Social Stability - 145. page

Sun Liping, a sociology professor at Tsinghua University, stated that there is an enormous black hole in Chinese society that sucks up wealth. According to Sun, “The crux of the problem is that an enormous black hole has formed in society, and it is sucking up wealth. The black hole absorbs a considerable part of the achievements in social development, leaving a very limited share for the people. Within this limited share, improving one part will hurt another part. There is limited space." How big is the black hole? According to Professor Sun, in 2009 the government raked in, using various means, fiscal revenue of 11,500 bn yuan, about one-third of the GDP.

Source: China Securities Journal reprinted at Soho.com, November 1, 2010
http://business.sohu.com/20101101/n276881426.shtml

On December 8, 2010, the International Herald Leader, a newspaper under Xinhua News Agency, published a report titled “The Alarming Misuse of Antibiotics in China’s Animal Agriculture.” The report included results from a survey conducted by Professor Xiao Yonghong and others from the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Peking University. The survey found that “China produces about 210,000 tons of antibiotics annually, 97,000 tons of which are used in animal agriculture. Other experts estimate that over half of the antibiotics produced annually in China may be used on animals.”

A Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ investigation revealed that “not only are expired antibiotics, which have serious side effects, over-used, but some new antibiotics, which are still in the trial stage for use on humans, are also used in fish breeding and on livestock. Many animals have died from overdoses of drugs instead of from diseases. ”

Source: International Herald Leader, December 8, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-12/08/c_13639958.htm

According to China Review News on December 17, 2010, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) "Social Blue Book" reported that both urban and rural populations in China, especially in small towns, feel their overall satisfaction with life has declined. On the same day, the People’s Bank of China announced that, in the fourth quarter, nearly 74% of residents thought prices were too high. Over 70% of residents thought that apartment prices were too high. Measurable satisfaction is at its lowest point in 11 years.

“In the first three quarters of 2010, urban residents had per capita disposable incomes of 14,334 yuan, an increase of 7.5% (over the previous year). Rural residents had per capita incomes of 4,869 yuan, an increase of 9.7%." However, "not only are the growth rates of urban and rural residents’ income much lower than the growth of revenue; they are also lower than the GDP growth rate.”

Source: China Review News, December 17, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1015/4/0/5/101540502.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=101540502&mdate=1217085608

As of the end of 2009, 46.6% of China’s population – 620 million people – now live in urban areas. If the country’s 211 million migrants are factored in, each urban community committee is now responsible for over 10,000 people. “As reform deepens and the economy continues to grow at a rapid pace, urban community committees now have a fundamentally different and significantly important responsibility: to maintain stability.” More incidents of social unrest are occurring due to heightened disputes pertaining to land use, eminent domain, pollution, income disparity, public security, and so on. “This requires that community committees establish a mechanism to resolve conflicts, … and resolve them at the grassroots level while they are minor.”

Source; People’s Daily, November 30, 2010
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1027/13349638.html

On November 22, 2010, Xinhua published an analytical article explaining why prices, especially food prices, have been increasing sharply in China. Below are the key points:

China has excess currency. China’s banking system has made 17 trillion yuan in RMB loans since 2008. The broad money supply is approaching 70 trillion yuan. The excess currency in the market leads to excess purchasing power that needs to find investment opportunities. However, the real estate market is now regulated; the stock market is in the recovery stage; and the RMB’s appreciation limits capital outflow.

In addition, the prices of agricultural products have increased in the international market. The prices of bulk raw materials have also increased. This is the result of the United States’ monetary policy and in particular, the second round of quantitative easing, and also from other countries’ loose monetary policies.

Source: Xinhua, November 22, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-11/22/c_13616725.htm

On November 12, 2010, China’s Ministry of the Public Security’s website reported that, on November 9, Zhou Yongkang, the head of China’s Central Political and Legislative Committee, toured Beijing to investigate stability work being done there.

Zhou was very pleased to see strengthened security measures everywhere. Baimiao Village (for example) has implemented community-based management. It has village walls, street gates, guard pavilions, and street surveillance cameras. A 45-person security patrol team guards the village; 36 surveillance cameras with full-time staff on duty 24 hours a day monitors it. The village is also directly connected with a police station. 

“The stability of the capital is related to national stability as the whole,” Zhou said on the Beijing Municipal Forum on the afternoon after the tour.

Source: The Ministry of the Public Security of the PRC, November 12, 2010
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803680/2562872.html

Prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng’s whereabouts have remained unknown since his disappearance back in April 2010. On October 21 his brother, accompanied by China rights lawyers Teng Biao and Li Heping, tried to file a missing persons report with the police in Beijing. The police turned them away because “Gao is a special case.” Lawyer Gao previously “disappeared” for over 14 months. Last April, Chinese authorities brought him out briefly, due to international appeals for his release. After that, he “disappeared” again and has remained "disappeared."

Source: New Tang Dynasty TV, October 22, 2010
http://ap.ntdtv.com/news/video/id/37719

On October 13, 2010, People’s Daily published an article on the success of China’s large-scale investigations into and control of conflicts or potential conflicts between ordinary people and those with power or money. The purpose of the investigations is to identify and stop these conflicts and disputes at an early stage and at the grassroots level, under the leadership of the CCP Central Committee, China’s State Council and the CCP Central Political and Law Commission.

The investigations include but are not limited to:

• Monthly investigations at the city and district levels;
• Half-monthly investigations into conflict-prone areas, industries, communities, groups, the countryside, towns, and neighborhoods;
• Daily routine investigations into agencies, organizations, enterprises, and institutes;
• Systematic investigations of the CCP and the government’s major departments;
• Special investigations in a timely manner in certain regions or specific areas where conflicts and disputes tend to happen;
• Organized, focused investigations prior to major events, important festivals or holidays, and socially sensitive days.

Source: People’s Daily, October 13, 2010
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/12937670.html