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Three Major Public Opinion Shifts on the Internet

China Review News (CRN) recently republished an article that Professor Hu Yong from the Peking University School of Journalism and Communication wrote discussing the change in topics among Chinese netizens. Hu identified three major changes that represent important shifts in public opinion: (1) The focus has shifted from nationalism to issues faced in daily living, such as food safety and air pollution. (2) An Internet-based social structure is getting more and more mature. Large groups of people are using the Internet to ask for and defend their social rights. Public freedom of speech on the Internet is influencing the political landscape. (3) The Internet-based society lacks Internet-ready administration. The current administration is not aligned with the Internet-oriented values that encourage innovation, freedom of speech, mutual trust, and reduced government interference. Hu suggested that the approach the government takes at present is heading in the opposite direction. The article concluded by calling for recognition of netizens’ basic rights.

Source: China Review News, January 8, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/7/0/1/101970166.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=101970166&mdate=0108092059

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: The 2012 Spring Festival Transportation Period Started

Xinhua announced that the period of “Spring Festival Transportation” started on January 8, 2011. The annual massive usage of transportation related to the Spring Festival will take place for 40 days this year, from January 8 to February 16. Estimates are that the traffic volume will be 3.158 billion person-trips (a unit to measure the number of one way trips per person). This represents an annual increase of 9.1% over 2011. The railway system alone is expected to carry 235 million people. Meanwhile, the demand for cargo transportation is also on the rise. The joint government coordination committee expressed the belief that the situation is “not optimistic.” The primary concern for the 40-day window is safety. Another variable in the equation is bad weather. The steady supply of critical resources such as coal, gas, food, and fertilizer is also in question. 

Source: Xinhua, January 8, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/society/2012-01/08/c_111392564.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

CRN: China Needs Confidence in Handling the South China Sea Situation

China Review News (CRN) recently published an official commentary on the “chaos” in the South China Sea. The commentary started with an analysis of the different strategies Vietnam and the Philippines have been using. In the territorial disputes that occurred in 2011, the two countries attacked China’s position, thus bringing more heat to the issue. The commentary suggested that the “behind-the-scenes shadow” of the United States was there each time the situation worsened. China’s neighbors are actively improving their military capabilities. In addition to that, threatening China with their “public opinions” has become a quick new way to create more trouble for China. The commentary called on China to have “very strong” Chinese confidence as well as to take decisive steps in response to the challenges that the regional political forces impose.

Source: China Review News, January 4, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/6/2/1/101962112.html?coluid=1&kindid=0&docid=101962112&mdate=0104000351

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China to Develop New Types of Satellites

Guangming Daily recently reported on the release of the White Book on Chinese Space Missions, which discussed plans to develop new types of satellites over the next five years. The White Book suggested that the new satellites will focus on Earth observation, communications, and broadcasting, as well as navigation and positioning. The goal is to achieve reliable and consistent long term service capabilities. Plans include new generations of weather satellites, environment monitoring satellites, electromagnetic monitoring, experimental satellites, mobile communications satellites, and the regional subsystems of the global positioning system. Key improvements will concentrate on the areas of all weather, full spectrum, high volume, high power, and high resolution capabilities. Plans also include projects for quantum science experimental satellites and dark matter probing satellites.

Source: Guangming Daily, December 29, 2011
http://tech.gmw.cn/2011-12/29/content_3282345.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

People’s Daily: Wuhan Installed a Quarter Million Monitoring Cameras

People’s Daily recently reported on the completion of a government funded two-year project to install a quarter million monitoring cameras in Wuhan, the largest city in central China. The camera network is built on three levels. The top level monitors major transportation spots, large squares, schools, and colleges. The second level monitors main connecting roads and district-level locations. The third level monitors 225,000 “social check-points.” The whole system is divided into layers of “cells” in a “grid.” Mobile monitoring cameras are also mounted on police vehicles. There are seven different types of cameras deployed and the vast majority of them provide high definition digital video. The police operate the central control of this monitoring network.

Source: People’s Daily, December 29
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/70731/16752912.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Ministry of HR and Social Security: Wages in Arrears to Be Considered a Crime

Beijing News recently reported that, as the year end approached, the issue of whether migrant workers would receive their year-end wages on time once again became a focal issue. According to Qiu Xiaoping, Director of the Labor Relations Division of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, 2011 saw an increase in the number of arrears cases as a result of companies having financial issues. Qiu blamed the global economic downturn as the cause of the trouble some companies are suffering. Qiu also suggested that, under existing law, it costs little for companies to hold overdue wage payments because the penalty for arrears cases is low. He said the government is working on a new law to criminalize these cases and would soon provide more information on implementation details. He also called for enhanced government monitoring and labor arbitration services.

Source: Beijing News, December 26, 2011
http://epaper.bjnews.com.cn/html/2011-12/26/content_304965.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Half of the Provinces Have Lost Social Security Money

Guangzhou Daily recently reported that the government run social security system in half of the provinces has lost money. In addition, actual earnings of the social security funds are drastically below the rate of inflation. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has published statistics that show the loss of social security funds in 14 provinces totaled 67.9 billion yuan (US$10.74 billion) in the year 2010. According to the rules set by the State Council, these funds can only be saved in banks or invest in bonds. Dai Xianglong, Chief of National Social Security Funds, commented recently that it might be a better idea for the social security system not to exist because expectations might be too high compared to the actual amount of money a person might receive if he needed it.

Source: Guangzhou Daily, December 26, 2011
http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/html/2011-12/26/content_1570672.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: The Level of Urbanization in China Reaches 50%

Xinhua recently reported that the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences released the Social Bluebook it had recently compiled. According to the Bluebook, in the year 2011, the level of urbanization in China reached 50%. The 2010 national census indicated that, last year, the urban population reached 49.68%. This was the first time in a few thousand years that urban citizens outnumbered those classified as “farmers.” The Bluebook considered the moment a historic turning point and suggested that this may have a major impact in several social areas, such as the patterns of consumption, life styles, and value systems. The Bluebook also suggested that urbanization is becoming the second major economic engine after industrialization. However, urbanization is also believed to raise a number of social issues, such as the lack of labor protection and social security.

Source: Xinhua, December 19, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-12/19/c_111256953.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources