Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
China arrests hundreds of computer hackers
China has arrested 460 computer hackers this year and closed a number of hacker-training websites, but warned that the chances of further cyber-attacks remain "very grim".
The announcement on the arrests of hackers only discussed the domestic Chinese situation and not attacks on international targets.
It said the authorities had arrested 460 hackers, solved 180 cases of computer crimes, and shut down 14 websites providing hacking software or training. It did not name any specific cases.
Earlier this year, however, China said it had shut down a website selling "tools" for hackers, which they said was generating around £650,000 a year in revenues from 12,000 subscribers.
The statement said Chinese hackers were seeking "private gain" from their actions, such as draining bank accounts. It said reports of hacking incidents to the authorities had risen by 80 per cent a year "in recent years".
China has a huge network of hackers, known in Chinese as "heike" or "black guests", and experts believe a significant proportion of them are trained by the government-affiliated bodies.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Blood Debts in China
China marked World AIDS Day yesterday by opening up a bit more about its troubled history with the HIV virus. State media reported that the Health Ministry revised upward—without explanation—the number of Chinese who have died from the disease since the 1980s to 68,315, from 49,845 a year ago.
Chen Bingzhong
.However, the real figure is probably much higher. Beijing spent much of the last two decades trying to cover up the extent of the disease's spread, and ignoring its causes. In particular, in Henan province rural residents sold their blood plasma to government and private collection stations that used unsanitary methods and infected perhaps 100,000 people with the HIV virus. About 10,000 of them have died of the disease. Provincial officials silenced activists who initially sounded the alarm, meaning that most of the infected were exposed unnecessarily.
Now Chen Bingzhong, a former high-ranking health official, has stepped forward to demand accountability for this crime. And he is pointing the finger at two of the nine most powerful men in the land, Politburo Standing Committee Members Li Changchun and Li Keqiang. The former is currently head of the Communist Party's propaganda apparatus, and the latter is expected to replace Wen Jiabao as the nation's premier in 2012. Both held the post of Henan party secretary in the 1990s and early 2000s while the blood contamination was happening.
Mr. Chen's public accusation would normally cost him his freedom, but since the 78-year-old official is suffering from liver cancer he may be immune to the Party's intimidation. In any case, his act of conscience deserves applause. Much like Jiang Yanyong, the military doctor who blew the whistle on the SARS cover-up in 2003 and then called for the reappraisal of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, Mr. Chen simply demands that leaders be held accountable for their actions: "They have lied to their superiors and hidden the truth from the common people. They are guilty of serious dereliction of duty."
Chen Bingzhong
.However, the real figure is probably much higher. Beijing spent much of the last two decades trying to cover up the extent of the disease's spread, and ignoring its causes. In particular, in Henan province rural residents sold their blood plasma to government and private collection stations that used unsanitary methods and infected perhaps 100,000 people with the HIV virus. About 10,000 of them have died of the disease. Provincial officials silenced activists who initially sounded the alarm, meaning that most of the infected were exposed unnecessarily.
Now Chen Bingzhong, a former high-ranking health official, has stepped forward to demand accountability for this crime. And he is pointing the finger at two of the nine most powerful men in the land, Politburo Standing Committee Members Li Changchun and Li Keqiang. The former is currently head of the Communist Party's propaganda apparatus, and the latter is expected to replace Wen Jiabao as the nation's premier in 2012. Both held the post of Henan party secretary in the 1990s and early 2000s while the blood contamination was happening.
Mr. Chen's public accusation would normally cost him his freedom, but since the 78-year-old official is suffering from liver cancer he may be immune to the Party's intimidation. In any case, his act of conscience deserves applause. Much like Jiang Yanyong, the military doctor who blew the whistle on the SARS cover-up in 2003 and then called for the reappraisal of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, Mr. Chen simply demands that leaders be held accountable for their actions: "They have lied to their superiors and hidden the truth from the common people. They are guilty of serious dereliction of duty."
Party Talks Rejected
The Republic of Korea (ROK) and U.S. reject six party talks.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2010-12/01/content_11639075.htm
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2010-12/01/content_11639075.htm
China - Not Less Attractive for Foreign Investment After New Laws
"As of Dec 1, China begins to charge foreign companies two taxes, which helps finance local city maintenance, construction, and schools. Domestic firms now pays this tax."
China has came a long way in the last 30 years from when the country was in an economic standstill. The country was finally opened up to foreign investment. Since then China has been expanding its economic influence on the world. China has been attracting foreign companies by giving them hefty and exclusive tax breaks.
China has gradually shifted into more of a market economy and more equal treatment for foreign and domestic companies is being put into place.
The first change came in 2008 when the income tax rates were equalized to 25%. Foreign firms were originally at 15% while domestic firms were at 33%. Many foreign companies were not happy about this, but if they wanted to stay in the country and continue to enjoy the benefits then they would have to adjust. That's what many did...adjusted.
Foreign companies in China will now just have to do the same with the new taxes being put into place. China is smart by doing this because they know that companies will not leave and will do whatever they can to stay in China. China is going to continue to expand and foreign companies would be crazy to leave because of a few new taxes.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-12/01/content_11638359.htm
China has came a long way in the last 30 years from when the country was in an economic standstill. The country was finally opened up to foreign investment. Since then China has been expanding its economic influence on the world. China has been attracting foreign companies by giving them hefty and exclusive tax breaks.
China has gradually shifted into more of a market economy and more equal treatment for foreign and domestic companies is being put into place.
The first change came in 2008 when the income tax rates were equalized to 25%. Foreign firms were originally at 15% while domestic firms were at 33%. Many foreign companies were not happy about this, but if they wanted to stay in the country and continue to enjoy the benefits then they would have to adjust. That's what many did...adjusted.
Foreign companies in China will now just have to do the same with the new taxes being put into place. China is smart by doing this because they know that companies will not leave and will do whatever they can to stay in China. China is going to continue to expand and foreign companies would be crazy to leave because of a few new taxes.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-12/01/content_11638359.htm
Philips Moves Domestic Appliances to China
Philips has announced they are moving their division over household applianced to China in order to increase growth in both China and the world, along with lowering production costs.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
70,000 People Relocated for China's water diversion plan
70,000 Residents of China's Hubei Province have all relocated to new communities because their residences will be underwater after the creation of the South-North water diversion project. An additional 10,000 people will also have to be relocated to make way for the project.
The South-North water diversion project will be taking water from the Yangtze River which is the largest in China and make routes to get water into drought prone areas of China. These routes include an eastern, middle, and western route. The creation of the middle route will force another 330,000 residents to relocate.
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2010-11/30/content_21450692.htm
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tax puzzle
The disagreement between the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Commerce over the legitimacy of a 1,000-yuan tax on iPads purchased overseas and brought into the country for personal use seems to have come to an end. But it should not have ended in the way it has.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, the commerce ministry said it supports the customs in carrying out its duties, and believes levying the tax is consistent with the latter's duties and current conditions.
Before that, the ministry sent an enquiry to the customs authorities and expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the tax. The letter pinpointed two concerns shared widely by ordinary citizens. First, both the sum and rate of the tax imposed on iPad units brought into the country for personal use are too high. Second, the after-tax price of iPad units has been over-estimated.
The official reply from the customs, though simple and assured, sounded lame to most. Instead of presenting a convincing clarification of the composition of the blanket 1,000-yuan levy, it said the sum was determined in consideration of passenger convenience at customs.
Link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/2010-11/17/content_11562371.htm
Video: http://www.china.org.cn/video/2010-11/16/content_21351948.htm
Experts: Same-sex marriage could help curb HIV
AIDS among teens, seniors on the rise in Beijing
The number of HIV/AIDS carriers aged over 60 in the capital has been increasing in recent years, an official surnamed Mao from the Beijing Health Bureau revealed on Friday.
Mao said the number of teenagers and seniors with HIV/AIDS was climbing fast in the city.
An additional 16 clinics offering tests and consultations for the disease were opened this year.
By the end of September, Beijing had 61 such clinics in 16 districts and counties.
According to statistics from the bureau, four hospitals that offer treatment to people with HIV/AIDS - including YouAn Hospital and Ditan Hospital - had helped more than 1,100 patients this year.
This article says that only .05 of China's population is gay. With a population size of over 1 billion, .05 of the population is around 67 million people!
If the article is right in claiming that 1 in 5 gays have HIV, that still leaves a total of around 15 million afftected.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hospital Scam Sparks Crackdown
Beijing - China's Ministry of Health vowed to crack down on bribery in hospitals after news of the corruption scandal involving dozens of doctors in East China broke early this week.
"In China, it is common for hospitals to profit from drug selling to continue operating, since they are in charge of the pharmaceutical departments and this provides chances for some doctors to make illegal money," said Xiao Yonghong, chief physician of the No 1 Hospital affiliated to Zhejiang University.
Read about the corruption:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-11/18/content_11566543.htm
"In China, it is common for hospitals to profit from drug selling to continue operating, since they are in charge of the pharmaceutical departments and this provides chances for some doctors to make illegal money," said Xiao Yonghong, chief physician of the No 1 Hospital affiliated to Zhejiang University.
Read about the corruption:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-11/18/content_11566543.htm
Friday, November 19, 2010
Chinese flock to US for further education
As the wealth of the middle class in China increases, more and more Chinese students are coming to the US for post-secondary education.
Pakistan commits to Chinese missile, fighter systems
China News.NetThursday 18th November, 2010 (IANS)
Pakistan is committed to arming its jointly developed fighter planes with Chinese missile and radar systems and is evaluating several Chinese surface-to-air missile systems, state media reported Thursday.A Chinese advanced active radar and the mid-range SD-10 homing missile would become standard equipment for Pakistan's planned fleet of 250 JF-17 fighter jets, which were jointly developed by the two nations, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman told the Global Times newspaper.'PAF has no plans to install Western devices and weapons on the aircraft for the time being,' Suleman was quoted as saying of the JF-17s during this week's Airshow China 2010 in the southern city of Zhuhai.Pakistan was also interested in Chinese-made precision-guided bombs and advanced missile systems, including surface-to-air systems, he said.In a separate interview in Zhuhai with the China Daily newspaper, Suleman said Pakistan was evaluating the advanced Hongqi-18 and several other Chinese surface-to-air systems.The PAF had also taken delivery of the first of four Chinese ZDK-03 airborne warning and control system (AWACS) planes last week, he told the China Daily.The latest JF-17 Thunder, known in China as the FC-1 Xiaolong, was shown in Zhuhai and had attracted interest from up to eight other nations, the Flightglobal website reported from the air show.Pakistan had already confirmed orders for 50 JF-17s and had 14 of the fighter planes in operation, the website said.China had 'talked with many customers' during the design phase of the JF-17 and was willing to include technology transfer in any deals, it quoted Zeng Wen, vice-president of China's state-run military aircraft marketing arm, as saying.Suleman told China Daily that the PAF's production of JF-17s was 'on a very fast track' with plans to raise the total number of assembled planes to 25 by the end of the year.'There is no shortage of trust and no shortage of will' between the Chinese and Pakistani military, he said. 'There will be more projects developed successfully.'Beijing-based military strategist Peng Guangqian told China Daily that the expanding military cooperation between China and Pakistan would have 'almost no effect on the balance of military power between Pakistan and India', particularly since India had recently signed a major defence deal with the US.
http://www.chinanews.net/story/708945
Thursday, November 18, 2010
A single tweet costs Chinese activist a year in jail
BEIJING—The power of Twitter was on full display in China this week: a single tweet has landed an activist in jail.
Cheng Jianping, a 46-year-old activist, was sentenced to one year of detention in a Chinese labour camp after “re-tweeting” a satirical message that mocked Chinese youths who were staging violent protests against Japan.
The protests arose during a dispute between China and Japan over the ownership of a set of islands in the East China Sea.
“Sentencing someone to a year in a labour camp, without trial, simply for repeating another person’s clearly satirical observation on Twitter demonstrates the level of China’s repression of online expression,” Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s director for the Asia-Pacific said.
Amnesty said Cheng might be “the first Chinese citizen to become a prisoner of conscience on the basis of a single tweet.”
The message was posted on Twitter in mid-October, after nationalist youths had gone on the rampage in some Chinese cities, smashing Japanese products including cars.
But news of Cheng’s punishment emerged only this week when she was sentenced by police to a year in Shibali River women’s labour camp in the central city of Zhengzhou.
China still operates a vast system of labour camps across the country and still empowers police and local administrators to jail people without trial for up to four years.
Cheng’s saga began when her fiancé, Hua Chunhui, posted a message on Twitter on Oct. 17 that said, “Anti-Japanese demonstrations, smashing Japanese products, that was all done years ago by Guo Quan (an activist). It’s no new trick. If you really want to kick it up a notch, fly immediately to Shanghai to smash the Japanese Expo pavilion.”
Cheng, writing under the name wangyi09, re-tweeted Hua’s message and added her own biting satire: “Angry youth, charge!” she wrote.
Ten days later, police detained Cheng for “disrupting social order.”
But her defenders say she and her finance’s satirical intent was obvious — they did not support the demonstrations against Japan.
“It is possible that Cheng Jianping may have been jailed for her online activism in the last few years and her expressions of support for other Chinese dissidents,” Zarifi said.
Cheng’s fiancé Hua, however, told the BBC that documentation received from the labour camp made it clear that Cheng had in fact been sentenced to re-education because of her “tweet.”
But he also noted that Cheng had signed a petition calling for the release of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, currently serving an 11-year sentence for calling for a multi-party democracy in China.
Cheng has now begun a hunger strike, he said.
Twitter — like Facebook and YouTube — is formally blocked by authorities in China.
But among China’s 400 million Internet users, many find ways around China’s so-called Great Firewall.
Cheng Jianping, a 46-year-old activist, was sentenced to one year of detention in a Chinese labour camp after “re-tweeting” a satirical message that mocked Chinese youths who were staging violent protests against Japan.
The protests arose during a dispute between China and Japan over the ownership of a set of islands in the East China Sea.
“Sentencing someone to a year in a labour camp, without trial, simply for repeating another person’s clearly satirical observation on Twitter demonstrates the level of China’s repression of online expression,” Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s director for the Asia-Pacific said.
Amnesty said Cheng might be “the first Chinese citizen to become a prisoner of conscience on the basis of a single tweet.”
The message was posted on Twitter in mid-October, after nationalist youths had gone on the rampage in some Chinese cities, smashing Japanese products including cars.
But news of Cheng’s punishment emerged only this week when she was sentenced by police to a year in Shibali River women’s labour camp in the central city of Zhengzhou.
China still operates a vast system of labour camps across the country and still empowers police and local administrators to jail people without trial for up to four years.
Cheng’s saga began when her fiancé, Hua Chunhui, posted a message on Twitter on Oct. 17 that said, “Anti-Japanese demonstrations, smashing Japanese products, that was all done years ago by Guo Quan (an activist). It’s no new trick. If you really want to kick it up a notch, fly immediately to Shanghai to smash the Japanese Expo pavilion.”
Cheng, writing under the name wangyi09, re-tweeted Hua’s message and added her own biting satire: “Angry youth, charge!” she wrote.
Ten days later, police detained Cheng for “disrupting social order.”
But her defenders say she and her finance’s satirical intent was obvious — they did not support the demonstrations against Japan.
“It is possible that Cheng Jianping may have been jailed for her online activism in the last few years and her expressions of support for other Chinese dissidents,” Zarifi said.
Cheng’s fiancé Hua, however, told the BBC that documentation received from the labour camp made it clear that Cheng had in fact been sentenced to re-education because of her “tweet.”
But he also noted that Cheng had signed a petition calling for the release of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, currently serving an 11-year sentence for calling for a multi-party democracy in China.
Cheng has now begun a hunger strike, he said.
Twitter — like Facebook and YouTube — is formally blocked by authorities in China.
But among China’s 400 million Internet users, many find ways around China’s so-called Great Firewall.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
China's acupuncture, Peking opera inscribed on Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. (UNCESO)
1st LD: China's acupuncture, Peking opera inscribed on Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
NAIROBI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine along with Peking opera were both inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the ongoing 5th session of the Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting in Nairobi.
The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which already has 166 elements from 77 countries, will be enriched by new elements.
On this occasion, the committee will examine 47 nominations from 29 states. In order to be inscribed, the elements must comply with a series of criteria, including contributing to spreading the knowledge of intangible cultural heritage and promoting awareness of its importance.
Nominees for the inscription must also justify protective measures taken to ensure their viability.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNCESO) conference kicked off in Nairobi on Monday with delegates calling for more efforts to safeguard the intangible heritage.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-11/16/c_13609664.htm
China Fighting Inflation in Food sector
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A vendor arranges bags of onions at a market in Yinchuan, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Nov 16, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]
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For example, Chinese cabbage and radishes were among the vegetables that saw big falls in prices, dropping 7.1 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively.
However, on a year-on-year basis, the prices of 18 staple vegetables in the first 10 days this month were still significantly higher from one year earlier, highlighting the pressure China faces in managing inflation, which soared to a 25-month high of 4.4 percent in October.
Meanwhile, prices of meat for the past week have been rising, the report showed, with prices of pork and mutton up 1.6 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.
Also, prices of eggs rose 0.9 percent, while prices of rice and flour rose 0.6 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.
The price of food, which accounts for one-third of weighting in the calculation of China's consumer price index (CPI), a major gauge of inflation, jumped 10.1 percent in October, pushing the index to a new high in more than two years after rising 3.6 percent in September.
Additionally, the government has set a target to maintain the annual inflation rate to remain under 3 percent.
Shanghai building fire, at least 79 dead
Shanghai Fire
This fire of a Shanghai 28 storey apartment complex was being renovated at the time of the fire on November 15th, 2010. It is very similar to the fire in February 2009 that frustrated firefighters. From the ground they could only reach half the building and were forced to get on rooftops of others nearby.
The death toll continues to rise. It was first thought that 56 lost their life, but in an article from the associated press released today shows the death toll at 79 dead and still at least 36 missing. Officals out of China has stated that 8 people have been detained that are linked to the fire. Apperently the 4 were unlisened welders; its said that sparks from their equipment cought the bamboo scafolting on fire.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/17/shanghai-fire-death-toll-rises
The Good?
Some good has come from this or at least a lesson has been learned. Chinese officals are already working and setting things in motion to stop this from iccuring again. One Chinese city in northern China is looking to buy a 3.76 million dollar fire truck. It is able to shoot water up 101 meters, the highest in the world. They are also looking into ways of prevention.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2010-11/17/content_11566239.htm
Hopefully the Chinese people and authorities have realized that the killer blaze of Monday needs to be prevented. They need to improve fireproof excape routes in buildings and proper firefighting equipment. They need to ensure that every high-rise building has fire extinguishers, escape routes, proper training for residents, and enough space within the buildings for firefighters to move in and around the building efficiently.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/2010-11/17/content_11564123.htm
This fire of a Shanghai 28 storey apartment complex was being renovated at the time of the fire on November 15th, 2010. It is very similar to the fire in February 2009 that frustrated firefighters. From the ground they could only reach half the building and were forced to get on rooftops of others nearby.
The death toll continues to rise. It was first thought that 56 lost their life, but in an article from the associated press released today shows the death toll at 79 dead and still at least 36 missing. Officals out of China has stated that 8 people have been detained that are linked to the fire. Apperently the 4 were unlisened welders; its said that sparks from their equipment cought the bamboo scafolting on fire.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/17/shanghai-fire-death-toll-rises
The Good?
Some good has come from this or at least a lesson has been learned. Chinese officals are already working and setting things in motion to stop this from iccuring again. One Chinese city in northern China is looking to buy a 3.76 million dollar fire truck. It is able to shoot water up 101 meters, the highest in the world. They are also looking into ways of prevention.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2010-11/17/content_11566239.htm
Hopefully the Chinese people and authorities have realized that the killer blaze of Monday needs to be prevented. They need to improve fireproof excape routes in buildings and proper firefighting equipment. They need to ensure that every high-rise building has fire extinguishers, escape routes, proper training for residents, and enough space within the buildings for firefighters to move in and around the building efficiently.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/2010-11/17/content_11564123.htm
China’s First Passenger Plane Stokes Pride, Wins Initial Sales
Yi Peng took a day off so he could walk through a model of China’s first large passenger plane.
“We are proud of this -- it’s a China-made plane,” self- employed Yi, 40, said as he waited with his wife to enter the full-size mockup at the Zhuhai air show yesterday. “If it were an imported plane, we wouldn’t be lining up.”
Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China announced its first 100 orders for the 166-seat C919 plane at the show as China strives to challenge Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS in the $70 billion-a-year global aircraft market. The nation is also developing high-speed trains, supercomputers and mobile-phone systems to create better-paying jobs and reduce its reliance on imports.
“The airplane is a big deal,” Mark Howes, Asia-Pacific president for Honeywell International Inc., a parts supplier for the C919, said at the show in southern China. “It’s a national program in terms of importance to the Chinese government.”
Visitors to Comac’s 1,500 square-meter (16,000 square-foot) show stand are able to tour the model cabin and cockpit in groups of about 15. They climb up boarding steps to reach the aircraft door, where two women dressed in red stewardesses uniform welcome them inside.
“The interior is clean and bright, not a bad feel overall,” said Jennifer Huo, 34, a Shanghai-based public- relations executive after her tour. “I feel proud that China can come up with such a plane.”
In-development Plane
The in-development aircraft is due to make its maiden flight in 2014 and enter service two years later. It will have a range of 2,200 nautical miles (3,500 km), according to details at the stand. It competes against Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’s A320, the planemakers’ most popular models.
Comac announced deals for as many as 100 C919s at the show from General Electric Co.’s leasing arm, and Chinese companies, including the nation’s big three carriers -- Air China Ltd., China Southern Airlines Co. and China Eastern Airlines Corp. It didn’t say how many planes each customer had ordered.
GE Capital Aviation Services Ltd., the world’s largest plane lessor, separately said it had signed a letter of intent for five planes with options for five more. GE’s venture with Safran SA, CFM International, will also supply engines for the C919 as the company works to boost sales in the world’s fastest- growing major economy.
Prove Performance
Ilyushin Finance Co., Russia’s biggest aircraft-leasing company, isn’t yet planning to follow GE in ordering C919s, Deputy Director General Ostrovskiy Yury said after his visit to the plane mockup. Comac first has to show that the C919 will meet performance pledges and win approval for the aircraft from overseas regulators, he said.
“If the Chinese aviation industry can improve their aircraft to such a quality that they can meet international certification, they would be more interesting for us,” he said.
Talks on leasing MA600 turboprops to Russian airlines have stumbled on a lack of certification, he said. The MA600 is made by Xi’an Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., a unit of Aviation Industry Corp. of China, or AVIC.
United Technologies Corp.’s Hamilton Sundstrand Corp. unit and Safran announced the formation of ventures at the show that will supply parts for the C919. Overseas suppliers are usually partnering with units of AVIC, the nation’s biggest aerospace company, to work on the plane.
Partsmakers are backing the aircraft because of surging growth in China’s aviation market. The country will likely need 4,265 new passenger planes through 2029, as economic growth will cause a fivefold jump in air travel, according to AVIC, which is an investor in Comac. The planemaker aims to sell 2,000 C919s worldwide over 20 years.
“Given china’s prowess, we should have been able to come up with a large plane much earlier,” said Huo, the PR executive, who visited the mockup. “But it’s not too late.”
“We are proud of this -- it’s a China-made plane,” self- employed Yi, 40, said as he waited with his wife to enter the full-size mockup at the Zhuhai air show yesterday. “If it were an imported plane, we wouldn’t be lining up.”
Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China announced its first 100 orders for the 166-seat C919 plane at the show as China strives to challenge Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS in the $70 billion-a-year global aircraft market. The nation is also developing high-speed trains, supercomputers and mobile-phone systems to create better-paying jobs and reduce its reliance on imports.
“The airplane is a big deal,” Mark Howes, Asia-Pacific president for Honeywell International Inc., a parts supplier for the C919, said at the show in southern China. “It’s a national program in terms of importance to the Chinese government.”
Visitors to Comac’s 1,500 square-meter (16,000 square-foot) show stand are able to tour the model cabin and cockpit in groups of about 15. They climb up boarding steps to reach the aircraft door, where two women dressed in red stewardesses uniform welcome them inside.
“The interior is clean and bright, not a bad feel overall,” said Jennifer Huo, 34, a Shanghai-based public- relations executive after her tour. “I feel proud that China can come up with such a plane.”
In-development Plane
The in-development aircraft is due to make its maiden flight in 2014 and enter service two years later. It will have a range of 2,200 nautical miles (3,500 km), according to details at the stand. It competes against Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’s A320, the planemakers’ most popular models.
Comac announced deals for as many as 100 C919s at the show from General Electric Co.’s leasing arm, and Chinese companies, including the nation’s big three carriers -- Air China Ltd., China Southern Airlines Co. and China Eastern Airlines Corp. It didn’t say how many planes each customer had ordered.
GE Capital Aviation Services Ltd., the world’s largest plane lessor, separately said it had signed a letter of intent for five planes with options for five more. GE’s venture with Safran SA, CFM International, will also supply engines for the C919 as the company works to boost sales in the world’s fastest- growing major economy.
Prove Performance
Ilyushin Finance Co., Russia’s biggest aircraft-leasing company, isn’t yet planning to follow GE in ordering C919s, Deputy Director General Ostrovskiy Yury said after his visit to the plane mockup. Comac first has to show that the C919 will meet performance pledges and win approval for the aircraft from overseas regulators, he said.
“If the Chinese aviation industry can improve their aircraft to such a quality that they can meet international certification, they would be more interesting for us,” he said.
Talks on leasing MA600 turboprops to Russian airlines have stumbled on a lack of certification, he said. The MA600 is made by Xi’an Aircraft Industry (Group) Co., a unit of Aviation Industry Corp. of China, or AVIC.
United Technologies Corp.’s Hamilton Sundstrand Corp. unit and Safran announced the formation of ventures at the show that will supply parts for the C919. Overseas suppliers are usually partnering with units of AVIC, the nation’s biggest aerospace company, to work on the plane.
Partsmakers are backing the aircraft because of surging growth in China’s aviation market. The country will likely need 4,265 new passenger planes through 2029, as economic growth will cause a fivefold jump in air travel, according to AVIC, which is an investor in Comac. The planemaker aims to sell 2,000 C919s worldwide over 20 years.
“Given china’s prowess, we should have been able to come up with a large plane much earlier,” said Huo, the PR executive, who visited the mockup. “But it’s not too late.”
China's Aggressive Push Toward Clean Energy Paying Off
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Housing market hit by new rules
Property sales have seen a sharp drop and there's been an increase in the number of cancellations of home orders in Chinese cities that have introduced regulations to limit purchases of property.
"The government will stop unreasonable home demand and limit speculation in the property market," housing management bureau officials have explained.
The cities' new rules now require buyers to have a household registration, or hukou, and a marriage certificate to purchase an apartment.
The new rules at the same time suspended second-home purchases for families who are residents, while denying new home loans for migrant families who have not worked in the city for at least one year. Also, many cities now have similar loan caps and higher down payment to cool down the overheated property market.
Link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-10/20/content_11433761.htm
Chinese Government to Introduce Food Price Rules
The Chinese government is going to adjusts measures to keep food prices from rising too high. The National Development and Reform Commission will be placing strict rules in order to keep food prices more stable. The government plans to set a price ceiling to regulate the market and vegetable supplies in the cities will be improved to prevent shortages.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2010-11/16/content_11556581.htm
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2010-11/16/content_11556581.htm
Monday, November 15, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Mahjong Simple Rules
http://www.sloperama.com/mjfaq/mjfaq10.html
THE TILES
Leave out the flowers (hey, you wanted SIMPLE rules, right?). Just use the basic 136 tiles:
DOTS (Numbered 1-9; 4 of each, for a total of 36)
BAMS ("Sticks" numbered 1-9; the 1 looks like a bird; there are 4 of each, for a total of 36)
CRAKS (Chinese characters numbered 1-9; there are 4 of each, for a total of 36)
WINDS (Chinese characters labeled E, S, W, N; there are 4 of each, for a total of 16)
DRAGONS (Red Dragon, Green Dragon, White Dragon; there are 4 of each, for a total of 12; the whites may have a rectangular design or may be blank)
THE TILES
Leave out the flowers (hey, you wanted SIMPLE rules, right?). Just use the basic 136 tiles:
DOTS (Numbered 1-9; 4 of each, for a total of 36)
BAMS ("Sticks" numbered 1-9; the 1 looks like a bird; there are 4 of each, for a total of 36)
CRAKS (Chinese characters numbered 1-9; there are 4 of each, for a total of 36)
WINDS (Chinese characters labeled E, S, W, N; there are 4 of each, for a total of 16)
DRAGONS (Red Dragon, Green Dragon, White Dragon; there are 4 of each, for a total of 12; the whites may have a rectangular design or may be blank)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Expatriate
The Myth of the Hero's Journey. (Campbell, 1968)
The Call to Adventure or Refusal of the Call - Request to go Abroad
Crossing the First Threshold - fascinating, adventurous, lonely overseas assignment
The Belly of the Whale - ambiguity of unknown languages and customs, challenging beyond responsibility and autonomy in own country
The Magical Friend - cultural mentors help them understand the other cultures and provide reassurance that they will succeed at challenges
The Road of Trials - unfamiliar obstacles confront them, question own identity, values, taken for granted assumptions about everyday life.
The Ultimate Boon - Gain satisfaction, mastery, self-efficacy, increased self-confidence, interpersonal skills, tolerance for differences.
The Return - sense of loss at leaving behind magical charm and fulfillment. Some treated like heros and use skills others not.
The Call to Adventure
Refusal of the Call
The Magical Friend
Crossing the First Threshold
Belly of the Whale
The Road of Trials
The Ultimate Boon
Crossing the Return Threshold
- Luke escapes to rebel base
- Luke can fly
Expatriates
Hero talk
pride in succeeding at difficult work assignments
making it on their own
adapt to change
The Call to Adventure or Refusal of the Call - Request to go Abroad
Crossing the First Threshold - fascinating, adventurous, lonely overseas assignment
The Belly of the Whale - ambiguity of unknown languages and customs, challenging beyond responsibility and autonomy in own country
The Magical Friend - cultural mentors help them understand the other cultures and provide reassurance that they will succeed at challenges
The Road of Trials - unfamiliar obstacles confront them, question own identity, values, taken for granted assumptions about everyday life.
The Ultimate Boon - Gain satisfaction, mastery, self-efficacy, increased self-confidence, interpersonal skills, tolerance for differences.
The Return - sense of loss at leaving behind magical charm and fulfillment. Some treated like heros and use skills others not.
The Call to Adventure
Refusal of the Call
The Magical Friend
Crossing the First Threshold
Belly of the Whale
The Road of Trials
The Ultimate Boon
Crossing the Return Threshold
- Luke escapes to rebel base
- Luke can fly
Expatriates
Hero talk
pride in succeeding at difficult work assignments
making it on their own
adapt to change
Monday, October 25, 2010
International Management 2
What are we trying to achieve?
Why does an international presence make sense?
What pressures are companies facing?
What are the options?
Motivations to Internationalize
Traditional Motivators
Why does an international presence make sense?
What pressures are companies facing?
What are the options?
Motivations to Internationalize
Traditional Motivators
- Secure key supplies
- Aluminum - bauxite
- Tire companies - rubber plantations
- Oil companies - oil fields
- Chevron video
- Market seeking
- small home markets couldn't support volume of intense manufacturing process in food, tobacco, chemicals, & auto
- Access low-cost factors of production
- Chna labor cost increase
- Production and operations
- scale economies
- ballooning R&D investments
- shortening product life cycles
- Global scanning and learning
- Competitive positioning
- Motivation - location specific advantages
- Strategic competencies - ownership specific advantages to couteract disadvantages of unfamiliarity
- Organizational capabilities - leveraging strategic strengths
International Management
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.
Luthans and Doh define globalization as "the process of social, political, economic, cultural, and technological integration of countries around the world (8)."
What constitutes classifying a company as a MNC?
Substantial direct investment n foreign countries actively manage and regard those operations as integral parts of the company - strategically and organizationally.
UN def
2 or more countries; decision making centers; linked and can influence activities of others.
Top 500 MNC - 70% of world trade
85% of autos
70% computers
65% softdrinks
Fortune Global List
It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning a lion wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.
It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle.
When the sun comes up, you better start running.
(African proverb - from Friedman, 2007)
Luthans and Doh define globalization as "the process of social, political, economic, cultural, and technological integration of countries around the world (8)."
Examples of these include:
Chinese milk Scandal; Satyam scandal; Sony losses
What are the benefits and costs of globalization for different sectors of the society? (companies, workers, communities)
For years we have seen the benefits of globalization, what risks did we overlook?
What ramifications will the economic downturn have on the pace of globalization?
Historical foundations of globalization.
Chinese milk Scandal; Satyam scandal; Sony losses
What are the benefits and costs of globalization for different sectors of the society? (companies, workers, communities)
For years we have seen the benefits of globalization, what risks did we overlook?
What ramifications will the economic downturn have on the pace of globalization?
Historical foundations of globalization.
Trans-Saharan Crosss-Continental trade
Agreements
Trade agreements - link to information about trade agreements.
Changing World
BRIC - what countries compose this group? What is the importance of the group?
B Brazil
R Russia
I India
C China
International management requires a working knowledge of the forces involved in global business operations.
MNCTrade agreements - link to information about trade agreements.
Changing World
BRIC - what countries compose this group? What is the importance of the group?
B Brazil
R Russia
I India
C China
International management requires a working knowledge of the forces involved in global business operations.
What constitutes classifying a company as a MNC?
Substantial direct investment n foreign countries actively manage and regard those operations as integral parts of the company - strategically and organizationally.
UN def
2 or more countries; decision making centers; linked and can influence activities of others.
Top 500 MNC - 70% of world trade
85% of autos
70% computers
65% softdrinks
Fortune Global List
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Chinese Tree-Planting Day
Tree-Planting Day
March 12 is Tree-Planting Day in China. In February 1979, the 5th National People's Congress of People Republic of China made a resolution that March 12th would be taken as Chinese Tree-Planting Day, requiring the whole country to carry out planting activities on this day and support the construction of forestry.
Between 1982-2003 more than 42 billion trees were planted in China and China now tops with the most "human-planted" trees on Earth.
Sources:
http://www.chinainfoonline.com/ChineseFestival/Tree-Planting_Day.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?China-Tree-Planting-Day---A-Day-For-Trees-in-China&id=3949493
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/news/tree-planting-day-china.html
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-03/12/content_313964.htm
March 12 is Tree-Planting Day in China. In February 1979, the 5th National People's Congress of People Republic of China made a resolution that March 12th would be taken as Chinese Tree-Planting Day, requiring the whole country to carry out planting activities on this day and support the construction of forestry.
Between 1982-2003 more than 42 billion trees were planted in China and China now tops with the most "human-planted" trees on Earth.
Sources:
http://www.chinainfoonline.com/ChineseFestival/Tree-Planting_Day.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?China-Tree-Planting-Day---A-Day-For-Trees-in-China&id=3949493
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/news/tree-planting-day-china.html
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-03/12/content_313964.htm
Teacher's Day
Teacher's Day
September 10th is Teacher's Day which has been celebrated by China since 1931 when it was founded at National Central University. It was suspended in the 1950's but was revived again in 1985 by the National People's Congress in honor of teachers for their hard work and to reverse the anti-intellectual sentiment that was nurtured during the Cultural Revolution. It is one of three holidays for professionals.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/festival/national.htm
http://chineseculture.about.com/b/2010/09/10/happy-teachers-day.htm
http://www.1on1mandarin.com/blog/chinese-teachers-day/
September 10th is Teacher's Day which has been celebrated by China since 1931 when it was founded at National Central University. It was suspended in the 1950's but was revived again in 1985 by the National People's Congress in honor of teachers for their hard work and to reverse the anti-intellectual sentiment that was nurtured during the Cultural Revolution. It is one of three holidays for professionals.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/festival/national.htm
http://chineseculture.about.com/b/2010/09/10/happy-teachers-day.htm
http://www.1on1mandarin.com/blog/chinese-teachers-day/
China's Agriculture
China is increasing its involvement in global markets. Agricultural exports are are allowing the farmers to create more jobs and increase their income, however their returns are not always as high as they should be. Farmers receive high prices from vegetables and not as much from the likes grain (as shown below).
Imports of soybean, cotton, animal hides, rubber, and vegetable oils have boomed, but Chinese policy makers have a growing concern that the country is relying to much on imports. China has a goal to limit grain imports to no more than 5% of the countries total consumption by 2020. They also want to expand their exports on things like livestock, soybeans, cotton, sugar, apples, and citrus over the next 5 years.
World's leading producer of cotton and leading exporter of wheat and oilseeds. China is almost self sufficient in wheat and corn. It is the world's top consumer of meat and grain.
China's agricultural exports have slowed because of the raising concerns with food safety, tighter enforcement of environmental regulations, rising labor costs and other major concerns about the Chinese economy.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/June09/Features/ChinaMarket.htm
Check out the link below for more information on China's major Agricultural sectors.
http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=345&catid=9&subcatid=63
Other Television Shows
China's "The Apprentice" (Reality)
Reality shows are very popular in China. Ying Zai Zhongguo (“Win in China”) is a reality show inspired by Donald Trump’s The Apprentice which features fledgling entrepreneurs presenting ideas to a panels of judges that has included some of the best known names in Chinese business such as Jack Ma of Alibaba.com.. The winner at the end of th run of the show is awarded $1.3 million in seed money from a venture capitalist to start the business and he presented it.
The judges on Ying Zai Zhongguo grill the entrepreneurs on their ideas and evaluate them as they compete in teams and perform tasks such as rasing money for a charity or coming up with a solution to a business problem. Contestants on winning teams come back for the next show. Those on the losing team go through various other trials to decide who comes back and who goes home. In the “PK,” or “Player Kill”, segment two contestants face off against one another issuing questions, challenges and taunts under a timing and buzzer system with the audience at the end determining which player gets “killed.”
Dating Shows:
One of the most popular television shows in China is a matchmaking program called We Meet Tonight, which is sort of a cross between the Dating Gameand a talent show. "We receive very few applications from young women who are willing to appear as contestants," the host of the show told the New York Times. "The men are much more bold about agreeing to appear. And they are bold because they have to be."
Viewers are encouraged to write in for a date with contestant. "Maybe a man who appears on the show will get 30 letters," Ms. Yang said. "But a woman will get over 50, sometimes 60. Sometime many more. Our record holder is a 24-year-old woman who got more than 500 letters." The show’s host claims he has set up several hundred marriages.
China's "American Idol"
The Chinese version of American Idol--Supergirl Idol--has been enormously popular, attracting up to 400 million viewers, nearly a third of the population of China, with many of them voting for their favorites with text messages. The winner of the contest, Li Yuchan, who received 3.5 million text message votes ahead of 3.2 million for her nearest rival, became so popular she took the No. 6 spot on the Forbes list of China’s hottest and richest celebrities.
The sponsor of Supergirl Idol, the milk company Mengniu, saw it sales increase fivefold while the show was aired. Supergirl Idol, which originated on a Hunan satellite channel, was so successful that in August 2007 the Chinese government labeled the show “coarse” and shut it down. The crack down, Beijing said, was part its campaign against the declining quality of television programming but many think that it was really shut down over worries by the government that viewers being allowed to vote for favorites on a television show could lead to demands for democracy
Reality shows are very popular in China. Ying Zai Zhongguo (“Win in China”) is a reality show inspired by Donald Trump’s The Apprentice which features fledgling entrepreneurs presenting ideas to a panels of judges that has included some of the best known names in Chinese business such as Jack Ma of Alibaba.com.. The winner at the end of th run of the show is awarded $1.3 million in seed money from a venture capitalist to start the business and he presented it.
The judges on Ying Zai Zhongguo grill the entrepreneurs on their ideas and evaluate them as they compete in teams and perform tasks such as rasing money for a charity or coming up with a solution to a business problem. Contestants on winning teams come back for the next show. Those on the losing team go through various other trials to decide who comes back and who goes home. In the “PK,” or “Player Kill”, segment two contestants face off against one another issuing questions, challenges and taunts under a timing and buzzer system with the audience at the end determining which player gets “killed.”
Dating Shows:
One of the most popular television shows in China is a matchmaking program called We Meet Tonight, which is sort of a cross between the Dating Gameand a talent show. "We receive very few applications from young women who are willing to appear as contestants," the host of the show told the New York Times. "The men are much more bold about agreeing to appear. And they are bold because they have to be."
Viewers are encouraged to write in for a date with contestant. "Maybe a man who appears on the show will get 30 letters," Ms. Yang said. "But a woman will get over 50, sometimes 60. Sometime many more. Our record holder is a 24-year-old woman who got more than 500 letters." The show’s host claims he has set up several hundred marriages.
China's "American Idol"
The Chinese version of American Idol--Supergirl Idol--has been enormously popular, attracting up to 400 million viewers, nearly a third of the population of China, with many of them voting for their favorites with text messages. The winner of the contest, Li Yuchan, who received 3.5 million text message votes ahead of 3.2 million for her nearest rival, became so popular she took the No. 6 spot on the Forbes list of China’s hottest and richest celebrities.
The sponsor of Supergirl Idol, the milk company Mengniu, saw it sales increase fivefold while the show was aired. Supergirl Idol, which originated on a Hunan satellite channel, was so successful that in August 2007 the Chinese government labeled the show “coarse” and shut it down. The crack down, Beijing said, was part its campaign against the declining quality of television programming but many think that it was really shut down over worries by the government that viewers being allowed to vote for favorites on a television show could lead to demands for democracy
Miniseries
Miniseries in China are arguably one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Actors and singers on a successful miniseries can easily be sprung into stardom. Even the less popular shows can draw well over a million viewers.
A Dream of Red Mansions, based on a classic Chinese novel set in 16th century, was a hugely popular television series in mid 2000s. The first popular miniseries was Plainclothes Police, a 12-part series that appeared in the mid 1980s. River Elegy, a 1988 miniseries is said to have been as influential as Roots was in America.
Chinese miniseries tend to be long. Yangzheng Dynasty, a popular docu-drama shown in the late 1990s about a cruel but reform-minded Qing dynasty emperor, had 44 parts. Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, shown on the weekends in the early 2000s, had 46 parts. Other popular miniseries have included the 28-part Kelan P.I., the 35-party X-Files-like Strange Man, Strange Case and 20-part medical drama Loving Care. Advertisers like long miniseries because they often pay per miniseries rather than per episode. If a ministries runs a long time, more people see their ads.
The popular Communist-party-endorsed miniseries Awaken From a Dream in Five Willow Village was about a beautiful peasant girl who married a rich man but doesn't know that he is having an affair with her best friend. As the story develops the best friend gets pregnant, the husband goes bankrupt and the peasant girl finds happiness raising geese, falling in love with a good peasant man who has adored her secretly for years.
One of the most popular miniseries writers is Hai Yan, a former police officer who draws on his experience to produce police dramas such as Jade Goddess of Mercy, a police story that centers around a policewoman who finds out her lover is a drug dealer.
A Dream of Red Mansions, based on a classic Chinese novel set in 16th century, was a hugely popular television series in mid 2000s. The first popular miniseries was Plainclothes Police, a 12-part series that appeared in the mid 1980s. River Elegy, a 1988 miniseries is said to have been as influential as Roots was in America.
Chinese miniseries tend to be long. Yangzheng Dynasty, a popular docu-drama shown in the late 1990s about a cruel but reform-minded Qing dynasty emperor, had 44 parts. Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, shown on the weekends in the early 2000s, had 46 parts. Other popular miniseries have included the 28-part Kelan P.I., the 35-party X-Files-like Strange Man, Strange Case and 20-part medical drama Loving Care. Advertisers like long miniseries because they often pay per miniseries rather than per episode. If a ministries runs a long time, more people see their ads.
The popular Communist-party-endorsed miniseries Awaken From a Dream in Five Willow Village was about a beautiful peasant girl who married a rich man but doesn't know that he is having an affair with her best friend. As the story develops the best friend gets pregnant, the husband goes bankrupt and the peasant girl finds happiness raising geese, falling in love with a good peasant man who has adored her secretly for years.
One of the most popular miniseries writers is Hai Yan, a former police officer who draws on his experience to produce police dramas such as Jade Goddess of Mercy, a police story that centers around a policewoman who finds out her lover is a drug dealer.
In Focus
In Focus is a popular 60-Minutes style muckraking show that is on every evening for 15 minutes at 7:38pm. Watched by 300 million viewers and launched in 1994, it features reporters sticking microphones into the faces of corrupt officials and investigates controversial topics such as domestic violence and the flouting of pollution laws by factories. Although many controversial topic are addressed some topics such as forced abortion and the status of dissidents are still off limits. I'm not sure if it Is still on.
Former Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongi said he watched In Focus every night and sometimes showed taped segments from it during his meetings. The show gained such a reputation that many people said, "If you have a problem, don’t go to the police or the Communist party, go to In Focus."
In Focus and other news magazine shows like Oriental Horizon, Probe and Beijing Express use hidden cameras and in-your-face interview tactics. They walk a dangerous line of investigating corruption and scandals, often involving Communist party members, but not digging up anything that might offend Communist party leaders.
Former Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongi said he watched In Focus every night and sometimes showed taped segments from it during his meetings. The show gained such a reputation that many people said, "If you have a problem, don’t go to the police or the Communist party, go to In Focus."
In Focus and other news magazine shows like Oriental Horizon, Probe and Beijing Express use hidden cameras and in-your-face interview tactics. They walk a dangerous line of investigating corruption and scandals, often involving Communist party members, but not digging up anything that might offend Communist party leaders.
News Programs
The CCTV evening news is the world's most watched news program. Watched by around 200 million viewers every night, its a boring affair featuring scenes of Chinese leaders shown in descending rank and seniority meeting foreign dignitaries and visiting factories and party meeting around the country. There is very little international news or anything that could be described as interesting.
- When U.S. President Bill Clinton visited China a news conference and friendly debate between him and Jiang Zemin was shown live and uncensored on CCTV. Chinese audiences had never seen anything like that before and liked what they saw.
- The anchors on Chinese television news programs have traditionally been grim-faced, and stoic and lacking in style. But this is less the case today. In the mid 2000s, CCTV began featuring half-smiling pretty women and slick-looking men as anchors. An informal poll taken by Sina.com found that many Chinese favored the change, with many agreeing with the statement that the new anchors are “fresh, lively and not lecturing.”
- When U.S. President Bill Clinton visited China a news conference and friendly debate between him and Jiang Zemin was shown live and uncensored on CCTV. Chinese audiences had never seen anything like that before and liked what they saw.
- The anchors on Chinese television news programs have traditionally been grim-faced, and stoic and lacking in style. But this is less the case today. In the mid 2000s, CCTV began featuring half-smiling pretty women and slick-looking men as anchors. An informal poll taken by Sina.com found that many Chinese favored the change, with many agreeing with the statement that the new anchors are “fresh, lively and not lecturing.”
Traditional vs. Official Holidays
The Chinese, like other peoples, observe two sets of holidays, official and traditional.
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Not as much celebrated as it is in other parts of the world because it is overshadowed by the upcoming Chinese New Year somewhere a month away. However, employees will enjoy a paid day-off. And there will be parties everywhere, in parks, dancing halls and universities where students will leave for the winter vacation.
- International Women's Day (March 8)
- Interestingly, women employees will get a whole or an half paid day-off on the day while the men are at the mercy of their employers.
- Tree-Planting Day (April 1)
- Highly promoted since the late 70's by the reformist government and yet to become established. It marks the beginning of a greening campaign all over the country during the month each year.
- International Labor Day (May 1)
- No less celebrated than the New Year's Day. Employees will enjoy a paid day-off. Celebration parties in parks took the place of parades today.
- Youth Day (May 4)
- A day in memory of the first mass student movement in 1919, a movement touched off by the then Chinese government that gave in to the Japanese government's attempt to colonize Shandong Province. It is also an anti-Confucius movement as well as one that promoted the western scientific and democratic ideas. Government organized youth activities everywhere in the country today characterizes the celebration of this day.
- Children's Day (June 1)
- It is the most memorable day of Chinese kids all over the country. Almost all entertainment places such as cinemas, parks and children museums and palaces are open free to them. Elementary schools throw celebration parties while parents shower them with presents.
- The CCP's Birthday (July 1)
- It marked the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 in Shanghai. It is usually characterized by front page editorials from major government newspapers.
- Army's Day (August 1)
- A communist-led nationalist army staged the first armed uprising in Chinese communist history against the Nationalists on August 1, 1927. It was regarded as the beginning of the Red Army (later the People's Liberation Army). Now the anniversary is often used to promote better relationships between the army and civilians, a tradition believed to have helped it beat the Nationalists during the civil war in 1949.
- Teacher's Day (September 1)
- It was started in the early eighties as an effort to reverse the anti-intellectual sentiment nurtured by the "Cultural Revolution". It is yet to become an established holiday.
- National Day (October 1)
- It is the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 in the wake of routing the Nationalists who have since taken refuge in Taiwan. There used to be grand parades squares of major cities of the country. Now celebrations usually take the form of parties in amusement parks by day and fire-works and grand TV ensembles during the evening. Employees enjoy two paid days-off. It is also a good occasion for many people to take a short excursion to enjoy the beauty of the golden Fall.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is a lunar holiday, occurring on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
There are few sites more spectacular than a fleet of boats decorated to look like dragons racing to the finish line, paddlers moving their oars in one fluid motion while the drummer thumps out a steady rhythm.
The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a significant holiday celebrated in China, and the one with the longest history. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by boat races in the shape of dragons. Competing teams row their boats forward to a drumbeat racing to reach the finish end first.
The boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival are traditional customs to attempts to rescue the patriotic poet Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 B.C. Chinese citizens now throw bamboo leaves filled with cooked rice into the water. Therefore the fish could eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eating tzungtzu and rice dumplings.
The celebration's is a time for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year. It is done so by different practices such as hanging healthy herbs on the front door, drinking nutritious concoctions, and displaying portraits of evil's nemesis, Chung Kuei. If one manages to stand an egg on it's end at exactly 12:00 noon, the following year will be a lucky one.
There are few sites more spectacular than a fleet of boats decorated to look like dragons racing to the finish line, paddlers moving their oars in one fluid motion while the drummer thumps out a steady rhythm.
The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a significant holiday celebrated in China, and the one with the longest history. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by boat races in the shape of dragons. Competing teams row their boats forward to a drumbeat racing to reach the finish end first.
The boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival are traditional customs to attempts to rescue the patriotic poet Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 B.C. Chinese citizens now throw bamboo leaves filled with cooked rice into the water. Therefore the fish could eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eating tzungtzu and rice dumplings.The celebration's is a time for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year. It is done so by different practices such as hanging healthy herbs on the front door, drinking nutritious concoctions, and displaying portraits of evil's nemesis, Chung Kuei. If one manages to stand an egg on it's end at exactly 12:00 noon, the following year will be a lucky one.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year that is celebrated for about fifteen days is one moment in the year when the whole nation feels united as they can imagine each other's enjoyment. The Chinese New Year gets determined by the Chinese New Year calendar
Being a country where majority of the peoples' occupation is related to agriculture, the movement of the solar system and its effect is of great importance in China. Most of the major activities of day-to-day life are guided by the agricultural season. The ploughing of the field, sowing of seeds and even reaping of the crops are regulated by the cycle of the season.
The Chinese lunar calendar is said to be the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600 BC. Emperor Huang Ti is believed to have introduced the first cycle of the zodiac. The most important aspect of the calendar, the celebration of the New Year festival, is based on the cyclical dating that is based on the track record of the new moon. The moon varies from year to year, the beginning of the year falls anywhere between late January and the middle of February of the Gregorian calendar. The Chinese New Year for the Gregorian year of 2010 falls on February 14th. A complete cycle, according to the Chinese calendar, takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each.
As every one is aware of its significance, the working people in china can take weeks of holidays so that they can join the company of their near and dear ones and a feast with their family members on the Chinese new year eve or Lunar New Year's Eve. Although with the changing times and increasing mobility of the people the celebration of Chinese New Year Festival has undergone some changes, everybody still very fervently follow all the customs that their elders have taught them. Monday, October 11, 2010
A Monkey and a Tiger
There were once two rulers on a mountain, a smart Monkey and a fierce Tiger. They were blood brothers. One day, Tiger said to Monkey, “It’s true that you and I are the kings of the mountain, and we are living a leisurely life, you on wild fruits and I on wild animals. But I begin to find them boring. So what’s your take?”
“I think they are boring, too” Monkey answered, “but what else can we find that is interesting?”
“How about going to the villages down the mountain and seeing what food humans eat?” sug- gested Tiger.
“A great idea!” Monkey jumped with joy.
Evening came, and it began to snow. Tiger and Monkey waited until it was pitch-dark. Then they went down the mountain and arrived in a village at its foot. It was the New Year season, and the entire village was permeated with delicious, meaty aromas. It was customary for Chinese villagers to slaughter their pigs and goats at this time of year and prepare big feasts to celebrate the New Year.
“It smells so good,” said Tiger, sniffing with its big nose, “Domestic animals must taste good, too.” They began to search for pigs and goats in the village, but all they could find were cattle. Chi- nese farmers did not kill their best helpers in their farm work unless they became useless.
“Let’s steal a cow. Beef must taste better than pork and mutton!” said Monkey.
“Yes, let’s get a cow for our supper tonight,” Tiger said, smacking its watering mouth.
As they slipped into a courtyard in the darkness, a human thief had just sneaked into it and was lurking on the roof of the house. They did not hear each other because both parties tried to be very quiet. In the house there lived an old couple. They had built a big fire to warm themselves. However, they did not realize that the heat would melt the snow on the thin roof above them, and the roof began to leak. The old couple could not go to sleep and started chatting. Their conversation was loud enough for the animal and human thieves to hear.
“We’ve had a good year and are looking forward to another. We have nothing to worry about but the leak,” said the old woman to her husband.
“Sure, I really fear what the leak would do to us on a dark night like this,” responded the husband.
Tiger and Monkey pondered, “We are the most fearful creatures in the world as kings of the mountain. Why does the old couple fear ‘Leak’? Who in the world is this ‘Leak’?” Monkey pressed its mouth to the big ear of Tiger and whispered, “We’d better leave here and find another residence. Or we’ll be losing our lives when Leak knows we are here.”
The human thief was also asking himself the same question on the roof and decided to leave. He jumped off the roof and, as it happened, fell on the back of Tiger. Believing that Leak was on the of- fensive, Tiger began to run like mad, followed blindly by Monkey. When Tiger reached the moun- tain, it was almost daybreak. Tiger was so tired that it could not even pull itself up.
The human thief was terrified when he realized what he was riding on. As if he had a guardian angel, a branch of a tree happened to brush him as the tiger hobbled beneath it and stopped to rest. Wasting no time, the human thief jumped onto the tree and climbed to the top. When they found out what had been riding on Tiger’s back and had ruined their “night out,” both Tiger and Monkey were exasperated. They wanted to tear the human thief to pieces. However, Tiger had never learned to climb trees. Its teacher, a cat, had stopped short of teaching Tiger the skill when it found the beast of prey starting to threaten its life. Therefore, Tiger turned to its nimble partner Monkey for help. It asked Monkey to go up and drive the human thief down so that it could catch him. Then, we’ll share his flesh!” Tiger said with clenched teeth.
“That’s easy!” said Monkey. However, halfway up the tree it balked, thinking, “What if I fail to get the man, but instead, he gets me?”
Monkey came down and said to Tiger, Find us a rope. Tie one end to my waist and the other to your tail. Start running when I wave my hand.”
“That’s a marvelous idea,” said Tiger. It then found a rope and did as Monkey suggested. Mon- key began to approach the human thief. The thief was so nervous and scared that he sweated pro- fusely. His sweat fell like rain on the face of Monkey, approaching from below. Monkey had to rub his face and shake the perspiration off its hand. When Tiger saw Monkey shaking its hand, it thought that Monkey was signaling it to run. Tiger scampered off wildly, thinking that the human thief was even more frightening than Leak! Tiger ran and ran until it reached its den, totally forgetting its pri- mate friend, which had been dragged to its death.
The moral of this story is to not be overconfident to the point where mistakes can be fatal
A Tiger that First Sees a Donkey
Long, long ago, in a remote place called Qian, there were no donkeys. A merchant who had seen donkeys elsewhere wanted to import one. One day he bought a donkey a few hundred miles away and shipped it back to Qian. However, after he returned to Qian he found that he had no use for the beast, so he set it free in the wilderness.
A tiger prowling in the wilderness spotted the donkey. The sudden appearance of a strange beast in the territory puzzled the animal king. Deer and hogs were the biggest animals he had ever tackled, but this one was much bigger than anything he had seen before. He said to himself under his breath, “It must be a supernatural being that has landed here to prey on us.” Terrified at the thought, the tiger sped away without looking back.
The tiger stopped after scampering a few hundred yards. “Whom am I running from?” He asked himself. “I am the king of the wilderness, and being a king, I should fear nobody. I need to know for sure what that creature is before I show it respect.” So thinking, the tiger returned. He stalked toward the donkey with great caution. Then he hid behind a big tree and peeked around it. Seeing the beast doing nothing unusual, the tiger gained some confidence. He even began to feel the urge of his hunting instincts. He leaped out from behind the tree and crept toward the donkey. The strange beast seemed to have heard something stir, for it stiffened its long ears, blew its white nose, and stomped its black hooves on the grass. Startled, the tiger scurried away, uncertain what the don- key would do.
The next day the tiger went to look at the donkey again and was about to approach it when, all of a sudden, the donkey brayed, “Heehaw, heehaw, heehaw . . . .” The previously unheard bellow frightened the tiger out of his wits. He wished that his legs could be longer as he dashed into the thick- ness of the woods.
A few days passed. Curiosity took hold of the tiger once again. He went to watch the donkey, but there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary about it. The strange animal was grazing peace- fully, swiveling its long ears and wagging its tail from time to time. The tiger became bold enough to move closer. He tried teasing the donkey, but the donkey responded merely with a few brays and kicks. The tiger leaped back a few yards to dodge the attack. Eager to know what else the donkey could do, the tiger decided not to run. Instead, he tried provoking it a second time. Again, the don- key responded with the same braying and kicking.
“Hah, hah! That’s all the donkey can do!” the tiger chuckled. With that happy realization, he pounced on the donkey and ate it up.
This story indicates that revealing weakness too early can have dire consequences
Growing Pop Industry
With the rapid grow in China the music industry has seen a new sensation erupt. The pop music scene is now divided into two divisions- Cantopop and Mandopop. Cantopop is pop music sung in Cantonese dialect found in southern China, while Mandopop is pop music that is performed in Mandarin the most widely spoken dialect. As Cantopop is declining Mandopop continues to excel and grow in popularity. Boy bands dominate the current pop market. The fans are young girls that are compared to fans of Beatlemania. The Chinese market is vastly growing as top record labels are targeting the 1.4 billion potential fans. Moving into China comes with caution, as the country is infamous for pirating the latest song and destroying record sales of top performers. Another hurdle that faces musicians is China is that the government still controls the broadcast media and strictly filters what content is played on the air. Rock musicn is popual in China and has been a steady market in the country since the mid 80s. Many rock bands perform in underground concerts and are forced to be secretive because of their views. Classic rock and rock or punk music are both seen as popular within different circles of the population.
A Fox and A Tiger. Who is the real king of the jungle?
Once upon a time, a hungry tiger was prowling in a forest looking for food, that is, other animals. He could eat them because he was their king. The tiger had not eaten anything for the part two days, because animals like deer, boars, wolves, rabbits, and certainly foxes all seemed to have become smarter than ever before. Each time he came out hunting, they would scatter in all directions and disappear before he could reach them. How ironic it was to be a king! Tiger was the supreme leader of the jungle, but his subjects feared him so much that they all shunned his presence, and their fear of him almost deprived him of his food source. "I would give up my throne for a bunny," he would sometimes say to himself sullenness. However, if an animal should challenge his authority, that would be the end of it. he never really wanted to give up his throne.
At the same time, a conceited fox, taking advantage of the hubbub and commotion of the fleeing animals, caught a big bunny and gobbled it up. Smart as she was, the fox hadn't anticipated that her bulging belly would weigh her down so much that she could not run as fast as she usually did. She became the hungry tiger's easy prey. This fox, however, was no ordinary beast. She thought she was the smartest animal in the entire animal kingdom, and she would prove it.
"Hold it," the fox blurted out at the top of her voice, as the tiger snarled, arched his hips and opened his watering mouth. "You think you are still the King of the Jungle?" the fox asked, pressing her forefinger on the wet nose of the tiger. If the tiger had concentrated his sense of feeling on that part of his body at the moment, he could have felt the fox's slender finger quivering. The strange question, however, simply bewildered him. Besides, he had never known a fox to talk to him in such a blod and arrogant manner. He asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean you are not the King of the Jungle anymore!" responded the fox categorically.
The tiger dropped his big jaw at the fox's shocking remark. Completely baffled, he asked, his tone still carrying some contempt, "How do you know?"
"Haven't you heard that the Jade Emperor of Heaven has made me the new King of the Jungle?" the fox cocked up her head and said, "His Majesty ruled that all animals, including your, should submit to me. He said that if you disobey, he will punish you without mercy!"
The tiger sized up the fox with mixed feelings of disbelief and dread. The fox's entire body was no bigger than the tiger's foreleg. A mere flap of his paw would smash her skull and break her backbone. Emboldened by these thoughts, the tiger demanded that the fox show him proof.
The fox was relieved to find that the tiger might be taken in. she had to act before the tiger saw through her trick. The tiger's demand prompted her to come up with an idea quickly: She was going to challenge him to a test. she said to the tiger with great confidence, "The Heavenly Emperor's decree is on its way, but I can show you who the king really is if you can't wait".
"Sure, show me," the tiger roared with impatience, because he was too hungry to wait. He was ready to pounce on the little fox as soon as she failed to produce the evidence. The fox invited the tiger to inspect the jungle with her, and see whether the animals ran for their lives at the sight of her. "Follow me and watch," the fox commanded.
While the tiger and the fox were in the heat of this test of intellect, the other animals had resumed their daily routine, thinking that the tiger had eaten the fox and would call it a day. They had never expected to see the tiger come their way again, chasing the fox in an unhurried manner. No matter what, a tiger was a tiger. The animals took to their heels at the very sight of him.
The tiger's astonishment was beyond description. He could not figure out why in the world all the animals, big or small, ran for their lives at the mere sight of the fox. The thought of being dethroned and the prospect of submitting to the fox and, what was worse, becoming her food, struck the deepest fear into him. He shuddered. When the strutting fox ahead of him paused and turned, he leapt back a few steps, startled.
"What do you think?" asked the fox proudly.
The tiger was speechless, shivering all over. He wanted to run from this small but fierce animal as soon as his shaky legs could carry them.
"Let me tell you what more the Heavenly Emperor told me before I returned to rule this jungle: he wanted me to tear you into pieces before I gobble you up!"
At this, the already terrified tiger ran for dear life, leafing the fox chukling at the success of ther deception. but knowing that lies can't last forever, the fox wasted no time and scampered away to safety.
The idiom is often used to analogize with those who take advantage of somebody else's power to bully people.
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