Skip to content

IHL: Chinese Global Firms Try Unusual PR Techniques

The International Herald Leader (IHL), a branch of Xinhua News, published an article discussing some recent public relations moves by a few of China’s global firms. These companies have been hiring former U.S. government officials to play key roles in their firms. One example is Huawei, a large communications equipment vendor. It is widely known for its Chinese military background. Huawei recently hired Donald Andy Purdy, a former Homeland Security Department official, as its chief security officer. Another example is a large Chinese online B2B vendor, Alibaba. It hired James Mendenhall, the former General Counsel to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Mr. Mendenhall will be representing Chinese companies in their intellectual property negotiations against the United States. The report also gave other “unusual” PR examples that happened in Australia and Chile. Although this type of approach is not popular among Chinese companies, more and more global Chinese firms are exploring the technique.
Source: International Herald Leader, August 2, 2012
http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2012/0802/69350.shtml

CRN: While State-Owned Companies Suffer Big Losses, Management Pay Remains the Same

China Review News (CRN) recently reported on the labor cost control issue in companies that the central government owns. Since the beginning of this year, these large companies have suffered major financial losses in the market. Meanwhile, between January and June, state-owned companies faced cost increases of 12.8%. The issue of the cost of labor has become a big headache. From central government officials to average workers, all are complaining about the fact that the management staff of these large companies still receives the same high pay, regardless of the performance of the business. Across the board labor cost control policies are being implemented in state-owned companies as an answer to the decline in sales that taking place everywhere. 
Source: China Review News, August 17, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1022/0/3/8/102203827.html?coluid=10&kindid=253&docid=102203827&mdate=0817093146

Public Opinion Blue Book: News Events Published on Micro Blogs Increased Significantly

On August 18, 2012, the Chinese Social Sciences Academic Press and the Shanghai Jiaotong University Center for Public Opinion Research jointly published the 2012 Blue Book, “Chinese Public Opinion and Crisis Management.”

According to the Blue Book, digital and online media continue to grow and, for the first time, have become the major channels in delivering breaking news. There has been a significant increase in news appearing on micro-blogs. Of all traditional media, newspapers have published the most breaking news, but they are falling behind the digital and online media. Statistics suggest that, in 2011, the breaking news carried by digital and online media increased 15 percent over 2007, and now accounts for 65 percent of all news reports, while traditional media only account for 30.8 percent.

The Blue Book reported that newspapers, the Internet, and micro-blogs are the three major channels for covering and presenting the news. In 2011, a total of 20.3 percent of the news was first published on micro-blogs compared to 9.3 percent in 2010. It has been predicted that more and more people will choose micro-blogs to expose the news, express their feelings, and share their knowledge.

Source: China News Service, August 18, 2012
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/08-18/4116699.shtml

RFA: China has 260 Million Chronically Ill Patients û 20 Percent of the Population

According to the Ministry of Health, there are 260 million chronically ill patients in China. In other words, 20 percent of the population suffers from chronic illness. Of those, 85 percent die from their illness, which is higher than the average around the world. Many experts believe that an increase in the rate of chronic illness is related to diet (problems with tainted food) and living habits as well as environmental pollution. The most common chronic illnesses are: cardio-cerebrovascular, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease.

The World Health Organization estimated that the medical treatment of chronic diseases accounts for 80 percent of the total medical expenses in China. The early deaths due to these illnesses will result in US$55.8 trillion in economic losses over the next ten years. By 2015, China’s annual medical expenses will reach US$50 billion. According to The National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, 83.8 percent of the Chinese population that is 18 or older never exercise, while only 11.9 percent exercise three times a week or more and at least 10 minutes each time. Most of the people who do not exercise spend their time online or watching TV.

According to Beijing Daily, China has 22 percent of the world’s population while its medical spending accounts for only 2 percent of the world’s total. From 1993 to 2008, the number of patients in China grew from 4.36 to 5.25 billion, a 20 percent increase in 15 years. The economic burden resulting from the illnesses increased 6.5 times from 1999 to 2005, while GDP only grew 4.2 times.

