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CASS Blue Paper: Housing Prices Are the No. One Social Problem

On December 24, 2014, the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) published its Social Blue Paper in which it concluded that, of all the major social problems, housing prices, food and drug safety, the cost of living, unemployment, and income disparity are the top five social problems in China today. 

According to the Blue Paper, people are increasingly worried about housing prices. Since 2003, the price of housing has been one of the top three worries. In 2009 and 2014 it topped the list. A considerable part of the population is gradually being marginalized. The different measures that the authorities have taken have not fundamentally changed the existing status of these social problems. The Blue Paper said that these problems remain the most important issues for improving Chinese people’s quality of life and for improving their living standards. 
Source: China News Service, December 24, 2014 
http://finance.chinanews.com/house/2014/12-24/6908930.shtml
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Chinese University Prohibits Students from Celebrating Christmas

Beijing News reported that, on Christmas Eve, the Modern College of Northwest University, located in Xian, Shaanxi Province, made it mandatory for students to watch propaganda programs and indicated that it would punish those who celebrated Christmas. 

According to Beijing News, several students told its reporters that, on Christmas Eve, school instructors were on site at the propaganda multimedia program with many others standing guard around the building so that they could stop the students from leaving. Any students who left would be counted as being truant three times. 
The Communist Youth League of the college posted on its weibo on December 25, “Last night our college watched the college multimedia program in an organized way only to hope students would not blindly emulate foreigners and would instead pay attention to China’s traditional culture. We hope we can take a rational look and take the glory of the school as our own glory. Do not spread rumors or create rumors. Strive to become a glorious modern person." 
A student disagreed with the school response in his comments to The Beijing News. "The school does not let us celebrate Christmas. We have not said anything, but the school should not respond from the perspective that not letting us celebrate Christmas is to promote Chinese traditional culture. Actually they ‘forced’ us to watch the national propaganda films on that day. We are very unhappy about it." 
Beijing News reported that banners were strung up around the campus reading, "Strive to be outstanding sons and daughters of China, oppose kitschy Western holidays," and "Resist the expansion of Western culture." 

Sources: The Beijing News, December 24 and 25, 2014 http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2014/12/24/347168.html http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2014/12/25/347351.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

RTI: Lawyer Arrested in Court for Invoking the Constitution to Defend His Client

Radio Taiwan International (RTI), an official international radio broadcast agency funded by the government of the Republic of China in Taiwan, recently reported that the police arrested Chinese lawyer Zhang Keke right in court when he was representing his client, the defendant. Zhang was quoting the freedom of speech and the religious freedom sections of the Chinese Constitution to defend his Falun Gong practitioner client. The judge interrupted him and ordered him to be arrested. This incident triggered an open letter petition that over 260 mainland lawyers signed. They called for lawyer’s rights to be protected in court; the petition accused the judge and the police of abuse of power; the open letter also asked for an apology and the immediate release of Zhang Keke. In addition, the petition asserted that the government must deliver on its promise to implement the rule of law. Associated Press also reported on this incident.
Source: Radio Taiwan International, December 12, 2014
http://n.yam.com/rti/life/20141212/20141212744581.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

People’s Daily: Security Officers Are Not Simply for Decoration

On December 2, 1024, People’s Daily published a commentary titled, “Security Officers Are Not Simply for Decoration.” It questioned the competence of security officers on public transportation. 

The commentary stated that, in recent years, security incidents have increased on public transportation. The presence of security officers reassures the passengers. However, some security officers do nothing but repeat, “No inflammable materials allowed.” They even doze off while on the job. The commentary further stated that, in an article in 1984, security officers on the train did nothing but ask the passengers, “Comrade, do you have a bomb with you?” Thirty years later, with increased mobility, there are more security risks. If security officers do not do their job, their presence will simply be a matter of going through formalities. 
Source: People’s Daily, December 2, 2014 
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2014-12/02/nw.D110000renmrb_20141202_8-01.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Research Results Published on the Wellbeing of Left- Behind Children in Rural Areas

Guangming Daily published an article reporting on the Tenth Youth Development Forum that was held on November 30 at Tsinghua University. During the forum, a number of research papers were published on the development of youth groups in China, including unemployed college graduates, the "left-behind children" in rural areas, and youth who are handicapped and have disabilities. Regarding those “left-behind” children in the rural areas whose parents have gone to the city for work, the research showed that they tend to have a higher occurrence of accidents and it is easier to bully them. As reported by the research results they lack of interest in their studies, they tend to struggle in school, and the girls often feel anxious and lonely.

