Politics | CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon

27/01/2013

* India wary of China’s telecom forays in Nepal, Maldives

Times of India: “The growing presence of Chinese telecom companies in Maldives and Nepal has put security agencies on alert over fears that equipment used for infrastructure development there might be bugged and misused for intercepting any communication between India and the two countries.

The concerns by the central security agencies which have been conveyed to the telecom department here came against the backdrop of about $5.70 crore loan given by China to Maldives to implement its information technology (IT) infrastructure project, according to official sources.

The Huawei Technologies (Lanka) Co. Ltd, China enterprise business group and the National Centre for Information Technologies, Maldives have already signed an MoU to develop the IT Infrastructure in Maldives under the ‘Smart Maldives Project’, they said.”

via India wary of China’s telecom forays in Nepal, Maldives – The Times of India.

Maldives Moving Away From India? – Analysis (eurasiareview.com)
China’s Quietly Sinks New Delhi’s Influence in the Indian Ocean (irrawaddy.org)

Posted in China alert, Chindia Alert, Digital communications, Economics, GeoPolitics, India alert | Leave a Comment »

Tags: China, climate, Huawei, India, internet, Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, politics, technology

25/01/2013

* Tibet to invest $563m to protect environment

China Daily: The government of the Tibet autonomous region plans to invest more than 3.5 billion yuan ($563 million) in 2013, 10.5 percent more than last year, in environmental protection.

Potala Palace, Lhasa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to the draft budget of 2013, which the regional finance department submitted for the legislature’s approval on Thursday, the investment will also support the building of an ecological safety screen on the plateau.

More than 3.23 billion yuan will be used for major forestation projects and for compensating and rewarding locals who protect and grow grass and forests and conserve wetlands, lakes and water resources.

More than 50 million yuan will be allocated to support environmental improvement projects and preserve resources, according to the draft budget.

According to the autonomous region’s environmental protection department, the plateau’s fragile and sensitive environment faces a worsening situation of land desertification, soil erosion and threats to deteriorating biodiversity.

New challenges are emerging from increasing urban pollution related to tourism, traffic and mining.

However, environmental protection has also received “unprecedented” attention over the past five years, the department said.

The State Council, China’s cabinet, listed the protection and building of a safety screen of environment in Tibet as a State-level major eco-project in February 2009.

The project aims to pour in 15.5 billion yuan to basically finish building the screen by 2030.”

via Tibet to invest $563m to protect environment |Society |chinadaily.com.cn.

Posted in China alert, Climate change, Economics, Green, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Central Tibetan Administration, China, Erosion, Lhasa, State Council of the People's Republic of China, Tibet, Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibetan people, Water resources

25/01/2013

* China detains woman at disused mortuary for three years

BBC News: “China detains woman at disused mortuary for three year

A Chinese woman who petitioned the authorities over the treatment of her husband at a labour camp has been detained at a disused mortuary for the past three years, state media report.

An SVG map of China with Heilongjiang province highlighted in orange and Yichun city highlighted in red Legend: File:China map legend.png (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chen Qingxia had already served 18 months at a re-education camp for her campaign, but continued to fight and so was confined to the mortuary.

Reports of her ordeal in the province of Heilongjiang have triggered an outcry on social media.

Ms Chen is said to be in poor health.

But correspondents say that it looks likely that restrictions on her will be relaxed soon – a committee has been formed in the city of Yichun to re-examine her case.

There has also been some speculation in recent weeks that the Chinese authorities might reform or rethink its system of re-education through labour.

Ms Chen’s ordeal began in 2003 when her husband was imprisoned for attempting to breach a quarantine during a Sars epidemic, according to the Global Times newspaper.

After he was freed, media reports say, his body was bruised and his mental health had deteriorated so much that Ms Chen decided to travel to the capital, Beijing, to complain to the central authorities about the treatment he had received.

The move led to her being put through a re-education camp for 18 months. After finishing the sentence, she was kept in the mortuary because she was still determined to continue her campaign.

A China National Radio report says that Mrs Chen has been allowed minimal contact with relatives.

