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China Sports Officials: Athletes Should Thank Their Country before Their Parents

China’s top sports officials advised to prioritize athlete’s educaion regarding virtue. They were infuriated that some athletes thanked their parents instead of their country after winning competitions.  

They especially pointed to Zhou Yang, the gold medalist of the women’s 1500 meter short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympic Game. Zhou Yang’s speech of “(My winning) can bring my dad and mom a better life,” moved many people.  


Yu Zaiqing, Deputy Director of the State Physical Cultural Administration and Vice President of International Olympic Committee said that Zhou Yang should have first thanked the country and secondly her parents. Yu argued that it was the country that was responsible for Zhou’s competitive abilities, providing for and subsidizing her training.

Yu’s criticism drew a hot discussion on the Internet and text messages flew back and forth. The netizens were overwhelmingly in support of Zhou Yang.

Source: China News Service, March 8, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/ty/ty-zhqt/news/2010/03-08/2156158.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Disciplined the 13 Newspapers That Promoted Household Register System Reform

On March 1, thirteen newspapers including the Economic Observer and Southern Metropolitan News published a joint commentary promoting reforming the household registration system (which separates farmers from city residents and creates unequal rights between them). The commentary was a reminder to the upcoming National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (PPCC) in Beijing. It was a rare media joint action that was undertaken without government authorization.

The Chinese government has disciplined these newspapers. Zhang Hong, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Economic Observer was fired. Other top managers at the Economic Observer received a serious warning from the Communist Party’s Propaganda Department. Representatives to the NPC and PPCC were warned not to bring up the topic of household registration system reform.

Source: Voice of America, March 10, 2010
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/china/20100310-ZhangHong-87224297.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Global Times: US High-Ranking Officials Travel to China to be Chastised

China published several articles about the forthcoming visit by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg and Senior Director for Asian affairs at the U.S. National Security Council Bader. These articles claimed that U.S. President Obama caused the tension in the Sino-US relationship. Steinberg and Bader’s visit, in the mind of the Chinese, was President Obama’s administration’s way of easing the tension and apologizing to China. Chinese scholars also claimed that they came to China to be chastised, creating friction between the two nations.

Chinese media stated that both of them were considered to be U.S. officials who “know China,” but that “knowing China” does not mean they are “pro-China.”

China is watching closely whether in April the U.S. is going to classify China as a government that manipulates the foreign exchange rate.

Sources:
1. Outlook, March 6, 2010
http://news.sohu.com/20100306/n270629379.shtml
2. Global Times, March 3, 2010
http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-03/731711.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Ministry of Railways: China Will Have the World Largest High-Speed Railway Network

According to the latest Ministry of Railways’ plan, by 2012, China will beat Japan and Germany when it comes to the longest high-speed railway system. The Ministry of Railways’ new blueprint outlines “four vertical” and “four horizontal” passenger lines that connect the northeast, north, central, west, east, and southern parts of China.

The Ministry of Railways is aggressively raising funds. It will push provincial governments and bring in private capital to support and be involved in the construction and management of the railroad systems.

Source: China Securities Journal, March 4, 2010
http://paper.cs.com.cn/html/2010-03/04/content_54964.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Taiwan New Party Chairman: Taiwan Should Tone Down Relationship with U.S.

Yok Mu-ming, Chairman of the New Party in Taiwan said that Taiwan should sacrifice some of its relationships with the U.S. for achieving a better relationship with Mainland China. Yok said the Ma Ying-jeou administration should delay Taiwan’s spending on U.S. weapon purchases and instead use the money for social welfare projects. He claims that it is wasteful to buy U.S. weapons since the China-Taiwan relationship is developing peacefully. Yok said that during the upcoming municipal congress member elections the New Party candidates will speak out loudly about what the Kuomintang candidates dare not say

Source: Global Times, March 1, 2010
http://taiwan.huanqiu.com/liangan/2010-03/730177.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Chinese Succumbing to Big Spending

In addition to having high mortgage payments for living quarters, the post-80s generation now also faces large expenditures for holidays, China News Service reported.

A website survey of white collar workers showed that, for the Chinese New Year in February, 55% spent more than 5,000 yuan [Ed: the average white collar worker’s monthly income is between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan]; more than 80% spent one or two months of their income; and 20% spent more than a quarter of their annual income.

Analysts claim that this has become a problem for all Chinese. Heavy spending is a reflection of the “face culture,” where each wants to outdo the other, including ones family members. The result is excessive financial burdens.

Nowadays, a common joke is, “I am short of nothing but money.”

Source: China News Service, February 25, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/sh/news/2010/02-25/2137081.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China’s Top Advisors Propose Advanced Economic Development

Some Chinese government top advisors outlined the strategies for China’s economic development and transformation according to China New Service, which quoted Hong Kong Wen Wei Po’s report. The suggestions included two spaces (internal demand space and innovation space), four strategies, and four economic transforming paths.

Four strategies:
1. Expand internal demand: developing and advancing consumer demand.
2. Industry transformation and upgrade: increasing mid- to high-end industries’ competitiveness.
3. Human resource quality improvement: expanding the job market, improving social benefits, education and training.
4. Saving energy.

Four economic transformation paths:
1. Retrain jobless farmland laborers as city laborers.
2. Develop the manufacturing industry in the area of R&D, design, brand development, supply chain, and post-sales service.
3. Increase the service industry’s percentage of GDP.
4. Put more information technology into operation in the industrial sector.

Source: China News Service, February 26, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/cj/cj-gncj/news/2010/02-26/2139654.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

MII Publishing Website Registration Information Validation Work Plan

The Ministry of Industry and Information (MII) has issued a directive to all local communications administration offices in China to accelerate efforts to fortify website registration information. The plan claims that companies and individuals may register websites. 

Any individual, who is a future website owner, has to provide an original copy of his identification card, or his household register, military officer card, Taiwan compatriot travel certificate, or foreign passport as an alternative. The individual owner will also be photographed and his photo kept on record.

MII claimed the goal is to control the online pornography industry. VOA reported that human rights activists see it as political tightening to restrict website owners from criticizing the government.

Sources:

1. China News Service, February 23, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/it/it-itxw/news/2010/02-23/2132878.shtml
2. Voice of America, February 24, 2010
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/china/CHINATIGHTENSINTERNETCONTROL-20100224-85190912.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics