Social & cultural | CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon

01/12/2012

* Chinese tycoons advised on charity

China Daily: “Western experience sought after to advance China’s development

The newly rich in China are looking to the West for experience again. But this time, they want to learn how to spend money, rather than how to make it.

Zhang Xin, CEO and co-founder of Soho China, a leading real estate developer, said she had no clear strategy when she started her journey into philanthropy.

“In the early days, when I established the Soho China Foundation, we did not have a clear plan. We gave money to build a school here and set up a kindergarten there and rushed to help people affected by a tsunami,” Zhang said.

Zhang said she gradually realized that it is important to discover the pressing social problems China faces and then choose one field that requires a huge investment of money and human capital.

The female billionaire said her foundation started the project Teach for China, which is dedicated to training teachers in rural schools in Northwest China’s Gansu province, one of the most impoverished provinces, six years ago.

“Teach for China is what we learned from an American foundation,” she said.

Zhang made her remarks at the China Philanthropy Forum 2012, which was jointly held on Friday by the China Association for International Friendly Contact, Caijing Magazine and other organizations in Beijing.”

via Tycoons advised on charity |Society |chinadaily.com.cn.

How China’s Self-Made Women Billionaires Earned Their Fortunes (forbes.com)
These three Chinese property tycoons lost over $2 billion between them in the past year (qz.com)
SOHO China, from merchant to investor (blogs.ft.com)
Business › Chinese tycoon offers Geelys to replace cars damaged in anti-Japan riots (japantoday.com)
Chinese Billionaire Power Couple’s Soho China Raises $1 Bln In Debt Sale (forbes.com)

Posted in China alert, Economics, Good news, philantropy, wealth | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Beijing, China, Real estate development, Zhang Xin

28/11/2012

* China considers easing family planning rules

Given that it takes years or even decades for population policies to make a difference, China better get on with any changes; and never mind being gradual about it.

Reuters: “China is considering changes to its one-child policy, a former family planning official said, with government advisory bodies drafting proposals in the face of a rapidly ageing society in the world’s most populous nation.

Proposed changes would allow for urban couples to have a second child, even if one of the parents is themselves not an only child, the China Daily cited Zhang Weiqing, the former head of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, as saying on Wednesday.

Under current rules, urban couples are permitted a second child if both parents do not have siblings. Looser restrictions on rural couples means many have more than one child.

Population scholars have cited mounting demographic challenges in their calls for reform of the strict policy, introduced in 1979 to limit births in China, which now has 1.34 billion people.

Zhang said the commission and other population research institutes have submitted policy recommendations to the government.

Zhang, who serves on China’s congressional advisory body, said any changes if adopted would be gradual.

via China considers easing family planning rules | Reuters.

China think-tank calls for end to one-child policy (newsinfo.inquirer.net)

Posted in China alert, Economics, One-child policy, Population | 1 Comment »

Tags: Ageing, China, Family planning, National Population and Family Planning Commission, one-child policy, politics

27/11/2012

* Starbucks Plays to Local Chinese Tastes

WSJ: “After nearly 14 years of working to persuade China to buy into its foreign coffee culture, Starbucks Corp is aiming to become more Chinese as it plans a rapid expansion in the country.

Belinda Wong, president of Starbucks China, said in an interview that Starbucks aims to roll out 800 new stores in the next three years to add to its existing fleet of 700. Over that period it will increase the number of employees to more than 30,000 from the current 12,000.

The company aims to capture a larger market by going more local and applying its cultural insights, Ms. Wong said. For instance, whereas kiosk-sized stores work well in the U.S., where office workers grab bacon-gouda sandwiches to go in the morning on the way to work, Starbucks has learned that Chinese consumers value space and couches on which to relax in the afternoons.

The coffee company is adding some stores that are nearly 3,800 square feet and can seat consumers who come with groups of friends and business partners. Starbucks also has discovered that Chinese tastes for coffee go only so far. It plans to introduce new Chinese-inspired flavors, building on existing favorites like red bean frappuccinos.

Localization is a critical factor in the success or failure of foreign companies in China. Yum Brands Inc has thrived in China by adding fried shrimp and soy milk, among many other Chinese items, to its KFC outlets and fresh seafood bacon pizza and Thai-style fried rice to its Pizza Huts.

Businesses that have failed to grasp the local culture, importing alien models, have fallen out of favor. In September, Home Depot Inc closed all seven of its remaining big-box stores in China after years of losses, having discovered that the do-it-yourself home improvement model doesn’t work well in a do-it-for-me Chinese culture. Best Buy Co closed its nine China outlets in February 2011 after discovering consumers needed washing machines, not espresso makers or stereos.”

via Starbucks Plays to Local Chinese Tastes – WSJ.com.

