Chinascope – Page 695

Overweight and Obesity in China

Southern Weekend reported that being overweight and obese has become a serious health issue for both adults and children in China.

In 2010, using the body mass index standards, 32.1 percent of adults and 39.8 percent of the elderly were overweight. That represented an increase from 2005 of 3 and 4.2 percentage points respectively. Currently, there are about 300 million adults who are overweight and 46 million adults who suffer from obesity.

As for young people, 12 percent of children are overweight. According to a joint survey issued by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and North Carolina University, 1.9 percent of children between 12 and 18 have diabetes. That figure is 4 times the number for U.S. youngsters. Another 27.7 million have pre-diabetes.

Source: Southern Weekend, March 10, 2015

http://www.infzm.com/content/108164

Briefings | | March 12, 2015 | Economy/Resources

CRN: Chinese Defense Budget Continues to Increase

China Review News (CRN) recently reported that China’s 2014 defense spending reached US$130 billion. This amount was the second highest in the world, after the United States. In the past several years, China’s defense spending has largely maintained a double-digit annual percentage increase in growth. According to the spokesperson for the National People’s Congress, the 2015 defense budget will have a 10 percent increase over last year. Currently, China is intensifying its investments in submarines and stealth airplanes, as well as other high-tech weaponry. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been massively rooting out corruption in the Chinese Army. As a result, it is expected that the efficiency of resource consumption will improve and the spending growth rate will drop. However, Japanese news media have been expecting a tighter relationship with China this year.

Source: China Review News, March 6, 2015

http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1036/5/0/7/103650790.html?coluid=218&kindid=11714&docid=103650790&mdate=0306095019

Briefings | | March 10, 2015 | Defense/Military

Xinhua: Sixty Percent of Western Chinese News Has the Purpose of Discrediting China

Xinhua recently reported on a press conference that Wang Qiu, a member of the National People’s Political Consultative Conference and the Director of the Central People’s Radio Station, recently held. Wang commented that 60 to 70 percent of the mainstream Western media news on China has the purpose of discrediting China. He suggested that the People’s Political Consultative Conference should enhance its propaganda overseas. He explained that, since China is still a developing country, it is normal to have “a few issues.” If everyone were to focus on these issues, then China would no longer make progress. Wang emphasized that China has made obvious improvements in the areas of the rule of law as well as in human rights. The Western media should not stay in denial (of these improvements) by just manipulating negative hypes. As for the recent corruption reports in the domestic Chinese media, Wang pointed out that it is also normal to see challenges when a country is enjoying economic growth.

Source: Xinhua, March 5, 2015

http://www.sn.xinhuanet.com/2015-03/05/c_1114524968.htm

Briefings | | March 10, 2015 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: The Party’s Leadership Is Fundamental to Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Xinhua published an article on the recent talk that Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, gave during the Third Session of the National People’s Congress. In his talk, Zhang stressed that the leadership of Chinese Communist Party is the fundamental characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He said, “In order to uphold and improve the system of the National People’s Congress, we must unswervingly adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China. We must hold a firm belief in the existing system while adopting changes to improve it.”

Source: Xinhua, March 8, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015lh/2015-03/08/c_1114562982.htm

Briefings | | March 9, 2015 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: The Report on the Work of the Government Included Local Deficit Information

Xinhua published an article stating that, for the first time, when Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council, delivered the “Report on the Work of the Government,” the information included the financial deficits of local governments. The article said that, in the past, local deficits were consolidated and published at the central government level. According to the article, from the 2014 financial reports that a number of local governments released, the growth rate of the fiscal revenue in Beijing, Zhejiang, and Inner-Mongolia has dropped below 10 percent. Meanwhile, for the first time, the new budget act launched on January 1, 2015, has allowed the local governments to issue their own municipal bonds. According to the article, “The new budget act provided legal protection for local government debt management. … It will help to ensure the flow of the funding chain while easing the pressure of local debts.”

Source: Xinhua, March 8, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015lh/2015-03/08/c_1114561978.htm

Briefings | | March 9, 2015 | Government/Politics

Ministry of Finance: In 2014, Chinese Citizen Overseas Spending Exceeded 10 Trillion Yuan

During the Third Session of the National People’s Congress, Guangming Daily interviewed Gao Hucheng, China’s Commerce Minister. Gao disclosed that the number of overseas Chinese tourists has exceeded 100 million. In 2014, they spent over 10 trillion yuan (US$1.6 trillion) on overseas consumption. Gao attributes the growth in overseas consumption to higher domestic tariffs, higher distribution costs, and foreign commodities’ pricing strategy.

Source: Guangming Daily, March 7, 2015
http://economy.gmw.cn/2015-03/07/content_15027237.htm

Briefings | | March 9, 2015 | Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Chinese Students Studying in the United States Are More Confident in China’s System

China’s state-run media published a report to praise the Chinese [Communist] system by quoting a Japanese media Diamond Weekly’s article, “The Reason for the Increase in the Patriotism of the Chinese Students Studying in the United States.” Below are excerpts translated from the Chinese report.

“Twenty years ago, Chinese students in the United States were obsessive about the system and values of the United States, including its liberalism, but now times have changed. More recently, with China’s economic development over the years, Chinese students are becoming more confident in China’s national system and development model.”

“Overall, the Chinese students in the United States approve of the freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in the Unites States, as well as the promotion of academic freedom and freedom of speech on the university campuses. Surprisingly, though, no one suggested that China should be like the United States and pursue freedom and democracy. At least they think that the current system is the most suitable [system] for China’s national situation and the most beneficial model for China’s development; adhering to the Communist Party governing system is the basis for China’s numerous endeavors.”

“In recent times, more and more Chinese returning to China from the United States have expressed stronger ‘patriotism’ [toward China].”

Source: Xinhua, February 25, 2015

http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2015-02/25/c_127516016.htm

Briefings | | March 6, 2015 | US-China Relations

Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

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.