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CASS: The Labor Camp System is a Threat to People’s Freedom

People’s Daily recently reported that the Institute of Political Science of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Social Science Documentation Publishing House jointly released the 2013 Chinese Political Development Report (also known as the Political Development Blue Book). The key new finding of this latest Blue Book is that the Labor Camp System (also known as the Labor Reeducation System) has once again become a focal point for Chinese society. A general social agreement appears to be forming that the system must be reformed. The Labor Camp System grants the police the right to put someone in a jail-like facilities for up to four years without involving a court or any prosecution. It was originally designed for very light violation of laws. However the power of the system has been abused widely and for a long time. The Blue Book concluded that the system is “an enormous threat to the freedom of Chinese citizens” and that it is now time to reform the system.
 
Source: People’s Daily, August 6, 2013
http://gx.people.com.cn/n/2013/0806/c229247-19239074.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Qiushi: The Fundamental Crisis in China is One of Values and Faith

Qiushi published an article entitled, “What is China’s Fundamental Crisis?” The author believes that the ultimate crisis that China faces is not an economic crisis or a political crisis caused by corruption. Rather, China’s “fundamental crisis is the crisis caused by the conflict between ideology and reality. It is a crisis of values, a crisis of faith.” 

According to the author, there are two major problems in China. One is that the conflict between the Communist ideology of public ownership and that of private ownership in market capitalism has led the people to question the legitimacy of State ownership. The other is that severe splits have occurred within the socialist ideology. These two problems have resulted in confusion in both policies and decision making. “This is the lynchpin of all major problems in China today.” 
Source: Qiushi, August 7, 2013 
 http://www.qstheory.cn/zz/wwtj/201308/t20130807_257099.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s Research Study: H7N9 May Have Passed Between People

Chinese medical personnel conducted a research study on H7N9. The British Medical Journal then published the results, which were also reported in BBC Chinese and reprinted on Netease.com. The study outlined the cases of a 60-year-old man and his 32-year-old daughter who contracted bird flu and died in March 2013.

According to the article, “Chinese medical researchers reported the first case of H7N9 avian influenza virus being transmitted between humans.” The research study said that the 60-year-old man was hospitalized a week after he visited a local poultry market. The daughter took care of the father in the hospital and fell ill six days after her last contact with her father. Both died of failure of multiple organs. 
“Tests showed that the viruses that the two carried were almost identical, which supports the conclusion that the daughter got the infection directly from her father.” “The researchers noted that, although there is no conclusive evidence that the virus has the ability to be transmitted from human to human, this is the first indication that the virus ‘may have the ability to transmit from human to human.’” 
Source: Netease.com, August 7, 2013 
http://world.163.com/13/0807/17/95MKN9G000014OQQ.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

National Tourism Administration Issued Notice for Chinese Tourists to Improve Their Image

In order to improve the image of the Chinese tourists who travel overseas, the National Tourism Administration requested that the tour guides and travel agencies take full responsibility for the Chinese tourists’ uncivilized manners and behavior. The administration is also considering including a requirement regarding civil behavior in the contract. The request came after the news media reported on a number instances in which Chinese tourists’ manners and behavior were uncivilized. The top five annoying mannerisms of Chinese tourists are: talking loudly in public, littering, spitting, not following orders, and damaging culture relics.

Source: Guangming Daily, August 4, 2013
http://http://politics.gmw.cn/2013-08/04/content_8499785.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Meng Jianzhu: Departments under Central Politics and Law Commission to Use Microblogs and Wechat

On July 26, Meng Jianzhu, head of the Central Politics and Law Commission, attended and spoke at the 20th anniversary celebration of Chang An Magazine, a publication of the Central Politics and Law Commission. Meng requested all levels of all departments under the Central Politics and Law Commission to be active in using the Internet and the new media, such as microblogs, Weixin, or Wechat, to increase communication with the public. He also asked all levels to build a trusting, close, and positive relationship with the media in order for the Central Politics and Law Commission to play a key role in leading the main stream media.

Source: Xinhua, July 27, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-07/27/c_125074487.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Beijing News: 100 Million Suffer from Mental Illness

On July 11, 2013, Beijing News reported that, according to statistics from China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 100 million people who suffer from various forms of mental illnesses. Over 16 million of them have severe mental illness, meaning one in every 100 has severe mental illness. For treatment, two percent of the 16 million take medicine, while less than 10 percent receive in-patient treatment. Reports indicate that about 10 percent show an inclination to commit violence. It is common for family members to chain these people in a cage at home. In Hebei Province alone, the number of people “living in a cage” has reached 100,000. 

“There is ‘little’ assistance available for this group. China has only 20,500 registered psychiatrists and 30,000 nurses. … They face tremendous work and psychological pressure. … The medical infrastructure that health care relies on also seems ‘thin.’ Even in Beijing with its top medical facilities, a person has to wait up to six months for a bed in Hui Long Guan Hospital, which specializes in psychiatric treatment.” 
Source: Beijing News, July 11, 2013 
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/feature/2013/07/11/272800.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Beijing University Survey: Income Inequality Is Serious

Beijing University released its China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), which shows that income inequality is increasing, with the top five percent’s income being 234 times that of the lowest five percent. The Studies based its report on statistics for the 2010 to 2012 period. 

The CFPS shows that the average per capital income for a household is 13,033 yuan, with the lowest five percent at 1,000 yuan, the lowest five to 10 percent at 2,000 yuan and the top five percent at 34,300 yuan. 
As for the total household income, the income of the bottom five percent of the lowest-income households accounts for 0.1 percent of the income of all households surveyed; the lowest five to 10 percent accounts for 0.5 percent, and the top five percent of highest-income households accounts for 23.4%, which is 234 times that of the bottom five percent. 
Wages remain the main source of income.  

Source: Nanfang Dushi Bao (Southern Metropolis Daily), July 18, 2013. 
http://epaper.oeeee.com/A/html/2013-07/18/content_1897841.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

BBC Chinese: It Would Be Hard to Solve China’s Environmental Problems in 20 to 30 Years

According to a joint study by Chinese and Western scholars from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing University, and a professor at the Hebrew University of Israel, severe air pollution in northern China reduces the average life expectancy by at least 5.5 years. However, in an interview with BBC Chinese, Professor Song Yuqin from Beijing University’s School of Environmental Science and Engineering expressed his doubts about the “5.5 years life expectancy reduction” conclusion. “You do not need to take it (the conclusion) seriously.” In Prof. Song’s opinion, it is unlikely that smog could be eliminated in 20 to 30 years because China is in the process of development. He did, however, call on the government to take action because "the root cause still lies with the government."

Source: BBC Chinese, July 10, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/07/130710_china_environment_south_north.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability