FEATURED ARTICLE
Generations of Church Leadership in China (February 13, 2014, ChinaSource Blog)
Talking with church leaders in their thirties and forties recently, I have been somewhat surprised to hear them refer to the current generation of urban leaders as lao yi dai or the "older generation." It is perhaps too early to speculate about differences between this up and coming generation and those currently in leadership (who are obviously not planning to go into retirement any time soon). However, as these younger leaders prepare to receive the torch we can anticipate the opening of a new and colorful chapter in the unfolding story of China's church.
GOVERNMENT / POLITICS / FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Xi Touts Communist Party as Defender of Confuciuss Virtues (February 13, 2014, Sinosphere)
Mr. Xi said the party leadership was preparing a policy document to promote traditional values, implant new social mores and a cohesive national spirit, and enhance cultural soft power. His comments on Confucius Institutes appeared contrary to the Chinese governments usual description of them as exercises in building friendship free of any political agenda.
China kills Xinjiang 'attackers' in Wushi (February 14, 2014, BBC)
Chinese authorities have shot dead eight people trying to attack police officers in Xinjiang, officials say. Three more were killed by their own explosive devices when they attacked a patrol near a park in the county of Wushi, Xinhua news agency said. Officials labelled the attackers as "terrorists", a term they often use for Muslim Uighurs involved in unrest.
Chinese bloggers ask Kerry to put pressure on Beijing over Internet, press freedoms (February 15, 2014, The Washington Post)
Leading Chinese bloggers asked U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Saturday to put more pressure on their government to ease mounting restrictions on freedom of expression and Internet use and to help tear down the Great Firewall of China, as the system of censorship here is known.
Chinese Officials Widen Campaign Against Vices (February 17, 2014, The New York Times)
The Chinese government has widened a crackdown on prostitution, gambling and drug use to major provinces across the country, according to reports on Monday in state-run news organizations. The crackdown is being overseen by officials in the Ministry of Public Security, which manages most police forces in China.
Coming Soon to Victoria Harbour: The PLA? (February 17, 2014, China Real Time)
For years, Hong Kongs Victoria Harbour has been known for its vaulting skyscrapers, fireworks displays and stunning mountain vistas. Now, if all goes as planned, a site for the Chinese military may soon join that list. On Friday, urban planners in the former British colony voted to pave the way for the construction of a dock for the Peoples Liberation Army. The approximately 0.3 hectares site will sit in front of the walled garrison the army maintains in Central, the citys main financial district, adjacent to Hong Kongs current government offices.
Chinas Swelling Soldiers Too Big for Tanks (February 18, 2014, China Real Time)
Chinas soldiers are getting too big for their britches, or least for their tanks and guns. Thats the message from the General Armament Department of the Peoples Liberation Army, which according to the official PLA Daily newspaper recently concluded a physical survey of 20,000 ground troops (in Chinese). Their findings: The average Chinese soldier is two centimeters taller and five centimeters thicker around the waist than 20 years ago.
Q.&A.: Steven I. Levine on the Tiananmen Initiative Project (February 18, 2014, Sinosphere)
Steven I. Levine, a historian of China who is retired from the University of Montana, has started a Tiananmen Initiative Project, which includes a petition urging candid commemoration of the events that culminated in June 4. In a telephone interview from his home in Stevensville, Montana, Mr. Levine explained his project and the response it has received:
Community Punished for Self-Immolations (February 18, 2014, China Digital Times)
Tibetan blogger and activist Woeser has tweeted a photo of new regulations imposed in Zoig County which punish not only self-immolators, but also their next-of-kin, their monastic communities, and the temples and towns where they set themselves alight:
Liu Xia, wife of jailed Nobel winner, taken to hospital, say supporters (February 19, 2014, The Guardian)
Liu Xia, the detained and ailing wife of jailed Nobel peace prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo, has been admitted to a Beijing hospital after police refused to allow her to seek medical help overseas, a close family friend has said. Liu Xia, who has been under effective house arrest since her husband Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel in 2010, suffers from heart problems, possibly severe depression and other ailments made worse during her time under guard, her friends say.
China respects Taiwan system, Xi tells Taipei ex-VP Lien (February 19, 2014, Channel News Asia)
China's President Xi Jinping on Tuesday told a former vice president of Taiwan that Beijing respects the island's social system and lifestyle, state media reported, in a sign of the steadily improving relations between the two sides. The meeting in Beijing between Xi and Lien Chan, also an honorary chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party, was the latest high-level encounter between the two sides, which split in 1949 after a civil war.
