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Unemployment Rate Higher than Official Number, Could Reach 10 Percent

At the beginning of this year, the official target for the number of unemployed was set at 10 million or 4.5 percent. However the reality is far worse than that now. According to experts, the unemployment rate in China is estimated to be at 8 percent and could possibly reach even the 10 percent mark. They explain that even though there is a labor investigation system setup by the National Bureau of Statistic, the publicized number does not include those who are excess labor in the countryside, peasant workers who lost their jobs in cities such as regions of the Pearl or Yangtze River Deltas or the 12 percent of college graduates who are still looking for jobs.

Source: Radio Free Asia, December 20, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhong-12192008223343.html

“American Band Issues Album that Viciously Attacks China”

Huanqiu, a news portal under People’s Daily, published an article "American Band Issues Album that Viciously Attacks China" on November 24th, describing the "angers" from Chinese people on American rock band Guns and Roses’ release of a new album – "Chinese Democracy." [1]

On November 23, American rock band Guns and Roses plans to release its first new album in seventeen years. This album, entitled “Chinese Democracy,” surprisingly attacks China and immediately became a hot topic in many Western media outlets. This also drew anger from many Chinese and music fans. A web surfer commented that those scandalous, violence-sex-and-drug-bound Western stars seldom come to China, so they couldn’t have any understanding of Chinese democracy. This kind of show can only illustrate that the so-called “democracy” of some Westerners is nothing but their attempt to gain control of and influence the world.

A November 22 article on the Wall Street Journal website said that Guns and Roses’ new album ran into China’s wall. The subject title not only offended the Chinese government, it also drew rage from many Chinese music fans. The report said many Chinese people hope to have even greater freedom of speech, yet the majority of people believed that too much democracy too fast would result in chaos. They were also unsatisfied with the involvement of foreign forces. From the album title, it can be seen that “they don’t understand China,” said a Chinese music fan. It was just to stir up public feelings.

A Reuters report quipped in its title, “Guns and Roses will not Bring Democracy to China.” This report noted that the album couldn’t be released in China because the title song directly questions China’s leadership rights. The article quoted lyrics from the main song, saying that the banned “Falun Gong” “already saw the end and now you cannot hold on.” The album also stated, “Chinese people’s helplessness is governed under an iron fist.”

This album immediately caused rage among Chinese Internet users. One Internet user said that western rock bands often find some hot topics in order to show-off how esoteric they are. They are even a number of bands that go against Christianity and worship Satan, death and violence. In summary, there is a bird of every kind in a large forest. This time its is also creating a stir. Another Internet user said even this kind of people is starting to comment on China. In the West all you have to do to become popular is to criticize China. There is someone who brought a “Free Tibet” flag to protest in China and went back as a “hero.” The wallets of these anti-China buffoons are bulging with sponsorship money. “Democracy” as touted by Western countries was, after all, a pawn used by Western countries in recent times to control and influence the entire world.

In recent years, some foreign entertainers often express criticisms attacking China. For example, Sharon Stone said "the earthquake is China’s retribution," and Mia Farrow attacked China on the Darfur problem. Sometimes, comments from these people echo those China-slandering criticisms made by Western politicians and Western media, making waves. On November 23, British Broadcast Company reported that the last Hong Kong governor, Chris Patten (Peng Dingkang), also attacked China recently, saying that “China is promoting the idea that one could get rich without needing democracy, which in and by itself poses a threat to the West.”

In an interview with The World, research fellow Tao Wenzhao at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that some foreign stars in Western entertainment circles don’t really understand China and some have never been to China. Based on only their inherent biases and deceptive propaganda, they make thoughtless comments. Although there has been great changes in China and many Westerners who have been to China were deeply impressed by China’s change, politicians’ propaganda and media reports still create bias in many people when it comes to China. As for these people, we hope that they will not be biased.  On the other hand, we need to strengthen and improve our propaganda abroad. This is very important in shaping our international image.

Endnote:
[1]
Huanqiu, November 24, 2008
http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2008-11/291372.html

Domestic Demand Sluggish

Nanfang Weekend published an article on sluggish domestic demand in the Chinese economy. According to the article, if one produces the value of 100 yuan, 45.4 yuan would go to one’s own pocket, while 23.1 would be State’s fiscal revenue and 31.5 would go to capital and inventory of companies. In the past 30 years, per capita income has been increasing. But the GDP growth rate exceeds that of the per capita income, leading to weak domestic demand, concluded the article. 

Source: Nanfang Weekend, December 18, 2008
http://www.infzm.com/content/21337

Overseas Democracy Activists Received Training in Boston

The first commencement of China Democracy Movement School was held at Harvard University in Boston on December 16, 2008. About 300 graduates attended the ceremony. Initatives for China, the China Democracy Party, the Freedom and Democracy Party of China established the school to teach the principles of democracy and train democracy activists.

Source: Participation, December 18, 2008
http://canyu.org/n4635c6.aspx

377,00 Chickens Culled; H5N1 Avian Flu Found

Agricultural authorities have killed 377,000 chickens after an outbreak of bird flu in two areas of Jiangsu province, said the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry said it received information about H5N1 infection among hens in Dongtai and Haian on Monday December 15, 2008.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, December 16, 2008
http://www.agri.gov.cn/xxlb/t20081216_1191038.htm 

Two Uyghurs Sentenced to Death for Sabotaging the Beijing Olympic

China’s Supreme People’s Court said Wednesday that two people have been sentenced to death by the Intermediate People’s Court of Kashgar, Xinjiang for their role in the August 4 attack of police in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The court stated that the two conducted the attack to sabotage the Beijing Olympic Games that began August 8, 2008. The two people, both locals of Kashgar, were charged and convicted of intentional homicide and illegally producing guns, ammunition and explosives.

Source: Xinhua, December 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/17/content_10519381_1.htm

Deputy Chief of Overseas Affairs Office on Promoting Chinese Language Teaching

Zhao Yang, the deputy chief of the Office of Overseas Affairs (OOA) under the State Council, talked to Xinhua after attending the 7th Annual Conference of The Chinese School Association in the United States (CSAUS) in Chicago on December 13 and 14.

Zhao mentioned four measures to be taken by OOA for promoting overseas Chinese language teaching. First, strengthen the communication and cooperation between Chinese communities and local governments; second, advance the role of Joint Conference of State Overseas Chinese Language Education Work, adding governmental support to language education; third, OOA is to launch degree programs to train overseas teachers of Chinese language; fourth, OOA will selectively build a batch of “Chinese Education Model Schools” and offer key support in textbooks and teacher’s training.

Source: Xinhua, December 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/overseas/2008-12/16/content_10513693.htm