is very rare in other countries. Since I shot the first photo of a bed-maker sleeping, I have begun shooting more photos of people sleeping in different places. My friend even don't say 'Hi' when they call me; they ask, 'do you have new photos?' instead."
To our surprise, the usually fenqing ("patriotic") netizens did not find fault with his photos of sleeping Chinese. Rather, they liked how a foreigner took a unique perspective to discover China:
"说明中国人太累了!" "(The photos explained that) Chinese are too tired!""这样的镜头让我由衷感动，也让全世界看到了中国最真实的一面."
"This perspective moves me from heart. These photos let the world see the most real side of China."
China's top 5 music videos
Our award for most interesting song/video is Penny Tai's Dilemma (两难). Tai, a Malaysian Chinese singer/songwriter released her 9th album this May, called Forgive Me For Being The Girl I Am (原谅我就是这样的女生). Which features some actually artsy-looking shots and a bit of bondage. Meanwhile, the most WTF song/video goes to Jerry Yan's Say I Love You at KTV (在KTV说爱你). Besides having one of the dumbest names and concepts for music we've seen recently (hard to beat on the Mandopop scene), it also features an incredibly creepy girl lead who floats onto Jerry Yan's hand and proceeds to play the (tinkling) piano with her feet. Most unintentionally funny explanation of video by CCTV goes to the Jackie Chan & Zhou Hui duet Film of Myself (自己的电影):
China Music Radar tipped us off to a CCTV article about the Top 5 music videos playing in China right now. Stats you should know:
Action star Jackie Chan and Taiwan pop diva Zhou Hui formed a duo to present this song. The music video was filmed by Chan's exclusive crew. For them, it might be their first non-Kung Fu production. Zhou Hui plays an innocent student in the 1980s and a leading actress of a movie. For her it is a rare attempt at acting.
Shanghai is predictably Expo ticket crazy
The first ticket sold was bought through telephone by a person who called at 00:09 on July 1. The first ticket sold in person was to a 74-year-old man who had waited in line since 3am. Wow! We know old people wake up earlier, but that's pretty crazy (and we would think unhealthy) for a senior citizen. He said he intended to go to the Expo with his wife and daughter and told reporters that "We have to see the things that will make life even better." While you guys probably won't come close to experiencing the Expo fanaticism local Shanghainese are going through, it is probably a good idea to still book your tickets as early as possible - especially if you want to visit during a peak day, since there are now daily limits on the number of peak day tickets outlets are willing to sell. A single-day regular time ticket will cost around 140RMB. Peak day tickets are a little more expensive at 180RMB. Both will be on sale until September 31. You can buy them at almost any outlet of China Mobile, China Telecom, Bank of Communications or the China Post. Apparently there are 2,796 locations in the city and you're bound to live near one. If you're too busy (or lazy) to go in person, you should visit the Expo's official website at www.expo2010china.com or dial the Expo hotline: 962010. Some outlets will give you free delivery if you order more than three tickets at a time. Source: Xinmin
Tickets for the World Expo officially went on sale at 9am yesterday and already, peak-day tickets (tickets for the first three days and for the National Day holidays) had completely sold out.
First swine flu-related death occurs in Zhejiang
Just like they warned, China's now reported its first death related to swine flu - though they're not sure if the death was actually caused by the virus. A 34-year-old female patient in Zhejiang province had been recovering from H1N1 when she was found dead on her toilet yesterday morning. The hospital said her temperature had been normal for a week, she was coughing only occasionally and her other symptoms were disappearing. The death was ruled as accidental, though police are still investigating. The total number of mainland infections is currently at 867. Source: SCMP
On an I <3 Fudan streak
That is until today, when we found out what a stir it caused on the internet. Unfortunately, celebratory clothing-optional silliness is not quite acceptable in a country where you can let your kid walk around with his butt hanging out. School officials said that the two men had been identified and that they would not be punished since they've already left the school. The officials did, however, ask that students commemorate their graduations in a "more meaningful and civilized way," according to Shanghai Daily. Though the pictures first appeared on a bunch of popular website forums, they've been mostly scrubbed by now. Mostly. Typing "I love Fudan" into Google gave us this gallery as the first link. Man, once it's up on the internet, it's up on the internet forever.
Coming from a country where streaking is a time honored tradition, we rolled our eyes and laughed when we heard about the two young graduates from Fudan University who rubbed "I Love Fudan" on their naked bodies and ran through the campus. And then we promptly forgot about it.
More on the Minhang building collapse
Shanghai Daily has been covering the crap out of the Minhang building collapse story (and good for them - it gives us something to blog about). Not only did Shanghai Meidu's construction company ignore "obvious warnings" of impending danger by piling up tons of soil next to the riverbank (a mistake experts are calling the antithesis of using common sense), it also ignored actual vocal warnings from supervisors at the site. Meanwhile, the possibility of graft being involved somewhere is still high. Minhang district authorities will be investigating whether several government officials had owning stakes in Shanghai Meidu. That would explain how the real estate company managed to get the land for one-third the price of plots bought in the same area.
Photo of the Day: The men in suits continue
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 Big Red Studio
Today's Links: Sichuan peppercorns, J.G. Ballard, and buying up Iraqi oil
Chongqing hotels: book one room, get swimming beauties for free
Good news, we suppose, for those who are looking for some "exotic experiences" in an expensive hotel. Though these "swimming beauties" don't come cheap - they only need to show up at the swimming pool from 8PM-10PM, but the hotels or clubs have to offer free drinks and fruits while paying them 80-100RMB per day. Of course, if you're applying for the job, you might have to worry about your safety. For sure, it is possible to encounter sexual harassment, especially poolside. The working officials in the hotels and clubs promised that, "Safety is guaranteed. Just come to us when you find any problems." People on the net expressed doubts about the idea of using beauties to attract more customers, afraid that this action will worsen the already bad elements of the hotel business - such as prostitution. "当代中国已经是人欲横流的社会，世风日下，娱乐场所都需要美女献身，不算稀奇。" "色情诱惑！"
When summer comes, everyone wants to dive in the water to cool down. Recently, many hotels and high-end clubs in Chongqing posted ads in a BBS claiming that they offer beauties at the pool to "play with" as a deal to attract male customers.
We guess that If you happen to be over 168cm with a cute face and free on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, maybe it isn't such a bad idea to exercise while earning some extra money. "如果游泳有小姐陪。那如果裸体我就去就餐。“
”If there are ladies to accompany me swimming. I will have dinner with them if they are naked."
"Now China is full of human flesh desires. The moral values of society are worsening day by day. Entertainment industries need beauties to sacrifice themselves; this is nothing new."
"Pornographic temptation!"
Screening: Human Flesh Search Engines on July 18
This time around, Luis Tapia and Mark Schoellkopf turn their lens towards China’s Human Flesh Search Engines (人肉搜索），the Chinese phenomenon of using the internet and its 250 million netizens to seek out and disseminate information - sometimes for good, sometimes not. From their site：
Daedalum Films, the group that brought us Up From the Underground - the documentary about the band Hard Queen and what it means to make it as an indie group in China - is now screening their newest film on July 18.
The menacingly-named Human Flesh Search Engine has made headlines around the world, but it remains largely misunderstood and its deeper implications unexplored. Daedalum Films examines the origins of this Chinese Internet phenomenon, dissects its most dramatic cases, and asks the question: "what can the Human Flesh Search Engine tell us about modern China?"
Doors open at 8pm and the event goes until 11pm, with the film screening at 9:30pm. Wine, beer, and soft frinks will be unlimited, but seats are fewer, so you ought to get a ticket now. Ticket cost is 80RMB and can either be purchase online (and delivered to your door) or at these locations:
- Daedalum Films' office Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm
- CANART Monday to Saturday, 10:30am-6pm
- eno, any day, 10am-10pm
Beijing air is only "slightly polluted"...right.
However, Beijing's environmental protection bureau has their own air pollution statistics, and from comparisons between the two, their reports are slightly more optimistic. From the China Daily: China Daily calculated that only five days were above "moderate" level in May on BeijingAir, but the local environment bureau said on its website on May 31 that the capital's air quality was the clearest during the same period since 2000, with 25 blue-sky days. 
Beijing, like many Chinese cities, has not what we would ever dare call excellent air. So for the past several months, the US embassy in Beijing has been posting hourly updates on their measurements of air quality in the 'Jing via Twitter feed. Set up out of concern for the health of the embassy staff, the reports range from "good" to "very unhealthy" based on the levels of airborne pollutants (particles) that can enter a person's body.The air quality for June 18, when the sky was murky at noon, was "slightly polluted," according to the official data, but the result was different on the BeijingAir Twitter, with the hourly measure creeping into the "hazardous" range for seven hours.
So why the discrepancies? We could point our fingers and yell "liar liar pants on fire", but let's first note that different measuring systems are being used. The US embassy uses EPA standards from back home that measure particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM 2.5); the Chinese government measures those less than 10 (PM 10). Scientific speak explained:
PM 2.5s will be part of the air quality evaluation system to offer people a clearer picture of air quality. The bigger particles are seen as less dangerous because they can usually be expelled from the body by coughing.
Also, the embassy pulls their results from within the central business district. An embassy spokesperson says to keep in mind, "This is a single site. It cannot be used to measure the air quality across the city. They can't be compared."
Whichever report you choose to believe, it's still useful information for a city's citizens to access. If anyone scientifically-minded in Shanghai has some free time to set up a pollution monitor, we at Shanghaiist would be highly interested (though maybe slightly scared) in seeing how dirty our skies are... and how the results compare to what's officially released.
Last day to register for charity drinking team
Want to help out Shanghai's hard working charities? Want to get a tipple in while doing so? Then head on over to Boxing Cat Brewery TODAY for the Charity Drinking Competition this Saturday, July 4. All you need is five people total, an entry fee of 100RMB per head (which will be going to a charity pot), and the ability to chug a pint (or two, or three, or four) of Boxing Cat's best. The winners, besides being able to donate a chunk of change to charity, will also get 1000RMB spending credit at the Brewery. The team with the best team spirit will get an extra prize - 500RMB spending credit. Boxing Cat Brewery is located at 82 Fuxing Xi Lu, next to Yongfu Lu. Click here for more details about the relay, and here for more info about the event.
Despite Beijing worries, Hong Kong July 1 march being held without restrictions
In 2003, the march gained a whole new meaning as Hong Kongers protested the proposal of a government anti-subversion law, Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23, which stated:
Today marks the 12 year anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and to commemorate it, they're holding their annual protest rally led by the Civil Human Rights Front (a tradition that has gone on since 1997).
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.
They feared the loss of freedom of speech along with other freedoms and because of their protest, the government temporarily held off on introducing the Article. The anti-government march will begin at 3:30pm from the Hong Kong stadium and will end on Hennessy Road (map here). It is expected to draw a crowd of around 100,000 people, one of the largest the movement has seen in years.
Protestors are also marching to voice their dissatisfaction against Beijing-appointed leader, Chief Executive Donald Tsang. Tsang has been blamed by many for the economic downturn, and further angered residents when he decried the city's memorial candlelight vigil for the 20th year anniversary of the June 4 incident.
In response to the perceived response against Tsang, Beijing has said it will be keeping a tight watch on the events taking place today.
According to Earth Times:
Organizers of the protest say Beijing officials have been asking contacts in Hong Kong about the turnout and appeared concerned a huge crowd would undermine Tsang and embarrass China in a year of sensitive anniversaries.
But the march has already taken on more meaning than just a fight for democracy. According to Channel News Asia:
But while the marchers' list of complaints is long - ranging from the slow pace of constitutional reform to civil service pay freezes - there has been concern the focus of the demonstration could get muddled."While most people expect a huge turnout, the message of the marchers is quite diverse," said Ray Yep, an associate professor at City University.
"You do not see a clear message and you have seen in recent days that the democrats have been trying to re-focus the message back on democracy."
Cheng Yiu-tong, year's organizing committee chairman for the 12th anniversary celebrations, tried to clear up what the march was about this year, telling The Standard:
Cheng said the idea drew on the six key measures proposed by the Taskforce on Economic Challenges on June 22, and that this year's parade aims to inspire people to have faith in a brighter tomorrow."Through this event, we hope to encourage the people of Hong Kong to commemorate the 12 years since reunification and at the same time look forward to the future," Cheng said.
Asked if the July 1 pro-democracy march would counteract the spirit of unity generated by the parade, Cheng said: "Hong Kong is a city of free expression...it is normal for people to express their opinions and differences."
We're liking the new look, Sasha's
Recently, we stumbled upon an invite from fancy schmancy French Concession restaurant, Sasha’s, begging us take a (free!) sneak peek at their newly renovated dining room while sampling their upgraded menu. Without much thought, we blew off our happy hour dates and made reservations. Upon arrival at the former Soong family villa home, we were escorted up the wide wooden staircase to the second floor where we found ourselves in a large room dimly lit by oversized lamp shades, scrawled with black abstract swathes reminiscent of traditional （山水）shan shui paintings, hanging from the high ceiling and tea light candles resting on square glass pillars at each table. It's a far cry from the space's last iteration as PRIME, something like a steakhouse. The white walls have been painted a warm shade of dark, the lights have been dimmed, the ambiance unstuffed and the prices have been lowered. A semi-circle bar in one corner of the room was playing host to an after work crowd, while some early bird patrons dined throughout the black and deep red decor room and others on the outside terrace. Sipping on champagne and wine, we started with grilled scallops and jumbo prawns with watercress puree (115 RMB), and fried calamari served with aioli (45 RMB). The sea creatures on both dishes were perfect - the scallops were just this side of raw and the calamari batter was as light and crispy as the calamari pieces were huge. The red meat lovers at the table went for the carpetbag tenderloin with hollandaise (165 RMB) and the fillet with potatoes (165RMB) - daringly, rare. Perhaps its because of its former experience as a kind-of steakhouse but both dishes were done exceptionally well. The fillet diner mentioned that this was the first time he had ordered a rare meat dish in China that didn’t taste like bloody meat. Meanwhile, for those wondering what a carpetbag tenderloin is - it's steak with something stuffed in it. In this case: mushrooms. Sasha's version was also an Eggs Benedict (with cow substituting for pig). A poached egg sat on top a crust, itself perched on top of the steak, with the whole concoction wrapped in bacon. It was as delicious and heart-stopping as it sounds, if a little out of place next to the rest of the decidedly not breakfast-like menu. No meal is complete without a sweet treat and although we were beyond stuffed, we deemed dessert necessary. We opted for the apple pie with ice cream (45 RMB) and the lemon tart with raspberry sauce (45 RMB). The apple pie wasn’t exactly the apple pie we were expecting, but it was a decent attempt and we enjoyed the crust. We were much more enamored of the lemon tart, which was complimented very well by the sweet sourness of the raspberry sauce. Would we go back (and actually pay this time)? Most likely yes. While our wallets can't make the new Sasha's second floor a regular outing, we're keeping it in mind as a celebration spot. If the food stays as good as it did during their debut, it'll be worth it in spades. Email tips, recommendations, and news and gossip about Shanghai's food scene to food at shanghaiist dot com.
By Dara DiGerolamo
It was an auspicious start to the meal. Up next for us was grilled sea bass with gnocchi salsa verde and roast vegetables (115 RMB) and five spice salmon with lemon grass noodles and greens (115 RMB). One member of our party preferred the salmon to the sea bass (which was a little tougher), others preferred the gnocchi to the noodles.
Sasha's, 2F, 11 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu 东平路11号 近衡山路; Tel: 6474 6628
Liu Xiang almost as good as he used to be
Yao Ming may or may not be out for the count, but Shanghai sports lovers can still count on Liu Xiang to possibly bring them sports glory. The 26-year-old hurdler was in top form during an open training class at Shanghai's Xinzhuang Training Base, according to China Daily. Because of his Achilles tendon injury - the one that made all of China wail during the Beijing Olympics - he could still only train with sneakers, rather than spikes. But Liu Xiang put on a brave face, even ripping his shirt off and running aorund topless near the end of the session. That's all well and good, but our PC radar perked up at one of the reactions China Daily recorded from one of his foreign fans. French student Juliette Borque told the paper, "He is the first Chinese to win the Olympic gold medal (in the event). I thought it's interesting, since normally it is always black guys that win. So I started to follow him." Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep?
Break out the champagne! Green Dam delayed!
Hurrah! China has decided to delay indefinitely its plans to force manufacturers to include that Green Dam Youth Escort software on new computers, just hours before the policy was supposed to start. Their reasoning: "Some businesses pointed out the heavy amount of work, time pressures and lack of preparation." The news comes days after various international organizations petitioned the Party, begging for it to rethink the regulations, and PC makers have said that they can't make the deadline. The plan had also engendered threats of violence towards the company responsible for the Green Dam software and huge Chinese netizen backlash. Its indefinite postponement is not only a victory for free speech, but also a victory for anyone who doesn't really want malware on their brand new computer.
Around Shanghai: Consolidating airports, That's awards, and high schoolers doing good in Phuket
Today's Links: The danger of basketball players, counterfeit ciggs, and tiger farms
This Weekend: The July 4 Shanghaiist + Boxing Cat Brewery Party
Not only will your charity of choice win major moolah if you win, the members of your team will also get 1000RMB worth of Spending Credit at the Boxing Cat Brewery or 500RMB worth of Spending Credit for being the team with the most team spirit! Earn that by dressing up, cheering and generally being the most spirited charity team around. While we're downing beers and chowing down on great BBQ, we'll also be listening to the sweet slammin' R&B sounds of Carlton J Smith, whose been crooning soul to full houses at the JZ Club and Melting Pot these past few months. He'll be performing three sets for us this time around, beginning at 1:15pm. And we weren't about to forget the raffle. Raffle tickets will be 25RMB each, or 200RMB for 10. We'll begin raffling off some prizes at 3:30pm, with a half hour break between each batch. Curious about what you can win? Check it out: Ctrip.com - One night at the Shanghai Shangri-La Read More on: The days are quickly counting down and we're super excited about our Independence Day Party at the Boxing Cat Brewery. First things first: Registration for Charity Drinking Teams ends tomorrow, JULY 1!!!. Go over to Boxing Cat's location at 82 Fuxingxi Lu to register or beg and plead your case for an extension with the Shanghaiist editors. The competition will kick off at 3pm.
Quintet Bed & Breakfast - One Night Voucher at their 5 Bedroom Bed & Breakfast
Hair Culture - Free Haircut from Hair Culture and 2 x 1000 RMB Gift Certificates
ZaZa Nail Spa - 500 RMB Gift Certificate
Crocs - 25 Pairs of Crocs
eno - clothing and accessories
Two Cities Gallery - jewelry
Laris - Brunch for 4, including Free Flow Champagne, Mineral Water and Juice
The Factory - Free Recording Session & Dinner
Mon Reve - 5 certificates of 50 RMB each for their Pastries
The Fat Olive - 500 RMB Gift Certificate
Awfully Chocolate - 2 Gift Certificates for cakes
Osteria - 2 Gift Certificates
Vargas Grill - 2 Gift Certificates for (Brunch for 2 People)
NAPA Wine Bar & Kitchen - 500 RMB Gift Certificate
Sherpas - 400RMB in Sherpas vouchers and two bottles of wine.
Ruby Red - 2 Bottles of THE Sauvignon Blanc, signed by the wine maker
Torres Wines - Bottle of Wine
MHD - 1 Bottle of Svedka Premium Vodka
Napa Reserve - 1.5 L Magnum of 2000 Howell Mountain Vineyards
Globus Wines - 2 Bottle of Schramsberg Napa Valley Sparkling Wine
Group Trade LTD - 2 bottles: a Viniterra Terra Malbec and a Finca Sophenia Altosur Cabernet Sauvignon
Closed Door - 500 RMB Voucher for Late Night Wine Lounge
Cantina Agave - Voucher for a Free Bottle of Tequila @ Cantina
REV Training and Coaching - 5 Personal Coaching Certificates (worth 2000RMB each)
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Life after the gaokao
The gaokao, or the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, is the culmination of 12 years of schooling for more than 10 million Chinese students. As the (almost) sole determinant for college admissions decisions, the gaokao dominates the Chinese educational system as well as the lives of students who intend to matriculate to universities after secondary school. Those lucky enough to get top scores in their districts (like the two students featured in The Beijing News) become overnight celebrities, earning the admiration and envy of 10 million of their peers. However, even after scoring well on the exams, many students find themselves suffering from "post-exam syndrome" and end up filling the three months between the gaokao and college entrance with nothing but sleeping, eating, and watching TV. For those unfortunate enough to receive less-than-desirable scores, the future becomes a hazy and unwelcoming place. While the national obsession before the test causes enough stress to unnerve even the strongest student, picking up the pieces after a failed gaokao attempt can be a living nightmare. Many students will opt to spend another entire year studying in order to up their scores, but they are the lucky ones; many have faced mental breakdowns and some even resorted to suicide. But even with all the hype, is the gaokao really that much harder than other standardized tests across the world? The SAT provides plenty of stress for American students, and there are also plenty of horror stories about Japan's national exams. Tests like the SAT, though, have none of the finality that the gaokao has--it's easy to take the SAT several times and a bad score is not a death sentence. And even if several countries (like Japan) have similar tests to China, Chinese students still end up devoting more precious hours to studying than their counterparts around the world. In the end though, does the gaokao do its job? Pretty much no one likes the exam, but it is a very effective and egalitarian system that identifies talented and well-motivated students with decent accuracy. While of course we can't wish for everything, perhaps there may be middle ground between tests like the SAT and the gaokao in the future that retains the fairness of the Chinese system while lowering the stress and obsession. Because God knows that those 10 million gaokao test takers could use a break. For more, click here, or to try your hand at the gaokao, click here.
You may have noticed two otherwise inconspicuous high school students recently featured on the front page of the Xin Jing Bao (The Beijing News), and if not, you probably noticed that something strange was going on earlier this month. In both instances, the gaokao (高考) is to blame.
Nanjing woman mauled to death by dogs while bystanders watched
The woman had been returning from the restroom outside the workers' dorms at the Jinghu Bridge Bureau when she encountered the two dogs, according to Netease. The "criminal" dogs were beaten to death under police supervision after the incident. A reporter went to the factory she had been working at to investigate. A manager of a convenience store near the scene said that many people had run out to watch as the poor woman struggled with the dogs. When the woman's husband arrived, he and other workers found sticks to beat the dogs away - by that time, it was too late for the woman. She had been injured severely and died the next morning. The happening evoked a long discussion among netizens as soon as it was posted online. Questions have raised around why the dogs were not locked up and why there wasn't people to help. Many people thought that the owner of the dogs should've been punished instead of merely killing the dogs while also expressing their doubts of the working conditions in the construction company. "狗不过是尽忠职守，在主人给他定的位置防御侵入，还是临晨，不知道有什么错，错在那个单位的傻逼规划，非要把厕所修到狗棚子另一侧，估计小时候脑袋让门夹了"
Early last Sunday morning, a 29-year-old female worker was mauled to death by two big dogs in nearby Nanjing. Most frighteningly, over ten bystanders watched without doing a single thing."很不理解为什么 非要打死狗呢？ 人为的监管不利该狗什么事？！ “不咬人的狗不是好狗。”“咬人的狗不叫唤。”
1.狗的主人 或监管人 管理不当致使狼狗冲出伤人
2.工地厕所建设，只考虑工作中方便吗？不考虑宿舍休息区吗?"
"I just don't understand why they killed the dogs? It's the owner's fault! ‘A dog is not a good dog if it doesn't bite people.' 'Barking dogs seldom bite.'
1. The owner or supervisor of the dogs are the ones to punish -- they did not manage the dogs well.
2. The toilet in the construction area is so far away from the workers' dorms. Did the construction company consider how inconvinient for the workers to go to bathroom? Or they just didn't care."
"The dogs were doing their duties. The incident happened early in the morning; the dogs were trying to protect their owner. However, the stupid construction company left no choice but built the toilet on another side of the dog cage? The people who designed this must have serious head damage."
But what really got people heated was that bystanders watched but didn't try their best to help, a common problem it seems in China.
"强烈建议：如果围观几十人中有男人最好去死！“ "Strongly suggested: If there were men among the people who watched, they better be killed!”
After reading the story, we're not really afraid of dogs so much as the attitude of those who might watch us in trouble.
Dear China: Can we just drop this Green Dam business?
Signed by the heads of 22 international organizations, including the American Chamber of Commerce in China, the European-American Business Council, and the National Foreign Trade Council, the letter is a not often seen public confrontation of Chinese leadership. One official noted the July 1 deadline was fast approaching: "Given the seriousness we attach to the myriad concerns involving the Green Dam mandate and with the deadline looming, we felt we needed to direct those concerns to the highest levels of the Chinese government." The Wall Street Journal got a look at the letter, which said in part: There also appeared to be some kissing up: The letter, however, might actually make reversing Green Dam harder now, as no Chinese official wants to be viewed as allying with foreign companies against the government. So far, the only large foreign PC-maker to publicly announce their compliance with the mandate is Taiwan's Acer. But even as the clock strikes midnight on July 1st, we're not expecting a giant Green Dam to come crashing down on PCs. We suspect China is still wrestling with issues over software legality and the even more pressing question of: how exactly do you enforce software installation?
In a surprising twist to the Green Dam software controversy, a direct letter was submitted on Friday to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao asking the government to "reconsider implementing the Green Dam requirements". "[Green Dam] raises serious concerns for us and seems to run counter to China's important goal of becoming a vibrant and dynamic information-based society....The Green Dam mandate raises significant questions of security, privacy, system reliability, the free flow of information and user choice."
"We applaud and respect your country's determination to integrate into the global economy, and carve out its rightful place as an international technology leader."
Toppled Minhang building built on discounted land
Perhaps of no surprise, an official website has revealed that the land of the now infamous toppled Minhang building was sold at a severe discount. The official Shanghai Real Estate Appraisers Association website found that Shanghai Meidu Real Estate Co. had paid only 46 million RMB for 42,342 square meters of land - roughly 604RMB per square meter. The average price for apartments in the collapsed building was 14,297RMB per square meter. Most interestingly, it seems that bidding for the land was only open to select companies and Shanghai Meidu had gotten a temporary license specifically to participate. It makes us wonder what other weird happenings and hidden going ons were buried under those collapsed foundations. Source: Shanghai Daily
Video: China's own little Michael Jackson
With Michael Jackson's death rocking the world, video sharing sites have been deluged with fans uploading their favorite Jackson tributes. One of the best ones making the rounds on the Chinese internets is this vid: a high school kid (in 2007) doing a really spot on rendition of Jackson's dance to Beat It. The video has gotten 10,000 views in just the time it took for us to write that last paragraph. We give it two thumbs up, a twist, a spin and a moonwalk. Jamon.
Shanghaiist
Shanghaiist is a website about Shanghai, China.Editor: Elaine ChowManaging Editor: Dan WashburnPublisher: Gothamist
Bummer for Hummer in China?
Children in Shanghai walk past a special edition Hummer SUV at an exhibition of luxury goods in 2006. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Despite a Chinese company's wish to buy the bankrupt General...
China's Two-Year Old Smoker and the News
Do they make nicorette milk? (Bohai Morning News photo)
Apparently the youngest smoker in the world is two-year-old Tong Liangliang from Tianjin, who has a pack-a-day habit.
Already, online social networks are...
Clearing up the Gray Skies Over China
Beijing skyline from the Western Mountains. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)
The Asia Society has a fascinating web site devoted to China's air quality. It includes a daily photograph of the...
Everyone Loves a Spy Story - Even if it's Fake
They're supposed to report the news, not make the news. (Stockbyte photo - Not a picture of Fang Jing)
China Central Television news anchor Fang Jing's good name has been restored....
Journalists Sentenced to 12 Years Labor in North Korea
A picture of Euna Lee at a vigil for her and Laura Ling in San Francisco on June 3. (Steve Rhodes/Flickr)
Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two American journalists that...
What Tiananmen Means to Me
I was 12 years old when I watched my parents, visibly shaken, and glued to images of a China in turmoil on television in our American living room. It was...
North Korea Tries Two American Journalists Today
Euna Lee (left) and Laura Ling have been held in North Korea since March 17. (YONHAP/AFP/Getty Images)
North Korea is likely trying two American journalists for "hostile acts" as I...
Geithner to China: U.S. Assets are Safe
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner speaks during a meeting with Wang Qishan, Chinese Vice Premier in Beijing on Monday. (Andy Wong-Pool/Getty Images)
In his first visit to China since becoming the...
Chinese Volcano Killed Half of Earth's Life
The mountains at Emeishan in Sichuan Province have been a sacred site for centuries. (China Photos/Getty Images)
New scientific research has found that a massive volcanic eruption in the Emeishan...
Chinese Investors Interested in Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Yao Ming attend an event during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
In yet more proof that American basketball rules the world, a...
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Special Report: A Closer Look at Virtual Currency Regulations
Chenhao: Big Money Mirrors a Big Problem
Over the past few weeks, speculation has been mounting that China is planning to issue a new RMB 500 bank note in November . Reports suggest that the new note, which would be far and away the largest face-value bank note in circulation on the mainland...
LDK: Q2 Shipments Up, Revs Down QoQ
Jiangxi-based multicrystalline wafer maker LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) said July 2 that it expects second quarter shipments to come in between 220MW and 230MW, above previously issued guidance of 200MW to 220MW, while revenues are expected to be $215 million to $225 million. In the first quarter of 2009,...
China Telecom Kicks Off 3G Handset Tender
China Telecom's (NYSE:CHA, 728.HK) 3G brand e-Surfing opened a 3.6 million-handset tender on July 3, qq.com reports. The report said 70 handset manufacturers - including ZTE (000063.SZ, 763.HK), LG Electronics (066570.SEO), Samsung Electronics (5930.SEO), Nokia...
China Teleco Giants Sign Ericsson Contracts
Ericsson (Nasdaq:ERIC) announced that it has won contracts to provide fixed broadband to China's three telecom operators, China Mobile (NYSE:CHL, 941.HK), China Telecom (NYSE:CHA, 728.HK) and China Unicom (NYSE:CHU, 762.HK, 600050.SH). The initial contract will provide fiber-to-the-home...
Yingli to Supply Dunhuang Modules
Vertically integrated photovoltaic (PV) products manufacturer Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE) has been selected by State Development and Investment Corp. (SDIC) subsidiary SDIC Huajing Power Holding (601886.SH), to supply PV modules for a 10MW on-grid solar plant to be located in Dunhuang,...
Source: The9 Pres Stays On, 20-F Delayed
The9 (Nasdaq:NCTY) President Xiaowei Chen has renewed her contract with the company for another two years, reports National Business Daily quoting an unnamed source close to Chen. A related company chief confirmed that Chen will renew her contract but would not comment on the duration. Chen dispelled...
Microsoft Secures Beijing Copyright Ruling
Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) has won RMB 460,000 in damages from Beijing-based computer software distributer Sichuang Weilai for copyright infringements in Beijing's No.1 Intermediate People's Court, Ccw.com.cn reported July 2. Sichuang Weilai was found guilty unlicensed Microsoft software on 12 computers...
Wal-Mart Takes on Alibaba Payment Partner
More than 90 Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) stores offer offline payment from Legend Holdings subsidiary Beijing Lakala Billing Services, and the system recorded 50,000 transactions for a total of RMB 18 million in May alone, reports China Business Times quoting Lakala President Sun Taoran. The parties'...
Capital Group: 83% of FY Target Down
Beijing Capital Land (2868.HK) announced Thursday that its parent company, Capital Group, has recorded contract sales revenue of RMB 5 billion in the first six months of 2009, up 187% year-on-year and representing 83% of its annual target, reports guandian.cn. In June, Beijing Capital Land's contract...
Popular Shanda Lit Novel Now Game No. 2
Game company Shanghai Quyou Network has adapted online novel Gui Chui Deng ("Ghost Blows Out the Light") into a same-titled 3D online game that will be released in August, reports DoNews. Quyou Network spent two years developing the game and plans to announce further details at this year's ChinaJoy...
Alibaba.com, Zhejiang City to Boost E-Commerce
Business-to-business e-commerce company Alibaba.com (1688.HK) signed an agreement with the municipal government of Shaoxing, Zhejiang province under which the city will set up a RMB 15 million fund to help small and medium-sized enterprises expand using Alibaba.com's platform, pchome.net reported...
R&F Properties Announces H1 Sales
Guangdong-based real estate developer R&F Properties (2777.HK) recorded June contract sales of RMB 2.37 billion on 213,000 square meters, up 78% and 80% year-on-year, respectively, reports Wenhui Daily (Hong Kong). As of June 30, the company's contract sales have totaled RMB 12.83 billion, 58%...
VanceInfo Buys Customer Care Products Co
Offshore software developer VanceInfo Technologies Inc. (NYSE:VIT) announced July 3 it has acquired the operating subsidiaries of Hong Kong-based customer relationship management (CRM) solutions and call center services provider TP Corporation for an initial consideration of approximately $1.1...
MoF Caps "Old-for-New" Subsidies
China's Ministry of Finance (MoF) has set maximum limits for subsidies offered under its "old-for-new" household appliances recycling program between June 1 and May 31, 2010. During the period, the government will pay out up to RMB 250 for each washing machine, RMB 300 for refrigerators, RMB 350 for...
Gome '09 Closures Complete
Home appliance and electronics retailer Gome (493.HK) has completed its 2009 target of closing 100 of its worst-performing stores nationwide, National Business Daily reported July 3, quoting Gome Vice President Sun Yiding. As part of the nationwide closures, Gome closed nearly 30% of its Jiangxi...
A-Shares Up, SME Board IPO Trading Limits Amended
The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.92% to close at 3,088.37, while the Shenzhen Composite Index grew 1.38% to close at 1000.68 on Friday. Trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges reached RMB 177.44 billion and RMB 89.68 billion, respectively.
Shares of Shanghai Shimao (600823.SH)...
TechFaith Sub to Test "Fairy Life" MMO
China Techfaith Wireless Communication Technology (Nasdaq:CNTF) subsidiary One Net Entertainment plans to start one-month technology load testing of its licensed 3D Chinese fantasy MMORPG Fairy Life of the Q on July 17, reports 798game.com. The testing version will feature new systems,...
NetEase Sued for Defaming University Professor
NetEase (Nasdaq:NTES) has been sued by Tsinghua University professor Xiao Ying for RMB 100,000 for damage to his reputation in the Beijing Haidian People's Court, reports China Reading Weekly.
Xiao claims that a NetEase entertainment channel employee used private correspondence, in which...
SNS Site 51.com: Dancing Game in the Pipeline
Giant Interactive- (NYSE:GA) invested social networking site 51.com plans to begin closed beta testing of its in-house developed 3D dancing casual game "51 Dance" (Xin Xuan Wu) on July 10, reports Sohu.com. The game will be promoted on the SNS platform and through Giant Interactive's distribution...
Longfor Property H1 Sales Hit RMB 9.5B
Chongqing-based developer Longfor Properties sold 1.2 million square meters for nearly RMB 9.5 billion in the first six months of 2009, reports China Securities News quoting company statistics released July 2. Longfor sold over 10,000 units during the period, said the report. Company spokesman Gu Wei...
Alibaba IM Tool Records 4M Users
Alibaba Group's software subsidiary Alisoft has recorded more than 4 million independent users for its instant messaging (IM) tool, "Ali Wang Wang," reports Ccidnet.com. Ali Wang Wang offers nearly 400 Software as a Service (SaaS) products, said the report. At the end of last year, Alisoft reported having...
Xunlei Releases Game Ranking
Shenzhen-based download software provider Xunlei released a new online game ranking based on client-end downloads made on Xunlei site gougou.com on July 3. The top ten online games are:
Cross Fire (Operator, Developer: Tencent (700.HK), Smile Gate)
QQ Dance (Tencent, Horizon 3D)
Kart Rider...
Zhixinheng Network to CB Test "Dispute" MMO
Beijing-based online game company Zhixinheng Network plans to start closed beta testing of its in-house developed 2.5D MMORPG Dispute Online on July 8. Gamers' accounts will not be deleted after the testing. The game was scheduled to enter final-round alpha testing on April 28.
China IT Product Sales Slow 5% in H1
China's IT industry sales slowed by 4.8% year-on-year in the first five months of 2009 to RMB 299.8 billion, according to a report released July 3 by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The industry's revenue declined 6.1% to RMB 289.83 billion, while profit increased 35.1% to...
China May Dedicate RMB 3-4B to Fund Hi-Tech
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Ministry of Science and Technology are expected to release initial funding soon for technology programs, including chips, software and core electronics, reports Shanghai Securities News quoting an unnamed insider. First-phase funding may be...
ZTE to Deliver 2M Data Cards to Telenor
ZTE (000063.SZ, 763.HK) has signed an agreement to sell 2 million USB data cards to Norway Telecom operator Telenor over the next 12 months, reports Ccidnet.com quoting foreign media sources.
Telenor previously signed an agreement to purchase LTE (Long Term Evolution) radio access and...
Report: Google China H1 Takings Up 40%
Google (Nasdaq:GOOG) China revenues in the first half of this year grew 45-50% year-on-year, 163.com reports. The report cited a Google China regional advertising agency as saying its advertising services revenue in the second quarter increased nearly 25% quarter-on-quarter, and noted that other...
Greentown H1 Sales Climb 170% YoY
Real estate developer Greentown China Holdings Limited (3900.HK) recorded total sales proceeds of RMB 21.1 billion in its 49 projects nationwide in the first six months of 2009, up 170% year-on-year. Contract sales made up RMB 18.4 billion of the total. In June, Greentown China's total contract...
NetEase Launches "WoW," "Battle.net" Sites
NetEase (Nasdaq:NTES) released the official site for its licensed 3D MMORPG World of Warcraft (WoW) at warcraftchina.com on July 1, reports 17173.com. The Chinese-language homepage for NetEase's "Battle.net" multiplayer platform launched at battlenet.com.cn the same day, the report said....
Blizzard: Ogilvy New China Media Agent
Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq:ATVI) division Blizzard Entertainment China confirmed that it has ended its cooperation with public relations agency Shanghai CLICK and entered a new partnership with Ogilvy, reports Sina. The change is not directly related to "the World of Warcraft event," the...
LDK Wins New Italian Contract
Jiangxi-based multicrystalline wafer maker LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) has signed an agreement to supply wafers to Italian photovoltaic (PV) systems integrator SAEM Srl for five 1MW PV plants in Italy's Apulia region. Construction of the plants is expected to be completed by November of this year.
Previously,...
NetEase Charges for New MMO Names
NetEase (Nasdaq:NTES) is offering a paid name-change service for its in-house developed MMORPG Westward Journey III (WWJ3) from July 1. Each character may change names once every 30 days at a minimum charge of 600 game points. Charges vary depending on the number of times and length of...
Shanda Launches "Woool" Virtual Item Promo
Shanda (Nasdaq:SNDA) launched a promotional activity for its in-house developed MMORPG The World of Legend (WoooL) in several server groups on July 1. Gamers are able to purchase "fortune bags" to earn "fortune points." After a gamer has accumulated 200 fortune points, the next fortune...
Hanergy Plans RMB 28B Thin-Film Cell Base
Beijing-based energy investment group Hanergy will establish a three-phase photovoltaic (PV) base focusing on thin-film solar cell research, development and production in Heyuan, Guangdong province, Nanfang Daily reports. The 1GW first phase will require initial investment of RMB 28 billion, and is expected...
NetEase Webgame Begins Alpha Testing
NetEase (Nasdaq:NTES) plans to start technology alpha testing of its in-house developed 2D massively multiplayer online simulation webgame Zhan Guo FengYun on July 15. The test is limited to 500 gamers. NetEase opened the game's official site and forum at zg.163.com and zg.netease.com,...
Greenland Breaks Ground on RMB 3B Project
Real estate developer Shanghai Greenland Group began construction of a commercial project in Nanchang, Jiangxi province on June 30, reports Guandian.cn. The project covers total construction area of 430,000 square meters and will receive investment of roughly RMB 3 billion.
A-Share Trading Volumes, Indices Swell
The Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.73% to close at 3,060.25, while the Shenzhen Composite Index grew 0.98% to close at 987.02 on Thursday. Trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges reached RMB 181.11 billion and RMB 85.08 billion, respectively.
China Securities Regulatory Commission...
"Lunia" to Live On, Developer Lied, Optic Says
Optic Communications, a subsidiary of CDC Corporation's (Nasdaq:CHINA) gaming unit CDC Games, has closed server groups for its licensed 2.5D MMORPG Lunia Online for internal testing, and the company has not received any notice that the game will be suspended, reports Sina quoting a related...
Lenovo's India Strategy: New Models, Stores
PC and electronics maker Lenovo Group (992.HK) said it plans to release 50 new product models in India in 2009, reports 163.com. The company will also open 30 retail locations in India to bring its store total to 150 and expand its service centers from 130 to 250, the report said.
Lenovo Senior...
CDC's "Lord of the Rings" to Test in July
CDC Corporation's (NASDAQ:CHINA) online games subsidiary CDC Games plans to start technology load testing of its licensed MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online in mid-July, reports Sina. The company announced June 30 that it expects to launch the game in the second half of 2009, whereas previous...
LineKong Recruits 3,000 for Game Promo
Beijing-based online game company LineKong confirmed that it has recruited 3,000 employees nationwide for an on-the-ground promotion of its licensed 3D MMORPG Wen Ding that will begin in July, reports Sina. LineKong's sales channels cover 120,000 registered Internet cafes in more than 100 domestic...
Special Report: NetEase (NTES) Loses the WoW Factor
Shenxi Wentian: 3D MMO to Enter Closed Beta
Shenxi Wentian Technology plans to start closed beta testing of its in-house developed 3D MMORPG Cang Qiong Online on July 7. The game entered alpha testing on March 10.
Object Software to Fire Up CB Test of Fantasy MMO
Beijing-based online game company Object Software plans to start closed beta testing of its in-house developed 2.5D Chinese fantasy MMORPG Xia Yue Zhan Ge on July 3. Gamer data will not be deleted after testing.
AbitCool Announces MMO CB Start Date
Beijing-based online game company AbitCool plans to start closed beta testing of its licensed 2D MMORPG Da Hua Xian Jian on July 16. The testing version features new play modes, skills and systems. The game entered alpha testing on February 25.
Fosun Ups Focus Media Stake to 30%
Fosun International (656.HK) has acquired additional shares in Focus Media (Nasdaq:FMCN), bringing its holding in the company to 30%, China Securities News reported July 1 quoting company CEO Liang Xinjun. Fosun increased its stake in Focus Media from 24.41% to 26.14% in February this year.
Fosun...
NetEase: Testing, Gov Delay "WoW"
NetEase (Nasdaq:NTES) said June 30 that it will delay opening server groups for its licensed 3D MMORPG World of Warcraft, due to extra time spent analyzing and testing game data, as well as its wait for government approval.
A General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) director...
JA Solar Shuffles Top Execs, COO Resigns
Solar cell manufacturer JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (Nasdaq:JASO) announced June 30 that Baofang Jin, Chairman of the Board since co-founding the company in 2003, will assume an additional position as executive chairman. Jin plans to work closely with Samuel Yang, who will remain JA Solar's CEO....
Source: China Mobile App Store Open July
A China Mobile (NYSE:CHL, 941.HK) insider said the operator expects to launch its mobile application store "Mobile Market" in July, 163.com reported July 1. "Mobile Market" will provide mobile game, themes and software, and sales revenue will be split 50/50 between China Mobile and application...
2010 Expo: Feat'd China Cos, Travel Revs
Shanghai's 2010 Expo will feature a private enterprise pavilion, hosting companies including Alibaba, Fosun International Limited (656.HK), Dalian Wanda Group Corporation, casual clothing retailer Metersbonwe (002269.SZ), real estate services company E-House (China) Holdings Limited (NYSE:EJ)...
Rumor: Sina Weighs Department Merger
An unnamed source says Sina (Nasdaq:SINA)is considering integrating its desktop business and interactive departments and will release a plan in the next two days, reports DoNews. The adjustment may be related to SNS products "Sina Space" and "Sina Friends," and Sina has not determined whether...
Kingsoft "MAT" Takes Off in Thailand
Kingsoft (3888.HK) announced that its in-house developed 3D first-person shooter Mission Against Terror (MAT) recorded 13,400 peak concurrent users (PCU) in Thailand, qq.com reports. Kingsoft launched the game in Thailand in January 2008, and began commercial operations of MAT on...
Real Estate: Hopson on '09 Earnings and Targets
Guangdong-based real estate developer Hopson Development Holdings (754.HK) booked RMB 5.2 billion in contract sales in the first five months of 2009, up nearly 100% year-on-year, reports guandian.cn quoting media reports.
In 2009, Hopson expects to begin sales of 12 new projects and record...
Super 8 Opens First China Directly Operated Hotel
Economy hotel chain Super 8 China plans to open its first directly-operated hotel in China this month, and a total of 48 this year, with four pegged for opening within the next two months, Qingdao Financial Daily reported July 1. The company aims to have 268 directly-operated hotels in China by 2012,...
Tencent's 1st In-House Webgame to Start 2nd Test
Tencent (700.HK) plans to begin second-round alpha testing of its first in-house developed webgame Feng Huo Zhan Guo on July 2. Activation accounts for the testing are only available through game-related activities.
China Telecom: 1M 3G Data Cards Sold
By early June, China Telecom (NYSE:CHA, 728.HK) had supplied sold 2 million 3G data cards, including 20 different models, and sold 1 million of the cards, reports Sina quoting Telecom's "e-Surfing" terminal subsidiary. China Telecom released more than 30,000 3G netbooks in the same period,...
A-Shares Rise; SH Index Crosses 3K Boundary
The Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.65% to close at 3,008.15, while the Shenzhen Composite Index grew 1.58% to close at 977.46 on Wednesday. Trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges reached RMB 153.79 billion and RMB 73.69 billion, respectively.
The purchasing managers index (PMI)...
360buy: June Sales Equal to FY07 Rev
Beijing-based IT product business-to-consumer e-commerce site 360buy.com said its revenue for June this year, at RMB 350 million, are almost on par with its full year 2007 sales revenues, Shanghai Business reported July 1. 360buy.com recorded sales of RMB 360 million in 2007, RMB 1.32 billion in 2008...
Qiao Xing Mob Racks Up Charge, Drops FY Income 5%
Handset manufacturer Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co. Ltd. (NYSE:QXM) announced revised full year and fourth quarter 2008 earnings on July 1, after recording an impairment charge to write down the value of its CECT brand. The write down was due to the company's shift towards its high-end VEVA...
Gome Seeking New President
Home appliance and electronics retailer Gome (493.HK) acting Chairman and President Chen Xiao is seeking a successor among the company's current management as listing rules do not permit the roles of chairman and president to be held by the same person, Beijing Youth Daily reported. In November,...
Unicom Signs RMB 10B for Guangxi
China Unicom (NYSE:CHU, 762.HK, 600050.SH) signed an agreement to spend RMB 10 billion in the Guangxi Autonomous Region in the next five years, Chinanews.com.cn reported July 1.
Previous reports said China Telecom (NYSE:CHA, 728.HK) and China Mobile (NYSE:CHL,...
CDC Games: Lord of the Rings Release This Year
CDC Corporation's (NASDAQ:CHINA) online games subsidiary CDC Games announced June 30 it expects to launch its licensed MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online in China during the second half of 2009.
Previous reports said the company had slated a third quarter release for the game.
Longmaster Delays Pet Monster MMO OB
Sina- (Nasdaq:SINA) owned game company Longmaster Information & Technology is pushing back the start of open beta testing of its in-house developed 2D turn-based MMORPG Yaoguai A Meng from July 10 to July 29, 17173.com reported. The game, in which players raise monsters, entered closed...
China Sanctions "Green Dam" Delay
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced June 30 that companies may delay pre-installing "Green Dam Youth Escort" Internet filtration software, originally required to be installed in computers by July 1, for practical factors including heavy workload, time pressures and insufficient...
Kylin Prepares for Genghis MMO
Beijing-based Kylin Game will begin open beta testing of its MMORPG Chengjisihan (Genghis Khan) on July 17, reports enet.com.cn. The game entered unlimited closed beta testing on April 29.
Fortune Capital on 315.com.cn
Beijing-based business-to-business e-commerce site 315.com.cn plans to spend its first-round funding of RMB 100 million from Shenzhen Fortune Venture Capital to acquire similar classified websites and recruit highly skilled employees, reports National Business Daily quoting a Fortune Venture chief. According...
Anhui Solar Co Begins Work on Wafer/Module Facility
Anhui-based solar company Rineng Zhongtian has begun construction of a wafer and module production facility with investment of RMB 30 million, reports Ahhuoshan.gov.cn. The 2,800-square-meter factory is expected to finish construction at the end of October and complete equipment installation before the...
Datang New Energy Begins 30MW Wind Farm
China Datang Corporation subsidiary Datang New Energy broke ground on a 30MW wind project in Kezuo County in Chaoyang, Liaoning province on June 29, Windosi.com reported. The company aims to expand the project to 200MW, the report said.
NetEase Blog Records 90M Users
NetEase's (Nasdaq:NTES) blog service blog.163.com has recorded 90 million registered users since it went online on September 1, 2006. In July 2007, the company had registered nearly 30 million users on its blog service.
Guangdong Exports 40% of China's Handsets
Guangdong province exported 76.88 million handsets in the first five months of this year, up 5.9% year-on-year, and accounting for or 41.7% of the nationwide total, reports Shanghai Securities News quoting Guangzhou Customs statistics. The exports were valued at $5.36 billion, an increase of 14.5% year-on-year,...
Suntech Signs RMB 8B Sichuan PV Farm
Photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP) has agreed to invest RMB 8 billion to establish a three-phase 500MW on-grid photovoltaic project in Panzhihua, Sichuan province, reports spvchina.com. The company signed a framework agreement with the Panzhihua municipal government...
NetEase: Blizzard's Battle.net in Early July
NetEase (Nasdaq:NTES) confirmed that it plans to open a "Battle.net" multiplayer platform in early July that it will jointly operate with Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq:ATVI) division Blizzard Entertainment, reports qq.com.
Each Battle.net account created under NetEase's new account system...
Retail: Parkson (3368.HK) June Update
Changyou Slates "TLBB" Tests for 7/8
Sohu's (Nasdaq:SOHU) MMORPG subsidiary Changyou (Nasdaq:CYOU) plans to start open beta testing of a new expansion pack, "Xiao Ao Kun Lun," of its in-house developed 2.5D MMORPG Tian Long Ba Bu (TLBB) on July 8. The expansion will add new dungeons, virtual items, riding animals and...
LCD Advertising: Focus Media (FMCN) June Update
Tencent Launches DNF Chapter III
Tencent (700.HK) released the third chapter of its licensed side-scrolling casual game Dungeon and Fighter (DNF) in one server farm June 30. The new chapter features new tasks, skills, items, pets and virtual treasure.
Tencent plans to start alpha testing of its in-house developed 2D...
Baidu Union: New Revenue Sharing
Baidu's (Nasdaq:BIDU) advertising alliance Baidu Union announced June 30 that it will adopt a new revenue-sharing policy for co-operated directory sites beginning July 1. Revenue sharing will begin at 30% and may rise up to 45%, depending on the cooperation model, traffic, effect and duration,...
Canadian Solar Contracts Hit 120MW
Vertically integrated photovoltaic product manufacturer Canadian Solar Inc (Nasdaq:CSIQ) announced June 29 that it has recently signed or reconfirmed agreements to deliver 120MW of module products to 24 customers in Europe, North America and Asia. The deliveries will mostly occur between June...
Alibaba to Invest $100M to Build Chengdu Base
Alibaba Group pledged to invest $100 million to set up a "western base" in Chengdu, in an agreement signed with the local Gaoxin District government on June 29, reports chinanews.com.cn. The base's scope of operations will include business related to all Alibaba Group subsidiaries, including research...
Vanke Pockets Three Chongqing Parcels for RMB 2B
Real estate developer Vanke (000002.SZ, 200002.SZ) purchased a 105,463-square-meter Chongqing land parcel on June 29 for RMB 1.11 billion, RMB 65.18 million more than the parcel's offering price of RMB 226.82 million, reports Chongqing Economic Times.
Vanke also bought another Chongqing...
Yingli: Over-Allotment Brings Offer Proceeds to $227M
Vertically integrated photovoltaic product manufacturer Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE) said June 30 that it has closed the sale of an additional 2.79 million American Depositary Shares (ADS) at a price of $13 per share, pursuant to an over-allotment option in its follow-on offering earlier this...
Baidu Updates E-Commerce, IM, Q&A Tools
Baidu (Nasdaq:BIDU) released updates for its consumer-focused e-commerce platform Youa.com June 26, including increased front-page product images, a cosmetics sub-channel and an upgraded classification system for digital products, KissBaidu reports. The company also released a new version of its...
Shanda Lit, Publishers to Offer Mobile Books
Shanda's (Nasdaq:SNDA) online reading unit Shanda Literature will partner with 10 domestic publishing houses to release copyrighted mobile books to enlarge the content resources of its wireless company, qq.com reported quoting Shanda Literature Wireless Co. President Qi Xiaoshi on June 29. The...
Qiao Xing Braced for FY08 Losses
Telecommunication products manufacturer Qiao Xing Universal Telephone, Inc. (Nasdaq:XING) announced that it expects to report a net loss for fiscal 2008, due to losses generated by subsidiary Huizhou Qiao Xing Communication Industry Ltd. and in spite of net profit recorded in the period by handset...
Shiji Tiancheng to Release "CSOL" Expansion
Shanghai-based online game company Shiji Tiancheng plans to release "Sheng Hua Meng Yue," an expansion pack for its licensed first-person shooter Counter Strike Online (CSOL), on July 1. The expansion will add new play modes, maps, characters and virtual tools. So far this year, Shiji Tiancheng...
A-Shares Edge Down, Gold Impervious
The Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.54% to close at 2,959.36, while the Shenzhen Composite Index slid 0.65% to close at 962.27 on Tuesday. Trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges reached RMB 143.7 billion and RMB 66.6 billion, respectively.
China's National Development of Reform...
China Telecom to Suspend Dual-Mode CDMA/GSM
China Telecom (NYSE:CHA, 728.HK) plans to terminate its CDMA/GSM dual-mode business on July 31, reports 163.com quoting information from Telecom's Shanghai subsidiary. Affected users can exchange dual-mode mobile cards for China Telecom's international "e-Surfing" or standard CDMA cards...
Source Details SMG, Softbank Partnership
An unnamed insider said Chinese media conglomerate Shanghai Media Group (SMG) and Japanese telecom and media corporation Softbank's (9984.TYO) partnership will extend to digital publishing, content development, overseas distribution, as well as new media technology marketing and support, China...
RT-Mart CEO: Sales Up 20% YoY
Taiwanese supermarket chain RT-Mart sales revenue grew 20% year-on-year in the first five months, reports CRI Online quoting RT-Mart China region CEO Huang Mingduan. The retailer recorded RMB 33 billion in sales revenue and RMB 1.05 billion in profit in mainland China in 2008.
RT-Mart plans to spend...
Retailer Your-Mart Gets Nod for A-Share IPO
Hunan-based department store Your-Mart Business Co. has obtained approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission to issue up to 50 million shares in an initial public offering (IPO) on Shenzhen Stock Exchange's small and medium enterprise board on July 8, according to an announcement posted...
Shinsegae Sub Counts 15 E. China Stores
Korean retailer Shinsegae Co. Ltd (4170.SEO) subsidiary E-Mart plans to open its first supermarket in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on July 3, bringing its east China store total to 15, reports zj.com. E-Mart opened its first Shanghai store in 1997 and a Shanghai logistics center in March that is...
Xunlei Employees Migrate to Alibaba.com
An unnamed source reports several long-term employees of Shenzhen-based download software provider Xunlei have moved en masse to business-to-business e-commerce company Alibaba.com (1688.HK), qq.com reported June 30. Xunlei Chief Operating Officer Luo Weimin rejected suggestions that Xunlei will...
Fortune Venture to Invest RMB 100M in E-Commerce Site
Shenzhen Fortune Venture Capital plans to invest RMB 100 million in Beijing-based business-to-business e-commerce site 315.com.cn, reports Securities Times. Established in 2004, the site began commercial operation in March 2006 and covers industries including chemicals, fuel, plastics, steel and rubber.
Qinghai City Inks 6 PV Projects on Monday
Six companies signed agreements on Monday to invest in photovoltaic projects in Golmud, Qinghai province, reports spvchina.com. The contracts include:
-- Qinghai New Energy (Group) Co's 30MW on-grid photovoltaic project;
-- Golmud Hedong Farm's "4x50MW" solar thermal power generation project;
--...
E-Commerce Co Netsun Brings 500 More On Board
Hangzhou-based e-commerce website operator Netsun Toocle Co. Ltd (002095.SZ) announced Tuesday that it plans to recruit 500 new sales employees to work in three offices to be established in Hunan, Fujian and Anhui provinces, reports 163.com.
Netsun Toocle booked 2008 revenue of RMB 105.76 million...
ICE Entertainment Starts Alpha Tests of KOEI MMO
Shanghai-based online game company ICE Entertainment started alpha testing of its licensed MMORPG SGZ Online on Tuesday. The game was developed by Japanese online game company KOEI.
JLM Pacific Epoch: JL McGregor & Company's China business headlines and commentary
JLM Pacific Epoch is a Web site featuring China business headlines, analyst commentary, and interviews with the movers and shakers leading business in China. The site is owned and operated by JL McGregor & Company, a China-focused independent research firm run by former executives, government leaders and industry analysts with decades of experience working in China.
Radio Free China has moved
Radio Free China has moved. Please visit the new location at: http://e4god.com/freeblogs/RadioFreeChina/index.php This site will remain here for another month or so if you want to look at past posts. Please update the rss feed to: http://e4god.com/freeblogs/RadioFreeChina/b2rss2.php blessings, Brother Barnabas
China's New Prosperity Leaves Rural Women Behind [VOA]
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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service
PERESTROIKA
--------------------------------------
LIBERTY
----------------------------------
Links
http://community.webshots.com/album/233515462eSqZeM
Herald Sun. 22 Dec 2004
http://heraldsun.news.com.au/printpage/0,5481,11754577,00.html
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]
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WTO steps to resolve tax dispute respected
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2 teenage skaters drowned in Yunnan
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Top News
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Scientists: Rising seas threaten erosion on shores
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Taiwan announces candidates for leadership election
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Airport in Beijing beefs up security measures
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Crucial rural knowledge
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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
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Favoring foreign products 'improper'
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Rural facilities improved: Survey
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Beijing becomes China's largest advertising market
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Paraglider dies after East China Sea plunge
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Unprecedented press access to CPPCC
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Premier's visit brings hope to Henan AIDS-hit villages
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Direct farm subsidies to help post-disaster reconstruction
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Coast guards to get 7 law-enforcing vessels
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Lantern Festival embraced with joys after snow disaster
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ATM 'thief' back in court
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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.
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Guinea-Bissau to hold presidential run-off on July 26
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Xinhuanet News
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Shanghai Daily: National
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“Return My Sister Li Chunhua!”
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Photo: Dameisha beach, Shenzhen, by janipenttinen
Dameisha beach, Shenzhen, by janipenttinen
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Photo: Making rice wine in Wuzhen Town, Zhejiang Province, by rc!
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July 8: China Cleantech Business Forum
© star5112
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I've been contributing over the last few months to the content of a vibrant and growing site that points toward the future of the Internet and has profound potential for users...
Employee Compensation Case Law
China Law Blog had a case study (of sorts) this past week on employee compensation. The article looked at an employee claim for pregnancy leave that was filed after they'd been laid off.
The situ...
Undervalued or Not, the Yuan is Not Likely to Gain Much
I came across a couple of articles recently the seemed to complement each other on the relative value of the U.S. dollar and the China's Yuan Renminbi.
Nikhil Raheja has an excellent explanation...
Three US IPO Listings for Chinese Companies
Seeking Alpha has an informative write up online at the moment for three Chinese companies that recently released IPOs on the US market.
Duoyuan Global Water Inc. listed on the NYSE. The company desc...
Recession Testing China's Business Laws
BusinessWeek had a piece this week on how China's business laws are coping with business failures as the recession progresses. In the case of very large companies, China's bankruptcy laws are ...
Floating the Yuan: Be Careful What You Wish For
Mark Sunshine had an interesting piece at Seeking alpha last week. He says that if the Chinese let the yuan float freely, there's a good chance it would fall in value. And that would make Chinese ...
Geithner on Currency Manipulation, and China's Reaction...
China is manipulating the value of their currency, the yuan renminbi. At least that's what Obama's new Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner says.
The statement came as part of his 102-page respon...
Giant Online Mall in the Works for China Market
Asiajin had an interesting story a couple of weeks ago about the online mall that 100 Japanese companies are setting up for shoppers in China.According to the Nikkei, major electronics retailer Yodoba...
One Key to Success: The Bi-Cultural Consultant
From a business perspective, the main barrier to success in China is culture. Cultural difference between a European, Australian or American businessman and his Chinese partner can lead to problems in...
Morgan Stanley's Asia PE Chief Gets Axed
PE Hub is reporting that Jonathan Mandel, the managing director of Morgan Stanley's Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific private equity banking team, was "let go" as part of a round of layoffs a...
Cybernaut China Starts New VC Funds
Cybernaut Investment (China partner of VC fund New Enterprise Associates) just sat up two yuan denominated VC funds in China this month with a total value of 650 million yuan - or about $95.24 million...
China Investment Corp Buys General Motors (Maybe)
All the way back in July, Richard Brubaker over at All Roads Lead to China suggested that General Motors could become a chinese-owned company....with firms like Anhui Cherry already showing at the Det...
Venture Funds Still Spending Big in China
If the Venture Capital model is broken in the U.S., companies that invest VC funds in China don't seem to have figured it out yet; they're investing faster than ever, according to sources like...
15 Chinese Cities Key to Driving Growth in Emerging Markets
The China Law Blog pointed this out to me.
Mastercard has come out with its list of the key cities "driving growth in emerging markets worldwide." Of the 65 cities that made the list, 15 a...
Is the Canary Dead for Venture Capital?
TechCrunch ran a piece today on the ratio funds raised to invests with vs. economic value created by venture capital firms (measured by what VC companies have gotten back on exiting their investments)...
Revolution Ventures Moving Into Beijing
U.S. venture capital fund Revolution Ventures plans to open a Beijing office "soon," according to Reuters.
The VC company wants to focus on the education and learning sectors in China and I...
Beijing's Stimulus Package a Flop?
The $586 billion stimulus package Beijing announced Sunday was a flop with the markets, at least. Seeking Alpha estimates that the effect of the stimulus package on the stock markets in China "la...
Pudong Will Get Its Own VC Firm
China Economic Review is reporting that Shanghai's Pudong district is going to get its own venture capital firm.
A government sponsored investment fund worth almost $300 million is going to focus...
PE Firms Invest Heavily in Education in Asia
PEHub reported last week on the growing investment in education that private equity firms seem to be making in Asia.
Because of the value that Asian society places on education, the sector is seen b...
China Unveils Stimulus Package
A number of news sources (International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg, the WSJ) are reporting that China has unveiled $586 billion stimulus package that it hopes will bolster domestic demand and help aver...
Apax Partners to Open Shanghai Office
A number of news sources (Reuters, Xinhua) are reporting that Apax Partners plans to open an office in Shanghai by the end of the year.
The Shanghai office would be the Private Equity firms first off...
Obama on China
"The basic framework of U.S. policy under an Obama administration will not fundamentally change," said Cui Liru, president of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, in ...
Intel Capital Invests in Three Chinese Companies
Last week Intel Capital invested in three different Chinese companies, according to Reuters.
Intel Capital is the investment arm of Intel Corp. According to Reuters, Intel Capital invested $20 millio...
Southern China Losing Jobs
A recent report by Asia Pacific News says that at least 2.7 million factory workers in southern China could lose their jobs as the global economic crisis hits demand for electronics, toys and clothes....
Actis Puts $168 Million into 7 Dasy Inn, Ambow Education
TRENDSnIFF reported Friday that UK private equity inverstor Actis is leading an investment push into two China companies: 7 Days Inn and Ambow Education.
Other investors involved in the two deals inc...
Global Economic Slowdown Hitting China Hard
National Public Radio ran an interesting story this week on how the global economic slowdown is affecting China.
In the words of NPR reporter Louisa Lim:The export sector - which has driven 30 years...
Taobao Gets $732 Million Shot in the Arm from Alibaba
Alibaba is investing $732 million in Chinese ecommerce site Taobao, according to The Inquisitr.
According to the Inquisitr:Taobao has created an e-commerce ecosystem consisting of 80 million users, ...
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