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Global Times: China May Release New Computer Operating System

Global Times recently reported that a Chinese government funded research group is planning an October release of a new version of a domestically developed computer operating system. The new operating system aims to replace imported software made by Microsoft, Google, and Apple. The plan is to run it on desktop computers first and eventually expand its use to smart phones and other mobile devices. According to its road map, the new Chinese operating system is to replace old systems in about two years. Ever since the Snowden Prism incident, the computer security war between China and the U.S. has been intensifying. In May 2013, the Chinese government accused Google of trying to control the Chinese smartphone market via its Android operating system. In May 2014, the Chinese government banned Microsoft Windows 8 from the government procurement list. Currently Microsoft China is under a Chinese antitrust investigation. The Global Times report concluded that the Chinese software industry is facing a golden opportunity to take over the domestic market.
Source: Global Times, August 25, 2014
http://tech.huanqiu.com/it/2014-08/5116953.html
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Guangming Daily: Ninety Million Chinese Patients Suffer from Depression

Guangming Daily reported on research results from a study on the rate of depression among China’s workforce. The report, which was published during the 7th annual mental health conference, said that 90 million people in China suffer from depression. This accounts for 2.2 to 4.8 percent of the workforce. The article stated that 70 percent of the patients suffering from depression have to take sick leave and close to half of those patients said that they can’t concentrate on their work. Most of the people who took the survey felt that depression is less alarming than cerebral vascular or heart disease, but medical experts warn that the public still does not understand the serious effect that depression has on people’s work.

Source: Guangming Daily, August 24, 2014
http://news.gmw.cn/2014-08/24/content_12738725.htm

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Li Leishi: A 2008 Reminder on Organ Harvesting

According to Sohu in 2008, Li Leishi, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the PLA Kidney Disease Institute stated that organ donation after death does not have the soil for it to exist in China.

Leishi pointed out that there is a big shortage of organ transplant donors in China and that "organ donation after death" only exists in theory. It cannot be put into practice in China because the conditions aren’t there for its existence. Li further explained that China does not have the same system as foreign countries do, so as to ensure that organ donations after death can effectively proceed. In addition, legal protection is also one of the problems. There is no legal protection in China regarding what criteria should exist to make a decision for organ donation [of brain dead patients].
 
Li gave his own experience to explain the extent of the organ shortage. He said that, because we are an Institute, the amount of transplant surgery we perform is not that high. In the past, I could do kidney transplants for 120 patients a year; now I can only do 70. Just from my own experience, we now have at least 50 organ shortages per year. The lack of donor organs is the main reason for the reduction in the amount of surgery. Each year, I have more than 200 or even close to 300 patients registered and waiting for surgery, not including those patients blocked from the registration due to economic reasons.
 
Source:  Sohu, November 27, 2008
http://health.sohu.com/20081127/n260870584.shtml

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China Review News: Only a Small Number of Chinese Are Upset about Messaging Regulations

On August 9, 2014, China Review News published an article in support of the “Ten Regulations on Public Instant Messaging Services” that the Chinese central government recently issued. According to the article, there are over 300 million instant messaging users in China. According to the article, “Rumors have been circulating everywhere” in China. In a dark corner, foreigners or Chinese who are paid with foreign currencies have been fabricating shocking “authoritative announcements.” The article asserted that most Internet users welcome the “Ten Regulations on Public Instant Messaging Services.” Only a small numbers of people are upset. Those who enjoy publishing "authoritative news" behind-the-scenes can no longer get royalties because their articles cannot be published online.

Source: China Review News, August 9, 2014
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1033/3/0/1/103330106.html?coluid=59&kindid=0&docid=103330106&mdate=0809105458

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People’s Daily: China Established Regulations for Public Instant Messaging Services

People’s Daily recently reported that the Chinese central government released new nationwide regulations on public instant messaging services. The regulations cover the management of public accounts and the content-related limitations on these accounts. One of the key requirements in the new rules is that all users must register with real names. These names must be validated by the service provider upon registration. Those public accounts opened by organizations that provide information services must go through additional reviews and must register with corresponding government administrative offices at the same time. Another important new rule is that any user account that is not opened by a government approved news agency cannot publish or republish political or “current events” types of news. Instant messaging service providers must visually mark the authorized news publishers. Service providers are also required to preserve records and proof of violations.
Source: People’s Daily, August 8, 2014
http://culture.people.com.cn/n/2014/0808/c172318-25426638.html
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China’s Actions on Internet Security in 2013

A recent People’s Daily Online article listed a number of official events and actions in 2013 that dealt with Internet security in China. 
In November 2013, the third Plenary Session of 18th Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee approved "The Decision on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms." The State Security Committee was established to formulate and implement national security strategies. In December 2012, the eleventh National People’s Congress Standing Committee adopted the "Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection." The regulations were implemented in 2013. In August 2013, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the "Notice on the Issuance of the Action Plan on the Prevention and Control of Hackers’ Underground Industry Chain." Starting in May 2013, the National Internet Information Office (NIIO) launched a nationwide campaign to strike against the behavior of "using the Internet to manufacture rumors and deliberately spread rumors." In June 2013, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) held a teleconference meeting, deploying the nationwide public security authorities to carry out six-months of intensive combat against and punishment of Internet criminal activities. In July 2013, MIIT issued "Provisions for the Protection of the Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users." In September 2013, the Supreme People’s Court announced the interpretation of the laws applicable to hearing criminal cases about fabricating and deliberately spreading false terrorist information. The spokesperson for the Court said that the "interpretation" clearly stipulated that a person committing any of six situations of seriously disrupting the social order would be held criminally responsible.
Source: People’s Daily Online, August 7, 2014
http://theory.people.com.cn/n/2014/0807/c387081-25421419.html
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China News: Microsoft Investigated for Chinese Antitrust Violations

China News recently reported that the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) confirmed that Microsoft is being investigated for antitrust violations. SAIC did a “spot check” against Microsoft branches in four major cities without any pre-notice. The case against Microsoft was based on “incomplete information disclosure” of problems in software packages like Windows and Office. The damages include compatibility issues, unlawful bundled sales, “file verification issues” and more importantly, price gouging. SAIC “suspects” Microsoft is conducting anti-competitive behavior. Many western countries have associated this investigation with the Snowden incident. However some Chinese legal experts expressed their disagreement by suggesting that SAIC was only doing its job to enforce the Chinese antitrust law. Microsoft issued a short announcement promising active cooperation with the investigation. Currently foreign vendors dominate the technologies deployed in key Chinese industries such as finance, telecommunication, energy, and civil aviation. The China News report concluded that domestic vendors will have “expanded room to compete” after this investigation concludes.
Source: China News, July 30, 2014
http://finance.chinanews.com/it/2014/07-30/6438951.shtml
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China News: Qualcomm Faces Antitrust Investigation in China

China News recently reported that China is conducting an antitrust investigation into the U.S.-based Qualcomm, which is the world’s largest cellphone chip maker. The investigation is focusing on high patent licensing fees and the “handset-based patent pricing model.” Experts in the Chinese cellphone industry have expressed the belief that Qualcomm abused its power of control over its intellectual property by establishing unfair prices and denying competition. Qualcomm holds critical patents that dominate the cellphone chip market and define the wireless communications standard. Based on publicly available data, some lawyers have estimated that, if Qualcomm is found guilty, its total Chinese income, which is half of its global revenue (half of US$20 billion), will be the basis for the fine. There is a good chance that the fine will set a record in Chinese antitrust history. 
Source: China News, July 24, 2014
http://finance.chinanews.com/it/2014/07-24/6421681.shtml
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