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Briefings - 1195. page

Hebei’s Water Eases Shortage in Beijing

On September 28, 18.7 million cubic meters of water from two reservoirs in Hebei Province arrived in Beijing after 10 days of travel. This is part of China’s massive South-to-North Water Diversion Project which has been lasting for 5 years. By March 2009, an influx of 0.3 billion cubic meters of water will come from the neighboring province so as to provide a relief for the serious water shortage in the nation’s capital. The 300-cubic-meter per capita water consumption in Beijing is only 1/8 of the country’s average and 1/30 of world average, far below the United Nation’s standard of at least 1000 cubic meter.

Source: Voice of America, September 29, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2008-09-29-voa34.cfm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Fewer Uniformed Police in Beijing Events

The security measure in largest scale public events in Beijing is to inherit the “Olympic model” by replacing most uniform police force with volunteers and plainclothes guards, according to Li Runhua, head of the public security squadron of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

“It’s inconceivable that there will be only five uniformed police in a soccer game.” As Li mentioned in 2004 Asian Cup, 5,000 police were on the spot. The cut of uniformed police is said to present a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

During the Beijing Olympic Games, police alarms hit a record low, owing to the super-conventional control. The public order may get worse in post-Olympic period.

Source: China News Services, September 30, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/09-30/1399300.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua Reported Successful Spacecraft Orbiting Prior to its Launch

China’s State news agency Xinhua posted on its website on September 25 a news report describing a successful launch of China’s spacecraft Shenzhou 7–before the rocket had even left the ground. The article included direct quotations from a detailed dialogue that allegedly took place between astronauts on September 27. The article was later taken down and Xinhua issued an apology on September 26 stating the September 25 posting of the article was a "technical error" by a technician.

Source:
Xinhua, September 26, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-09/26/content_10117833.htm
Epoch Times, September 27, 2008
http://epochtimes.com/gb/8/9/27/n2277314.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Official Media Denies the Existence of a Special Food Supply Center for the Central Government

The China News Agency posted a news article on its website claiming that the existence of a “Special Food Supply Center for the Central Government” is a rumor. The claim is based on an interview with a leader from the Senior Official’s Recreation Center affiliated with the State Council. The name the leader is not given. The leader says that there is no “Special Food Supply Center for the Central Government of the State Council.” The statement is in response to an article circulating on the Internet–“Speech of Director Zhu Yonglan at the Awarding Ceremony of Special Food Products for Central Government.” The leader quoted in the article also claimed that there is no such person as “Zhu Yonglan.” Internet users had posted pictures of the award ceremony and Zhu Yonglan speaking at the ceremony on the Internet (peacehall.com/forum/200809/boxun2008b/7795.shtml).

Source: China News, September 25, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/09-25/1394715.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Hu Jintao Emphasizes Resolutely Holding the Banner of Chinese Socialism at Politburo Group Study

Chinese Communist Party Central Politburo conducted 2008’s eighth group study for the Politburo on September 28. The agenda was focused on the study of Chinese-style socialist theoretical system. Hu Jintao chaired the study. Hu emphasized that in today’s China, continuing Chinese-style socialist theoretical system is truly following Marxism. Hu pointed out that the Party committees at all levels must use the Chinese-style socialist theoretical system to arm the Party and educate the people, take the work as a long term task and frequent event, and implement the work systematically. Central Party School professor Yan Shuhan and professor Qin Xuan also lectured in the group study.

Source: Xinhua, September 29, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-09/29/content_10133078.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Li Peng Made First Public Appearance After Missing For One Year

Former Prime Minister Li Peng made his first public appearance on September 25 and 26 since his last appearance in October 2007. Li was riding in a China made high speed train from Beijing to Tianjin. Li was said to be healthy and energetic. There have been rumors and speculations about Li’s health condition. Li’s last public appearance was at the opening ceremony of Chinese Communist Party’s 17th Congress in October 2007. He has been missing from political events this year including the Political Consultative Conference, 11th National People’s Conference, opening ceremony of the Olympic game as well as memorial service for Hua Guofeng, the Former President of China.

Source:
Chinese News, September 28,2008
http://news.china.com/zh_cn/domestic/945/20080928/15114260.html
The Epoch Times, September 29,2008
http://epochtimes.com/gb/8/9/29/n2279599.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Chinese Astronauts Benefit from Traditional Chinese Medical Treatment

Li Yongzhi, chief physician for Chinese Astronauts credited Chinese medical treatment for the good health conditions displayed by Chinese astronauts. Research study collaboration between the University of Louvain in Belgium and the China Astronaut Research and Training Center suggested that Chinese astronauts showed better health conditions compared with astronauts from Russia and Europe, especially in their cardiological system. “Their heart condition has hardly changed after they came back to the earth”, Li said, “The secret is that our astronauts have been taking a type of Chinese medicine which prevents heart attacks in zero gravity environments”. In addition to Chinese preventive medicines, the China Astronaut Research and Training Center also applied Chinese massage and acupuncture treatment to the astronauts.

Source: South Chinese Morning Post, September 23, 2008
http://olympics.scmp.com/GCO_Simpchi_Article.aspx?ArticleID=1000001616&OtherID=1000001617&Section=china

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Villagers Beaten and Arrested During Land Seizure Fight

On September 22, a few hundred officers dispatched by City of Guilin (Guangxi Province) Police Department and City Management Administration together with jobless residents hired by the Guilin City Zhang Tai Land Development Corporation went into Chuan Shan Village in Qi Xing District and used force to build a fence so they could seize a piece land. The entire village fought back. According to the villagers, their land was sold to Zhang Tai without their knowledge and their dispute for compensation has not been settled. Dozens of villagers were injured during the fight and two villagers were hospitalized.

On September 23 and 24, police officers blocked the entrance to the village and started to arrest villagers. One villager who fled to another village disclosed that over a dozen villagers have been arrested so far. Only those who signed the agreement to accept land compensation from the city can be released.

The article also shows photos of injured villagers and a video of the events.

Source: Boxun, September 27, 2008
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/09/200809272337.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability