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FEATURED ARTICLES
A Dream of Grey Mansions
China Channel
Back to the land
In 1979, 80 per cent of China’s population lived in the countryside; by 2010 this proportion had almost halved. Of all the convulsions that have shaken Chinese society in the last hundred years, the shift towards becoming a primarily urban society has arguably been the most revolutionary. Though the countryside witnessed huge upheavals during the Maoist era, first with collectivisation, then with the terrible famine that followed, neither of these led to the removal of almost an entire generation from rural communities. But the great rush towards the factory towns in south China has removed the majority of people of working age from the countryside. In many villages, the only people left are grandparents and their grandchildren.
See also:
Rural exodus leaves a shrinking Chinese village full of ageing poor, and only three children
South China Morning Post
The Peculiar Past and Present of a Socialist Skyscraper
Sixth Tone
Once full of revolutionary promise, Beijing’s urban communes have fallen from grace.
The Anhua Building was once a marvel. When it was completed in May 1960, the apartment block’s nine floors towered over the neighborhood’s single-story houses. Locals whispered about its elevators, private bathrooms, and other unheard-of luxuries. Beyond its enviable amenities, the building was a flagship of the new Communist era, designed for collective living. “When people walked past on their way to and from work, they would go like this,” 92-year-old resident Xu Qinmin says, gazing upward in childlike wonder.
Today, as just one in a succession of apartment blocks and office towers that line a long boulevard in the center of the capital, the Anhua Building hardly attracts attention from passersby. Inside, there are few reminders of its unique history. The hallways are dark, the kitchens black with grease, and most objects lining the corridors — including cabinets and other furniture that residents couldn’t fit inside their modest apartments — caked in a layer of dust. The stairwells on some floors are full of cigarette butts and the sickly odor of urine.
Best 30 Books to Understand Modern China
What’s on Weibo
A list of the best English-language books on Chinese history, online environment, modern Chinese culture and more, recommended by What’s on Weibo.
This list was compiled based on own preference and that of many readers whom we asked about their favorite sources within this category.
There are many great books out there on modern China, and a lot of them are written in Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, Dutch, and many other languages – but for the scope of this particular list, we have chosen just to focus on the books that have come out in the English language.
See also:
Five ways China's past has shaped its present
BBC
Hong Kong's 'cardboard grannies': the elderly box collectors living in poverty
The Guardian
Inadequate support for Hong Kong’s ageing population means for some older citizens, scavenging and selling boxes and scrap is the only way to scrape by
Miss Wong, 65, scavenges the streets of Hong Kong’s Sheung Shui area in search of disused cardboard to sell to local recycling plants. She starts her day at 7am and often works until 9pm, seven days a week. For her efforts, she receives about HK$41 (£3.60) per day.
Wong is one of an estimated thousand senior citizens nicknamed “cardboard grannies” who collect and sell waste boxes and other scrap across nine of the poorest districts in the city.
When the company Wong distributed promotional leaflets for closed down, she found herself unable to find other employment. With no savings, family support, sufficient pension or social security income, selling cardboard has become her only means of scraping by. “I ended up homeless because I didn’t have enough money to pay the rent,” says Wong. “Even a sub-divided flat costs around HK$4,000 per month and I didn’t have the money for that.”
Cardboard grannies are one of the most visible indicators of Hong Kong’s struggle to support its rapidly ageing population.
See also:
Lessons for HK: How China is able to curb home prices
EJ Insight
Frank Chan refuses to draw line on shoe box flats sizes
The Standard
China’s $6 Billion Propaganda Blitz Is a Snooze
Foreign Policy
Beijing’s propaganda works at home, but it can't compete globally.
n a world on the brink of chaos, China has decided that what people everywhere need is more good news — as long as it’s about China. China is creating a giant media outlet called Voice of China, combining the three state television and radio broadcasters aimed at overseas audiences: China Global Television Network, China Radio International, and China National Radio. The hope is that by combining resources and output, China will have a broader platform to spread its message overseas.
But will Voice of China succeed in boosting China’s international image, especially given the dubious performance of previous global state media pushes?
Chinese President Xi Jinping has made no secret that he has very high hopes for China as a new superpower on the world stage, having broken away from his predecessors’ low-key approach. Like Xi’s “Chinese Dream,” “Voice of China” is a calque, directly copied from a U.S. model — in this case, “Voice of America.” But despite the country’s economic, industrial, and technological might, China has a serious problem with its international image. The Chinese Dream doesn’t sell abroad, at least in the developed world — and the censorship and restraints that have always held back Chinese media abroad have been redoubled in the age of Xi.
That’s why the Chinese leadership has put significant effort into improving China’s soft power globally, with state media playing a key part.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & MILITARY
This section covers the following:
The U.S.
ZTE
Taiwan
Islands & Navies
North Korea
Australia
One Belt One Road
Europe
Central Asia
India
Japan
Africa
General Military
Other
1. THE U.S.
US-China trade war’s global ramifications explained
The Conversation
Economic acrimony has been bubbling between the US and China since Donald Trump became president. Now the tensions have boiled over into escalating tit-for-tat announcements of tariffs on key imports. This is serious not just for the US and China, but for the entire global economy and the UK, in particular, as it hopes for a free trade Brexit. As Christine Lagarde, the International Monetary Fund director, has warned: the world trade order “is now in danger of being torn apart”.
See also:
US trade moves based on fear of competition
Global Times
Why China Won’t Yield to Trump
Project Syndicate
China welcomes U.S. Treasury Secretary's proposed trip to China
XinhuaNet
Sino-American Trade: We Know Where This Is Headed
War on the Rocks
Managing Global Disorder: Prospects for U.S.-China Cooperation
Council on Foreign Relations
China and the U.S. Seek Allies to Strengthen Sides in Trade Tussle
Bloomberg
- Battle for backing likely to play out at IMF meeting this week
- Lengthy confrontation would pose risks for world economy
See also:
Why China should have chosen honesty in its U.S. trade war
The Conversation
Europe not choosing sides in U.S.-China trade dispute
Reuters
‘When elephants fight, grass gets affected – we are the grass,’ says India on China-US tariff war
Scroll
Canada issues WARNING to China: Back up your words or face TRADE WAR with Trump
Express
U.S. Earns More in China Than Trade Numbers Reveal
Bloomberg
That leaves American companies vulnerable to retaliation by Beijing. It also gives them more reason to defuse trade tensions.
See also:
China's penetration of U.S. supply chain runs deep, says report
Federal Computer Week
Trump's next $100 billion tariff dilemma: hit Wal-Mart or Apple Store?
Reuters
Trump China tariffs could hike prices for TVs, batteries by 23%, study shows
USA Today
Whiskey sour? China importers fret over U.S. trade battle
Reuters
Trade tensions with U.S. testing resolve of Chinese consumers
Reuters
China Loosens Foreign Auto Rules, in Potential Peace Offering to Trump
The New York Times
Beijing and Washington have threatened each other with tariffs for weeks, raising the prospect of a trade war. But on Tuesday, China took a step to lower tensions, offering to make it easier for foreign automakers and aerospace manufacturers to own factories in the country.
See also:
China to open auto market as trade tensions simmer
Reuters
Why it won't be easy for global automakers to part with Chinese partners
Automotive News Europe
2. ZTE
ZTE Claims US Ban On Technology Exports "Endangers Its Survival"
China Money Network
Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp said the U.S. ban on technology exports to the firm is unfair and will "endanger its survival."
"This is extremely unfair and we do not accept it." said the company in a statement.
See also:
U.S. regulator permits China's ZTE to submit more evidence
Reuters
U.S. will hurt itself with action on ZTE: Ministry of Commerce
XinhuaNet
China's ZTE 'poses risk to UK security'
BBC
China's ZTE may lose Android license as US problems build
CNBC
China’s muted response to US export ban on ZTE
EJ Insight
Beijing’s response has been fairly muted, probably because the US seems to have a strong case. China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China is ready to take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
See also:
U.S. ban on sales to ZTE triggers patriotic rhetoric in China
Reuters
“Our staff are ZTE people!” claims Global Times editor as ZTE and China question US dependence
TechNode
Behind the scenes, China’s actually kind of mad at its telecoms giant ZTE
Quartz
Propaganda film quietly pulled by Beijing after ZTE ban
Asia Times
ZTE may be too big to fail, as it remains the thin end of the wedge in China’s global tech ambition
South China Morning Post
ZTE accuses US Commerce Department of “extremely unfair” treatment for a seven-year ban on buying technology from American companies, which would derail its 5G network plans, a key plank to China’s technology ambitions
See also:
US chip export ban has Beijing calling for home alternatives
Asia Times
China wants to wean itself off foreign technology. Now it will see how hard that will be
Quartz
Chinese chip sector ‘may overtake Western peers’
Global Times
China’s call for ‘core technology’ breakthrough belies its weakness in semiconductors
South China Morning Post
Alibaba Buys Chip Maker C-SKY Microsystems As China Seeks Semiconductor Self Reliance
China Money Network
Huawei and ZTE Hit Hard as U.S. Moves Against Chinese Tech Firms
The New York Times
The moves intensify an already testy fight between China and the United States for high-tech supremacy. Although tensions have simmered for years, the two economic powerhouses are threatening a global trade war as they look to protect their most advanced industries.
See also:
DJI Releases Security Findings It Hopes Will Quash 'Chinese Spying' Fears
Gizmodo
China: Qualcomm plan ‘has difficulty’ resolving concerns
Associated Press
3. TAIWAN
Are The Us And China Headed For War Over Taiwan?
South China Morning Post
As Beijing and Washington position themselves for a trade war, Trump should beware playing the Taiwan card – or he may find his actions lead to a real war
See also:
Trump’s Incredibly Risky Taiwan Policy
ChinaFile
China Conducts War Games, and Taiwan Is the Target
The News York Times
Carrier leads exercise in west Pacific
China Military
China's carrier battle group, led by the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, conducted its first combat exercise in the western Pacific on Friday and Saturday, the People's Liberation Army Navy said.
See also:
China navy drills in Pacific as tension with Taiwan rises
Reuters
China flies bombers around Taiwan, holds live-fire drills
The Times of India
Chinese bombers and spy planes have flown around Taiwan, the air force said today as Taipei accused Beijing of trying to stoke regional tensions with its military drills.
See also:
China air force goads Taiwan with Hokkien-language video
Reuters
Taiwan's annual live-fire military drill to start June 4
Taiwan News
Earlier’s reports said the scale of the this year's live-fire drill would be larger than the previous ones, owing to increasing military maneuvers from Beijing
See also:
Taiwan to simulate repelling invasion amid China tensions
Reuters
China’s live-fire drills – more than just saber rattling, this is propaganda and fake news
Taiwan News
Taiwan’s small fighter fleet faces wear and tear
Asia Times
PLA's live-fire drills in Taiwan Straits a warning to ‘independence groups,’ US
People’s Daily Online
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday, with experts saying that the exercises are a clear and tough signal to "Taiwan independence groups" and the US who are damaging cross-Straits ties.
See also:
Why Beijing feels the need to kill a ‘chicken’ when it comes to talk of independence in Hong Kong and Taiwan
South China Morning Post
Major General:Exercise in Taiwan Strait is a reunification rehearsal
China Military
In the name of Taiwan
Taiwan News
Taiwan actor Chang Chen on Cannes Film Festival jury, but they call him Chinese, prompting Taiwan to request correction
South China Morning Post
For Taiwanese, Democracy is the Only Game in Town — And They Would Fight to Defend it
Taiwan Sentinel
A recent survey shows that nearly 70 percent of Taiwanese would take action to defend their democratic way of life if China attacked their country, even as a majority of them are pessimistic about the state of their democracy.
See also:
Taiwan’s democracy is the key issue facing China
Asia Times
Taiwan President Tsai talks up more African ventures
The Standard
President Tsai Ing-wen advised Taiwanese business people in Swaziland yesterday to not miss out on investment opportunities in Africa as they seek diversification.
4. ISLANDS & NAVIES
Chinese PLA Navy's 69th anniversary: China vows to build world-class naval power
China Global Television Network
The 69th anniversary is a milestone for the Chinese PLA Navy – marking its development into a world-class naval power and readiness to guard its core interests at sea and undertake more international responsibilities.
See also:
PLA Navy at 69 faces increasing challenges from US
China Military
How Does China'S Navy Compare To America's?
Newsweek
US Admiral warns: Only war can now stop Beijing controlling the South China Sea
NZ Herald
The chief of US Fleet Forces Command has told US Congress that Beijing has built up enough military infrastructure in the South China Sea to completely control the disputed waterway.
"Once occupied, China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania," Admiral Philip S Davidson wrote.
See also:
Countering China’s Militarization Of The Indo-Pacific
War on the Rocks
Coalition of Military Help for Philippines Will Put China on Higher Alert
Voice of America
Senate set to vote on motion condemning China’s action in South China Sea
The Globe and Mail
China's new carrier set for sea trials: experts
China Military
China's second aircraft carrier may undergo its first sea trials in the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea areas shortly, and it is likely to be ready for combat two years after its expected delivery to the navy at the end of 2018, Chinese military analysts said.
See also:
China’s First Domestically Built Carrier Set to Begin Sea Trials
Center for Strategic & International Studies
Top secret: China's new 70,000-tonne monster kept under tight security
NZ Herald
Construction of second Chinese carrier to start in Shanghai
Asia Times
China unveils monument to South China Sea island building
GMA Network
China has unveiled a monument to mark its construction work in the disputed South China Sea, which has included reclaiming land for artificial islands, the Chinese military's official newspaper said on Tuesday.
See also:
China’s claims in South China Sea ‘proposed by continuous boundary for the first time’
South China Morning Post
ASEAN summit to focus on Myanmar, South China Sea but little progress expected
Reuters
China bolsters undersea warfare power through stolen US technology, admiral says
Stars and Stripes
China is eroding America’s advantage in potential undersea warfare in part by stealing U.S. technology through hacking defense contractors and infiltrating academia, the Navy admiral nominated to lead U.S. Pacific Command said Tuesday.
See also:
New base for Chinese submersibles in Sth China Sea
Asia Times
Chinese archaeologists begin first deep sea mission
XinhuaNet
5. NORTH KOREA
China, Feeling Left Out, Has Plenty to Worry About in North Korea-U.S. Talks
The New York Times
As the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, prepares for his meetings with the presidents of South Korea and the United States, China has found itself in an unaccustomed place: watching from the sidelines.
See also:
CIA Director Pompeo met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over Easter weekend
The Washington Post
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Pyongyang 'soon,' official says
CNN
China's foreign ministry welcomes North Korea nuclear test halt
Reuters
China’s foreign ministry said on Saturday it welcomed a move by North Korea to halt nuclear and missile tests, which it said would help ease tensions on the Korean peninsula and promote denuclearization.
See also:
Op-ed: Chinese delegation's DPRK visit implements consensus reached by Xi and Kim
People’s Daily Online
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's 'bitter sorrow' after fatal China tourist crash
The Straits Times
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un visited China's embassy in Pyongyang to express his "bitter sorrow" after a bus crash killed dozens of Chinese tourists, state media reported early Tuesday.
See also:
North Korea’s Kim meets Chinese envoy after deadly bus crash
Associated Press
6. AUSTRALIA
Prime minister says Australia will sail in South China Sea
NZ Herald
Australia's Prime Minister said the Australian navy has a "perfect right" to traverse the South China Sea after a media report yesterday that the Chinese navy had challenged three Australian warships in the hotly contested waterway.
See also:
Defense Ministry: China has professional encounter with Australian warships in S. China Sea
China Military
Australian warships 'challenged' by Chinese navy in South China Sea
The Guardian
Aussie warships had ‘robust’ encounter with Chinese military in South China Sea
Asian Correspondent
Framing the Australia–China relationship
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
A flurry of attacks on the Turnbull government’s handling of the Australia–China relationship has captured the media’s attention.
See also:
China to enhance peace and security cooperation with the AU: envoy
XinhuaNet
China warns Australia over hostile sentiment
People’s Daily Online
China threatens Australia with trade war
NZ Herald
Ambassador Liu Quan: The Road to Common Development
People’s Daily Online
On April 23, 2018, Vanuatu Daily Post published a signed article titled 'The Road to Common Development' by Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu Liu Quan. The full text is as follows.
More tourists in Australia now come from China than New Zealand
Quartz
This week, Australia’s statistics agency reported that the country received a record number of Chinese tourists. The ranks of visitors from mainland China have swelled so much that they now outnumber New Zealanders, long the top source of tourists to Australia.
See also:
China leapfrogs New Zealand as Australia's top tourist source
Reuters
7. ONE BELT ONE ROAD
China deepens militarization of One Belt, One Road initiative
Axios
In a meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff in Beijing on Friday, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe announced that China was “ready to provide security guarantees for the One Belt, One Road project” (OBOR).
See also:
'No geopolitical calculations' in Belt and Road, Beijing insists
The Standard
'Silk Road' plan intended to serve China's security goals, claims report
The Times of India
Will China listen to EU on infrastructure plan’s perceived pitfalls in free trade and competition?
South China Morning Post
Mathieu Duchatel writes that as China reviews its EU policy under a new foreign policy team, it remains to be seen to what extent European belt and road concerns will be taken seriously
See also:
Asia’s Infrastructure Contest: Quantity vs. Quality
Center for Strategic & International Studies
China’s Belt and Road, and implications for ASEAN connectivity
Asia Times
Over 50 Chinese-made aircraft delivered to Belt and Road countries: Report
The Times of India
Over 50 Chinese-made aircraft, which can be used for both passenger and cargo transportation, have been delivered to eight Belt and Road countries, the planes' manufacturer said on Saturday.
8. EUROPE
How China Is Buying Its Way Into Europe
Bloomberg
For more than a decade, Chinese political and corporate leaders have been scouring the globe with seemingly bottomless wallets in hand. From Asia to Africa, the U.S. and Latin America, the results are hard to ignore as China has asserted itself as an emerging world power. Less well known is China’s diffuse but expanding footprint in Europe.
See also:
EU ambassadors band together against Silk Road
Handelsblatt
Belt and Road Initiative facilitates China-CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) cooperation
Gov.Cn
China’s gift to Europe is a new version of crony capitalism
The Guardian
Chinese companies tapping into Serbia's construction market potential
Global Times
Croatia signs bridge contract with Chinese consortium
XinhuaNet
EU suspects tax fraud at China's new gateway to Europe
Reuters
China, Britain agree to further promote golden era of bilateral ties
XinhuaNet
Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed on Thursday to further promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two sides.
See also:
British Commonwealth summit sees line up against China and Russia
World Socialist Web Site
China, Finland to enhance Arctic research cooperation
XinhuaNet
China and Finland have signed an agreement to establish a joint research center for Arctic space observation and data sharing services, the China Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced Wednesday.
