Chinascope – Page 932

China’s Rural Resident Income Gap Is Approaching the International Warning Standard

People’s Daily published an article on the “Chinese Farmers’ Economic Status Report” that The Center for Chinese Rural Studies at Central China Normal University (CCRS) recently released. According to the report, the gini coefficient of China’s rural resident income gap is 0.3949, which is close to 0.4, the international warning standard. A major factor that caused the widening income gap among farmers is their wages, which account for 70% of their per capita income. “The income gap among rural residents represents the gap between workers and peasants and between urban and rural areas."

Source: People’s Daily, August 22, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/n/2012/0822/c1001-18798331.html

Briefings | | August 22, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Major General Luo Yuan: Make the Diaoyu Islands a Target Range and Launch a People’s War on the Sea

On August 21, 2012, Global Times published an article regarding the Diaoyu Islands dispute between China and Japan, titled “Luo Yuan: Make the Diaoyu Islands a Target Range and Launch a People’s War on the Sea.” Luo Yuan is deputy secretary general of the China Society of Military Science and one of the most "hawkish" generals in China.

In the article, Luo recommended, “China should make a big deal of the Diaoyu Islands issue. We should clarify our national maritime strategy; establish a National Oceanic Commission; fight a guerrilla war on the sea; launch a people’s war on the sea; engage in group collaboration to protect the Diaoyu Islands; and keep the Japanese exhausted.”

Source: Huanqiu, the Chinese version of Global Times, August 21, 2012
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2012-08/3048388.html

Briefings | | August 22, 2012 | Grapevine

Meng Jianzhu: Public Security Police Must Be Firm in Following the Correct Political Direction

On August 21, 2012, Meng Jianzhu, the State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, met with the delegates who attended a National Public Security Guards conference in Beijing. Meng stressed that all levels of the public security forces and the vast majority of officers and soldiers must always be firm in following the correct political direction. “Be guards forever loyal to the Party and the people and use solid work performance to greet the opening of the Chinese Communist Party’s (the CCP’s) 18th National Congress.

Source: China Review News, August 21, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1022/0/8/2/102208260.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=102208260&mdate=0821202323

Briefings | | August 22, 2012 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: U.S. Drought May Trigger Global Food Crisis

Xinhua recently reported the news that G20 is planning a conference on August 27, 2012, to discuss a potential global food crisis. The report mentioned that the U.S. drought this year covers twice the area of the 2008 drought. According to the U.S. Department of Agricultural, this year’s drought is the largest since 1956. Around 2000 counties in more than 30 states have suffered serious drought. This will have a major impact on U.S. corn exports, which represent 39% of the global trade volume in corn. In addition, the official U.S. food reserve level recorded a sharp decline. Since the United States is a large food exporter, this year’s drought may trigger a global food crisis. This has already been reflected in the Chicago futures market.

Source: Xinhua, August 19, 2012

http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-08/19/c_112769623.htm

Briefings | | August 21, 2012 | Economy/Resources

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

Briefings | | August 21, 2012 | US-China Relations

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

Briefings | | August 21, 2012 | Economy/Resources

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

Briefings | | August 20, 2012 | Information/Technology

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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