Starbucks: Symbol of wealth – Paul French (chinaherald.net)

Posted in China alert, Economics, local tastes, Social & cultural | 1 Comment »

Tags: China, Food, Home Depot Inc, KFC, restaurants, Starbuck, Starbucks China, yum brands inc

23/11/2012

* In China Schools, a Culture of Bribery Spreads

Even education is not immune to bribery & corruption in China. Is anything?

NY Times: “For Chinese children and their devoted parents, education has long been seen as the key to getting ahead in a highly competitive society. But just as money and power grease business deals and civil servant promotions, the academic race here is increasingly rigged in favor of the wealthy and well connected, who pay large sums and use connections to give their children an edge at government-run schools.

In Beijing, some parents are forced to pay thousands of dollars to school administrators simply to enroll their children in elementary school.

Nearly everything has a price, parents and educators say, from school admissions and placement in top classes to leadership positions in Communist youth groups. Even front-row seats near the blackboard or a post as class monitor are up for sale.

Zhao Hua, a migrant from Hebei Province who owns a small electronics business here, said she was forced to deposit $4,800 into a bank account to enroll her daughter in a Beijing elementary school. At the bank, she said, she was stunned to encounter officials from the district education committee armed with a list of students and how much each family had to pay. Later, school officials made her sign a document saying the fee was a voluntary “donation.”

“Of course I knew it was illegal,” she said. “But if you don’t pay, your child will go nowhere.”

Bribery has become so rife that Xi Jinping devoted his first speech after being named the Communist Party’s new leader this month to warning the Politburo that corruption could lead to the collapse of the party and the state if left unchecked. Indeed, ordinary Chinese have become inured to a certain level of official malfeasance in business and politics.

But the lack of integrity among educators and school administrators is especially dispiriting, said Li Mao, an educational consultant in Beijing. “It’s much more upsetting when it happens with teachers because our expectations of them are so much higher,” he said.

Affluent parents in the United States and around the world commonly seek to provide their children every advantage, of course, including paying for tutors and test preparation courses, and sometimes turning to private schools willing to accept wealthy students despite poor grades.

But critics say China’s state-run education system — promoted as the hallmark of Communist meritocracy — is being overrun by bribery and cronyism. Such corruption has broadened the gulf between the haves and have-nots as Chinese families see their hopes for the future sold to the highest bidder.”

via In China Schools, a Culture of Bribery Spreads – NYTimes.com.

Posted in corruption, Economics, education | 2 Comments »

Tags: Beijing, Chinese culture, Hebei, Li Mao, Xi JinPing

22/11/2012

* Lone stand against wrecking ball

Even China cannot stop the determined individual protester. But this situation highlights the many protests against inadequate compensation for having to move home. The interesting thing about this post is that the source is China Daily, a state-sponsored news website.

China Daily: “An isolated five-floor building is standing in the middle of a new road that will soon be open in Wenling, Zhejiang province, the People’s Daily reported.

Lone stand against wrecking ball

A family from Xiazhangyang village insists on living on the isolated building, because they are not satisfied with the relocation compensation offered by the government, the neighbors said, according to the captions of the photos taken on Wednesday.

To guarantee their safety, neighboring rooms next to them are being kept from demolition, though the neighbors all moved out.

The road, which leads to the Wenling Railway Station, hasn’t been put into use yet.”

via Lone stand against wrecking ball[1]|chinadaily.com.cn.

Posted in China alert, Citizens's rights, Construction, demolition, Economics, Human rights, Justice, public protest | Leave a Comment »

Tags: China, politics, Wenling, Wenling Railway Station

21/11/2012

* India outraged: voices rise in crescendo against ‘Facebook arrests’

Technoholik: “Oppressive, deplorable, arbitrary… the adjectives flew freely Tuesday as Indians across all sectors verbalised their outrage at the arrest of two young women who questioned on Facebook the shutdown in Mumbai after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray‘s death.

A day after 21-year-old Shaheen Dabha was arrested with her friend, who had ‘liked’ the post on Facebook, and her uncle’s clinic in Thane was vandalised, police arrested nine people believed to be from the Shiv Sena. Both the women were arrested Sunday – for “hurting religious sentiments” and under the Information Technology Act, 2000 – and released on bail Monday. Police also launched an inquiry against the arrests and the vandalism in Thane, near India’s financial and entertainment hub Mumbai.

But that did little to curb the democracy vs dictatorship debate and the mounting fury over police high-handedness. The topic was hotly discussed in college and school classrooms, in offices, on social networking sites and was also the top trending topic on Twitter. From corporates and students to politicians and academics, the voices of protest, young and old, rose in unison. “I am so scared to write on facebook… My freedom of expression is killed by the arrest of two young ladies in Mumbai,” wrote Guwahati-based wildlife activist Firoz Ahmed on his Facebook wall.

“Police officers who arrested the two girls in Mumbai shud be immediately dismissed. That’s minimum that the govt ought to do,” tweeted activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal. “Now you can’t ask questions about why there should be a bandh? Did anyone notify the police that this is actually a democracy?” Mumbai-based author Jerry Pinto wrote angrily on his Facebook wall. In Mumbai-based communications professional Kumar Manish’s view, the arrests were an “oppressive way of muzzling voices”. “It is unfortunate and deplorable that Maharashtra Police, a state functionary, acts and reacts within couple of hours for an action which is within the laws enshrined in the Constitution of India… We are living in a democracy, let us not make it ‘demo-crazy’,” he added.”

via India outraged: voices rise in crescendo against ‘Facebook arrests’ | Technoholik.com.

Posted in Censorship, Citizens's rights, Human rights, India alert, Rule of law | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Bal Thackeray, Facebook, India, information technology act, Maharashtra Police, mumbai, occupy-wall-street, politics, religious sentiments, shiv sena, shiv sena chief, social networking sites, The Information Technology Act 2000

17/11/2012

* Students from China add $5b to US economy

Not only does China own more of US debt than any other country, Chinese students account for the number 1 foreign students in the US. On top of it trade between the two is also at a very high level. Any concerns about military conflict between the US and China must be a remote possibility. They are too inter dependent. Never did the US-Soviet relationship approach anything like that of US-China. I hope I am right!

China Daily: “Booming Chinese-student enrollment in United States colleges and universities contributed nearly $5 billion to the US economy in the 2011-12 academic year, an education expert estimated.

“The rise of China as a contributor to the economies of many US institutions mirrors the increasing influence of China in the global economy,” wrote Rahul Choudaha, director of research and advisory services at World Education Services in an e-mail to China Daily.

World Education Services is a New York-based nonprofit that specializes in international education and research.

“In 2003-04, there were 61,765 Chinese students enrolled in the US, contributing an estimated $1.4 billion to the economy. This ballooned to 194,029, contributing nearly $5 billion, in 2011-12,” Choudaha added.

The number of Chinese students enrolled in US institutions of higher education in 2011-12 increased from 157,558 to 194,029, or 23 percent, over the previous year, a new report shows.

The Open Doors 2012 report, published on Tuesday by the Institute of International Education with support from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US State Department, reveals that international students in US universities make a significant positive economic impact on the US.

The report also shows that nearly half of Chinese students favor business and engineering, which became the top two majors among Chinese students.”

via Students from China add $5b to US economy |Society |chinadaily.com.cn.

Overseas students set record for US enrollment – Pittsburgh Post Gazette (post-gazette.com)
U.S. colleges get more international students (qctimes.com)
International enrollment at US colleges is climbing (foxnews.com)
Chinese Enrollment Soars as More International Students Attend U.S. Colleges (thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com)
Why there’s a boom in Chinese students attending US universities (qz.com)

Posted in China alert, Economics, education, foreign students | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, China, economy, Education, Institute of International Education, International student, United States, United States Department of State, World Education Services

17/11/2012

* Muslims help in construction of Hindu temple in Bihar

It is gratifying to learn that Hindu-Muslim relationships are not always about antipathy and violence.

Times of India: “While violence over the expansion of a Hindu temple near Charminar in Muslim-dominated Hyderabad’s Old City is hogging media attention, in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district, Muslims have been quietly helping Hindus construct a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, ahead of the Chhath festival.

Muslims help in construction of Hindu temple in Bihar

“Muslims are not only donating money for temple construction, they are also actively involved in ensuring that it should come up soon,” Rajkishore Raut, president of the Shiva Temple Construction Committee, told IANS.

Raut, a school teacher, said the construction of the temple was a fine example of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood.

Mohammad Sadre Alam Khan, a villager, said that dozens of Muslims, including village head Akbari Khatoon, have contributed in one way or another for the construction of the temple.

“This is a positive development for the village as a whole,” Khan said.

Another villager, Lalbabu Sah, said that villagers of both the communities were working jointly for the construction of the temple.

“The construction of the temple will strengthen harmony between the two communities and pave the way for greater cooperation in future,” Sah told IANS.

Sitamarhi town, which had a history of communal conflict, witnessed rioting in the mid-1990s. Muslims comprise around 16 percent of the 105 million people of Bihar.

Just months ago, Muslims observing Ramadan helped in the construction of a Jain temple in Bhagalpur town in the state.

Mohammad Janeshar Akhtar even demolished a portion of his house in Bhagalpur to enable the movement of a 70-foot truck laden with a granite stone block meant for an idol in the temple.

