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China Issued a Smog Alert for the First Time

On January 27, 2013, smog was widespread over 1 million square kilometers in the mid eastern area of China. For the first time, China’s Central Meteorological Station issued a smog alert (blue level), which is separate from a fog alert. Visibility on some sections of road in Beijing was under 500 meters. The air quality across Beijing was in a state of “serious pollution.”   

Source: Reprint from Beijing News by China Gate, January 28, 2013
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2013/01/28/2203120.html

Forced by the U.S., the PLA Carried Out a Missile Interception Test to Show Its Strength

On Sunday, January 27, 2013, China successfully carried out a land-based mid-course missile interception test within its territory. It is the second such test that China has successfully launched within its territory since January 2010.   According to an official from the Information Bureau of China’s Ministry of National Defense, "The test reached the preset goal," but it "was defensive in nature and targeted no other country." Coincidentally, on Saturday, the United States successfully conducted a test flight of a missile interceptor rocket.

“The public in the West noticed that China and the U.S. conducted similar tests on the same day (if the time zone disparity is considered) and viewed China’s test as displaying its strength to the United States.” According to the article, the Japanese media said that, by conducting an anti-missile interceptor test at this time, China wants to restrain the U.S. in the Diaoyu Islands dispute. “A Chinese military expert said in an interview that such a test, “was the result of pressure from the United States.”

Source: Reprint from Apple Daily by China Gate, January 28, 2013
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2013/01/28/2203279.html

North Korea to Detonate Oversize Atomic Bomb on the Border of North East China

On January 28, 2013, infeng.com published an article titled “North Korea’s Heartless Treatment of China: To Detonate Over-sized Atomic Bomb on the Border of North East China.”

On January 22, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2087 condemning North Korea’s long-range rocket launch last December as a violation of an existing ban against nuclear and missile activity. In response, North Korea announced plans for a third nuclear test and continued its rocket launches. North Korea may detonate an oversized atomic bomb, an “enhanced atomic bomb” that is equivalent to a small hydrogen bomb. The Chinese people are afraid that North Korea will detonate this extra large atomic bomb on the border of North East China in a densely populated area. 

The article concluded, “China has made national sacrifices for Korea three times and provided huge assistance to North Korea for a long period of time. It is definitely unwise and heartless for North Korea to treat China in such a way.”

Source: infeng.com, January 28, 2013
http://news.ifeng.com/opinion/zhuanlan/xuelitai/detail_2013_01/28/21668791_0.shtml

Study Times: Improving the Government’s Abilities in the Online Community

Study Times, a magazine by the Chinese Communist Party Central Party School, recently published an article that made four suggestions on how to improve the government’s ability to manage the Internet community. (1) The government should take full advantage of the heavy interconnectivity nature that the Internet offers so as to strengthen the ties between the Party, the government, and the people. (2) The Internet’s high speed communication capability provides a good opportunity for the Party and the government to improve productivity and the level of democracy in their decision-making practices. (3) By taking advantage of the virtualized nature of the online society, the people can better see the Party and the government’s use of power. This in turn enhances the legitimacy of the government. (4) The Party and the government can influence, regulate, and manage public opinion online and thereby improve their appeal. The article concluded that the Internet is an opportunity instead of a challenge.
Source: Study Times, January 21, 2013
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2013/01/21/08/08_21.htm

Military Expert: China May Consider Destroying U.S. Air Force Base

Sina News recently reported that former Chinese Army Colonel Yue Gang commented on the possibility of attacking a U.S. Air Force base. Yue used to serve at the Headquarters of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He suggested in a Sina News interview that, if the U.S. Air Force engages in a military conflict over the Diaoyu Islands (a.k.a. the Senkaku Islands), China can use middle range missiles to take out a U.S. Air Force base. Yue expressed the belief that China does not have the capability to directly fight the U.S. Air Force stealth fighter jets. However, in his opinion, China should take out the place where the stealth fighter jets are based – with Chinese middle range missiles. China has a large enough supply of such missiles. Yue admitted in the interview that this plan will indeed escalate the conflict between China and the United States to a higher level. 
Source: Sina News, January 24, 2013
http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/chn/chnmilitary/sinacn/20130124/22024192448.html

CRN: Chinese Economy Faces Six Major Variables

China Review News (CRN) recently published an analysis that discussed the new challenges the Chinese economy will face in 2013. The author expressed the belief that the economy is having a weak rebound, which will be affected by six primary variables: (1) How strong will the stimulation policies to be applied be and how long will they be sustained? (2) How tight will the government’s control of the housing market be? (3) How will the “shadow banks” (non-government sponsored private loan providers) be monitored and regulated? (4) How high will the exit strategy pressure of the stimulation policies be in the second half of the year? (5) What impact will the completion of the U.S. QE “Quantitative Easing” policies have on China? (6) What impact will Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s new policies (inflation, deficit, and depreciation) have? The article concluded that the Chinese recovery will not be a smooth one.
Source: China Review News, January 24, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/1/4/6/102414661.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102414661&mdate=0124072005

Woman Petitioner Detained in a Mortuary for 3 Years; Now a Paraplegic

Departments of the local government detained Chen Qingxia, a resident of Yichun City in Heilongjiang Province, in an abandoned mortuary for 3 years because she persisted in petitioning the higher level government. After her story was exposed on January 24, 2013, people throughout society discussed it. 

Reporters from China Youth Daily learned that the room where Chen had been detained was guarded 24/7. A surveillance camera was installed on one side of the door and the rear window was fitted with iron railings. The guards told the reporter that these bungalows were part of a former mortuary used for the storage of bodies and wreaths. 
Chen Qingxia was a paraplegic, wearing diapers all the time. According to Chen herself, the condition came about because the beatings at the detention center injured her legs. 
An eyewitness told reporters that many people had seen Chen Qingxia lying in the rain in front of the detention center. Now however, few people dare to come forward to testify. “Her issue is quite serious. However, if neighbors or friends get involved in her matter, the Public Security Bureau will come after them, so nobody dares to do anything." 
Source: China Youth Daily, January 25, 2013 
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2013-01/25/nw.D110000zgqnb_20130125_1-03.htm

Local Officials Support Disclosure of Personal Assets

Recently, Guangzhou local government officials announced their support for calls for government officials to make a public disclosure of their personal assets. Fan Songqing, a Guangzhou Committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference introduced a bill that would require public disclosure of personal assets. Fan was followed by Guangzhou Mayor Chen Jianhua, who announced at a press conference that, if financial disclosure is required, he will take the lead to disclose his personal assets.

Sources:
Xinhua, January 22, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2013-01/22/c_124265245.htm
Xinhua, January 21, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2013-01/21/c_124255691.htm
People’s Daily, January 24, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2013/0124/c14562-20316254.html