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All posts by RWZ - 217. page

Xinhua: China Facing First Peak of Senior Population Growth

Xinhua recently reported that China is “rushing into” the age of a peak senior population. According to the official data released by the National Committee on Aging, in 2013, China’s senior population will reach 200 million, which represents 14.8 percent of the overall Chinese population. The senior population is currently growing at the rate of eight million per year. Estimates are that it will reach a total of 430 million by the year 2050; at that time, one out of every three Chinese people will be over sixty years old. However Chinese society is suffering a very low readiness to provide needed care for its seniors. The Chinese economy does not have enough wealth to sustain the senior population in the coming years and the lack of working laborers is becoming a serious challenge for the economy itself. The report called for speeding up the process of constructing a social service system that supports an aging population.
Source: Xinhua, April 14, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-04/14/c_115377595.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: Majority of China’s Arable Land Heavily Polluted

Xinhua recently published an article that compiled material from various foreign media reports; they covered a wide range of China’s pollution related issues affecting agriculture. The article estimated that around 70 percent of China’s arable land is heavily polluted. Over the past 30 years, Chinese agriculture doubled its output at the cost of polluting its soil and rivers. The pollution was largely due to incorrect use of chemical fertilizers. Food pollution has become one of the primary threats to people’s health in China. According to official records, most of the 90 billion tons of polluted water and 280 million tons of garbage produced annually by agricultural activities are not processed for environmental protection. The lack of necessary equipment was cited as the key barrier. Chinese agriculture consumes 2.5 times more chemical fertilizers than the global average. Experts called for serious and careful handling of chemicals that accumulate over time.
Source: Xinhua, April 14, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/overseas/2013-04/14/c_124578183.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Global Times: Japan Claims Highest Numerber of Interceptions of Chinese Airplanes

Global Times recently reported, based on Japanese media reports, that, in the year 2012, the Japanese Air Force intercepted Chinese aircraft the highest number of times since the Cold War. The total emergency missions was 800 in one year.  The Chinese military aircraft that were intercepted included fighter jets and Intelligence reconnaissance aircraft. The Japanese Air Force not only deployed fighter jets, but, for the first time, deployed Airborne Monitoring & Control Aircraft and Early Warning Aircraft as well. According to Japanese media reports, in 2012, the number of times Chinese military aircraft approached Japanese territory increased by 60 percent over the year 2011. Also, the Japanese media widely reported the recent signing of a friendly fisheries agreement between Japan and Taiwan.
Source: Global Times, April 13, 2013
http://mil.huanqiu.com/paper/2013-04/3827899.html
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Wealth of the Chinese Working-Class is Shrinking

Xinhua recently reported that the Chinese stock market suffered another slide and the Shanghai Index is over sixty percent lower than it was at its peak point. Although the Chinese GDP is the world’s number two, only behind the United States, experts suggested that the Chinese stock market is close to being the worst bear mark in the world. China’s latest CPI (Consumer Price Index) showed an increase of 3.2 percent this year, while the Chinese central bank base savings interest rate is three percent. Thus working-class wealth in the banks is suffering an effective “negative interest rate.” In the meantime, both international and domestic gold prices are dropping. The Chinese financial market currently has nothing to offer working-class people to enable them to safeguard their money. Even investments in precious artwork do not bring a positive return. Experts called for more reliable financial investment channels and products to help today’s Chinese working-class protect their wealth.
Source: Xinhua, April 7, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-04/07/c_124544849.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Shale Gas Revolution Was One Focal Point of the Boao Forum

Xinhua recently reported that shale gas was a hot topic at the Chinese government sponsored high profile forum – the Boao Forum. The U.S. success story of the “Shale Gas Revolution” demonstrated how the United States could rapidly get very close to energy self-sufficiency. In 2011, China surpassed the U.S. to become the world’s largest energy consumer. China is eager to “copy” the success. Multiple parties attending the Boao Forum expressed strong interest in taking this agenda further, including representatives from the U.S. State Department and Department of Energy, U.S. banks such as Merrill Lynch, U.S. energy companies, China’s central government, and both Chinese state-owned and private energy companies. However technical difficulties that are specific to China were also discussed. The United States is currently the largest controller of shale gas development related technologies. The Chinese government has already put out invitations for possible bidders for shale gas exploration rights in China.
Source: Xinhua, April 7, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-04/07/c_124544812.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

CRN: Clear Road Map Needed for Upgrading China’s Economy

China Review News (CRN) recently published a commentary discussing how to realize Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s “Upgrading of the Chinese Economy.” The commentary suggested that Li apparently acknowledged concerns about the low efficiency and the high risks associated with the current Chinese economy. The commentator referred to a large quantity of data to demonstrate the “as-is” version of the economy as well as the “to-be” version, which is based on world leaders like the United States. However, the pathway between the two ends remains uncertain. The author offered some suggestions focusing on areas like financial market reform, research and design, system integration, privatization, high-end manufacturing, and new government policies. The article called for a clearer road map for the “Upgrade.”
Source: China Review News, April 4, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/9/1/2/102491286.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102491286&mdate=0404080734
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Japan’s Prime Minister Visited Mongolia

Xinhua recently reported that Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Mongolia as a step in the “Encirclement of China” strategy. Abe is the first Japanese Prime Minister to have visited Mongolia in seven years. Abe was expected to express a willingness to support the speeding-up of the Mongolian economy. Japan is also planning to speed up the negotiations on a free-trade agreement with Mongolia. Mongolia is a key exporter of coal. It currently exports 90 percent of its coal production to China. Mongolia is eager to expand its international coal market by building a railway that bypasses China. The country has high hopes that Japan can make a significant investment in this 1000-kilometer railway. Japan is also expected to cooperate with Mongolia in other areas like military and health. Abe visited Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia this January. The Indian Prime Minister is expected to visit Japan this May. The Japanese Foreign Minister also visited Australia in January.
Source: Xinhua, March 31, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-03/31/c_124523831.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Media Pounding Heavily on Apple

Hua Shang News recently reported that, in the past couple of weeks, major Chinese media channels have been pounding heavily on Apple’s public image. The report accumulated repeated coverage by People’s Daily and Chinese Central Television (CCTV) on the quality of Apple’s customer service. Xinhua also reported on this topic. Key claims of these media reports are that Apple discriminates against Chinese consumers, has an arrogant attitude, evades taxes, refuses media investigations, and is breaking Chinese warranty laws. The massive media coverage triggered widespread discussions in the Chinese online community which included many different opinions. On March 27, Apple reportedly adjusted its Chinese warranty policies on its official website. Unconfirmed rumors suggested that this was one response to the recently imposed restrictions on U.S. government procurement policies against Chinese communications equipment vendor Huawei.
Sources: 
Hua Shang News, March 30, 2013
http://hsb.hsw.cn/2013-03/30/content_8491052.htm
Global Times, March 30, 2013
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2013-03/3781547.html
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology