Xinhua: Xi Jinping Addressed the Military Political Work Conference
BBC Chinese: Indian Air Force Asked Employees and Their Families to Avoid Chinese Smart Phones
Xinhua: State Council Information Office to Introduce Internet Security Laws
Xinhua reported that the State Council Information Office announced on November 2 that it will soon introduce the most comprehensive and up to date laws to regulate activities related to Internet security. According to the statistics that the Information Office released, by the end of June 2014, there were 632 million netizens in China. Of those, 527 million were mobile phone netizens. The Deputy Director of the Information Office said, “It has made China the largest mobile Internet market in the world and has also made the Internet the largest media platform in China.” The office listed the top eight illegal activities on the Internet. These include: publishing news releases using fictitious public institutions or media; transmitting pornographic information; creating announcements of terrorist attacks; producing fake advertising; spreading rumors; making remarks that damage national unity; slandering others; and violating the privacy of others.
Source: Xinhua, Nov 3, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/info/2014-11/03/c_133761619.htm
China Index Academy: Statistics Show Prices of Newly Constructed Homes Dropped in October
Xinhua reported that, according to a report that the China Index Academy published, based on 100 cities that were sampled, the average price for newly constructed homes was 10,629 yuan (US$1,733) per square meter in October, down 0.4 percent from September and 0.52 percent lower when compared to the same period in 2013. According to the report, October is also the sixth consecutive month that saw housing prices drop. The report also projected that cash support from the banks will remain the main driver to determine the trend for the real estate market in the 4th quarter. It predicted that, in the fourth quarter, the market will continue to burn off the existing inventory, while housing prices could fall further compared to the previous months.
Source: Xinhua, November 3, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/house/bj/2014-11-03/c_1113081410.htm
Wang Qishan: The Party Cannot Afford to Lose the Battle against Corruption
People’s Daily published an article written by Wang Qishan, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The article reiterated the key points from the “Decision Concerning the Rule of Law” recently passed during the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. Wang further emphasized the importance of adhering to the absolute leadership of the Party, strengthening the rules within the Party, managing the country with law and virtue, and persisting in the anti-corruption battles. Wang listed four major tests and dangers that the party currently faces and said that the Party’s foundation is threatened because of them. In the article, Wang stated that the Party still faces challenges in the battle against corruption and the fight to ensure clean government. He said that it is a battle that "the Party cannot afford to lose."
Source: People’s Daily, November 3, 2014
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1103/c1024-25959682.html
China’s State-Media Expose Foreign Forces behind the HK Occupy Central
People’s Daily quoted a report from Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po about the illegal "Occupy Central [movement]." It said that that material supplies are endless and that some analysts have pointed out that the opposition, solely by itself, certainly cannot sustain such an undertaking. The Hong Kong Environmental Protection Association’s environmental monitoring report on "Occupy Central" noted that, by a conservative estimate, the consumption of goods in the "occupied territories" within just one month comes to more than HK $250 million. Taking out the 20 percent of the materials that the public donated, a total of HK$200 million in goods came from unknown sources. The media article quoted "Legal scholars" who have questioned whether external forces provided these materials of unknown origin to support the "Occupy Central" activity. They urged the police and the Legislative Council to investigate. "If ‘Occupy Central’ is a crime, then anyone who provides material supplies is an accomplice."
Source: People’s Daily, October 31, 2014
http://hm.people.com.cn/n/2014/1031/c42272-25944361.html
China’s Banks See Non-Performing Loans Surge
The cooling off of the housing market and the economic slowdown have led to a sharp increase in bad debts and in the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio.