Chinascope – Page 1161

China Is Worried about High Real Estate Prices

Xinhua reported that Wen Jiabao presided over a December 14 State Council Executive Meeting in which China’s communist controlled government acknowledged that the country is facing real estate problems. Since the time China stimulated its economy, the already high-priced housing market experienced another upsurge, making it unaffordable for the average Chinese to attain decent housing. Many Chinese people live in sheds. The meeting attendees demanded that the government exert pressure, curb rising housing prices and increase the supply of non-luxury residential properties, such as low to mid-level priced and small to mid-level sized housing and public rental housing.

Source: Xinhua, December 14, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2009-12/14/content_12645976.htm

Briefings | | December 24, 2009 | Economy/Resources

China’s National Defense Mobilization Law — 2nd Reading

A draft law that allows the Chinese government to mobilize most of its adult population for defense duties was up for a second reading at the People’s National Congress Standing Committee session on December 22. The draft law emphasized that the State Council and the CCP Central Military Commission hold joint responsibility for national defense mobilization. It included that the National Defense Implementation Plan should be in sync with the Emergency Response Plan, which calls for Emergency activities that include command, the application of force, information, and supply.

The draft law also defined the reserve system. Reservists are to be part of the active-duty forces, reserve forces, or militia. It also included a section calling for the medical and health aid system to be active in peace and war situations. When national defense mobilization occurs, medical staff, medicine, and medical equipment will also be mobilized for wartime use.

Source: Xinhua, December 22, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-12/22/content_12689759.htm

Briefings | | December 24, 2009 | Government/Politics

China Introduces Five New Internet Domain Restrictions

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently announced five new administrative rules on .cn domain names: (1) Enhancement of the blacklisting mechanism for domain owners; (2) Firming up the requirement on domain owner’s real identity registration; (3) Domains without owner registration will not be resolved (meaning the users won’t be able to visit pages on that domain); (4) If a domain was under government investigation for violating rules, domain resolution for all domains registered by that domain owner will be suspended and the domain owner will be put in the black list; (5) Improving the administration of companies that provide domain registration services.

Source:Xinhua, December 17, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2009-12/17/content_12663192.htm

Briefings | | December 23, 2009 | Information/Technology

Chinese Internet Scale Tops the World

According to CCTV (Chinese Central Television), by the end of November, the Chinese netizen population reached 360 million – an increase of 20.8%. This number tops the globe. Meanwhile, related statistics show that, by end of June, the Chinese Internet covered 25.5% of the entire population, which is above the global average of 21.9%. The number of Chinese owned domain names reached over 16 million, among which .cn domain names are around 13 million. That makes .cn the largest country domain. According to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Chinese broadband users passed 100 million by the end of October.

Source: Global Times, December 15, 2009
http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2009-12/661062.html

Briefings | | December 23, 2009 | Information/Technology

Official in Deputy Minister Grade: I Cannot Afford Housing Either

Professor He Keng, who is a National People’s Congress Standing Committee member, Vice Chairman of Congress Finance and Economy Committee, and Chairman of China Statistical Society of Education, recently commented that he could not afford an apartment based on his salary. The professor pointed out that there is a bubble in the Chinese real estate market, which is primarily caused by government speculation on both land and housing. He believes that local governments and some “experts” favor the existence of the bubble, because it has brought them profit. He also believes that sooner or later the price will drop.

Source: Global Times, December 15, 2009
http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2009-12/661145.html

Briefings | | December 23, 2009 | Economy/Resources

China Youth Daily: Dacheng County Government Voided Workers’ Shares

China Youth Daily reported on December 11, 2009 that more than 100 workers asked for the return of their invested shares but had difficulties paying the legal fees.

In 1994, a branch factory of Shangyang Cable Enterprise in Langfang City, Hebei Province requested its employees become its “shareholders.” So 286 workers invested a total of 1.03 million Yuan, with 500 Yuan per share. At that time, each worker only earned 1,000 Yuan per year. However, with the approval of the county government, the worker’s rights as shareholders were voided. In 2004 the former general manager of state-owned Shangyang Cable Enterprise, Sun Jixu, together with 23 others bought the factory and became the new shareholders. The 286 workers lost all their shares as well as their jobs.

Source: China Youth Daily, December 11, 2009
http://www.cyol.net/zqb/content/2009-12/11/content_2977921.htm

Briefings | | December 22, 2009 | Grapevine

80% of Newly Elected Academicians Are Officials

A recent Xinhua report shows that among the 35 newly elected members of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 80% hold administrative positions in universities or research institutes; among the 48 new Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) members, the proportion runs as high as 85%. In China, there are few private universities and research institutes.

In 2001, a Minister of the Railroad was elected into CAE; in 2003, a Minister of Construction and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, together with some businessmen made their way into the nation’s highest body of scientists.

In recent years there have been calls to set up elections for Academicians for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Many opposed the idea, however, seeing the rampant corruption in the education system. In an article, a scholar from Yunnan Province said, “A number of politicians have stolen the professorship. … How will such a high honor of Academicians not be tarnished by politicians?”

Source: Xinhua, December 17, 2009

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-12/17/content_12661657.htm

Briefings | | December 22, 2009 | Government/Politics

Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.

CCP, Master of Hostage Diplomacy