Other Muslims had helped widen the street so that the vehicle could reach the temple without difficulty.

Earlier this year, some Muslims had helped in building a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Durga in Bihar’s Gaya district.

Muslims there not only donated money but engaged in the actual construction of the temple.

Earlier, a Muslim had donated land for a temple dedicated to god Shiva in Begusarai district. Mohammad Fakhrool Islam had given his land for the temple in the Muslim-dominated Bachwara village.

via Muslims help in construction of Hindu temple in Bihar – The Times of India.

See also: https://chindia-alert.org/political-factors/indian-tensions/

Zardari to host special Diwali dinner for Bihar chief minister (thehindu.com)

Posted in Good news, India alert, religion, Religious clash | 1 Comment »

Tags: Bihar, goddess durga, Hindu, Hindu temple, India, islam, Muslim, muslim brotherhood, religion, Shiva

14/11/2012

* Respected China banker tipped to head anti-graft effort

Let us hope that Mr Wang does get included in the Central Committee of the Politburo; and that he retains his integrity and zealousness. Unless corruption is reduced substantially within the next five years, the future hold of the CPC on China will gradually but surely slip away.

Reuters: “A respected trade negotiator and former banker is likely to head China’s fight against corruption, a top priority for the world’s second-biggest economy, following his appointment to a key council at the end of the 18th congress of the Communist Party.

Known as “the chief firefighter”, Wang Qishan, 64, sorted out a debt crisis in southern Guangdong province where he was vice governor in the late 1990s. Later, he replaced the sacked Beijing mayor after a cover-up of the deadly SARS virus in 2003.

Wang is now a shoo-in for the elite standing committee, the highest level of decision-making in China, after being elected to the party’s central committee and its graft-battling Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

“The bad news is that we are going to lose one of the most capable economic affairs managers in the country,” said Bo Zhiyue, a Chinese politics expert at the National University of Singapore.

“The good news is that the new Chinese leadership is really interested in doing something about corruption,” he added. “With the nickname ‘firefighter’, I think he would be one of the most capable leaders of the Politburo Standing Committee.”

via Respected China banker tipped to head anti-graft effort | Reuters.

Posted in 10 year leadership change, China alert, corruption, Politics | 1 Comment »

Tags: Beijing, China, communist party of china, Hu Jintao, Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, politics, Wang Qishan

13/11/2012

* Child journalists grill ministers at China congress

“From the mouth of babes …” If only the official response had been more honest and not from the standard script.

SCMP: “The innocent but pointed questions from a pair of young reporters to officials at China’s Communist Party talks have provided a refreshing break from the usual fare of bland reports and rote answers.

The plucky 11-year-old reporters from Chinese Teenagers News have become a minor media sensation in their own right by highlighting hot-button issues that typically make authorities squirm, including food safety and rising prices.

Zhang Jiahe, press badge around his neck and “junior journalist” embroidered on his clothing, told China’s housing minister that rising accommodation costs were affecting disposable income – including for new toys.

“Our family has not bought a house but a few friends nearby have faced this problem,” he said at the normally tightly-scripted gathering that heralds the unveiling of a new leadership on Thursday.

Skyrocketing property prices have squeezed China’s growing urban population in recent years even as government controls have slowed their rise.

Meanwhile food safety scandals have put off Zhang’s colleague Sun Luyuan and her friends from eating their favourite snacks.

“I love snacks, but I don’t dare to eat snacks now because we see so many reports these days of problems with food products,” she asked high-level officials, according to the state-run China News Service.

“Why are these kinds of food products available for purchase?”

Many Chinese have become concerned about food safety after a spate of scandals including a vast contamination of milk powder in 2008 that killed six babies and sickened 300,000 others.

“I thought of the question myself,” Sun told reporters this week of last Friday’s press conference. “I think this issue is very important to us so I really wanted to ask this question.”

Sun said the delegates had all been friendly so she was not afraid to put queries to them on behalf of Chinese Teenagers News, which is affiliated with the Communist Youth League.

The pair’s supervisor told reporters they were selected for the assignment because they were among the best journalists at the paper.

For over an hour during a press conference on Monday, both faced forward and sat up straight, seemingly unfazed by the unending flashes as photographers captured their efforts.

But while the child reporters’ inquiries have been acute, they have only received standard answers.

Sun was given a stock response on food standards from officials who pledged the government was addressing the situation and putting proper safety measures in place – a line repeated for years even as the scandals have persisted.

via Child journalists grill ministers at China congress | South China Morning Post.

* The consuming challenge of food safety (chindia-alert.org)

Posted in 10 year leadership change, China alert, Economics, Social & cultural | 1 Comment »

Tags: China, food safety, Xi JinPing

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

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