According to statistics that the China’s Ministry of Water Resources released, over 80 percent of the water from underground wells is unfit to drink. In 2015, the study tested 2,103 wells in the populous plains of China where the underground water resources are well developed, yet heavily polluted. Tests were conducted in shallow underground waters which are susceptible to soil or surface water contamination. The study of the Ministry of Water Resources concluded, “The evaluation showed the overall poor quality of these water resources.”
China Times: North Korean Media Criticized Mainland China
Caixin: Fitch Published Special Report on China’s Rating
BBC Chinese: USTR Identified the Great Firewall as a Trade Barrier
Salaries of 48 CEOs of Publicly Traded SOEs Released
Xinhua recently published an article about the salaries that the CEOs of 48 publicly traded State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) received. The analysis pointed out that of the 48 CEOs of publicly traded SOEs, 18 of them saw their salaries drop while four companies saw salaries increase over the rate of 100 percent. The gap between the highest and lowest paid CEOs is six million yuan (US$930,000). The report indicated that the pay rate was directly tied to the financial performance of the company. It further stated that the change in the rate of pay started at the beginning of 2015 following the launch of a salary reform plan. The result appears to be a healthy trend. The next phase is expected to be among the second and third tier of the SOE companies and local SOEs.
Source: Xinhua, April 11, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2016-04/11/c_128881758.htm
CCDI: Do Not Relax Our Strength in Building Clean Government and Combating Corruption
Xinhua published an article that was originally posted on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). The article stated that “the current situation for building a clean and honest government and for combating corruption is still serious. … The mission of CCDI remains unchanged and we must stay clear headed. At the same time, we cannot lose our strength.” The article reported that over the last three years, cadres in 31 provinces and regions were subject to disciplinary action. The article claimed that there is no pure land anywhere to be found and that matter shows the degree and the seriousness of the corruption. The article reminded everyone that all levels of the Party organization should have a clear position and strictly follow the directives of the central administration.
Source: Xinhua, April 11, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-04/11/c_128881274.htm
Survey Showed Over Sixty Percent of Doctors Feel Their Workload Is Too Heavy
People’s Daily reported that medical doctors in China feel they are not well respected, their workloads are heavy, and they are not well compensated. According to a recent survey that the Peking Union Medical College School of Public Health released, over 60 percent of the medical doctors feel overloaded with work, they lack recognition, and their compensation is inadequate. The survey showed that over 40 percent of the doctors work over 10 hours a day and only 33.6 percent feel they have enough sleep at night. Only 46.7 percent feel that they are in relatively good health. Last year only 40.6 percent of the doctors took all of the vacation days to which they were entitled and 38.5 percent of the medical staff felt that their profession was being recognized and respected.
Source: People’s Daily, April 11, 2016
http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0411/c1008-28264407.html
Super Media: Five Traps for Xi Jinping and China
Super Media International Group in Hong Kong published a commentary in its April issue of its Super Media publication, elaborating on several issues related to Xi Jinping. The commentary stated that Xi faces five traps and that his governance path is first to establish his authority, then the rules, and finally the legislation.