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China to Start National Population Survey

On November 1, China will start its National Population Survey which will cover one percent of the population. This is the 6th survey of its kind since 2010. The survey will cover 60,000 districts, 14 million people, and over 5 million families. The length of time for the survey is from November 1 through 15.

Source: People’s Daily, November 2, 2015
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2015/1102/c1001-27763541.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

VOA: Concerns about China’s New Law on Seven Year Jail Term for Spreading Rumors

Voice of America reported that, starting on November 1, China will launch a set of new laws. One new law states that those who spread Internet “rumors” could serve up to seven years in jail. The article said that the move could use the law as a tool for the current authorities to maintain stability while suppressing freedom of expression and the rights movement. A concern was also expressed as to whether the official media and local governments would be subject to legal actions if they were the ones to spread rumors. The article quoted comments from several rights activities. One activist said that the reason that any rumor would spread on the Internet was that there is a lack of freedom of expression, information, and the press in China, while the authorities are simply using legal measures to target those who wish to voice their opinions. Another activist said that the guideline for defining rumors was set by the authorities who try every means to trap those who criticize the government. The article also quoted people who questioned whether the official media would be charged with spreading rumors if they were the ones to make false reports about accidents or disasters.

Source: Voice of America, November 1, 2015
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-new-law-20151101/3031717.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Ren Zhiqiang: A New China or a New Regime?

Ren Zhiqiang, a high profile real estate mogul in China, published a weibo (miniblog) at sina.com during the week long October 1 National Day holiday challenging the official stance that National Day celebrates the birth of a New China. 

Ren questioned, “Did this day (October 1, 1949) declare that a new country emerged or that a new regime representing the same country was established?” 
“From the perspective of traditional Chinese culture and international law, China is still the same China. … All that happened was the government of the Republic of China under the Nationalists [Kuomintang] controlled an increasingly smaller area, while the government of the People’s Republic of China, which the Chinese Communist Party led and which allegedly represented the interests of the masses of Chinese people, controlled most of mainland China. The Communist Party announced that it had replaced the Republic of China in governing China, and began to exercise national sovereignty.” 
Ren continued that even to the present day, many people living in mainland China have the misunderstanding that October 1 represented the birth of a new country. They think that the homeland just had its 66th birthday. However, this ancient country of China has a history of thousands of years. All of the changes in this country from one dynasty to another are nothing but changes in rulers or in governments who say they represent China’s sovereignty. They are not changes of the actual nation. Therefore, “this holiday is not that of the birthday of a new country, but the establishment of a new regime.” 
 Ren’s weibo at sina.com was soon removed. 

Source: BBC Chinese, October 2, 2015 http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/china/2015/10/151002_china_renzhiqiang_weibo_reax

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: 750 Million People Will Be on the Road during the “Golden Week” Holiday Break

Xinhua reported that, during the current “Golden Week” holiday break in China, it is expected that 750 million people or over 50 percent of the total population will travel on the road. This raises serious concerns about traffic congestion, overcrowded tourist sights, and hidden safety threats. According to the article, the week long holiday break has caused these issues to be around for a number of years now. The problem persists because of 11 national holidays that have dates falling in the winter and fall season.

Source: Xinhua, October 4, 2015
http://xinhuanet.com/jrgz/20151004a/index.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

17 Explosions Occurred in Rapid Succession Prior to China’s National Day

On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 17 explosions rocked Liucheng County, Liuzhou City, Guangxi Province. At least 7 people died in the explosions. It was confirmed that 51 people were injured and 2 people are missing. BBC Chinese reported on the casualty information, which was based on a recent Liuzhou local Police Press Conference about the bombings. The Liuzhou public security bureau released the information that the explosions occurred in many locations including a town government building, a prison, a shopping mall, a railway station, a supermarket, a hospital, a dormitory of the animal husbandry bureau, a farmers market, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The series of rapid blasts may have been caused by parcel bombs. So far, the police have found over 60 suspicious parcel packages.

According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), within about two hours on the afternoon of September 30, 2015, Beijing time, parcel explosions occurred in more than a dozen places. The explosions were caused by explosive devices wrapped inside express parcels. The Chinese authorities announced through Xinhua News Agency that this is a criminal case. The suspect is a 33-year-old man surnamed Wei who lives in Dapu town, Liucheng County. 

An RFA reporter phoned the Liuzhou City government for information, the operator asked the reporter to call the Liucheng County propaganda office. However, the Liucheng County propaganda office refused to share any information. The Liucheng County Public Security Bureau also refused RFA’s interview request. When a hospital received RAF’s telephone query, the person who answered the phone was in a panic and hung up the phone immediately before the reporter could ask any questions.  

Li Jianghan, a human rights activist, told RFA that he believes that the series of explosions must have been purposely arranged prior to China’s National Day (October 1st).

Sources: BBC Chinese & Radio Free Asia Chinese, September 30, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/09/150930_china_explosions
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/explosion-09302015094459.html?encoding=simplified

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Research Showed 1.36 Million Chinese Died Early Due to Air Pollution

The South China Morning Post recently reported that a research team formed jointly by scientists from Germany, the United States, and several other countries released a research report, showing that, in 2010, over three million people globally died early due to air pollution mainly caused by PM2.5 and other pollutants. Among the three million who died, China’s share was 1.36 million, India had 0.65 million, and Pakistan ranked number three with 0.11 million. Most of the countries at the top of the list are in Asia. According to the research report, this total number will double by the end of 2050. The World Health Organization released a similar report last year, stating that, in 2012, over seven million people died early due to outdoor air pollution. The newly released report also disclosed that the primary causes of the PM2.5 pollutants in Asia were home air conditioners, cooking, agriculture fertilizers, power plants, and factories that do manufacturing. 
Source: South China Morning Post, September 17, 2015
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/14fd96433efd2ef/yan-jiu-2010-zhong-guo-136-wan-ren-yin-kong-qi-wu-ran-zao-si
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Guangming Daily: Less than 30 Percent of the College Graduates Surveyed Are Happy with Their Jobs

Guangming Daily reported on a survey that collected information collected from 2,547 recent college graduates. The research showed that less than 30 percent of those surveyed felt that the job they obtained met their expectations. Less than 30 percent thought they did a good job, while over 40 percent felt that, with their current income, they could barely make ends meet. The results also showed that 75 percent felt the pressure, while only one percent felt the pressure was unbearable.

Source: Guangming Daily, September 21, 2015
http://edu.gmw.cn/2015-09/21/content_17106875.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

BBC Chinese: Human Rights Lawyer under House Arrest after Meeting with a U.S. Official

BBC Chinese recently reported that Chinese human rights lawyer Zhuang Daohe was put under house arrest after meeting with David Saperstein, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. When they met, Zhuang discussed the issues of China’s religious freedom with Ambassador Saperstein. China is very sensitive about the topic of religious freedom. At least one of Ambassador Saperstein’s predecessors was refused a visa to China. Washington was very low-key on Saperstein’s visit to China, with no meetings arranged in public places. Zhuang is a Christian and is known for his work as a lawyer who defends Christian human rights. In the past year, the authorities in Zhejiang Province have required many Christian churches to remove the crosses at the top of their church buildings.
Source: BBC Chinese, August 27, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/08/150827_zhuangdaohe_housearrest
Briefings | | |   Social Stability