Archive for ‘Politics’

01/03/2012

* Use of DNA to rescue kidnapped kids in China

China Daily: “The DNA database for missing children set up by the Ministry of Public Security has helped over 2,000 abducted kids return home, a Chinese official said Wednesday.

The ministry has created a DNA database of more than 20,000 blood samples from parents who have lost their children in an effort to help identify abducted children and fight against thecrime, according to Chen Shiqu, head of the ministry’s office for the crackdown on childabductions.

Since 2009, police have uncovered nearly 16,000 cases of women trafficking and 12,000 child abduction cases. Authorities rescued more than 19,000 abducted children and 35,000 women,Chen said. The police will keep on implementing the “zero tolerance” policy to the crime, and beef up efforts to crack down on child trafficking, he said.

Human trafficking is difficult to root out in China, partly as the conventions of “boys carrying o nthe family line” and “sons guaranteeing one’s old age” remain deeply rooted in the countryside.In many rural areas, couples with no offspring still tend to “buy” and adopt abducted children.”

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-03/01/content_14727447.htm

The high incidence of child abduction is a direct consequence of the one-child policy combined with the Chinese (and Indian) view that sons are ‘better’ than daughters. Boys are kidnapped for parents without a son and, sometimes, girls are kidnapped because of the growing awareness that there is a serious sex-ratio disparity that will later cause there to be fewer women than men for marriage purposes!  ;-(

01/03/2012

* At least 20 people were killed in China’s Xinjiang

The Hindu: “At least 20 people were killed in China’s Xinjiang region on Tuesday in violence that the government blamed on separatists. The incident underscored the ethnic tension in the far-western Muslim-majority region that has erupted intermittently in recent months.

The government said attackers armed with knives killed at least 13 people and injured many on a busy pedestrian street in the county of Kargilik, or Yecheng in Chinese, which is located around 250 km from Kashgar. The ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, situated near China’s border with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was the scene of similar violence last July, when attackers armed with knives assaulted pedestrians and set off bombs, killing at least 20 people. The local government said the police had shot dead “seven violent terrorists” and captured two.

The government blamed last year’s violence on extremist groups who they said had been trained in camps in Pakistan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said it was “not yet known” who was behind Tuesday’s violence.”

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2947105.ece

Xinjiang, with a Muslim  majority who speak a Turkic language, is one of the two ethnic trouble-spots in China.  The other, of course, is Tibet. Unlike Tibet, there is no historic dispute of sovereignty – unless you’re going back to early history pre-dating even the Muslim conversion/incursion of the ‘native’ population. Strife here is mainly due to the feeling of becoming ‘dispossessed and displaced’ with increasing influx of Han Chinese who come to seek their fortunes in a mineral rich region that also boasts warm summers suitable for sub-tropical fruit, including grapes!

28/02/2012

* Chinese naval escort squads to Somali waters escorted 4,411 vessels in three years

Xinhua: “Chinese naval escort squads to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters have completed 409 missions and escorted 4,411 Chinese and foreign vessels over the past three years.

To date, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has sent 10 batches of escort fleets with 25 vessels, 22 helicopters and more than 8,400 officers and soldiers to this area, Wu Shengli, commander of the PLA Navy, said at a forum on the escort missions held Wednesday.

The fleets have rescued 40 ships from pirates’ pursuits, taken care of eight vessels that were attacked and released by the pirates, and offered humanitarian aid to foreign vessels four times, Wu said.

The fleets also escorted four ships delivering humanitarian supplies for the World Food Programme and provided adequate protection to the ships and the crewmembers, Wu said.”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-01/11/c_131355296.htm

China has been a strong contributor to UN forces, mainly in infantry terms. Now it is contributing its share in naval terms. Slowly, but surely, China is taking up its role as the world’s number 2 power.

Only in one area it will stand back, and that is in not interfering in internal affairs or ‘regime change’, despite criticisms from around the world – such as wrt to Syria, Iran, North Korea and Zimbabwe. It wants the world to respect its internal affairs such as Tibet and Xinjiang ; so it practices what it preaches.

27/02/2012

* World Bank report: China needs a new economic strategy

AP: “China needs a new economic strategy after three decades of rapid growth and must reduce the dominance of state companies and promote free markets to achieve its goal of becoming a high-income society, the World Bank and Chinese researchers said Monday.

The recommendations in a report on development of the world’s second-largest economy through 2030 come amid debate in the ruling Communist Party over the future course of reform as a new generation of leaders prepare to take office this year.

The report’s emphasis on curbing state industry clashes with Beijing’s strategy over the past decade of building government-owned champions in fields from banking to technology and is likely to provoke opposition.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjJGRvwM6JjBM3uh8Wn0w1OPkONQ?docId=05fed039a6b94f9b8c31ca96f94e4734

This report is cleverly timed to coincide with the top leadership changes later in the year.

27/02/2012

* Indian Defence Minister reacts to China’s statement on Arunachal Pradesh

Times of India: “Defence minister A K Antony on Monday slammed China for raising objections to his visit to Arunachal Pradesh, describing Beijing’s comments on the issue as “most unfortunate” and “really objectionable”.

He said Arunachal is an integral part of India asJammu and Kashmir and as defence minister it is his right and duty to visit the state, which has recently celebrated 25th anniversary of its statehood.

“I was surprised to see such a reaction. I feel it is most unfortunate and, at the same time, it is really objectionable,” he told reporters here.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chinas-objection-to-Arunachal-Pradesh-visit-most-unfortunate-A-K-Antony/articleshow/12054594.cms

See my post yesterday on this topic from Xinhua

26/02/2012

* China asks India to cooperate to maintain border stability

Xinhua: “A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Saturday asked India to work with China to maintain peace and stability in border areas.

Spokesman Hong Lei made the remark when asked to make comment on a news report of Indian officials participating in activities organized by the so-called “Arunachal Pradesh” region.

The report said the officials pledged to guarantee the “safety” of the strategically important region.

Hong said China’s stance on Sino-Indian border issues, including disputes regarding the eastern section, has been consistent and clear-cut.

China advocates seeking a fair and rational solution through equal and friendly negotiations, the spokesman said.

He also called on India to refrain from taking any action that could complicate the issue.”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-02/25/c_131431503.htm

Unlike all other countries with which China has a shared border, India is the only country that has stoutly insisted on honouring a British (McMohan) drawn border and refuses to re-negotiate.

26/02/2012

* Increased unmanned airborne vehicles acknowledges problems with Naxalites

Times of India: “The Indian Centre is proposing to significantly expand UAV (unmanned airborne vehicle) deployment in Naxal-affected areas.

Sources said the move comes in the wake of noticeable successes from UAVs that have been based in central India and operating over Naxal areas. These UAVs have been providing live streaming of images from areas where Maoists are active. “They have been extremely helpful in our operations, in figuring out camps, tracks etc,” an official in the security establishment said.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Soon-more-satellite-controlled-planes-to-fight-Naxals/articleshow/12039579.cms

 

25/02/2012

* Chinese death penalty for toxic cooking oil

Times of India: ” Chinese authorities have promised death penalty for those involved in the “gutter oil” scam involving unhygienic recycling of edible oil used in restaurants.

“Courts must give full consideration to suspects’ subjective malignance, the amount of money involved and the harm done to public and the market when ruling in gutter oil cases. For those deserving death, death penalties must be resolutely given,” an official notice said. Authorities have found it hard to control the scam that involves private businesses collecting used edible oils from restaurants and selling it back to them after filtration. Chinese media have been running reports about the unhygienic recycling conditions.

Government officials, who fail to fulfill duties related to oil safety, would also be punished.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/Toxic-oil-scam-China-pledges-death-penalty/articleshow/12027834.cms

Another example of actions the Chinese government is taking about corruption and pollution.  Well done!

24/02/2012

* Anti-corruption ‘crusader’ donates award money to trust

The Hindu: “Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Thursday vowed to continue his long battle to root out corruption from the system saying he has lived for the country and would die for it.

Speaking after receiving the S. R. Jindal Prize from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at a function here, Mr. Hazare said: “When I was 26-year-old I had decided to live and die for the country. I left my home and did not return. I have no bank balance and all the awards I have received have gone to the Hind Swaraj Trust. The interest earned from the money goes into the expenditure incurred on wedding of youngsters. This award (Rs.25 lakh) will also go to the trust.”

Asserting that he does not accept awards from people or organisations whose hands are tainted, Mr. Hazare said: “Recently I refused to accept an award because the person did not have a clean track record. This award has been presented to me by an incorruptible person and a clean organisation.”

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2925463.ece

23/02/2012

* China finally realises that migrant workers are not a transient matter

China Daily: “China has clarified its residence policies to facilitate domestic migrants’ settling in small and medium-size cities as permanent residents, a move intended to further push theurbanization drive.

In cities of county-level or below, people who have stable jobs and residences may apply forpermanent residence permits, along with their spouses, unmarried children, and parents,according to a State Council circular posted online late Thursday.

In medium-size cities, people who have stable jobs for three years, stable residences, and havepaid social security insurance for at least one year, can also apply for permits to live in the citypermanently, the circular said.

That means many of China’s millions of migrant workers may be formally accepted as urbanresidents, giving them more access to public services including welfare housing and medicalinsurance, which are currently only open to holders of permanent residence permits in manycities.

Ushered in some 30 years ago, China’s reform and opening-up drive established a pattern oflabor flowing from rural to urban areas, and the country now has more than 200 million ruralmigrants working in cities.

Meanwhile, the circular said China will continue efforts to control the population of major cities,including those directly under jurisdiction of the central government, many of which are alreadyover-populated based on their existing facilities and services.”

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-02/24/content_14687152.htm

Some would regards these moves as a natural progression towards recognising the needs  and rights of this important 20% of the Chinese population. Others, more cynically, would ask: “Why now?” and come to the conclusion that in the year of top leadership change, minimising the causes of internal conflict is of prime importance.

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