Archive for October, 2012

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28/10/2012

* Top China official urges residency permit reform

Given that Chinese manufacturing is almost entirely dependent on migrant labour, it is about time the government recognised the rights of this segment of the population.

Reuters: “China’s top security official called on Friday for the government to relax the controversial residency permit, or hukou, system to ensure the army of migrant workers can enjoy better services like health care and housing.

Migrant labourers work at a demolished residential site in Shanghai October 18, 2012. REUTER/Aly Song

The 230 million-strong migrant workforce drives China’s economy, but a lack of access to education, health and other services tied to the country’s strict household registration system forces massive saving, restraining Beijing’s efforts to shift the focus of growth to consumption from investment.

It also causes social tensions, something the stability-obsessed ruling Communist Party is desperate to avoid.

In comments to a work meeting cited by the official Xinhua news agency, security tsar Zhou Yongkang said China should establish as soon as possible a new “national residence permit system” to improve services for migrant workers.

The system would cover help with employment, health care, housing, social security and education for migrant workers’ children, said Zhou, a member of the party’s decision making inner circle, the Standing Committee.”

via Top China official urges residency permit reform | Reuters.

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Posted in China alert, Economics, Good news, Human rights, Labour, Migrant workers | 3 Comments »

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24/10/2012

* Most Chinese cities are not coming clean on smog says survey

Another instance of the difference between public policy as dictated from Beijing and the lack of implementation by local authorities who have a different, and more selfish agenda.

See also: 

Posted in China alert, Pollution | Leave a Comment »

23/10/2012

* China’s Communist Party journal suggests it could learn from Singapore’s PAP

If this article has the blessing of the top hierarchy, that is good news indeed. Singapore’s PAP has held an overwhelming majority since 1963 in a fully democratic process that allows multiple parties to contest. In other words, the PAP leadership is elected through its deeds and not by edict. Perhaps China’s CCP is thinking of following suite.

Posted in Democracy, Good news, Politics | Leave a Comment »

22/10/2012

* Maoist terror hits road development work in Sukma

Times of India: “Faced with overwhelming threat of Naxal terror, road development activities in the newly carved out district in tribal Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, has taken a hit.

Road construction work to the tune of an estimated Rs 350 crore are at a standstill in Sukma, located on the state’s southernmost tip and the tri-junction of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

Many areas of the improvised Sukma district form part of the so-called liberated zone of ‘Dandakaranya’ of the Maoists where they are supposed to be running a parallel government and where there is virtually no presence of civil administration.

Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon’s abduction by the Maoists in April this year and his subsequent release has forced the authorities to tread with caution while taking up road development projects, resulting in Sukma almost becoming an approachless island and causing hardships to the tribals residing in remote areas.

Of the total 418 kilometers long roads in the district, only six roads-with a total length of 168 kilometres- are in a condition where vehicles can run.

These roads range from 12kms to 25kms.

Construction work of four other roads of a total length of 250kms have been thwarted due to Maoist threat, adversely affecting movement of vehicles in the area. Besides, there are many other small roads where taking up any development work is a far cry.”

via Maoist terror hits road development work in Sukma – The Times of India.

See also: https://chindia-alert.org/prognosis/indian-challenges/

Posted in Highways, India alert, Insurgency, Politics, Transport | Leave a Comment »

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22/10/2012

* China leftists urge parliament not to expel Bo Xilai

Reuters: “A group of Chinese leftists has issued a public letter calling on the country’s largely rubber stamp parliament not to expel disgraced former top leader Bo Xilai from its ranks, saying the move is legally questionable and politically motivated.

China's former Chongqing Municipality Communist Party Secretary Bo Xilai (L) and former Deputy Mayor of Chongqing Wang Lijun (R) attend a session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of the Chongqing Municipal Committee, in Chongqing municipality, January 7, 2012. REUTERS/Stringer

Stripping membership from Bo – the one-time Communist Party chief of Chongqing who is accused of abusing power, taking huge bribes and other crimes – also removes his immunity from prosecution, and paves the way for formal charges against him.