See also:
China’s Arctic Ambitions in Alaska
The Diplomat
Joint research center established to promote polar research
XinhuaNet
9. CENTRAL ASIA
China fails to get Indian support for Belt and Road ahead of Modi-Xi summit
The Times of India
China failed to get India's support for its ambitious Belt and Road infrastructure project at the end of a foreign ministers' meeting of a major security bloc on Tuesday, ahead of an ice-breaking trip to China this week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
See also:
Xi urges SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) to expand cooperation
People’s Daily Online
China willing to deepen pragmatic cooperation with SCO member states in defense, security: Xi
China Military
India strongly raises terrorism issue at SCO FMs' meet in China
The Times of India
In a veiled attack on Pakistan, India today said that terrorism is an enemy of the basic human rights and the fight against it should also identify States that "encourage, support and finance" the menace and "provide sanctuary" to terror groups.
See also:
China reacts to Modi’s remarks against Pakistan
Pakistan Observer
China says terrorism tops meeting of Central Asian states
Associated Press
China reassures Pakistan on ties ahead of Xi's meeting with India's Modi
Channel NewsAsia
China on Monday reassured Pakistan that relations between the two countries were as firm as ever and would "never rust", ahead of a meeting this week between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that could unnerve Islamabad.
See also:
Strengthening Pak-China ties
Pakistan Observer
CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) starts bearing fruit for people
The Express Tribune
China pledges to strengthen partnership with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
China Global Television Network
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday pledged closer ties with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as he met respectively with the three foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting in Beijing.
10. INDIA
When India’s Strategic Backyard Meets China’S Strategic Periphery: The View From Beijing
War on the Rocks
Despite occasional strife, India and China have operated in separate strategic theaters and avoided major conflict for more than half a century, since they fought a war over territorial disputes in 1962. But today, that may be changing as China makes economic and maritime inroads into Southern Asia.
See also:
China, India are new vanguards of globalisation, says Chinese foreign ministry
The Hindu
Sudden Modi-Xi Meeting Signals Diplomatic Thaw Between Neighbors
Bloomberg
- Prime minister’s ‘informal summit’ trip announced late Sunday
- Meeting set to start Friday in central Chinese city of Wuhan
See also:
Modi, Xi will discuss inclusive global development when they meet this week, says China
Scroll
Modi-Xi will not sign agreements at Wuhan Summit but build consensus to resolve bilateral issues: China
India Today
Xi-Modi meeting to show diplomatic wisdom of China, India
Global Times
Modi-Xi Wuhan summit: Why Chinese media thinks it's a good idea; 10 points
Business Standard
Nepal-China agree to expand connectivity, build railway line
India Today
Nepal and China have agreed to expand connectivity and development of Trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional transport network, according to an official statement today.
See also:
Experts urge India to join trilateral cooperation with Nepal
Global Times
China moots India-Nepal-China economic corridor through Himalayas
The Times of India
Wang Yi to be Chinas new special representative for border talks with India
India Today
Wangs appointment was confirmed today when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who held bilateral talks with her Chinese counterpart congratulated him for being elevated as the state councillor and appointed as the special representative for the India-China boundary talks.
See also:
Sushma Swaraj meets Wang Yi to discuss India-China ties
The Times of India
11. JAPAN
Rebooting Japan-China economic dialogue
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
Ministers from Japan and China have restarted a high-level economic dialogue in Tokyo for the first time in nearly 8 years.
See also:
China, Japan eye B&R cooperation
Global Times
Japan, China affirm importance of free trade amid friction with U.S.
Kyodo News
China hackers accused of attacking Japanese defence firms
South China Morning Post
During Tokyo meet, Kono and Wang agree to mutual visits by Abe and Xi
The Japan Times
The agreement came as Chinese Foreign Minster Wang Yi makes a rare visit to Tokyo, in a sign of improving cooperation between Asia’s two largest economies as they face policy whiplash from the U.S. over trade and security.
See also:
Japanese PM Abe sends ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine for war dead
Channel NewsAsia
Discovery could smash China’s rare-earths stranglehold
Asia Times
A mineral deposit has been found in Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Western Pacific, with a size and concentration comparable to China's
12. AFRICA
Corruption Charges in Angola May Spell Trouble for Sinopec
Caixin Global
Recent allegations of corruption against two children of Jose Eduardo dos Santos, a former president of Angola, and against Manuel Vicente, a former vice president of the African state, may have implications for Hong Kong and China.
China does not have to ask anyone for respect, Ghana’s president says
CNBC
- Nana Akufo-Addo pinpointed China's development story Saturday in a speech that promoted intra-African economic co-operation.
- He also extolled African unity as a means of generating economic prosperity.
See also:
Speech By The President Of The Republic Of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, At The London School Of Economics’ Africa Summit On The Theme “Africa At Work: Educated, Employed And Empowered”, At The London School Of Economics
Office of the President, Republic of Ghana
13. GENERAL MILITARY
China unveils new Fire Dragon missile
Shephard
Beijing-based Norinco unveiled its Fire Dragon 280A tactical missile for the AR3 multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) at the DSA 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.
See also:
US awards $1bn contract for hypersonic missile as it falls behind Russia and China in new arms race
The Telegraph
New Army Guideline Bans Online Dating, Allows Uniforms Off-Duty
Sixth Tone
Revised military regulation aims to safeguard state secrets in an increasingly connected world.
14. OTHER
China Takes the Lead in UN Peacekeeping
The Diplomat
As the U.S. backs away, China is stepping up investment in UN peacekeeping operations.
See also:
China to send peacekeeping police to South Sudan, Cyprus
People’s Daily Online
Xi says he's looking forward to planning China-Russia ties with Putin in new era
China.org.cn
Xi made the remarks when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
See also:
Russia's Lavrov, China's Wang Yi discuss Putin's June China visit
Reuters
Russia, China will continue to build up defense cooperation
TASS (Russian News Agency)
China’s $1 Billion White Elephant
Bloomberg
- Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port spurs worries in India, Japan
- Operator China Merchants is ‘hell bent’ on turning it around
See also:
Inside China's $1 billion port where ships don't want to stop
Stars and Stripes
Cambodia-China ties solid, reaching high level: PM
Gov.Cn
He made the remarks during a meeting with Chen Wu, chairman of South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to Eang Sophalleth, an assistant to the prime minister.
See also:
Cambodia a key partner for China
Khmer Times
Mahathir says he would halt, review China loans
Associated Press
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says Malaysia will stop borrowing from China and review Chinese investments if his opposition grouping is elected in May 9 polls.
Crisis-hit Qatar looks to China for fresh natural gas demand and investment
South China Morning Post
Blockaded by neighbours, the tiny Gulf state is trying to diversify its economy and create trade opportunities, officials say
Anti-China sentiment rises from the ashes of Marawi
Asia Times
Proposal for a China-led consortium to rebuild the war-torn Philippine city faces stiff resistance from local Muslim residents
DOMESTIC ISSUES, HEALTH & THE ENVIRONMENT
This section covers the following:
Hong Kong
Environment
Health
Cities & Villages
Crime
Other
1. HONG KONG
HK youth shunning ‘Chinese’ as their national identity
Asia Times
A survey finds that 8.7% of the city's young people find their Hong Kong identity 'absolutely incompatible' with being 'Chinese'
See also:
Independence calls 'hurtful' Beijing law expert says
The Standard
Benny Tai: Hong Kong should consider the many possible forms of China’s post-Communist future
Hong Kong Free Press
No guarantees that advocates of ending one party rule will not be prosecuted, says Carrie Lam
Hong Kong Free Press
China Liaison Office Director Wang Zhimin said on Monday at the Legislative Council that it was incorrect to say that China was a “one-party dictatorship” since it was not mentioned in the Chinese constitution. He added that China is a socialist state of the dictatorship of the proletariat.
See also:
Carrie Lam waits for 'conducive' time for national security laws
The Standard
Remembering Michael Wright: the architect who guided the reconstruction of post-war Hong Kong
Hong Kong Free Press
Even more so now than in 1972 is it hard to comprehend the effort required to restore our infrastructure and then to add to it. Michael Wright was at the centre of all this as an architect in the civil service, then supervising as Chief Architect and finally reaching the acme of Director of Public Works.
See also:
Colonial street names and royal cyphers on postboxes will not be removed, says Hong Kong gov’t
Hong Kong Free Press
2. ENVIRONMENT
Earth Day: China's efforts in fighting plastic pollution
China Global Television Network
It’s been 48 years since the first Earth Day, celebrated on every April 22. The focus of the day this year is on fundamentally changing human attitudes and behavior regarding plastics and catalyzing a significant reduction in plastic pollution.
China is among countries around the world that have shown great efforts in combating plastic pollution.
China’s clean air market could reach US$3.19 tn
Asia Times
Nation poised to become the world's largest market for clean air technology in several key areas
See also:
China's War on Pollution Fuels State Takeover of Heavy Industry
Bloomberg
China fights big smog with big air purifier
AsiaOne
China's pledge to cut pollution could avoid 94,000 deaths - MIT
E-China News Service
China environment ministry warns of 'stalemate' in war on smog
Reuters
China Expands Controversial Bans on Imported Waste
Sixth Tone
Experts acknowledge importance of protecting environment but worry policy could disadvantage manufacturing industry.
See also:
Waste Management: The Effects Of China's Recycling Import Ban
Seeking Alpha
China Boosts Ban on 'Foreign Garbage' Ahead of Earth Day 2018
Radio Free Asia
Poachers are skinning elephants in Burma due to Chinese demand for skin
Asian Correspondent
Chinese demand for products made from elephant skin has led to a marked increase in poaching in Burma (Myanmar) and a rise in elephant carcasses with large strips of skin missing but the rest of the body intact, a UK-based conservation said Tuesday.
See also:
‘No elephant is safe’: China’s online market for animal’s skin has decimated Myanmar population
South China Morning Post
Forest cleared in southern China to build illegal homes
South China Morning Post
Authorities try to trace builders of houses in a remote area of Shenzhen, according to newspaper report
See also:
In Anhui, thousands of 'forest chiefs' guard woodlands
China.org.cn
The Guardian of China’s Guest-Greeting Pine
Sixth Tone
World’s newest great ape threatened by Chinese dam
The Guardian
The discovery of the Tapanuli orangutan has not stopped a Chinese state-run company from clearing forest for a planned dam. Conservationists fear this will be the beginning of the end for a species only known for six months
3. HEALTH
Faster, cheaper, better: How China and AI are helping pharmaceutical development
TechNode
Companies around the world with a Chinese connection, are using AI to speed up drug development and solve many of the traditional problems the industry has faced.
See also:
Chinese Money Floods U.S. Biotech as Beijing Chases New Cures
Bloomberg
China’s Shopping Spree For UK Healthcare Assets Continues With DNAFit Deal
China Money Network
For Faulting a Chinese Tonic, He Got 3 Months in Jail. Then Cheers.
The New York Times
Dr. Tan was arrested for writing online late last year that a popular Chinese tonic liquor appeared to be quack medicine, and a potential “poison” for many retirees who drink it every day, lured by swarms of ads on daytime television and its claims to be favored by emperors centuries ago.
Edible Birds’ Nests: Nutritional Delicacy Or Overpriced Hoax?
SupChina
Recent Chinese media reports have debunked the claimed health benefits of various “nutritional” supplements like caterpillar fungus, a.k.a. Himalayan Viagra (冬虫夏草 dōngchóngxiàcǎo), and donkey-hide gelatin (阿胶 ējiāo), and Chinese customers’ skepticism toward these products is growing. Edible birds’ nests, another traditional Chinese medical treatment, are at the center of a new debate regarding their alleged health benefits.
This social network is where China’s plastic surgery fans share their nose jobs
South China Morning Post
Getting a nose job is no longer taboo for many in the younger generation in China, who have grown up on a TV diet of surgically enhanced celebrities.
Japan offers to lend hand in China's 'toilet revolution'
The Guardian
Home of the hi-tech toilet offers technological support to help Xi Jinping in his mission to update lavatories across the country
4. CITIES & VILLAGES
Urban Officials Are Spoiling the Cities They Should Be Improving
Sixth Tone
Municipal governments are putting headline-grabbing vanity projects ahead of residents’ comfort and convenience.
See also:
Final Stop on the Great Brickening Shows Beijing Hutongs Have Become Sterile, Tepid Alleys
The Beijinger
Beijing’s skyscraper arms race cut short thanks to new CBD height restrictions
South China Morning Post
China approves ambitious Xiongan New Area master plan
Asia Times
A new blueprint was released Friday for a massive development that, if successful, will be merged with Beijing and nearby Tianjin into a megalopolis unlike any place in the world, and it sounds every bit as ambitious as promised.
See also:
China's "city of the future" to inspire world
XinhuaNet
China sets 100 per cent clean power target for Xi Jinping’s new Xiongan megacity
South China Morning Post
How did Shenzhen become China's 'Silicon Valley'
e-ChinaNews Service
Over the past four decades, the southern Chinese city Shenzhen has been the vanguard in Beijing's efforts to liberalize China's economy. But the city's growth model has changed several times.