Source: Radio Free Asia, August 18, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/yl-0818201200189.html

Caijing Magazine: Looking into Von Hagens’ Body Plastination Factories

Caijing, the finance magazine based in Beijing, published an article titled. “Looking Into Von Hagens’ Body Plastination Factories.” The article queried, "As more and more micro-blogs condemn the ‘corpse factory’ built in Dalian, China, many people wonder why Von Hagens, the individual who is condemned around the world, can legally and comfortably build a body plastination factory in China." The article gave a brief background of the body plastination research center built in 1997 through collaboration between Hagens and the Dalian Medical University. It has been estimated that Hagens made US$9 billion in net profit from the body exhibit tours around the world.

The article questioned the source of the bodies. "Where did the body specimens come from and who would have authorized the donation? China has an extremely low body donation rate which has resulted in a severe shortage among medical schools. China is also a nation that believes that the dead will not receive peace until they are buried. How can such contributions be made when they are against tradition? How did this factory receive an achievement award from the Dalian municipal government? Is it possible that a horrifying economic chain is behind the body exhibit?"

According to the article, specimen plastination factories have been established in a number of cities, including Guangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Taian, and Dalian.

Source: Caijing, August 16, 2012
http://finance.cjzg.cn/yiyao/1345100957998233_4.html

China Intends to Increase Soft Power by Establishing Its Own Academic Language System

[Editor’s Note: In recent years, as China has been more actively engaged with the world, it has been paying greater attention to developing its “soft power.” Since the way the Communist Party uses language has been powerful and effective within China, the Party wants to create a language system that has the same effect around the world, thereby improving China’s soft power.

The initiative started eight years ago and has gradually become more prominent in Party thinking. Qiushi Journal, a publication of the CCP Central Committee, whose mission is to spread CCP theories and policies, published an article calling for the establishment of an academic language system with Chinese characteristics and Chinese style, which would contribute to the development of this initiative. Below is an excerpt from the article] [1]

Continue reading

Qiushi: Integrate Socialist Core Values into China’s Education Process for the Young Generation

Qiushi, a journal of the Chinese Communist Party, published a series of articles discussing how to incorporate China’s Communist (socialist) core values into the process of educating the young generation. The editor added a note to the articles saying, “The 17th Chinese Communist Party Congress’s Sixth Plenary Session made a series of major decisions on how to promote the socialist core value system, stressing the incorporation of socialist core values into the whole process of national education. Young people are the future hope of the nation. Educating China’s youth is an important part of the overall national education. (Therefore), it is required that the socialist core value system be integrated into the whole process of educating the young generation.

In the article titled “Educate and Guide Young People to Practice the Core Value System Actively,” the author suggested integrating socialist education into classroom teaching, social practice, campus culture, and school management. Another article suggested using socialist core values to guide the educational activities in colleges and universities.

Source: Qiushi, August 15, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/wh/jsshzyhxjztx/201208/t20120815_175758.htm

International Herald Leader: Patriotism is a Duty, not a Burden

The International Herald Leader, a state media, published a commentary rebutting criticism of the state run sports program. “In addition there were many complaints that athletes participating in the state run sports program bear a "patriotic duty" that is too heavy. When winning, one must thank the State and when losing, one must apologize to the State. People cannot see a human being; they only see a cog in the machine. Such accusations ignore the fact that the state has always funded most of the Chinese athletes and that there is nothing wrong with doing a good job for your employer. The arbitrary interpretation of the post-race reflections of the athletes shows a total disrespect for the freedom of speech of the individual athletes. Do athletes only have the right to thank their parents and coaches, and no right to express their respect for the flag they fight for? Patriotism is never a burden for anyone. It is not wrong to express your love for the motherland openly.”

Source: International Herald Leader, August 14, 2012
http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2012/0814/78050.shtml