Information/Technology - 72. page

Foreign press associations in China expressed alarm over recent incidents of violent beatings and threatening harassment directed against foreign reporters. The police and local security guards were involved in several of these beatings and threatening harassment incidents. Foreign press associations in China asked the Chinese regime to protect reporters.  

The Chinese regime responded that foreign journalists can report freely in China despite some restrictions in Tibet. However, in reality, local officials often detain foreign reporters and sometimes beat them when they report "sensitive" incidents.

Source: BBC Chinese, August 21, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/chinese_news/2012/08/120821_china_journalists.shtml  

According to the Ministry of Health, there are 260 million chronically ill patients in China. In other words, 20 percent of the population suffers from chronic illness. Of those, 85 percent die from their illness, which is higher than the average around the world. Many experts believe that an increase in the rate of chronic illness is related to diet (problems with tainted food) and living habits as well as environmental pollution. The most common chronic illnesses are: cardio-cerebrovascular, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease.

The World Health Organization estimated that the medical treatment of chronic diseases accounts for 80 percent of the total medical expenses in China. The early deaths due to these illnesses will result in US$55.8 trillion in economic losses over the next ten years. By 2015, China’s annual medical expenses will reach US$50 billion. According to The National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, 83.8 percent of the Chinese population that is 18 or older never exercise, while only 11.9 percent exercise three times a week or more and at least 10 minutes each time. Most of the people who do not exercise spend their time online or watching TV.

According to Beijing Daily, China has 22 percent of the world’s population while its medical spending accounts for only 2 percent of the world’s total. From 1993 to 2008, the number of patients in China grew from 4.36 to 5.25 billion, a 20 percent increase in 15 years. The economic burden resulting from the illnesses increased 6.5 times from 1999 to 2005, while GDP only grew 4.2 times.

Source: Radio Free Asia, August 18, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/yl-0818201200189.html

On August 3, 2012, the Guangdong provincial government announced a new regulation on its official website.  With the exception of the Guangdong Provincial Warning Release System, no organization or individual is allowed to release any warning or information to the public regarding an event that may cause serious harm to society, a natural disaster, an accident, or a public health incident, including those that are happening or are about to happen.

No one is allowed to issue any warning or make any announcement, such as for the recent storms in Beijing, on any personal microblog.

Source: Guangdong Yangcheng Evening News (http://www.ycwb.com), August 9, 2012
http://news.ycwb.com/2012-08/09/content_3905933.htm

On August 6, 2012, Study Times published an article discussing the challenges brought about by microblogs and the strategies the authorities should use to deal with microblogs in the event of a crisis. In China, 96% of Internet users know how use microblogs to check and release information and to post comments about large and sudden incidents. The article suggested strategies to strengthen crisis management and deal with the effects of microblogs in the event of a crisis:

1. Constantly collect information on the Internet and submit the feedback to the relevant departments quickly so as to resolve any microblog crisis at the initial stage.
2. The government should release authoritative news in a timely manner, using touching language, following the principle of "quickly report the facts, cautiously report the reasons, and then release follow-up information later.”
3. Guide and regulate public opinion by spreading filtered and selected views.
4. Stop any “rumors” from spreading and use law enforcement to regulate the Internet effectively.

Source: Study Times, August 6, 2012
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2012/08/06/05/05_34.htm

In the early morning on July 22, 2012, after the heaviest storm in Beijing in 61 years, People’s Daily kicked off the official microblog it started for the public. The government-run microblog, which is run by 8 government employees, responds to major incidents and problems more quickly than the People’s Daily print edition and is responsible for interacting with blog users in vivid and touching language. Facing the challenge of the wide spread of the new media, People’s Daily wants to have a say in public opinion. “We cannot hand over microblogs to others. We must take the initiative to speak out and post high quality writings.”

Source: Xinhua, July 31, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/lianzheng/2012-07/31/c_123499223.htm

Between the end of July and August 31, 2012, Beijing City will launch a summer Internet environment remediation campaign. According to Fu Zhenghua, the head of Beijing’s Public Security Bureau, actions involving use of the Internet to traffic prohibited goods, to manufacture and spread political rumors, and to attack the Party and government leaders as well as the current regime will be subject to a harsh crackdown.

The police force has set up Internet law enforcement accounts at 239 major Beijing based websites. Reportedly, 3,916 web related violations have been uncovered and 5,007 suspects have been arrested. Fu also emphasized that websites that regularly disseminate harmful information will be put on a “black list,” and that 110  reporting icons (phone numbers for reporting to the police) should be set up on major microblogging sites,

Source: Jinghua Daily, reprinted on Xinhua, July 26, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2012-07/26/c_123469957.htm