Her husband was eventually admitted to hospital for treatment for his mental-health problems, the Global Times said.

The Communist Party’s district chief has been quoted by local television as saying local officials should bear responsibility for Mrs Chen’s treatment.”

via BBC News – China detains woman at disused mortuary for three years.

Posted in China alert, Human rights, Illegal practices, Justice, Petition, Politics, Reform, Rule of law, social media | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Beijing, China, China National Radio, Heilongjiang

25/01/2013

* China, Japan move to cool down territorial dispute

Reuters: “China and Japan sought to cool down tensions over a chafing territorial dispute on Friday, with Communist Party chief Xi Jinping telling an envoy from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he was committed to developing bilateral ties.

Natsuo Yamaguchi (L), leader of Japan's New Komeito party, delivers a personal letter from Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to China's president-in-waiting Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, January 25, 2013. REUTERS-Ng Han Guan-Pool

Xi will consider holding a summit meeting with Abe, Natsuo Yamaguchi, a senior lawmaker and head of the junior partner in Japan’s ruling coalition, told reporters after his talks with the Chinese leader.

The meeting came as China took the dispute over a series of uninhabited islands to the United Nations.

It was not immediately clear if the U.N. involvement would increase the likelihood the row would be resolved peacefully. But launching an international legal process could reduce the temperature for now.

At China’s request, the United Nations will, later this year, consider the scientific validity of a claim by Beijing that the islands, called the Diaoyu in Chinese and the Senkaku by Japan, are part of its territory. Japan says the world body should not be involved.”

via China, Japan move to cool down territorial dispute | Reuters.

Tags: Beijing, China, Japan, Natsuo Yamaguchi, Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, United Nations, Xi JinPing

25/01/2013

* U.N. to consider validity of China’s claim over disputed islands

Strange that a few days ago China objected to the Philippines taking their disputed islands to the UN, but now it is taking a similar action over islands in dispute with Japan.

Reuters: “The United Nations is planning to consider later this year the scientific validity of a claim by China that a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea are part of its territory, although Japan says the world body should not be involved.

A handout photograph taken on a marine surveillance plane B-3837 shows the disputed islets, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, December 13, 2012. Picture taken December 13, 2012. REUTERS/State Oceanic Administration of People's Republic of China/Handout

Tensions over the uninhabited islands – located near rich fishing grounds and potentially huge oil and gas reserves – flared after Japan’s government purchased them from a private Japanese owner in September, sparking violent anti-Japanese protests across China and a military standoff.

Taiwan also claims the islands, known as the Diaoyu islands in China, the Senkaku islands in Japan and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan.

It was not immediately clear if the U.N. involvement would increase the likelihood the China-Japan dispute would be resolved peacefully. But launching an international legal process that should yield a neutral scientific opinion could reduce the temperature for now in Beijing’s spat with Tokyo.

In a submission to the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, China says the continental shelf in the East China Sea is a natural prolongation of China’s land territory and that it includes the disputed islands.

Under the U.N. convention, a country can extend its 200-nautical-mile economic zone if it can prove that the continental shelf is a natural extension of its land mass. The U.N. commission assesses the scientific validity of claims, but any disputes have to be resolved between states, not by the commission.

China said the “Diaoyu Dao upfold zone” – the islands – is located between the East China Sea shelf basin and the Okinawa Trough. “The Okinawa Trough is the natural termination of the continental shelf of (the East China Sea),” it said.

China also told the commission that it was still negotiating with other states on the delimitation of the continental shelf.

“Recommendations of the commission with regard to the submission will not prejudice future delimitation of the continental shelf between China and the states concerned,” said the executive summary of China’s submission published on the commission’s website.”

via U.N. to consider validity of China’s claim over disputed islands | Reuters.

Tags: Beijing, China, Continental Shelf, diaoyu islands, East China Sea, Japan, military standoff, Okinawa Trough, Senkaku Islands, United Nations

21/01/2013

* Ex-minister blames China’s pollution mess on lack of rule of law

SCMP: “China had a chance to avoid environmental disasters some 40 to 30 years ago, the country’s first environmental protection chief has lamented amid worsening air and water pollution.

But Professor Qu Geping, who has overseen environmental policymaking since the early 1970s, said pollution had run wild as a result of unchecked economic growth under a “rule of men”, as opposed to the rule of law. Their rule imposed no checks on power and allowed governments to ignore environmental protection laws and regulations.

“I would not call the past 40 years’ efforts of environmental protection a total failure,” he said. “But I have to admit that governments have done far from enough to rein in the wild pursuit of economic growth … and failed to avoid some of the worst pollution scenarios we, as policymakers, had predicted.”

Qu, 83, was China’s first environmental protection administrator between 1987 and 1993. He then headed the National People’s Congress environment and resource committee for 10 years.

After three decades of worsening industrial pollution resulting from rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, China has accumulated huge environmental debts that will have to be paid back, Qu said.

He said recently he regretted that some of the very forward-looking strategies – emphasising a more balanced and co-ordinated approach to development and conservation, that were worked out as early as 1983 – were never put into serious practice when China was still at an early stage of industrialisation.

In 1970, premier Zhou Enlai had invited a Japanese journalist to give a lecture to senior government officials on the lessons Japan had learned from a series of heavy metal pollution scandals that killed several hundred people during a period of rapid industrialisation in the 1950s and 1960s, Qu said.

“But looking back, China fell into the same trap again,” he said. “In some cases, the problems are even worse now given the country’s huge population and the vast scale of its economy.”

via Ex-minister blames China’s pollution mess on lack of rule of law | South China Morning Post.

See also: https://chindia-alert.org/economic-factors/greening-of-china/

Top News: High pollution sparks China anger (bbc.co.uk)
Beijing, China Air Pollution Hits Hazardous Levels (huffingtonpost.com)
Amid Smog Deluge, China Environmental Reports Accused of Fraud (theepochtimes.com)

Posted in Affluence, carbon emission, China alert, Climate change, Consumer protection, Ecology, Economics, Environment, Green, greenhouse gas, Illegal chemicals, Manufacturing, Politics, Pollution, Sustainable development | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Beijing, China, climate, environment, environmental policymaking, Environmental protection, Japan, National People's Congress, pollution, premier zhou, rapid industrialisation, Zhou Enlai

21/01/2013

* India, Australia to launch n-talks in March

The Hindu: “India will begin talks for a civil nuclear energy cooperation with uranium-rich Australia in March this year.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid with his Australian counterpart Bob Carr, prior to their bilateral talks, in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: V. Sudershan

“We shall be commencing negotiations on a Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement in March 2013,” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said here on Monday after talks with visiting Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr.

The first round of negotiations conducted by the Foreign Ministries of both countries will be held in Delhi.

The agreement would enable the export of uranium from Australia to India, Mr. Carr said.

“A sense of urgency and purpose will be there. We will move swiftly,” Khurshid said pointing out that India already had similar agreements with a number of countries which could be used as a model.

During the parleys, it was decided that Defence Minister A.K. Antony would visit Australia sometime in March for further discussions on cooperation in defence and security sectors.

This would be the first ever visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Australia.

Australia had agreed to start negotiations on a civil nuclear deal with India during the October visit of Prime Minister Julia Gillard to New Delhi.

In December 2011, Ms. Gillard’s Labour Party had overturned its long-standing ban on exporting uranium to India.

via The Hindu : News / National : India, Australia to launch n-talks in March.

Foreign Ministers of Australia, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan visiting India this week (nzweek.com)

Posted in Economics, India alert, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Australia, Bob Carr, Delhi, external affairs minister, India, Julia Gillard, Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia), politics, Salman Khurshid

21/01/2013

* India Agency Clears IKEA’s Investment Proposal

Another step forward in liberalisation.

WSJ: “India’s foreign investment promotion agency has cleared Swedish furniture giant IKEA Group’s proposal to invest nearly $2.0 billion for setting up wholly owned retail stores in the country, Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram said Monday.

Mr. Mayaram is also the head of the Foreign investment Promotion Board, the agency which clears foreign direct investments in India.

A spokeswoman for IKEA didn’t immediately comment.

The board had cleared the retail giant’s proposal in November subject to certain conditions. However, IKEA wasn’t happy with the conditions, which prevented it from selling products that it doesn’t brand, including secondhand furniture, textile goods, toys, books and consumer electronics as well as food and beverage items in cafeterias within its stores.

It thereafter wrote to the Indian government, seeking the removal of these conditions.

“Now, the proposal has been cleared in its entirety,” said another official, who didn’t want to be named.

IKEA now needs the approval of the federal cabinet to set up its outlets in India.”

via India Agency Clears IKEA’s Investment Proposal – WSJ.com.

Posted in Consumer, Economics, FDI, Import, India alert, Politics, Retail, Trade | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Business, economy, Foreign Investment Promotion Board, Ikea, India

21/01/2013

* Women voters in India want to stand up and be counted

It’s about time!

Reuters: “Several years ago, a dinner-table conversation about state elections in Himachal Pradesh veered towards a candidate who gave away pressure cookers to woo women voters. Of course, bribing voters is illegal, but I remember wondering whether all I wanted as a woman was a pressure cooker.

The Delhi rape case and the molestation of a young girl in Guwahati in Assam last year have underscored the place that women often occupy in Indian society. These incidents have made me wonder to what extent our country’s political parties will focus on gender inequality as they look forward to the 2014 general elections. How will they vie for the women’s vote?

Until now, political parties and their largely male leadership focussed on the ‘aam aadmi’, or the common man, a phrase which subsumes women. Politicians and other public figures don’t make much hay of gender inequality and many of the attitudes toward women that hurt a large portion of our society — and when they do, they’re often lacking. The best attitude that politicians often apply to women is a patronising one. Instead of focusing on women’s empowerment through education and awareness, politicians distribute saris, cookers and sanitary napkins.

There is some attempt to change that. The Congress party’s weekend “Chintan Shivir“, or brainstorming session, in Jaipur put a special focus on women.

“Discrimination against the girl child and atrocities against women are a blot on our collective conscience,” party chief Sonia Gandhi said while opening the gathering. “Gender issues are fundamental and should be of concern to all of us.””

via India Insight.

Violence Against Women in India: Three Things to Know (cfr.org)
* How India treats its women (chindia-alert.org)
India – Single Women’s Association- A force not be forgotten #womenrights (kractivist.wordpress.com)

Posted in Gender issues, India alert, Politics | 1 Comment »

Tags: Assam, atrocities against women, current-events, Delhi, gender inequality, Guwahati, Himachal Pradesh, India, Indian National Congress, Jaipur, politics, society, Sonia Gandhi, women discrimination

20/01/2013

* India Congress Party Names Rahul Gandhi No. 2

Rahul finally throws his hat in the ring.

WSJ: “India’s Congress party has named Rahul Gandhi as the party’s vice president, giving a clear indication that the scion of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty would be the party’s prime ministerial candidate in the federal elections next year.

The appointment of Mr. Gandhi—son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and party President Sonia Gandhi—as the party’s No. 2 sets the stage for a likely face-off with Narendra Modi, chief minister of the western state of Gujarat and a top contender within the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party for the country’s highest executive post, ahead of federal polls due before May 2014.”

via India Congress Party Names Rahul Gandhi No. 2 – WSJ.com.

Posted in Democracy, India alert, Leadership change, Politics | 2 Comments »

Tags: Congress, Gandhi-Nehru, India, india congress, Indian National Congress, mr gandhi, Nehru–Gandhi family, politics, rahul gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, state of gujarat

CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon

Chindia Alert: You’ll be Living in their World Very Soon

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* India wary of China’s telecom forays in Nepal, Maldives

* Tibet to invest $563m to protect environment

* China, Japan move to cool down territorial dispute

* U.N. to consider validity of China’s claim over disputed islands

* Ex-minister blames China’s pollution mess on lack of rule of law

* India, Australia to launch n-talks in March

* India Agency Clears IKEA’s Investment Proposal

* Women voters in India want to stand up and be counted

* India Congress Party Names Rahul Gandhi No. 2

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