See also:
Why rampant copying hasn’t stopped Shenzhen’s advance
EJ Insight
Shanghai Is Officially the 17th Most Innovative City in the World
That’s Shanghai
According to a report released at the China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair last week, Shanghai ranked 17th out of 100 cities around the world in innovation, Global Times reports.
Alibaba Taps Rural Growth With $717M Investment in Huitongda Network
China Money Network
China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding will invest RMB4.5 billion (US$717.2 million) in Huitongda Network Co., an e-commerce platform serving rural consumers, in a bid to expand its sales outside major cities.
Mobike promises no more bikes in saturated cities, share big data with the government
TechNode
In its first major statement since being acquired by Meituan, bike rental giant Mobike is to stop adding new bikes to cities considered to be already saturated with bikes, will share its big data with the government for improved city planning, and put RMB100 million into improving its user credit system, the company announced at a press conference held in Beijing on Earth Day, April 22. The company is changing its focus from rapid to responsible growth.
5. CRIME
Blackmail drenched in blood: Children whose Next fashion boss father was knifed to death by his vengeful Chinese wife are 'being kept prisoner' by killer's family as they 'tell British grandfather to pay £62,000 if he wants them back'
Mail Online
- Michael Simpson, 34, was stabbed by his estranged wife Fu Weiwei a year ago
- Children, Jack, seven, and Alice, five, are living with maternal grandparents
- They will only return children to Michael's parents if they pay £62,000
Kangaroo dies after zoo visitors throw rocks to make it hop
The Independent
Animal is now being stuffed and put on display
Chinese police break up underground dog-fighting ring run by pensioners
South China Morning Post
Group detained on suspicion of allowing illicit gambling although dog fights are permitted under Chinese law
Chinese men stole pet cats to make ‘dragon and tiger soup’
South China Morning Post
Brothers accused of taking animals to sell to restaurant that cooks a traditional dish banned in restaurants in one city, news website reports
6. OTHER
‘China’s Hawaii’ Expands Visa-Free Access to 33 More Countries
Bloomberg
- Hainan got support to transform into an tourism destination
- Province home to embattled Chinese conglomerate, HNA Group
See also:
Even the mega-rich cannot buy homes on Hainan
Asia Times
China to promote lifelong professional skills training
XinhuaNet
China will push forward a lifelong professional skills training system as part of the efforts to improve the competence of the workforce and boost high-quality development, a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday.
China Welcomes 300,000 Filipino Workers, Chinese Internet Not Impressed
SupChina
With improved ties between China and the Philippines, the two countries have struck a bilateral agreement that loosens Beijing’s restrictions on the hiring of Filipino workers, laying the ground for employment of about 300,000 Filipinos in the country, said Philippines Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, according to Gulf News.
IDEOLOGY, CENSORSHIP & DOMESTIC POLITICS
China named as ‘force of instability’ in US human rights report
South China Morning Post
Beijing comes in for harsh criticism over freedoms of speech and assembly, and violence against religious and ethnic groups
See also:
China lambastes U.S. in annual rebuttal to rights criticism
Reuters
US has no grounds to judge human rights
Global Times
U.S. report calling China 'force of instability' backfires
e-China News Service
US State Dept. Catalogs Forced Disappearances in China, Ethnic Cleansing in Myanmar
Radio Free Asia
China's Xi says internet control key to stability
Reuters
China must strengthen its grip on the internet to ensure broader social and economic goals are met, state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday citing comments from President Xi Jinping, underlining a hardening attitude towards online content.
See also:
Online media should spread positive message: Xi
Global Times
Infographic: What Xi said about China's cyberspace development
China.org.cn
China Detains Founder, Members of Prisoner Support Chat Group
Radio Free Asia
China removes 370 live-streaming apps, cracks down on online games
TechNode
China’s $20B News Leader Toutiao Under Siege By Government and Rivals
China Money Network
Watching a stern Mark Zuckerberg testify before the U.S. Congress is a reminder how China’s tech companies, despite differences in economic structure and technological sophistication, follow similar trajectories with their American counterparts. Toutiao, China’s biggest personalized news app with a US$20 billion valuation, is experiencing a similar crisis these days as government and competitors attack its core business model.
See also:
Why China Cracked Down On The Social-Media Giant Bytedance
The New Yorker
No joke: have China's censors gone too far with ban on humour app?
The Guardian
‘Beep. Beep Beep’: A Group Emerges in China and a Code is Born
China Change
Banned App Users’ Anthem Harmonized
China Digital Times
Xi stresses importance to study Communist Manifesto
XinhuaNet
The purpose of reviewing the Communist Manifesto is to understand and grasp the power of the truth of Marxism and write a new chapter of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, Xi said Monday when presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
See also:
Karl Marx’s hometown is selling fake banknotes to celebrate the communist thinker
Quartz
National Security Education Day In China Puts Emphasis On ‘Foreign Infiltration’
SupChina
Xinhua commemorated National Security Education Day on April 15 with an animated video (in Chinese, also embedded above), and the Ministry of Education released a document (in Chinese) that recommends “national security education” become part of curricula from primary schools to universities.
See also:
Government Cartoon Portrays ‘Foreign NGOs’ as National Security Concern
ChinaFile
The Chinese Communist Party Is Setting Up Cells at Universities Across America
Foreign Policy
It’s a strategy to tighten ideological control. And it’s happening around the world.
See also:
CCP Setting Up “Cells” at Foreign Universities
China Digital Times
China's Ruling Party Has Branches on University Campuses Around The World
Radio Free Asia
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
China's first quarter growth beats expectations at 6.8%
BBC
China's economy grew at an annual pace of 6.8% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, according to official data, beating forecasts for the period.
See also:
China's high-quality development off to good start: CPC Politburo
e-China News Service
China Concerned Trade and Debt Risk May Curb Economic Growth
Bloomberg
China Quietly Rolled Out a Very Big Bang
Bloomberg
Thatcher’s 1979 financial reforms transformed Britain. Is the People’s Republic about to undergo the same?
See also:
The Next Step for Chinese Economic Policy
Project Syndicate
China's rising aviation industry brings opportunities for U.S. companies
XinhuaNet
China's surging aviation industry has been creating great opportunities for global companies, especially U.S. giants and many enterprises on the extensive industrial chain. China has not only developed a massive civil aviation market with huge potential, but also become a major player in aircraft manufacturing.
See also:
Asia's second-hand jet market soars as super-rich eye bargains
Reuters
How China’s winemakers succeeded (without stealing)
The Conversation
Joint ventures between Western and Chinese companies are in the news over accusations – including those of President Donald Trump – that China uses them to steal intellectual property from foreign competitors in industries like cars and technology.
Less well known, however, are the joint ventures between French and Chinese winemakers, which offer a notable counterpoint to this narrative of international rivalry – or foreign exploitation, depending on your perspective.
Is Time Up for China’s Official ‘Time-Honored Brands’?
Sixth Tone
Amid slumping sales and waning public interest, officially recognized classic brands need to innovate.
SCIENCE & TECH
This section covers the following:
Made in China 2025
Hardware
Software
Money
1. MADE IN CHINA 2025
Made in China 2025: Beijing's big ambitions from robots to chips
Reuters
China is looking to catch up with rivals like the United States and Germany in high-end technology, making a major push with a “Made in China 2025” strategy that identifies 10 key sectors, including robotics, aerospace and clean-energy cars.
See also:
Unleashing China’s Capital Markets to Build a ‘Cyber Superpower’
New America
Pedro Domingos on the Arms Race in Artificial Intelligence
Spiegel Online
In an interview, best-selling author and machine-learning expert Pedro Domingos discusses the global competition to take the lead in artificial intelligence, the advance of autocrats and the threats modern technology presents to Western democracies.
See also:
China’s AI talent ‘arms race’
The Strategist
Chinese hackers are expected to put their country first
Mercator Institute for China Studies
2. HARDWARE
China’s Car Revolution Is Going Global
Bloomberg
China's rising automakers want to sell the future of driving all over the world.
See also:
China’s coddled EV makers will now face unleashed competition from the likes of Tesla
Quartz
China’s self-driving vehicles on track to take global leadership position, ahead of US
South China Morning Post
Alibaba partners with automakers for home-to-vehicle connectivity
China Global Television Network
China’s future rockets aiming to have wireless technology
Asia Times
Offloading cables and wires from rockets can free up much-needed space for bigger payloads
See also:
China plans manned outpost on moon
e-China News Service
China starts selection of third batch of astronauts
China Global Television Network
China and Japan together develop aerotrain running 400 to 500 kilometers per hour
People’s Daily Online
A high-speed aerotrain that could run 400 to 500 kilometers per hour is being developed by China and Japan in a joint effort, Chinese media Chongqing Morning Post reported. The aerotrain doesn't run on traditional fuel resources such as coal, gas or electricity, and is expected to change the world’s transportation system, according to experts.
See also:
China's Peak Travel High-Speed Train Ticket Prices to Increase Nearly 50%
The Beijinger
Will China beat the world to nuclear fusion and clean energy?
BBC
In a world with an ever-increasing demand for electricity and a deteriorating environment, Chinese scientists are leading the charge to develop what some see as the holy grail of energy.
Start your engines ... is China getting ready to mass-produce hypersonic vehicles?
South China Morning Post
Plans are on the drawing board in China for an engine plant that could power low-cost planes or spacecraft capable of travelling five times faster than the speed of sound
3. SOFTWARE
China’s crackdown on crypto hasn’t stopped its tech giants from flirting with blockchain
Quartz
China’s big three internet giants, Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba, are battling for supremacy in almost every front of the country’s tech space. It’s no wonder that the trio, together known as the BAT, have all begun placing bets on blockchain—while making sure to steer clear of ventures that could fall afoul for the country’s cryptocurrency trading crackdown.
See also:
Chinese City Shenzhen Launches $79.2M Blockchain Fund
China Money Network
China to start testing 5G in 16 major cities
TechNode
Chinese regulators have given the green light to Chinese telecom operators to test 5G in major cities local media is reporting (in Chinese). State-run operators, also the largest three in China—China Unicom (中国联通), China Mobile (中国移动), China Telecom (中国电信)—will begin setting up 5G networks in 16 cities for testing. It is unclear when the tests will actually start.
See also:
Chongqing launches first 5G trial network
Asia Times
China to commercialize 5G technology by second half of 2019
XinhuaNet
China to launch e-ID cards for citizens via phone QR codes
Asia Times
China's e-governance is utilizing smartphone and QR code technology for citizens happy to have their face scanned
See also:
Alipay trials digital replacement of China's ubiquitous ID cards
TechNode
Investigation shows personal data from food delivery platforms in China on sale for as little as RMB 0.10
TechNode
The personal data of people who have ordered food delivery is readily available for sale via several channels, investigative reporting by The Beijing News has discovered (in Chinese). Data on offer includes information such as name, phone number, address of thousands of orderers per day, including for orders going to hospitals and even to specific seats in internet cafes. The data is being sold for as little as RMB 0.10 per person.
4. MONEY
China’s young consumers don’t just want to shop online – they want to be entertained while doing it
South China Morning Post
Social commerce has exploded in popularity over the past two years, posing a threat to traditional e-commerce players like Alibaba and JD.com
Rise of Xiaomi: the Chinese start-up poised to become world’s biggest IPO of 2018
South China Morning Post
Stock exchange officials from New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore are trying to pitch their bourses on what would probably be the largest global initial public offering in four years
US brands suffer collateral damage in Chinese corporate war
Associated Press
The rivalry is so notorious it’s been called the “great cat-and-dog war.” On one side towers Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., China’s e-commerce market leader, embodied by the black cat mascot of its Tmall platform. On the other is JD.com Inc., a fast-growing upstart represented by its white dog logo.
Brands now caught in the cross-fire say they were punished by Alibaba after refusing exclusive deals as the e-commerce giant tried to muscle out the competition — a charge Alibaba denies.
China's Didi Chuxing launches ride service in Mexico
Reuters
Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing on Monday began offering its service in the Mexican city of Toluca, the company said, setting up a potentially costly battle with rival Uber Technologies Inc in a key Latin American market.
GENDER, SEX & RELATIONSHIPS
China's 'men only' job culture slammed in new report
AsiaOne
Leading Chinese firms including e-commerce giant Alibaba were heavily criticised Monday for gender discrimination in job adverts in a new report which said the landscape for the female workforce in China was deteriorating.
See also:
'I love tech boys': Chinese job ads mirror sexist attitudes to women, study finds
The Guardian
China sexist adverts: Tech firms apologise after damning report
BBC
Peking University Student To School: Stop Trying To Gag Me On Rape Case!
