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Xinhua: Weaknesses of Chinese Social Security System

In a recent forum, Yin Weimin, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, discussed four main weaknesses of China’s current Social Security System: (1) elderly unemployed city residents don’t enjoy any pension or monetary protection; (2) the aging traditional pension system still covers the government system and public institutions; (3) there is a lack of smooth connections between various social security related systems; (4) supplementary social protection systems are under very slow development and do not satisfy diverse market needs.

Yin suggested that a sound social security system is urgently needed for sustainable social development. The biggest unfairness is the fact that a large chunk of the population lacks basic social protection arrangements.

Source: Xinhua, August 23, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-08/23/c_12474383.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Wen Jiabao: The Biggest Danger for the Ruling Party is Corruption

In a recent State Council working conference, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao required officials at all government levels to establish the concept of the rule of law and to strictly follow the Constitution and other laws. He emphasized that the biggest danger the current government now faces is corruption, and concluded that the result of it is ineffectiveness in the execution of laws and regulations.

Wen listed four points in his speech at the conference, mainly talking about openness and the democratic processes. The conference included officials in charge of the central government all the way down to the county level. Lawmakers and the court system also sent representatives to the conference.

Source: China Review News, August 27, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/2/8/6/101428676.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=101428676&mdate=0827203114

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

CRN: Aircraft Carrier George Washington Drops out of Exercise

China Review News (CRN) reported that the reason behind the heavy weight U.S. aircraft carrier dropping out of the Yellow Sea exercise was the result of risk assessment. The report believed that the U.S. did not want to “anger” China. It is also believed that China’s biggest advantage is its strong economy. Some Chinese military experts suggested that the aircraft carriers are the “last card” the U.S. can play, and the “U.S. cannot play the same card every day.” Another reason the report discussed was that Asia-Pacific countries welcome the United States less and less, because the U.S. economy is no longer the main engine that runs the economy of these countries.

Source: China Review News, August 21, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/2/1/5/101421571.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=101421571&mdate=0821085716

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

CRN: Ministry of Public Safety Held Tibetan Conference

The Chinese Ministry of Public Safety recently held a conference in the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa. The conference covered the Grand Tibetan Region which goes across four other provinces (Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan). The conference believed that, although the overall situation is relatively quiet, the task of maintaining social stability in Tibet is still a huge challenge. The key strategy guiding the near term work is to proactively engage. Actual planned steps include: (1) enhance the “prevention and control system”; (2) enhance border checks; (3) improve emergency handling capabilities; (4) significantly improve education and “mental development”; (5) increase investment in equipment and technology. The conference called for stronger support from other provinces.

Source: China Review News, August 20, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/2/0/2/101420233.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=101420233&mdate=0820090253

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

CRN: Traditional Etiquette Fading

China Review News (CRN) recently reported on a social research study of young people’s views regarding traditional Chinese etiquette. The research showed that 85.9% of the young population believes traditional etiquette is “important,” but only 55.1% believes they have some understanding of etiquette. Three classes of people are believed to be the worst in following traditional etiquette: “young people,” “eastern people,” and “city residents.” The top two reasons for the decline of etiquette are that the “size of a modern family is too small,” and “lack of the opportunity to learn.” The report mentioned that experts believe the fading of traditional Chinese etiquette is caused by the emphasis, over the past centruy, on delinking society and tradition.

Source: China Review News, August 19, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/1/9/4/101419430.html?coluid=6&kindid=29&docid=101419430&mdate=0819104648

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

CRN: US Mid-Term Election Squeezes US-China Relationship

China Review News recently published an analysis of the results of a search for the cause of the “issues” between China and the U.S. this year. The analysis identified an unusually high number of incidents that have happened since the beginning of the year, such as Google Leaving China, Arms Sales to Taiwan, the Dalai Lama Visiting the U.S., the RMB Exchange Rate, Intellectual Properties, and the South China Sea Conflict. The author of the analysis believes that the U.S. mid-term election has had a major impact on these events. He believes the events were triggered by U.S. politicians playing the “China Card” again to gain popularity, especially the Democrats, who are facing an uphill battle in the upcoming election. Senator Charles Schumer (D. NY) was used as an example, due to the fact that he has become a leading fundraiser by bashing China.

Source: China Review News, August 12, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/1/1/4/101411431.html?coluid=148&kindid=0&docid=101411431&mdate=0812003237

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China News Net: 2010 Chinese Domestic Market Estimated to be $2,000 Billion

The Chinese Minister of Commerce, Chen Deming, recently wrote an article estimating China’s domestic market size for 2010 to be US$2,000 Billion. The article was published with the background that many foreign investors have recently started to worry that China is no longer focusing on attracting foreign investments and is no longer welcoming foreign capital. The article also admitted that foreign investments have declined 2.6% so far this year. The article discussed the strategy on how China plans to get out of the “crisis.” The primary solution is to adjust and upgrade industry structures. Services, high-end manufacturing and environmental products are identified as key areas.

Source: China News Net, July 28, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/cj/2010/07-28/2432022.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China Youth Daily: Beijing’s ‘Middle Class’ is Just a Fairy Tale

China Review News recently reviewed an article by China Youth Daily on the recently published number of the percentage of the Beijing population that is middle class. It was reported that 40% of the population, which equals 5.4 million, are considered “middle class.” This percentage is above the national average – 23%. However the article questions the accuracy of the numbers and suggests that the largest majority is at the bottom of the “middle class” range. The article also refers to other statistics to prove that the 40% is hard to justify. Also, the new 40% number is based on registered households. A large number of people who live in Beijing are not registered. The article concluded that the latest optimistic number is just a “fairy tale.”

Source: China Review News, August 2, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/0/1/0/101401061.html?coluid=5&kindid=24&docid=101401061&mdate=0802224246

Briefings | | |   Social Stability