Skip to content

All posts by LKY - 188. page

2008 Defense Budget Saw 17.6 Percent Increase From Prior Year

During the press conference at the First Session of the 11th National People’s Congress held on March 4, Jiang Enzhu, spokesperson of the conference disclosed that China’s defense budget for 2008 is 417 billion yuan (US$57.2 billion), a 17.6 percent increase from last year including currency impact. The increases are mainly to cover spending in army benefits, food and fuel consumption, administrative and training costs as well as equipment and weapon.

Source: China Review News, March 4, 2008
http://cn.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1005/8/3/1/100583185.html?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=100583185&mdate=0304143540

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Foreign Journalist Detained. China’s Pledge For Free Reporting Questioned.

In the afternoon of February 27, Mark Maginier, the Beijing bureau chief with the Los Angeles Times, and his translator were taken away by the personnel from the public security bureau. At the time, Mark was speaking with the petitioners living in the Shou Bao village of Da Xing district of Beijing, a newly established petitioners’ village. Mark told Radio Free Asia that he was taken away for over an hour and was questioned who he was speaking with and what kind of report he will write about.

Mark’s arrest raised concerns over Beijing’s promise. On December 1, 2006, China promised that the foreign reporters, whether assigned permanently or visiting for the Olympics, will be allowed to travel most of the country freely and report without interference by local police or propaganda officials from Jan. 1, 2007, until Oct. 17, 2008.

Source: Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/27/press/

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

First Sandstorm in 2008 Hit Beijing

Beijing Meteorological Bureau reported that sandstorm appeared in south of Ganshu and west of Mongolia on February 29 and traveled south to Beijing with the cold air on March 1. The nearby regions of Beijing including west of Mongolia, Shanxi, and north of Hebei were reportedly remain under the sandstorm condition as of the first day of March. Estimated population affected will reach 110 million. Beijing recorded 15 sandstorms in the spring of 2007. More sand storms are expected in 2008.

Source: China News, March 2 and 4, 2008 http://www.chinanews.com.cn/tp/shfq/news/2008/03-02/1179107.shtml http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/03-04/1180550.shtml

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Xinhua: Western Enemy Forces Who Are Pressuring Beijing Olympics Will Be The Losers

On February 21, Xinhua posted an article titled “Western Enemy Forces Who Are Pressuring Beijing Olympics Will Be The Losers”. The article was originally published on February 19 by Lian He Zaobao, the highest circulating Chinese daily in Singapore and the region, titled “What can the West Gain From Politicizing The Olympics” written by Zheng Yongnian.

Zheng claimed that “the West forces that are politicizing the Olympics will not gain any political values and the reforms in China will not follow the expectations set by the western world.” The article criticized the western democracy system and said “the democratic system is often accompanied by social turmoil and slower economic development or even endless racial conflicts in many countries.” Zheng wrote: “Holding the Olympics will help China to strengthen its soft power in the world.”

Zheng Yongnian, Columnist for Zaobao since 2004, is a professor at China Policy Institute of Nottingham.  He graduated from Beijing University in the 1980’s and went to Princeton University for his graduate program in 1995.

Source: Xinhua, February 21, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-02/21/content_7641296.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Shanghai Rights Lawyer Under Constant Harassments

At 8 am on February 22, Zheng Enchong, Shanghai Rights Lawyer, was taken away by the security bureau in Zabei district of Shanghai. Zheng was still recovering from the injuries to his legs caused by the beating by the local police from two days ago. He has been taken away by the local authority 22nd times since August 24, 2007. Jiang Meili, Zhen’s wife calls for support to ensure the safety of Zhen and his family members. Numbers of human rights organizations and individuals including Hongkong based China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group have expressed their concerns on the harassment.

Zheng Enchong provided legal advice for fair compensation to the families who have lost homes due to Shanghai’s urban redevelopment projects.

Source: The Epoch Times, February 22, 2008
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/8/2/22/n2019556.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

ChinaNews on Spy Accusation

The accusation that China has been actively spying in US is "a pure fabrication with an ultimate motive", claimed by the front page article who cited the rebuttal statement from the spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs in response to the arrest of four "Chinese Spies" by US. The media fanfare on the arrest is consistent with the continued touting of the so-called "Chinese Espionage" and "China Threat" that has become an inharmonic note accompanying the China’s fast rising economy and the continued improvement of Sino-US relationship. The article states that US has the world’s most sophisticated and complete espionage agencies and 1/3 of internet hacking actives occurred in US. It calls for the US to let go the Cold War mentality and stop groundless accusation toward China.

Source: China News, February 17, 2008 http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/jdtx/news/2008/02-17/1164651.shtml

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

XinhuaNet: Bush’s Olympic Announcement Stamps Approval of China’s Foreign Policy

A commentary article on the front page of XinhuaNet on February 17 appraised the US President Bush’s announcement to attend the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic. The author, Tan Haojun, who routinely writes for XinhuaNet, claimed that Bush’s announcement was not only a proactive gesture from Washington but also a positive signal for the upcoming Sino-US relationship. The article appraised the announcement as an indication that the China’s foreign policy is on the right direction. It touted it as a proof of China’s rising status in the world ranking. It also showed that "politicizing" of Olympic is extremely unpopular.

Source: Xinhua, February 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/comments/2008-02/17/content_7614553.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Expert Calls For Reviving Cultural Contents Of the Holidays

“Holidays in China have turned into food festivals. The cultural aspect of it is missing,” Huo Shangde, Chairman of the Society for the Study of Folk Literature and Art wrote in an article published by the People’s Daily on February 14.  Huo is calling the nation to be relieved from the “food festival” and revive the vibrant cultural contents.

Huo describes China as the nation that emphasizes loyalty, respect, kindness, and love. "The traditions of the holidays imply the deep rooted cultural of harmony of heaven and mankind," he said, "without it, Chinese civilization will lose its glory."

It was reported that during the week of the Chinese New Year celebration this year, the restaurant industry in Shanghai produced 96.8 million yuan (US$ 13.4 million) in revenue, 16.7 percent increase from last year. The average banquet in Shanghai costs 1,699 yuan (US$236) per table.

Source:
China News, February 14, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/news/2008/02-14/1162189.shtml
Xinhua, February 14, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-02/13/content_7598302.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability