China News reported that the Party leadership of China’s Supreme Court held a meeting on February 25 at which it stated that, in China, there shall be no Western style “judicial independence” or “separation of powers.” At the meeting the Party leadership called for confidence in the path, theory, and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. “Firmly uphold the judicial system with Chinese characteristics; draw a clear line; stay away from Western style ‘judicial independence’ or ‘separation of powers’; resolutely resist the influence of erroneous Western thoughts and views; and, on major issues, make sure to be very clear minded, standing firm and with very clear banner to identify your stance.” 

On January 10, 2015, People’s Daily published an article titled, “Social Security Is Not a Panacea.” On January 23, 2015, People’s Daily republished the article on its website, people.cn. The article told the Chinese people not to rely on the government’s social security and to get prepared for their retirement with funds resulting from their own efforts. According to the article, 40 to over 50 percent of an average Chinese person’s income is contributed to social security. The rate of the contribution is rising every year. Some people decided not to contribute anything to social security because they cannot afford the high payment. To solve the problem of the increasing rate of the social security contribution, the article gave possible solutions, one of which is to require 100 million uninsured workers to participate in social security contributions.

In 2013, the income to China’s social security fund could not cover the expenditures in 19 provinces. The fund had a total of revenue shortfall of 170.2 billion yuan (US$27.19 billion). Many other provinces could maintain a normal income-expenditure fund cycle only with the help of the central government’s financial support. “As prices are so high, the 70 yuan per month basic social security retirement allowance can only be used as pocket money.” “With the year by year price increase, a couple of thousand yuan per month in corporate pension is very tight for a retirement life.” [Editor’s note: Milk costs between 10 and 16 yuan per liter; a 500g Loaf of fresh white bread costs between 7 and 15 yuan.] However, what worries the government even more is the Chinese people’s “misunderstanding,” that “Social Security Is a Panacea.” Giving North America and Europe as examples, the article said that enterprises and individual citizens should take the major responsibility for their own retirement funds.

Source: People’s Daily and people.cn, January 23, 2015
http://society.people.com.cn/n/2015/0123/c1008-26434809.html

“Who is raising whom?” [The government treats the people as a mother treats her child, but who is nurturing whom?] was a follow-up post questioning a People’s Daily article titled, “Social Security Is Not a Panacea.” It appeared in Baidu’s follow-up posting section, but the post is no longer available on Baidu. The writer of the follow-up post pointed out that social security should be the retirement funds that the contributors deserve to have after retirement. However, People’s Daily had described it as a charity fund that the government offered. Below are the 10 questions from the post.  

1)    People’s Daily said “63 percent" of Chinese residents believe that their retirement life should depend on the government. Only 9 percent of residents believe that they are responsible for their own retirement.” Question: Is the government the creator of wealth or do taxpayers provide the wealth?
2)    In China, around 37 million people enjoy a government pension without paying one cent toward social security; other people who have contributed to social security funds can only receive a 70 yuan basic social security paycheck each month. Who has raised money for whom?
3)    Can I withdraw my contributed money from the government social security funds and take full responsibility for my own retirement from now on?
4)    Chinese people who have paid retirement fund premiums accounted for 28 percent of the national income, three times higher than the same period in other countries. Why have such high premiums resulted in a huge loss? Who should take responsibility?
5)    Retired employees of the civil services and of government institutions enjoy 80 percent of China’s pension resources. Where in the world can government employees not need to pay social security but still enjoy pensions several times higher than those who have paid their social security fees?
6)    If you deposit your money in the bank, and you withdraw it when needed, then does that mean the money was raised by the bank?
7)    Why does the government compel people to join social security and force the people to pay? Why don’t the Chinese [who benefit] know that they should be “thankful”?
8)    Who has provided money for you, People’s Daily?
9)    “The one child policy is good; it is the government that will take care of you when you are old.” Who was it who made this solemn promise to all of the Chinese people?
10)    37 million retirees in China receive pensions several times higher than others but have never paid any retirement premium. Are they retired government officials or state enterprise employees, or ordinary people? Do the people raise the government? Or does the government raise the people?

Source: Baidu’s follow-up posting section, February of 2015
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/3552884419