New Delhi, February 1
“Faced with persistent threats from pirates operating off the coast of Somalia, uneasy neighbours India and China have started cooperating with each other, roping in Japan to tackle piracy. This is the first working relationship on the high seas between the Indian Navy and China’s People Liberation Army (Navy).”
02/02/2012
* India, China join hands on the high seas to tackle pirates
01/02/2012
* China re-emphasizes agriculture
With growing affluence and changing tastes, several staples like soya, rich and pork that used to be exported are now imported. China focused on manufacturing and infrastructure for two decades. It is now re-emphasizing agriculture: in terms of investment in technology and research, in terms of exhorting local authorities to pay heed to it and to irrigation projects.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-02/01/c_131386786.htm
01/02/2012
* Workers follow manufacturers moving inland
As a direct response to suicides and other labour issues, large manufacturers sucvh as Fozconn, one of the world’s largest contract manufacturers of electronic devices, employing nearly half a million workers in Shenzhen have started to open plants in inner provinces where the labour costs are 2/3 of that of coastal cities.
This will be good for the companies, good for workers of the local province who will not have to travel as far, and good for China who would prefer to reduce the immigrant worker population to more manageable levels, add economic stimulus to interior provinces as well as spreading the industries across China and reducing security risks.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-01/31/content_14513647.htm
For a view of the challenges facing China, including migrant workers, go to http://chindiapedia.org/politicalpitfalls.aspx
CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon 