Information/Technology - 72. page

According to Beijing Morning News, China will launch six satellites this year to establish the BeiDou (COMPASS) Navigation Satellite System network. Before 2020, China will finish the construction of the BeiDou’s global satellite navigation System. The system will consist of more than 30 satellites.

During the “twelfth five-year-plan,” China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation intends to launch “100 rockets and 100 satellites into space and 100 satellites will travel stably in orbit around the earth." This implies that in the next four to five years, there will be a large number of aerospace launches.

Source: Huanqiu, February 12, 2012
http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2012-02/2427500.html

PCOnline recently reported that, starting on March 16, 2012, the four primary microblog providers will require users to register with their real names. Anonymous users can only browse the microblogs but cannot submit their own. In the new user registration process, the user’s name and National ID number will be checked against the national police verification system. An initial trial of the “Real Name System” took place in Beijing and it is now being deployed nationwide. Users expressed concern over the new system, mainly on the privacy front as well as the freedom of speech side. The government suggested that the new requirement will help stop rumors and illegal activities. Microblogging has become a very popular means of communication in China. Internationally well-known microblog service providers, such as Twitter, are banned in China.

Source: PCOnline, February 8, 2012
http://pcedu.pconline.com.cn/softnews/yejie/1202/2666630.html

Quoting from the Taiwan based United Daily News, Radio Free Asia reported that, immediately after the Chinese New Year holidays, the Communist Party’s propaganda authorities ordered that Party organizations be established for all microblogging sites. The websites involved, including Sina, Tencent, Sohu, and Netease, have already received the relevant instructions. The report quoted sources as saying that, in the future, the Party organizations will be responsible for major microblogging policy guidlines and decision-making, and will resolutely implement the commands of the CCP’s Central Propaganda Department, the State Council, and the provincial and municipal network management offices. At the same time, starting from March 16, the above mentioned four major microblogging sites will implement real-name registration. Anonymous users can only view contents but will not be able to post or forward articles.

Source: Radio Free Asia, February 7, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ql1-02072012094100.html

People’s Daily published a commentary stating that the Internet has weakened the state’s control of information. “Through its open platform, the Internet is eroding state sovereignty. … The bar for individuals to use Internet is extremely low due to its openness. Basically, anyone can engage in communication on an equal platform. … In the political arena, someone can spread things on the Internet using audiovisuals, advertisements, games, speeches, or online work products that threaten or potentially threaten the state’s regime, all of which influences the thinking and behavior of Internet users. This type of infiltration is long-term and subtle. It can gradually replace Internet users’ original ideals and values with various political principles that the Internet media advocate.”

The commentary concluded that, because of the Internet, the state is no longer the only source of information, thus weakening the state’s control over information. The information boundary is no longer the same as the border of the national territory.

Source: People’s Daily, February 2, 2012
http://opinion.people.com.cn/BIG5/17003075.html

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

Outlook Weekly published a commentary that provided an overview of Chinese usage of the Internet, TV, and the radio.

As of June 2011, there were 485 million Internet users (36.2% of the population). About 318 million used a cell phone to access the Internet (65.5% of all Internet users). In the first six months of 2011, the number of mini-blog users accounts increased from 63.11 million to 195 million, a growth of 208%; about 40% of Internet users and 34% of cell phone Internet users have mini-blog accounts. During the same period, trojan or other viruses attacked 217 Internet users. 121 million found their account numbers or passwords had been stolen. About 8% fell victim to online fraud, which affected 38 million users.

As of the end of 2010, China had about 500 million radios and the same number of TVs, which meant that 96.78% of the population in China had access to a radio and 97.62% had access to a TV. Every day, on average, residents in Beijing watch TV for about one hour and 53 minutes, read newspapers for 22 minutes, and spend 33 minutes on the Internet.

Source: Outlook Weekly, November 14, 2011
http://www.lwgcw.com/NewsShow.aspx?newsId=24413

On November 7, Li Changchun, the Propaganda Chief of the Chinese Communist Party and the 5th ranked member of the Politburo, spoke at the 80th anniversary of China’s state-run media, Xinhua News Agency. Li called on Xinhua to develop China’s national and global influence, “Under the new historical conditions, whether (you can) truthfully and accurately report the news, correctly and effectively guide public opinion, and analyze and explain while removing doubts, matters for the fundamental interest of the people, matters for the Party’s ruling position, and matters for the long term stability of the country.”

Li advised, “Further strengthen the news coverage of major emergencies, improve the reporting of emergency responses and the mechanism for guiding public opinion, and strive to be the first in time and right on the spot to release authoritative information at home and abroad.”

Li also asked for Xinhua to develop its abilities in international broadcasting. “Improve the means and methods of international and foreign reporting, go deep into the front line of international news, do more live coverage, use more formats and more languages that foreign audiences easily accept, and issue a more authoritative voice so as to embody our views and express common concerns at the same time. … Actively advance the development of CNTV, vigorously implement the ‘localization’ strategy, increase the amount of news collected, improve the quality of production, and constantly expand both coverage and influence.”

Source: Xinhua, November 9, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2011-11/09/c_122252816.htm

"Xin Shan Road" is in Xinping Yi and the Dai Autonomous County in Yunnan Province. Cyber fans jokingly call it the “shortest lived road.” In June of 2011, the second day after its completion, Xin Shan road collapsed killing 2 people and injuring 2. On October 25, Xin shan Road collapsed again. The size of the site is 4,500 square meters. The left side of the road was buried under 7 meters of collapsed debris. The local transportation department blamed the collapses on the unstable road structure and the rainy season. It has been reported that traffic will resume on Xin Shan Road on October 26, after intensive repair work.

Source: Xinhua, October 26, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/society/2011-10/26/c_111125944.htm