MonitorsPublished on Apr 28, 2016
China Weekly Report | Volume VI; Issue 16

< style="color: #0a83cf">FOREIGN AFFAIRS

China to ratify Paris climate deal by September

China, one of the world’s top emitters of greenhouse gases, would ratify by September the Paris deal to slow climate change, Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli said on Friday. “We will make early accession to the Paris agreement. China will finalise domestic legal procedures on its accession before the G20 Hangzhou summit in September this year,” Zhang told a signing ceremony for the Paris deal at the United Nations. “We will work hard to earnestly implement the Paris Agreement.” As many as 170 countries were expected to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change on Friday as the landmark deal takes a key step toward entering into force years ahead of schedule.

Source(s): South China Morning Post, April 23, 2016

China close to passing strict law on foreign groups

China is moving closer this week to a new law that would strictly control thousands of foreign nongovernmental organizations in the country, state-run news agencies reported on Monday. Officials are expected to give rapid approval to what may be the final draft of the law, the reports said. Foreign governments and nongovernmental organizations denounced two earlier drafts, saying their wording implied that the Chinese government viewed such groups as potential criminal organizations. Critics said the proposed restrictions would lead to groups’ curtailing important work in China, such as legal assistance and programs promoting the rule of law.

Source(s): The New York Times, April 25, 2016

Europe warns China over the detention of Hong Kong booksellers

The European Union has rebuked China for impinging on Hong Kong’s autonomy over the detention of five men linked to a publishing house and bookshop carrying material critical of Chinese Communist Party leaders, warning that the territory’s status as an international financial hub was at stake. The owner of Mighty Current Media, Gui Minhai, turned up in the custody of mainland Chinese authorities after going missing in Thailand late last year. After three staffers were also caught in the dragnet while visiting the mainland, manager Lee Bo — who had expressed concern that his boss may have been targeted over an upcoming book about the sex life of Chinese President Xi Jinping — disappeared from Hong Kong, ending up on the mainland apparently without having officially crossed the border.

Source(s): TIME, April 26, 2016

< style="color: #0a83cf">POLITICS & SOCIETY

Amid shortage, illegal trade in donated blood on rise in China, says report

The illegal trade in human blood has re-emerged in China two decades after a crackdown against the sales in the wake of an HIV contamination scandal, according to a television station report. The business is prospering because more people can afford surgery in hospitals, but there is a nationwide shortage of blood from donors, the report said. China’s blood donation ratio is lower than levels recommended by the World Health Organisation. It says at least 1 per cent to 3 per cent of the population should donate blood to ensure adequate clinical supplies.

Source(s): South China Morning Post, April 26, 2016

Rescuers search for survivors in Northwest China mine flood

Rescuers are pumping out water in the quest to free 11 coal miners trapped in a flooded colliery in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, authorities said Tuesday. Five pumps are working around the clock. As of 9 am Tuesday, 25 hours after the flood, around 4,600 cubic meters of water had been taken from the Zhaojin mine in the city of Tongchuan, lowering the water level by 113 cm. Sixty-seven workers were underground when the flood occurred: Fifty-six managed to escape. The cause of the accident is still not known.

Source(s): China Daily, April 26, 2016

< style="color: #0a83cf">ECONOMY

China central bank releases priorities for 2016

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank, has unveiled its prioritized tasks for 2016.  The PBOC said monetary policy will help slash overcapacity, cut stockpiles, reduce leverage, lower costs of doing business and fix shortcomings, with a focus on reducing steel and coal overcapacity.  The central bank will continue to give differentiated housing loan policy to different regions based on their market conditions. The monetary authority will work to widen bank loan collateral for rural residents and guide financial institutions to give more agriculture-related loans to boost rural development.

Source(s): China Daily, April 25, 2016

China clamps down on commodities frenzy

China moved to clamp down on excessive speculation in commodities after weeks of frenzied trading boosted prices and ignited fears of another bubble in its domestic markets.  Activity on China's largest commodity exchanges has surged in recent days with turnover in key steel contracts exceeding the combined volume of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges on one day last week. Investors around the world have zeroed in on the latest trading binge as the prices of many commodities have risen sharply, with iron ore gaining almost a third in just two weeks. Cash has started to flow into raw materials in part because Chinese officials imposed curbs on equities trading last year.

Source(s): CNBC, April 26, 2016

< style="color: #0a83cf">SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

China curbs plans for more coal-fired power plants

Coal-fired power plants have propelled much of China’s economic rise for decades, helping make the nation the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. Even with economic growth slackening, and other energy sources taking hold, new coal plants have been added. Now Beijing is trying to slow things down. In guidelines released on Monday, China halted plans for new coal-fired power stations in many parts of the country, and construction of some approved plants will be postponed until at least 2018.

Source(s): The New York Times, April 25, 2016

Internet regulators shut down 1,046 illegal websites in Q1

In the first three months of the year, China's Internet watchdog shut down 1,046 illegal websites for spreading pornographic content or information that jeopardizes national security.  Eighty-five websites were given warnings and 8,008 microblog accounts were shut down during the same period, said the Cyberspace Administration of China in a statement released Tuesday. The top Internet regulator said 89 cases were transferred to judicial organs.

Source(s): China Daily, April 28, 2016

< style="color: #0a83cf">BIBLIOGRAPHY

Qi Zhao and Hao Zhou, “Manufacturing China’s Future”, The New York Times, April 26, 2016

Consumption in China is resilient, despite the economic slowdown”, The Economist, April 26, 2016

Serenitie Wang, “China's 'loneliest generation' finds solace in art”, CNN, April 28, 2016

Zhu Qiwen, “Time to speed up the race for green cars”, China Daily, April 28, 2016

< style="color: #0a83cf">Contributors:

  • Pratnashree Basu
  • Swagata Saha

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