SupChina
Peking University (PKU) authorities are reportedly trying to silence Yue Xin 岳昕, a student who is demanding full disclosure of an investigation into a sexual harassment and suicide case dating back to the 1990s. Shen Yang 沈阳, a literature professor at PKU in the 1990s, has been accused of raping and sexually harassing his student Gao Yan 高岩, who friends say was driven to suicide.
See also:
Chinese University Probes Student Protest Over Sexual Harassment Allegations
Radio Free Asia
Open Letter on Peking University #MeToo Case
China Digital Times
The Victory of #IamGay: Have We Really Won?
Elephant Room
While Chinese netizens celebrated this victory, we couldn't help but wonder, to what extent have we “won”? And, in the long haul, what can we really talk about in this country?
See also:
It’s Still (Just About) OK to Be Gay in China
Foreign Policy
Is There No Room For Freaks In The Chinese Dream?
SupChina
The Shanghai Sex Shop Selling More Than Just Toys
Sixth Tone
At Pepper Love Store, Chinese women find the advice they never got and the toys they never knew they wanted.
ETHNICITY & RELIGION
US could sanction Chinese officials over Xinjiang abuses
Associated Press
A senior U.S. official says the United States would pursue sanctions on Chinese officials involved in a sweeping security crackdown in the western region of Xinjiang if they were deemed appropriate for designation under a law targeting human rights offenders.
See also:
Xinjiang Authorities Targeting Uyghurs Under 40 For Re-Education Camps
Radio Free Asia
Tibet can remain in China if Beijing recognises its culture and autonomy, says the Dalai Lama
Scroll
He also told Burmese Buddhists to ‘recall the face of the Buddha when they feel antagonistic’ towards Rohingya Muslims.
Crossing Divides: Africans fight Hong Kong prejudice with football
BBC
In Hong Kong, locals rarely play football with immigrants.
Not surprising, perhaps, when a third of Chinese Hongkongers don't want to sit next to members of other ethnic groups on public transport, live next door to them, or have their children as classmates to their own children, according to a survey by the NGO Hong Kong Unison.
‘No domestic helpers allowed’ sign at Hong Kong private club called discriminatory
South China Morning Post
Ban on domestic helpers entering a pool area at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club prompts criticism online, while migrant workers’ group says it is a long-standing issue across the city
Vancouver delivers discrimination apology to Chinese community
China.org.cn
The municipal government in the west coast Canadian city of Vancouver has delivered a formal apology to the Chinese community for past discriminatory policies against the city's Chinese community.
The Waning History of Russians in Xinjiang
Sixth Tone
Pockets of Russians in China’s far northwest are testament to the region’s turbulent military history.
EDUCATION & LANGUAGE
UN celebrates 9th Chinese Language Day
Global Times
This year's celebrations included lectures on Chinese culture, film screenings, panel discussions on education and art exhibitions.
Lectures on Chinese poetry, calligraphy and painting drew UN staff members from around the world, who wanted to know more about the unique Chinese culture.
See also:
Need for Indians and Chinese to learn each others' languages: Sushma Swaraj
India Today
Forget-Me-Not
China Channel
Invented Chinese characters, old and new
The Origin Of ‘Baizuo’ (白左) — The Chinese Libtard, Or ‘White Left’
SupChina
Why did “white liberals”(白左)become so hated in China?
Biding farewell to Chinglish
Global Times
Like thousands of other international tourists to Beijing, my foreign guests have not only carried back fond memories of the awesome Great Wall of China but also pictures of some funny English mistranslations.
The Beijing authority's crackdown on these linguistic misfires is a welcome move that was long overdue.
One Belt, One Road, One Abacus
Sixth Tone
How Shanghai’s math prowess is being exported to the world.
Tsinghua University is using the cloud to make it rain in the classroom
TechNode
The app is named after a positive education cycle reinforced by edtech akin to earth’s precipitation cycles. Services (rain) made possible by big data analytics (the cloud) are utilized in classrooms or for self-learning (rain irrigating the soil). More data on teaching and learning is generated and collected then uploaded to the cloud again (evaporation), completing the cycle.
Colorful Claims on Children’s CVs This Admissions Season
Sixth Tone
Parents of precocious preschoolers know that the rat race starts early in China.
ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Red Dynamite
China Channel
Why China’s patriotic action films are exploding in popularity
Co-produced movies better introduce China globally
China.org.cn
Film coproductions that tell Chinese stories with a global common interest receive better feedback from global audiences, according to a report published by the China Film Association Thursday.
Marvel China Apologizes As Avengers Fans Assemble
Sixth Tone
Followers of the film franchise had demanded an apology from promoters for ‘unprofessional’ behavior.
China’s Museums Are Twisting the Truth to Chase TV Ratings
Sixth Tone
The surging popularity of the country’s history shows is making accuracy a thing of the past.
From zero to billion: the booming growth of China’s equestrianism
People’s Daily Online
There were only six names for China’s equestrianism on the racecourse of the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue in 2008: Huang Zuping, Li Zhenqiang, Zhang Bin, Zhao Zhiwen, Alex Hua Tian, and Liu Lina, which has witnessed the growing pains of China’s equestrianism and the prosperity of China’s equestrian industry.
SOCIETY, OFFBEAT & OTHER
China’s Week in Photos, April 16-22
Sixth Tone
A selection of the week’s best photos by Sixth Tone’s visual editors.
How Long-Unpublished Press Photos Bring Life to Chinese History
Sixth Tone
Buried in the collections of national archives and private enthusiasts lie stacks of candid shots of the country’s recent past.
Scars begin to heal a decade after Sichuan quake
Reuters
A decade after a massive earthquake rocked China’s southwestern province of Sichuan, killing almost 70,000 people, the scars have begun to heal.
Why you've never heard of the 6 Chinese men who survived the Titanic
Stars and Stripes
Hundreds of passengers fled in lifeboats. Hundreds more perished, going down with the ship or freezing to death in the icy water. The only one of Titanic's lifeboats to turn back to the wreckage found body after body – until it discovered a young Chinese man, still alive, clinging to a piece of wood.
Flooded Chinese village comes back to the surface after reservoir drained
South China Morning Post
Villagers catch glimpse of their old home for the first time in more than five decades
A giant indoor farm in China is breeding 6 billion cockroaches a year.
South China Morning Post
The Post turns a spotlight on the ‘disgusting’ insect with apparently remarkable medicinal qualities at the world’s largest breeding facility, where the bugs outnumber the planet’s human population
Getting Moderately Deep With... A Stinky Tofu Seller
That’s Shanghai
This month, we meet smelly tofu vendor Zhang Ying at her shop in Gulou.
That’s all for today!
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