China probes another ally of retired domestic security chief (February 19, 2014, Reuters)
A former aide to retired Chinese security tsar Zhou Yongkang is being investigated for corruption, the government said, the latest move targeting associates of Zhou, himself the subject of a graft probe. The ruling Communist Party's anti-corruption watchdog said late on Tuesday that Ji Wenlin, a vice governor of the southern island province of Hainan, was being investigated for suspected serious breaches of party discipline and the law, the usual euphemism for graft.
China preps military for 'short, sharp war' with Japan, US Navy analyst says (February 19, 2014, Fox News)
China is practicing for a "short, sharp war" with Japan. That is the assessment of a top U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, who told colleagues that Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is currently conducting training exercises in a practice scenario in which the military takes the Senkaku Islands, near Taiwan.
Censored in Beijing: a correspondent watches himself fade to black (February 20, 2014 Christian Science Monitor)
One moment I was on the TV screen, a guest of CNNs On China talk show discussing press freedom in China, and the next I wasnt. The screen went black. The Chinese censors had pulled the plug. Where there was light, they brought darkness. Nobody in Mainland China could watch the program.
RELIGION
Six Key Challenges for the Chinese Church: A Local Perspective (February 17, 2014, ChinaSource Blog)
What would Chinese Christians say are some of the key challenges facing the church there? Our sister site, Chinese Church Voices, posted translations of comments made by three Chinese Christian leaders concerning some of the key issues and challenges facing the church in China today.* In each case, the perspective is that of the urban unregistered church, but many of these issues and challenges hold true for the unregistered rural churches and even the official Three-self churches.
Chinese Christian Dating Sites (February 19, 2014, Chinese Church Voices)
As space has opened up online for Christians, some have turned to the Internet as a place to find a Christian spouse. The mainland site Gospel Times recently posted information about 7 mainland dating sites for Christians.
Global Bible Searches What are they Searching for? (Missiographics)
God's Word speaks to people very differently around the world. They find inspiration, encouragement and admonishment in a variety of passages depending on geography, circumstance, religious background and culture. With the Internet (and thanks to our friends at www.BibleGateway.org), we are now able to get a glimpse into the passages that people are seeking out most regularly. Take a moment to read through this infographic and consider how it might impact your outreach in these countries.
When Does a Barrier Become a Destination? (February 18, 2014, ChinaSource Blog)
For those interested in the church in China, the paradox of this digital "Great Wall," is not in what is permitted or not permitted to enter, but rather in what happens within the wall itself. Contrary to popular opinion, there exists within the wall a vibrant online Christian community. The vast majority of what appears in online Christian newspapers, magazines, church websites, and micro blogs not to mention a plethora of audio and video resources is uncensored by authorities.
Religious groups encouraged to attend int'l events (February 20, 2014, Xinhua)
Religious groups in China are encouraged to host and participate more international exchange events for better mutual understanding, according to a Chinese association on Wednesday. The China Religious Culture Communication Association (CRCCA) will promote overseas exchanges on religious culture this year, said a document issued at the association's council meeting. The association will also try to increase its voice in international religious organizations and at events, the document said. It will encourage and support religious circles in China to take part in important activities organized by international religious groups, such as the World Fellowship of Buddhists, the Muslim World League and the World Council of Churches.
Religious Policy Development in the PRC since 1949An Overview (February 20, 2014, ChinaSource Blog)
Religious policy developed after 1949 in the People's Republic of China (PRC) in a historical context of anti-foreign sentiment, concern for domestic stability, and an attempt by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to exercise control over all areas of society. Although the PRC Constitution grants PRC citizens (over age 18 and not CCP members) the freedom of religious belief (or the freedom not to believe), the freedom granted is merely that of personal inward belief.
SOCIETY / LIFE
Photos: First Comes Love, Then Comes the Photo Shoot (China File)
The wedding banquet comes later. For many Chinese couples, married life really begins in the photo studio where, basted in glitter and hair gel, the brides dressed for a debut at La Scala or night out with Fabio, they gaze upon sets so tufted and inlaid and gold-foiled that comparisons to the real places that seem to have served as modelsVersailles, the homes of Donald Trumpdont quite suffice. This isnt just a ritual for the rich and corrupt. Flinty investigative reporters, law professors at the countrys best universities, bank tellers, even men and women who ordinarily dress and live in a manner that suggests only the most passing of concern with appearances, still greet visitors to their modest homes with towering portraits of themselves surrounded by velvet and marble.
Its Hard to Say I Love You in Chinese (February 14, 2014, China File)
We didnt say I love you, said Dr. Kaiping Peng, Associate Professor of Psychology Emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley. Id ventured over to his China office on the campus of Beijings mighty Tsinghua University to talk to him about the romantic prospects of Chinas rising fleets of well-educated, unmarried Chinese known as shengn, or leftover women, but our conversation quickly took a historical detour.
Chinese Millionaires Are Leaving The Country In Droves (January 17, 2014, Business Insider)
Do the wealthy Chinese know something we don't? A new report shows that 64 percent of Chinese millionaires have either emigrated or plan to emigratetaking their spending and fortunes with them. The United States is their favorite destination.
Artificial Light, Beijing (January 28, 2014, The China Story)
Tom Cliff is a Postdoctoral Fellow on the ARC Laureate project Informal Life Politics in the Remaking of Northeast Asia at the Australian National University. Toms part of this project concerns the informal institutions of family and enterprise in contemporary China.
China expands abandoned baby hatch scheme (February 16, 2014, BBC News)
The Chinese authorities have set up 25 "baby hatches" across the country to allow parents to safely abandon their unwanted infants. They plan to establish many more over the coming months, despite criticism that they could encourage people to give up their babies. The hatches, which consist of an incubator and a delayed alarm, increase the chances of a baby surviving. Most of those abandoned have disabilities or serious illnesses.
The Economist on China: Weekly Round-up (February 17, 2014, Analects)
In addition to the China-related offerings gathered up here on Analects, we publish a China section each week in the print edition of The Economist. We also cover China-related happenings in other sections of the print edition, and on some of our other blogs. To help readers find all our China coverage in one place, we provide this handy round-up.
The Lighter Side of China: Rules of the Road (February 18, 2014, The Beijinger)
There are two words that describe modern driving in China and they are "total offense." Getting behind the steering wheel, you immediately enter into the likes of a rugby scrum. You have to be ready to play your best game. Whenever anyone asks me to explain how to drive in China, my number one tip is this: "Don't look in the rearview mirror." I often wonder why cars in China include rearview mirrors at all. They are the most useless part of an automobile if youre a driver in China. Driving is all about what is ahead of you, not behind you.
Blizzards disrupt traffic across China (February 18, 2014, Xinhua)
Snowstorms have been sweeping parts of China, wreaking havoc on traffic and crops.Statistics from the meteorological station of central China's Hunan Province showed that 37 cities and counties were covered by snow on Tuesday morning. The snow coverage on Hengshan Mountain and in Huaihua City was as thick as 16 and eight centimeters respectively, and seven cities including the provincial capital of Changsha will see snowfall of more than 7.5 millimeters by Wednesday, according to the station.
10 years of Internet addiction rehabs in China (China Underground)
A brief history of web addiction camps in China: brainwashing, electroconvulsive therapy and other abuses were committed to patients over the years.
EDUCATION / HISTORY
After Winding Odyssey, Tibetan Texts Find Home in China (February 15, 2014, The New York Times)Decades ago, the thousands of Tibetan-language books now ensconced in a lavishly decorated library in southwest China might have ended up in a raging bonfire. During the tumultuous decade of the Cultural Revolution, which ended in 1976, Red Guard zealots destroyed anything deemed feudal. But an American scholar, galvanized in part by those rampages, embarked on a mission to collect and preserve the remnants of Tibetan culture.
How to Teach English in Xinjiang, China (February 17, 2014, Far West China)
The funny thing is that despite all of these job openings it is actually quite difficult for people outside the province to find a job in Xinjiang. The prevailing wisdom a few years ago was to just travel out here on a tourist visa, find a good school and then get hired. Not only does that take a lot of guts, its also a risk of both your finances and the kind of school you find. And it often doesnt work anymore. So how do you find a good teaching job in Xinjiang?
American universities are setting up campuses on the mainland (February 17, 2014, South China Morning Post)
US institutions are leading the charge in setting up campuses on the mainland for Chinese students who find their own rigid system doesn't prepare them for the real world, writes Christy Choi.
HEALTHChina Reports Another Case of New Bird Flu Strain (February 14, 2014, The New York Times)
Chinese officials have said a new strain of avian influenza, H10N8, has killed another person, according to a report on Friday by Xinhua, the state news agency. The victim was a 75-year-old man living in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province, who entered a hospital on Feb. 4 after falling ill. He died on Feb. 8, Xinhua reported.
Children in China and Exercise: Failing Grades? (February 15, 2014, My Health Beijing)
Why does activity drop off so quickly for kids in China after middle school? One theory is the incredible amount of studying that Chinese students are accustomed to: children in Shanghai and Hangzhou between grades 4 and 8 spend an average of 150 to 160 minutes doing homework every weekday and more than 200 minutes on weekends. In addition, children spend an average of more than 60 minutes every weekday sitting still and playing on computers, cell phones, tablets and watching TV.
Red flags in Chinas disease control (February 18, 2014, East Asia Forum)
A closer look at Chinas response to the H7N9 outbreak raises alarming questions on its ability to effectively manage a public health emergency of international concern.
Chinese Overtake Americans as Top Medical Tourists in Korea (February 19, 2014, China Real Time)
The Chinese overtook Americans as the biggest group of medical tourists to South Korea in 2012 for the first time since the Korean government started compiling the data. In 2012, 32,503 Chinese tourists came to South Korea for medical services, says a recent report by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. That represents 20.4% of all medical tourists.
ECONOMICS / BUSINESS / TRADE
Swelling Debt Spreads Among Chinas Local Governments (February 14, 2014, China Real Time)
Chinas traditionally underdeveloped provinces have long faced debt pressures. Increasingly, though, they are being joined by more-developed provinces that overreached, betting on resources or property investment as their paths to prosperity. That is the suggestion from a review of provincial auditors reports released last month. The findings underscore the varied nature of local risks across China at a time when regulators are grappling with swelling debts of local governments that have boosted their borrowings from informal lenders at higher costs.
Video: Will China shake the world again? (February 17, 2014, BBC)
Unless you are an aficionado of the great moments of Chinese Communist history, you probably won't have heard of Wuhan (it is the site of Chairman Mao's legendary swim across the Yangtze). But perhaps more than any other Chinese city, it tells the story of how China's remarkable three decades of modernisation and enrichment, its economic miracle, is apparently drawing to a close, and why there is a serious risk of a calamitous crash.Where To Locate In China. Put Pollution On Your List. (February 18, 2014, China Law Blog)
I see this pollution list as important and I would venture to say that foreign companies will be using it as a factor in determining where to locate in China.
China Is a Growing Worry Among Fund Managers (February 20, 2014, China Real Time)
Global investors are increasingly worried about a sharp slowdown in China, which has eclipsed the U.S. Federal Reserves cutbacks in its bond-buying as the biggest perceived threat to the global economy, according to a survey of fund managers by Bank of America-Merrill Lynch.
Chinese Negotiating Agendas Stated vs. Real (February 19, 2014, China Solved)
To negotiate successfully in China, you have to figure out what their true motivations and goals are. Thats not always easy.
Chinese Negotiating Agendas Stated vs. Real (Part 2) (February 20, 2014, China Solved)
Make more of an effort to understand the Chinese sides true agenda and motivation. Use their written communication and background communication as a starting point but plan on working hard to dig deep and build a foundation of trust and understanding.
What If China Does Land Hard? (February 20, 2014, China Real Time)
Over the last two weeks, several major investment houses have published reports exploring the idea of a hard economic landing in China. They include We dont expect it to happen caveats. But what if it did happen? Would the rest of the world tank as well?
SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY / ENVIRONMENT
Chinas Most Polluted Cities of 2013 (February 13, 2014, China Hush)
Of the 74 cities in the report, none of them met the World Health Organizations recommendations for particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5). Only five met the Chinese governments less stringent standards for PM2.5 levels.
ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT / SPORTS
Asian films win big as Chinese thriller takes top Berlin prize (September 15, 2014, Reuters)
Asian films were big winners at the Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday, led by gritty Chinese thriller "Bai Ri Yan Huo" (Black Coal, Thin Ice) about an overweight detective pursuing a serial killer which took the top Golden Bear prize. Liao Fan, who said he put on 20 kg (44 lb) and drank more alcohol to play the role of detective Zhang Zili, was named Best Actor.
China's Winter Olympics dreams (February 18, 2014, BBC)
The city of Zhangjiakou is perhaps best known in China for its steel industry and appalling air pollution. But if the Chinese government gets its way that could be about to change – the steel city could be hailed for its world-class ski resorts. That is because Zhangjiakou – a city in northeast China with a population of four million – is part of a joint bid along with the capital, Beijing, to host the Winter Olympics in 2022.
Chinas Quick Slide to Curling Success (February 19, 2014, Sinosphere)
The sports roots in China trace to the frigid northeastern city of Harbin, home to a large number of Chinas winter sports athletes. In 1999, a sports school in Harbin built a curling facility. There, future Olympians began to develop their skills in what is known in Chinese as binghu, or ice kettle, a reference to the shape of a curling stone.