Bo’s ouster has exposed deep rifts in the party between his leftist backers, who are nostalgic for the revolutionary era of Mao Zedong, and reformers, who advocate for faster political and economic reforms.

The letter, carried on the far-left Chinese-language website “Red China” and addressed to the parliament’s standing committee, says the party is fuelling doubts about the accusations against Bo by refusing to discuss them publicly.

“What is the reason provided for expelling Bo Xilai? Please investigate the facts and the evidence,” says the letter. “Please announce to the people evidence that Bo Xilai will be able to defend himself in accordance with the law.”

Parliament and its members are there to provide oversight and make laws, not to “act as a rubber stamp” for attacks on people for personal reasons by political factions, it added.”

via China leftists urge parliament not to expel Bo Xilai | Reuters.

Posted in China alert, Governance, Justice, Politics, Rule of law | Leave a Comment »

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21/10/2012

* Chinese/American relations: The shape of things to come

Despite all the rhetoric, the plain fact is that America and China are so intertwined economically that they may as well be Siamese twins. This unlike the relationship between America and Russia during the Cold War, where there was little mutual dependency. Our view is that soon after the US presidential elections, no matter who wins, things will settle down and stabilise as reality will come to the fore, again.

Posted in China alert, GeoPolitics, Politics | Leave a Comment »

21/10/2012

* Construction of new economic zone starts in mid-west China

It has been some years since China established a new economic zone. This one could be due to three main reasons: 1. as stated – to develop and modernise a region that is heavily Muslim populated to forge links with Arab and other neighbouring Muslim countries to the west of China; 2. to continue the drive to reduce reliance on the coastal east; 3. to stimulate the economy in the longer term.

Xinhua News: “The construction of a new economic pilot zone, the first of its kind in China’s inland areas, has started in the country’s north western Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

At the inaugural meeting held on Friday, the construction of a comprehensive bonded area in the regional capital of Yinchuan was also announced.

The pilot zone and the four-square-km bonded area in the zone aim to deepen the opening up of China’s western inland areas to countries located directly west of China, especially in order to boost trade, investment and friendly exchanges between China and the Arab world, said Wang Zhengwei, chairman of the regional government.

According to the establishment program approved by the State Council in September, projects in the zone will enjoy 66 preferential policies in investment, tax, finance and land use after its establishment.

The League of Arab States has become China’s seventh-largest trade partner. Trade between China and the member countries surged 34.7 percent to 195.9 billion U.S. dollars last year.

Ningxia is the only provincial-level autonomous region for the Hui people, the largest Muslim ethnic group in China. About 30 percent of the region’s population is Hui.

As many people in the area share religious beliefs and customs with Muslims living in Arab countries, the region is a perfect platform for boosting cooperation with those countries, according to Wang.”

via Construction of new economic zone starts in W China – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

Posted in China alert, Economics, Good news | 1 Comment »

21/10/2012

* New age vegetarians in Beijing

We hope that this is a genuine trend and not just a passing fad. If it catches on, not only in restaurants  but at home, the pressure on meat sources will be substantially reduced.  It will also mean healthier Chinese with reduced call for medical services.

China Daily: “A new eating trend is popping up on the doorstep of the Peking duck, and it has nothing to do with meat, but plenty to do with a generation of young, rich, health-conscious consumers. Sarah Marsh and Thomas Hale restaurant-hop in Beijing to find out more.

New age vegetarians

An array of colorful and carefully put together dishes is brought to the table. All of the traditional Beijing favorites are there, including a round tray filled with pancakes and strips of cucumber served with a hoisin dipping sauce. However, instead of Peking duck completing the dish, diners are served something quite different. They are instead presented with beancurd skin, milk curds and toon tree shoots. It might sound unusual but vegetarian food like this is taking over China’s capital. A growing number of restaurant-goers now opt for vegetarian dishes over meat.

The dish imitating Beijing’s world-renowned Peking duck is served at the Gingko Tree in Sanlitun, a restaurant that opened on Oct 5, 2011.

According to its owner, 32-year-old Wang Rui, when it first opened, the restaurant welcomed 20 visitors daily, but this number has now increased 500 percent to approximately 100.

This is no one-off. Wang explains that more non-meat eateries are opening up all the time.

“The trend started about seven years ago as the Chinese gradually became more aware of the health benefits. Lots of new vegetarian restaurants sprung up between 2002 and 2006,” Wang says.

About 15 years ago there were one or two vegetarian cafes but now there are nearly 100 and competition is fierce.

Many vegetarian restaurants promote organic food, a growing phenomenon in China. The Seattle Times reported that overall Chinese organic exports have rocketed from $300,000 in 1995 to about $500 million in 2008. Both vegetarianism and organic foods are associated with healthy eating in China.”

via New age vegetarians[1]|chinadaily.com.cn.

Posted in China alert, Economics, Good news, Social & cultural | Leave a Comment »

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20/10/2012

* India pays homage to 1962 martyrs for first time

The Hindu: “Paying homage to soldiers who fought in the 1962 Indo-China war, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Saturday ruled out any possibility of the repeat of the war and said armed forces were confident of protecting the country against any such threat.

(From Left) Defence Minister A.K.Antony, Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bikram Singh, Naval Chief Admiral D.K. Joshi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K.Browne pay homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti to mark the 50th anniversary of India-China war, in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

This is the first time that the Indian defence establishment has honoured the dead and participants of the 1962 war officially.

“I would like to assure the nation that India of today is not the India of 1962. Over the years, successive governments learning lessons from the past strengthened our capabilities and modernised our armed forces… we are confident armed forces will be able to protect the border in event of any threat,” he said on the sidelines of an event to honour the soldiers of the 1962 war on its 50th anniversary.

The Defence Minister was asked to assess the threat from China and India’s preparation to tackle it.

In the war, India suffered defeat at the hands of the Chinese Army which went to capture large portion of Indian territory.

The Defence Minister, who along with Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh and the three services chiefs paid homage to the 1962 war heroes and laid wreaths at Amar Jawan Jyoti, said successive governments have learnt lessons from the war and strengthened military capabilities and developed infrastructure.

“We will vigorously continue to strengthen our capabilities,” the Defence Minister said.

Mr. Antony also noted that India was holding dialogue with China to find a solution to the long-pending border dispute and has established a mechanism to “immediately settle” any tensions on the border.”

via The Hindu : News / National : Nation pays homage to 1962 martyrs for first time.

Posted in India alert, Neighbour conflict, Politics, Territorial dispute, war | Leave a Comment »

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20/10/2012

* Indian Govt wants to use technology to curb dishonesty

If only corruption can be solved so easily with technology.

Times of India: “With United Progressive Alliance(UPA) facing allegations of corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said his government wants to use new technology to curb dishonesty and bring transparency in governance.

Aadhaar to help millions get benefits of government schemes

Speaking at the launch of Aadhar-enabled Service Delivery system, he said the unique identity numbers will help 1.5 crore students get scholarships, two crore elderly get old age pensions, three crore to avail health insurance and five crore people get the benefits of MNREGA.

The scheme is aimed at directly transferring cash to beneficiaries under social schemes such as MNREGA and pension.

“By giving benefits directly to the needy, complaints of dishonesty and delay will reduce,” Singh said at a function where he handed over Aadhar number ’21 crore’ to a villager here.

“Our government wants to use new technology in a big way to curb dishonesty and bring transparency in governance. Aadhar is an important step in this direction,” he said.

In the past two years, he said, the government has enrolled 24 crore people for Aadhar and “we expect to give Aadhar cards to around 60 crore by 2014”.

Addressing the function, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said the Aadhar scheme gives identity to the common man and is a tool to claim benefits.

Using the Aadhar card, she said, the common man can claim his rights anywhere in the country.

“The Aadhar card will help the government in ensuring that subsidy reaches its intended beneficiaries directly and the poor will not have to run from pillar to post to claim their rights,” she said.”

via Govt wants to use technology to curb dishonesty: PM – The Times of India.

Posted in corruption, Good news, India alert, Technology | Leave a Comment »

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