Roundup - 31/12/2009

• A Chinese researcher has suggested that China acquire an overseas naval base to resupply its squadron in the Gulf of Aden. China has an avowed policy of not maintaining foreign military bases or forming military alliances however, the comments were made by Admiral Yin Zhuo, senior researcher at the navy's Equipment Research Centre. Yin Zhuo said that other countries were unlikely to object as the US, the EU and Japan all already have naval bases in the area. China's naval squadron in the area currently use a French base to resupply but concerns over how China's naval presence in the area would be viewed led to the squadron spending four continuous months at sea before resupplying for the first time.
  
  Concerns have been raised that the Chinese navy may be seeking to expand its presence abroad. The PLA has previously declared that China's energy security is a matter of national security and, as most of China's oil comes through the Gulf of Aden from Africa and the Middle East, many have wondered how long it will be before China seeks to maintain a naval presence in the area.
  
  Previous reports about China's desire to set up naval bases in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand have lacked evidence. However, India has voiced concerns about China's funding of a deep water port in Gwadar, Pakistan. So far, no suggestion has been made as to where any naval base should be located.
  
  
  
• Four foreigner may face the death penalty over a drugs haul in Shenzhen according to a Hong Kong newspaper. Beijing backed Ta Kung Pao reported that four foreigners were among nine arrested over possession of 144.5kg of heroin in August. According to Chinese law possession of large quantities of illegal drugs can be punished by the death penalty. A Reuters report suggests that Chinese authorities may have approved the release of this information now to bolster China's position in relation to the execution of Akmal Shaikh which has caused a diplomatic row with the United Kingdom.
  
  
  
• Xinhua has announced ambitious plans to launch two new international channels. From January 1^st China Xinhua News Network Corp. will launch CNC and CNC Finance and Business. The channels will be available throughout Asia and in some European countries although it has not yet been announced which ones. CNC World News hopes to begin broadcasting in English by July. Earlier this year China Central Television launched an Arabic language channel which now broadcasts to a population of 300 million.
  
  
  
• The US International Trade Commission has voted unanimously to place tariffs on imports of Chinese steel tubing. The tubing, meant for use in the oil industry, will now face a tariff of 10.36-15.78%. Lawyers say this will be the largest countervailing duty imposed on Chinese imports by volume of trade. The US imported $2.74 billion of steel pipes from China last year. China's Ministry of Commerce has said it is strongly opposed to the new duty but has stopped short of taking any retaliatory action.
  
  
  
• The fouder and ex-editor of Caijing(财经) magazine has taken the position of executive editor at New Century News. Hu Shuli won acclaim at Caijing for pushing the boundaries of what could be reported. Caijing led the way in exposing government corruption, exposing the cover-up of the SARS epidemic and the role of poor construction in the Sichuan earthquake disaster. Hu Shuli left Caijing in a row with its owner, who wanted to limit the budget and soften the editorial line on sensitive stories. Many who worked under her at Caijing have also switched to the new publication and it is expected that New Century News will reprise the role that Caijing played in the Chinese media. Next months issue of Century Weekly will be the first with Hu Shuli in charge.
  
  
  
• People's Daily is reporting that world media is praising China's role in the Copenhagen talks on climate change. The report says that state media from different counties 'including India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Central African Republic and Malawi' have all praised China for its handling of the negotiations. Media from the UK, US and Europe has generally been critical of China's role.
  

Roundup - 29/12/2009

• China has executed a British man, Akmal Shaikh. Mr. Shaikh was executed by lethal injection at 10.30am local time according to Xinhua. Gordon Brown, the EU and a number of civil society groups have condemned the execution saying that his legal rights had not been granted. Mr. Shaikh was convicted of smuggling heroin into China in October 2008 after a trial that lasted just 30 minutes. Evidence of his mental illness was not considered.
  
  According to China's Criminal Law, if a mentally ill person is convicted of a crime, their condition should be taken into account when considering the sentence. However, according to the Chinese authorities there was not sufficient evidence presented to prove he suffered from Bipolar disorder. Some reports suggest that during his trial Mr. Shaikh claimed there was nothing wrong with him, it is unclear what legal representation or assistance with translation was provided to him.
  
  Last minutes attempts to save M. Shaikh's life were lead by the British Ambassador to Beijing and Mr. Shaikh's cousins. However, while international condemnations grows, China remains defiant saying that foreigners must obey its laws ad no country has the right to interfere in its legal process.
  
  
  
• An audit of China's government agencies and state-owned enterprises has uncovered 234.7 billion RMB(US$34.4 billion) disappeared from public funds in the first 11 months of the year. The report says that 16.3 billion RMB has been recovered so far. 231 people, including 67 officials, have had their cases passed on to disciplinary and judicial authorities.
  
  
  
• A Chinese ship and its 25 crew members are sailing home after being kidnapped by Somali pirates. The De XinHai was captured in October while transporting 76,000 tonnes of coal from South Africa to India. There is some confusion as to the nature of the operation. While Chinese media reports describe it as a rescue, a source claiming to be one of the pirates told Reuters that a $4 million ransom had been dropped on the deck of the ship by helicopter.
  
  The De Xin Hai was the first Chinese ship to be captured in the area since the arrival of three Chinese warships to bolster the international anti-piracy flotilla in the area.
  
  
  
• The Chinese author Mian Mian is to sue Google for scanning and publishing extracts from her work without permission. She is asking for 61,000RMB ($8,950) in compensations and a public apology from Google. According to the China Written Works Copyright Society more than 80,000 works by Chinese authors have been scanned into Google's digital library. Last year Google agreed to pay $125 million to settle similar disputes with US authors.
  
  
  
• Two separate gas explosions at Chinese coal mines have claimed at least 17 lives. According to Xinhua, 12 miners were killed in an explosion in Shanxi province. Another five were killed and six more trapped at in an explosion in Yunnan.
  

Roundup - 01/12/2009

• On World AIDS Day China's Health Ministry has warned that the infection rate among homosexual males is on the increase. Hu Jintao met some of Beijing's 50,000 volunteers working in AIDS prevention and treatment yesterday where he promised to mobilise society to combat the disease. However, with China's basic healthcare provision already largely limited to urban areas it is still impossible for many sufferers to receive treatment.
  
  
  
• Commerce Minister Chen Deming has called on the 7^th WTO Ministerial Conference to send a signal to help the world economic recovery. He also promoted reform of the organisation and its commitment to the Doha round's development mandate.
  
  
  
• China has lifted the ban on importing pork from Mexico, Canada and the USA. The ban was imposed earlier this year amid fears over Swine Flu. However, imports of pork may continue to fall due to a regime of subsidies for breeding sows.
  
  
  
• Somali pirates have warned that they will kill kidnapped Chinese crewmen if attacked by the PLA. 25 crewmen were captured when pirates seized the De Xin Hai. The ship, owned by the Qingdao Ocean Shipping Company, was carrying 76,000 tonnes of coal. The pirates claimed they were negotiating a $3.5 million ransom.
  
  
  
• New official appointments on Monday included two 46 year-olds promoted to the level of Party Secretary. This marks the rise of what is touted to be the 'sixth generation' of Chinese leaders. The 'fifth generation' is expected to take the reigns of power in 2012 when Xi Jinping is likely to take the presidency. The 'sixth generation' should come to power in 2022.
  
  Notably, one of the two new Party Secretaries is a protege of Hu Jintao, Hu Chunhua. The two worked together during Hu Jintao's time as Provincial Committee Secretary of Tibet 1988-92. Hu Chunhua has made hid career in Tibet before being appointed Acting Governor of Hebei in 2008. He has also spent most of his career working with the Communist Youth League, a significant power base of Hu Jintao's. He also won widespread aclaim for hs handling of the tainted milk scandal.
  
  
• 24 people have been arrested in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou after a dispute over housing development. Guizhou Boyu Real Estate Development Co. seems to have forcibly evicted residents from their homes at 5am on Friday before demolishing 26 buildings. Municipal police say that four residents were injured in the process.
  
  Angry residents then began blocking all roads in the area. 4 residents and 20 people working for the development company have been arrested. Police say the evicted residents have been properly accommodated.
  
  
  
• On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People Premier Wen Jiabao declared his full support for 'the demands of the Palestinian people for the restoration of their legitimate national rights and the establishment of an independent state.'
  
  
  
• Authorities in China are vowing harsh punishment for those who illegally build golf courses. In 2004 a moratorium on new golf courses was imposed in an effort to save land for agriculture. However, amid economic growth and the related growth in interest in golf as a symbol of status, golf courses have blossomed all over the country. Golf will be included in the 2016 Olympic Games.