What Destroying a Million-Dollar Chinese Vase Looks Like (February 20, 2014, China Real Time)
The unauthorized destruction by a Miami artist of one of Chinese dissident Ai Weiweis works turns out to have been, like Hannah Arendts evil, noteworthy mostly for its banality.
FOOD / TRAVEL / CULTURE
Lost City found Underwater in China (February 11, 2014, Fubiz)
Qiandao Lake is a man-made lake located in Chunan County, China, where archeologists have discovered in 2001 ruins of an underwater city. The city is at a depth of 26-40 meters and was named Lion City. There would have been 290 000 people living in this city during more than 1300 years. Touristic expeditions are projected.
Lijiang old town through the lens of a Lubitel 166+ (China Underground)
In 1997, the old town was included on the World Heritage list. Despite the mass tourism, Lijiang is still worth a visit. Photographer Dominique Musorrafiti depicted the town using a Lubitel 166+ and two films: Fuji Velvia100F 120mm (crossprocessed) and Lucky SHD 120mm (expired B&W).
Insiders Guide to Yunnan, China (February 14, 2014, National Geographic)
Land of peaks, valleys, and monasteries, Yunnan is home to the largest number of ethnic groups in China. The gateway towns of Shangri-La(much of which, sadly, burned in January 2014) and Lijiang showcase area traditions and cultures, but many interesting sites lie in the countryside. Heres an insiders guide to this wondrous region:
The Great Ride of China Video Trailer Now Published! (February 19, 2014, Great Ride of China)Below you can see our quick 5-minute intro to The Great Ride of China, some of the challenges we faced and amazing things we saw. We hope you enjoy the video and that it succeeds in bringing you a bit closer to the amazing adventure that we had while on The Great Ride of China!
LANGUAGE / LANGUAGE LEARNING
How a dialect differs from a language (February 16, 2014, The Economist)
Hong Kongs education department caused a furore last month by briefly posting on its website the claim that Cantonese was not an official language of Hong Kong. After an outcry, officials removed the text. But was the claim correct? The law says that Chinese and English are Hong Kongs official languages. Whereas some people say that Cantonese is a dialect of Chinese, others insist that it is a language in its own right. Who is rightand how do dialects differ from languages in general?
Essential articles (Hacking Chinese)The following is a collection of carefully selected articles that I consider essential in one way or another. If you are short on time, these are the articles you should focus on. If youre new to Hacking Chinese, these articles will give you the best start.
BOOKS
A book to help you discuss creation with Chinese friends (February 19, 2014, Jackson Wu)
The Lost World of Genesis One, by John Walton, is a different sort of book on the subject. Im not a big fan of the conversation about creationism, evolution, etc. because it tends to be a bigger distraction than a help for people. Ultimately, the issue comes down to ones exegesis, not science.
How China and America See Each Other (March/April, 2014, Foreign Affairs)The idea behind Debating China: The U.S.-China Relationship in Ten Conversations is simple but clever: for each of ten conversations, it pairs one leading American expert on Asia with a Chinese counterpart to debate a specific bilateral issue. Hachigian moderates the series of conversations by framing the key questions the participants should address; the debaters exchange opinions and then, in a second round, focus on their disagreements. The result is a book that summarizes and scrutinizes each sides positions on everything from human rights to climate change. As a whole, the project is illuminating but disheartening; those optimistic about the future of U.S.-Chinese ties will find little to cheer in these pages.
ARTICLES FOR RESEARCHERS
Politics of the Death Penalty in China (January 16, 2014, China Change)
With the Hunan tycoon Zeng Chengjie and the Shenyang street vendor Xia Junfeng (), the manipulators behind the curtains were determined to end their lives. Similarly and without suspense, Gu Kailai (), daughter of a general, and Liu Zhijun (), the former railway minister, had their death sentences commuted. The Xinhua headline after Liu Zhijun was sentenced read, Trial of Liu Zhijun Demonstrates Respect for the Rule of Law. A netizen made a lively retort, I really think the headline means to say the Rule of Psychosis.
A Brief Guide to Chinas Media Landscape February 2014 (February 20, 2014, Danwei)
The table below shows mainland Chinas most important websites, newspapers, and broadcast news organizations, together with numbers for website traffic, circulation and audience.
ARTICLES IN CHINESE (Pacific Institute for Social Sciences) (February 20, 2014, Southern Metropolis)(the official papers every Chinese citizen needs an infographic)
Pictures of the Miao Menghao Festival in Guangxi (February 16, 2014, Xinhua)
Image Credit: Joann Pittman, via Flickr