Source: Guangming Daily, December 1, 2014
http://edu.gmw.cn/2014-12/01/content_14013456.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: After APEC, the Haze Came Back

Xinhua recently reported that, starting November 19, the northern part of China, including Beijing, has once again been covered in the heavy haze of pollution. As a result of a number of different mechanisms that the government imposed in order to reduce pollution during the APEC Summit, which just concluded, Beijing enjoyed two weeks of unusual blue sky. The blue sky was so rare that the locals named it “APEC Blue.” Now that the haze has returned, people have gone back to their "mask-wearing" life. Many citizens are calling for a government funded benefit plan called a “haze allowance.” The idea triggered a large social debate on who should pay for it and on fairness in distribution. Most people argued that they would rather have the money spent on reducing pollution and bringing back the blue sky than on paying people to continue breathing poisonous air. 
Source: Xinhua, November 22, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/energy/2014-11/22/c_127239972.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Health Authorities: Temperature of Nigerian Quarantined Earlier Returned to Normal

In news related to the Ebola virus, on October 17, 2014, the Municipal Health Bureau in the city of Ningbo announced that the temperature of the Nigerian man who had been quarantined earlier returned to normal. On the afternoon of October 16, after landing from Taiwan around 6:00 pm local time, the Nigerian man was found to have a slight fever and was taken to a Ningbo hospital for observation. 

Regarding the overall issue of how Ebola may effect China, according to customs officials in charge of the ports in Guangdong Province, Guangdong ports are considered high risk. Of all the ports in China, those in Guangdong Province have the largest number of passengers entering China from African countries, the current location of the Ebola outbreak. For example, the Guangzhou airport, Guangdong Province, is one of the busiest airports with over 160 direct flights from Africa and about 41,000 people entering into China every month. In addition, there are large numbers of people from Africa visiting China via Hong Kong, Qatar, and other international hubs. 

Sources:
China News, October 17, 2014 
http://www.chinanews.com/sh/2014/10-17/6688471.shtml 
Caijing.com, 
October 16, 2014 http://caijing.shiliunet.com/cn/1191154.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

BBC Chinese: Teachers and Unions Join Hong Kong Protesters

On September 28, 2014, Hong Kong police used tear gas against the peaceful pro-democracy protestors, the students who have boycotted classes, and the “Occupy Central” group. The Chinese government’s withdrawal of its previous promise for a true free election in Hong Kong by 2017 is what sparked the Occupy Central movement. The police forces’ use of tear gas did not scare the protestors away. The Hong Kong Federation of Students then delivered an ultimatum to the Hong Kong SAR government. If the Hong Kong SAR government did not respond to their requests before midnight, they would call for more protests, including a continuous boycott of classes, a general strike, and the closing of shops until there is a “people’s victory.”

The Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (HKPTU), the city’s largest teachers’ union, declared a strike in response the police use of force in its crackdown on student demonstrators on Sunday. The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) also called for a strike to protest the ruthless actions taken against unarmed peaceful protestors. The Chinese government’s Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong S.A.R. published a statement, accusing the “Occupy Central” gathering of being “illegal.” It supported the “legal actions” of the police against the protestors. A spokesman from China’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the state Council responded that “the central government firmly opposes any illegal actions to damage the rule of law and society’s peace.”

Source: BBC Chinese, September 28, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/09/140928_hk_protestor_strike

Briefings | | |   Social Stability