Radio Free Asia carried an article which reported that over one hundred villagers from the village of Jin Guiba in Sichuan Province went to the nearby municipal office in Langzhong City to demand that the city solve the water and environmental problems that a landfill waste management site located close to the village had caused. The pictures and the video taken at the scene showed that villagers held banners during the protest. The police used batons to beat the protesters. Some of the protesters claimed that the police used pepper spray and a number of villagers were injured.
RFA: Hebei Officials Blamed for Giving out Flood Relief Heroes Awards
Radio Free Asia published an article which reported that the municipal government of Hebei Province recently issued awards to the “2016 Most Beautiful Hebei People during Flood Relief.” Eleven people received an award for their "brave actions." According to the article, a number of village Party officials were included. After the news was published, the authorities from Hebei Province were strongly condemned for issuing the award while neglecting the real cause of the flood and those who died in the flood. The article quoted comments from one rights activist who said that the government officials are cold blooded. They discharged the flood waters at 1 a.m. in the morning without notifying the people and that is what resulted in so many deaths. Some people wrote that they should reflect on what happened and properly settle with those who suffered losses before issuing any awards. One villager told RFA that she still has not found her relative who disappeared during the flood. She said people have been trying to find their relatives themselves without any help from the village officials.
Source: Radio Free Asia, July 29, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/yf1-07292016101453.html
Xinhua: Central Administration Revised Policy to Manage Science Funding
Xinhua reported that the Central Office of the Party and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued an opinion on policies to further improve the ability to manage the funding for scientific projects. The article stated that the new policies were introduced in order to provide incentives to the research associates to improve their creativity and to give extended administrative power over funding management. The policies include simplifying budgetary categories, increasing funding for rewards and recognition, allowing the carry-over of the unused funding to the following year, lowering travel or conference approval requirements, and providing accounting assistants with funding management. Meanwhile the article also stressed the importance of fraud prevention to ensure proper, safe, and effective use of funding.
Source: Xinhua, July 31, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2016-07/31/c_1119311330.htm
Xingtai Government Denied the Fact that They Released Reservoir Flood Water
According to a Beijing News article published on July 23, 2016, it has been confirmed that nine villagers from Daxian Village, Xingtai City drowned in a sudden flood on July 20, 2016. [Editor’s note: RFA previously reported the number of casualties in Daxian Village in an article published on July 22, 2016.] According to the updated official statistics that Xingtai City released at 11:30 am on July 22, 2016, nine people drowned and 11 are missing as a result of the recent flood.
RFA: Without Warning, 18 Reservoirs Released Flood Water after Midnight; Many Died in Their Sleep
According to Radio Free Asia, on July 22, 2016, Hebei Province officials in Shijiazhuang, Handan, Xingtai, Baoding opened the gates of 18 reservoirs to release flood water without any warning. Netizens said on the Internet: Flooding in Xingtai is a man-made disaster. The Xingtai government opened the reservoir gates to release water at 2:00 am without any warning. Many villagers, at least over 50 people at that time, drowned in their sleep. Many children drowned. The Xingtai government did not provide any aid, and no electricity was available. The government has also censored flood related information.
People’s Daily: Attacking Problem of Fake Environmental Protection Data
People’s Daily recently reported that the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued a news release to the media on pollution-source companies taking a number of different approaches in order to fake the monitoring of data. The Ministry expressed its determination to attack these illegal mechanisms to influence the automated monitoring systems. China has over 14,000 companies on the priority list of pollution monitoring. Due to the lack of resources, a large amount of the work has been done with automated monitoring equipment. Over the years, many companies that are under surveillance have developed a number of ways to “fool” the monitoring devices. Examples include diluting samples, faking parameters on the controlling computers, and even working with device manufacturers to fake data. Another issue with pollution monitoring is that the “cost” of violating the law is very minimal – if caught, the punishment is very light compared to the “benefits” brought about by avoiding environmental protection investments. At the same time, many local governments have been letting these companies slide in order to protect the local tax revenue stream.
Source: People’s Daily, July 23, 2016
http://opinion.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0723/c1003-28578795.html
Some Content of the Deal between Vatican and China Revealed
Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently referred to a Reuters report on the story that the Pope is determined to change the Vatican’s relationship with China. Some details regarding the agreement were revealed. Multiple sources said a working group with members from the two countries was formed in April. The key argument focused on who had the power to appoint bishops in China. So far China has appointed eight bishops without approval from the Vatican. One potential major breakthrough of the new agreement may include the Pope forgiving these eight China-appointed bishops. However, people in a number of Catholic parishes, including Hong Kong, have expressed different opinions. The Catholic University of Milan’s researcher Elisa Giunipero pointed out that, if the Vatican can establish a formal relationship with China, it will improve China’s international image and will reduce the amount of human rights criticism against China.
Source: Sina, July 19, 2016
http://cj.sina.com.cn/article/detail/1010236564/30656?column=china&ch=9
BBC Chinese: The U.S. Warns WTO about China’s Economic Openness
BBC Chinese recently reported that U.S. Deputy Representative to the WTO (World Trade Organization) Chris Wilson expressed his concern about China not fulfilling its economic openness commitments due to a slow-down in the Chinese domestic market. The 162 WTO member countries are currently going through a periodic review of China, which occurs every two years. Wilson reported that more and more American companies sense an unfriendly business and regulatory environment nowadays. It has been occurring in China since China’s economic growth started to slow down over a year ago. China has been bailing out its steel and aluminum industries, tightening up raw material export quotas and tariffs, manipulating export tax refunds, restricting agricultural imports despite high domestic demand, and banning foreign investments in the movie industry. China is also aiming to ensure that, for any products manufactured in China, 70 percent of parts and materials are sourced from within China.
Source: BBC Chinese, July 20, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/business/2016/07/160720_us_wto_china_eu