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.
Social Stability - 108. page
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
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
Research Showed 1.36 Million Chinese Died Early Due to Air Pollution
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
BBC Chinese: Human Rights Lawyer under House Arrest after Meeting with a U.S. Official
After Chinese Currency Depreciation, Funds Began Moving Overseas
Guangming Daily: Survey Says 80 percent of Haigui Feel They Are Underpaid
Guangming Daily published an article reporting on a recent survey of Haigui [Chinese language slang term for Chinese people who have returned to mainland China after having studied abroad]. According to the results of the survey, 80 percent of Haigui felt that their salaries were below their expectations. In 2014, close 1.8 million people returned back to China after studying abroad, which accounted for 51.4 percent of the total who left China to study abroad. The survey showed that most of the Haigui found jobs in large cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shen Zhen. Those in the banking and financial industry amount to 14.3 percent, while the rest are spread over retail, real estate, and internet industries. Few are in new technology or in culture industries. The survey found that the overall job satisfaction of the Haigui is low. Close to 39.5 percent change jobs within the first two years and 28.8 percent change jobs between three to five years. They also need time to adjust to the domestic job market as well.
http://economy.gmw.cn/2015-08/21/content_16755740.htm