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Briefings - 1149. page

Hainan University Sealed, Fearing Spread of Cholera

As of November 1, 7 students were diagnosed as cholera out of the 30 with the symptom of diarrhea at Hainan University, located in the southern island of Hainan province. It’s the second batch of cholera outbreak in the island after the 17 cases found in Zhanzhou city on October 20.

The campus is now closed up. All students, faculty, and staff members are required to take preventive medicine for three days in a row so as to deter the spread of the infectious disease.

According to the local health authority, 51 cholera cases were identified between October 3 and November 2 across the province. No death was reported.

Source: China Youth Daily, November 4, 2008
http://news.sohu.com/20081104/n260431486.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s State-Media Touts (Karl) Marx amid the Western Financial Crisis

In reporting the current financial crisis spread in Western countries, China’s state media utilized the opportunity to tout the greatness of Marxism and the advantage of socialist (communist system). Following are a few examples:

Jie Fang Daily: Financial Crisis Made Marx’s “The Capital”a Hot-Sale Book in Germany http://www.jfdaily.com/news/xwgj/200810/t20081016_412008.htm

Wen Hui: “The Capital” Comes Back to the Class of German Universities http://wenhui.news365.com.cn/hqsc/200811/t20081104_2082270.htm

Xinhua: The Lasting Attraction of “The Capital” http://www.hq.xinhua.org/comments/2008-10/22/content_14712203.htm

Xinhua (originally from People’s Daily): The Forever Marx http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-10/28/content_10263109_1.htm

CN West News: “The Capital” Becomes the “Straw” and “Prescription” for the Self-Realization and Rescue of the Dying Capitalism
http://opinion.cnwest.com/content/2008-10/20/content_1484562.htm

[Translator’s note: in phone conversations with family members and friends from mainland China, many asked that U.S. is also following the path of socialism.]

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China and India’s High Level Military officials Exchange Visit

On Nov. 1, Chinese Navy Commander-in Chief Wu Shenli Arrived New Deli for five-day visit. On the same day, India Air Force Chief of Staff Fali H Major also left for China for a week long visit. This is the first time in history that high level military officials from both countries visit to each other. The visit was initiated by India and China actively responded. The main task that Major is trying to accomplish is to explore the possibility of having joint military drill of air force.

Source: Xinhua, November 4, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-11/04/content_10303137.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

NDRC Will Allow Corporate Bond to Grow in 2009

“National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is to allow the increases in the corporate bond, exercise measures to mitigate the risk and improve the bond-issuing system” a representative of the NDRC spoke at the “Seminar on the Industry Development of China in 2009” on November 2. The increases will be in quantity and variety, he said.  By the end of October, total approved corporate bond has exceeded 180 trillion compared with 171 trillion in 2007. The ratio of direct equity financing versus the indirect was 1:4.

Source: Xinhua, November 3,2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2008-11/03/content_10298794.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

100,000 cases of Tainted Milk Improperly Disposed

A waste disposal center in Baiyun district of city of Guangzhou dumped over 100,000 cases of melamine-tainted milk into the nearby Shijing River without proper treatment which has caused a white layer of milk floating on the river and emitting odor in the warm weather. The local residents filed complaints with the local authority but the waste center claimed that they have received the approval from the local Sanitation Bureau on the way that the tainted milk was disposed.

Source: Xinhua, November 2, 2008
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/www.gd.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-11/02/content_14806970.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Defense Lawyers Call for Protection of the Rights of Falun Gong Adherents

More and more lawyers in China are willing to represent Falun Gong, a group that was outlawed and its members are persecuted in China.  In the past, most of the Falun Gong adherents were sent to the detention center without the legal procedure.

A recent trial was held in Jixi City of Heilongjiang Province on October 30. Two Falun Gong adherents Liu Jinglu and Sun Lixiang were arrested for distributing flyers on the street and are currently detained at the No. 1 Detention Center in Jixi City. A few hundreds of friends and family members were waiting outside the court. Four lawyers were hired to represent the defendants. Xun Lixiang wrote in her statement to the court that she suffered beating, electrocution, and threatening while being detained and pleaded not guilty. The defense lawyers raised the objection against a series of actions by the prosecutor and the judge and concluded that the behaviors have violated the court order and asked the court to investigate. The trial lasted for an hour and half and the next trial date will be announced at a later time.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Jiang Tianyong, Li Xiongbing, Tang Jietian, three defense lawyers said that the suppression of Falun Gong adherents is against the common values, the constitution as well as the spirit of law. Jiang Tianyong noted that every step the court took was under the direct supervision of the 610 office whose name was unanimous on any court paper. “610 is an illegal entity here.  Spiritual belief is not a crime. This (Falun Gong) case is within the boundary of freedom of belief. Falun Gong adherents have the rights to practice and spread their beliefs which formed no threat to the society and hence can’t be judged by the law. The so called ‘obstruction to exercise of law’ was groundless and was forced upon by the authority” Li Xiongbing said.

Source: The Epoch Times, October 31, 2008
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/8/10/31/n2314576.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Large Migrant Population in Shanghai Poses Problems for One-Child Policy

Close to half of Shanghai population are migrants according to the release of the National Population and Family Planning Commission of China on October 30.   Shanghai has a population of approximately 18.6 million.  8.6 million of it are migrants.  70% of these migrants are from adjacent provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Zhenjiang and Jiangxi.  This large migrant population in Shanghai has been the priority and problem area for the National Population and Family Planning Commission of China to ensure compliance of one-child policy.

Source: Xinhua, October 30, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-10-30/content_10281899.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

More High-Ranking Officials Under Disciplinary Investigation for Corruption

Lu Guoping, Chief of Staff of China Ministry of Land and Resources has been under disciplinary investigation for corruption, Xinhua reported. Apparently he was removed from his position because Xinhua used “former Chief of Staff” to identify his position. Lu made his last appearance on October 12 as Chief of Staff at an official function.

Source: Xinhua, October 31, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-10/31/content_10283412_1.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics