FEATURED ARTICLEWhat China’s Seven New Rulers Mean for Its 80 Million Christians(November 20, 2012, Christianity Today)The once-a-decade transition in the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Partyis important to China’s 80 million Christians. They have enjoyed greater openness and toleration during the past 20 years, yet still must navigate a complicated relationship with a government which has no tolerance for competition. To discuss what the new Standing Committee leadership means for China’s Christians, Open Doors News (ODN) turned to Brent Fulton, Ph.D and president of China Source, a Hong Kong-based nonprofit formed in 1997.GOVERNMENT / POLITICS / FOREIGN AFFAIRSChina’s new leaders paint a picture of totalitarian banality (November 16, 2012, The Guardian)You have to hand it to the Communist party of China it is honest. This photograph reveals a regime with no interest in pretending to be any more democratic than it is. The message it sends out is, don’t even think about democracy in China: we are so remote from that path, we don’t even contemplate pretending to consider faking it.18th Party Congress Showcases Stunning Setback to Reform (November 16, 2012, China Brief)It is true that Hu, who remains state president until next March, has devoted a good part of his Report to political and institutional reforms. Yet the most important function of the Congresspicking a new slate of Fifth Generation leadershas been dominated by old-fashioned, non-transparent factional intrigue as well as the resurgence of the influence of long-retired party elders.New Communist Party Chief in China Denounces Corruption in Speech(November 19, 2012, The New York Times)In his first speech to the Chinese Communist Partys elite Politburo, Xi Jinping, the new party chief, denounced the prevalence of corruption and aid officials needed to guard against its spread or it would doom the party and the state.Hu Steps Away: Parsing the Communist Partys Big Surprise(November 19, 2012, China Real Time Report)It was pretty much politics as usual for the leadership handover in China last week, except for one big surprise: outgoing Party chief Hu Jintaos decision to give up his position as head of the Central Military Commission. Hu stepping down and striding away was in sharp contrast to his immediate predecessor Jiang Zeminwho held on to the top military spot for a year and a half after ending his tenure as Party leaderand Chinas paramount leader, Deng Xiaopingwho had anointed Hu to succeed Jiang. Theres simply no precedent in Chinese politics for such a move. So why did Hu go?Tibetan Self-Immolations Continue (November 20, 2012, China Digital Times)The recent surge in self-immolations by Tibetans protesting Beijings policies has continued unabated. At least 76 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009.A Bold Speech at Elite Chinese University Goes Viral: Everyone Lies (November 20, 2012, Tea Leaf Nation)Freedom of speech has always been a sensitive topic in China. But when a prominent commentator calls for the right to free speech in one of the most famous (and state-controlled) universities in China, it raises the stakes yet further. On November 18, fresh off of a forced blogging hiatus coinciding with Chinas leadership handover at its 18th Party Congress, outspoken commentator and blogger Li Chengpeng (@) delivered a sharp and powerful speech called Talk at Peking University, directly criticizing the lack of free speech in China.Online protests after Chinese Twitter user arrested (November 21, 2012, BBC)Hundreds of web users have signed a petition demanding the release of a Beijing man accused of criticising China’s authorities on Twitter. Zhai Xiaobing, who is being linked to Twitter name @Stariver, was stopped by police days before the new Chinese leaders were confirmed on 15 November. In a tweet, the account compared the Communist Party 18th National Congress to horror film Final Destination.In it, characters at first escape death but still end up dying one by one.China promotes conservative to propaganda minister (November 21, 2012, Reuters)China appointed on Wednesday a loyal ally of President Hu Jintao to become propaganda minister and promoted one of its most senior female leaders to Communist Party chief of the northern port city of Tianjin. The new propaganda minister, Liu Qibao, formerly the party boss of southwestern Sichuan province, replaces Liu Yunshan, who was last week raised to the Standing Committee following a once-every-five-year party congress that unveiled a generational leadership change. While media-savvy, Liu is unlikely to loosen media controls as China’s leaders, nervous about stability and the need to ensure one-party rule, are likely to keep domestic media on a short leash and clamp down on China’s increasingly unruly Internet, which has over 500 million users. The brief Xinhua announcement confirmed a Reuters report in October that said Liu Qibao was tipped to replace Liu Yunshan. The two are not related despite sharing a surname.Exclusive: China’s backroom powerbrokers block reform candidates sources (November 21, 2012, Reuters)Retired leaders in China’s Communist Party used a last-minute straw poll to block two pro-reform candidates from joining the policymaking standing committee, including one who had alienated party elders, sources with ties to the leadership said. Two sources said the influential retirees flexed their muscles in landmark informal polls taken before last week’s 18th party congress, where the sevenmember standing committee, the apex of China’s power structure, was unveiled. []Shedding light on the opaque backroom process, the two sources said votes on the new standing committee were taken among the outgoing 24 members of the Politburo and more than 10 party elders, who had retired from senior posts. The group held more than 10 rounds of deliberations, including at least two informal polls, over several months at the military-run Jingxi hotel in Beijing and other venues, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.Was the Wen Jiabao Story a Leak?(November 21, 2012, saschamatuszak.com)The NYT story on the Wen Family finances that came out in October, Billions in Hidden Riches for Family of Chinese Leader, is lauded by mainstream media figures as a journalistic coup and an example of gumshoe investigative journalism. But a small minority of media outlets, led by erstwhile Western media darlings Boxun and Mingjing, counter that the story is a clear leak. At best, they say, its impressive the way David Barboza followed up on the leaked documents that several other mainstream media organizations had taken a look at.A Chinese Farm in Africa(November 21, 2012, Iied.org)Chen promotes new agricultural techniques in China, but he dreams of farming in Senegal. Not because he is a cog in a neo-colonial machine driven by a Beijing masterplan to take over Africa, but because he wants to share his skills and do something meaningful. RELIGIONChristians consider Chinas leadership change: A Q&A with Brent Fulton (November 20, 2012, Compass Direct)The once-a-decade transition is important to Chinas 80 million Christians, who have enjoyed greater openness and toleration during the past 20 years, yet still must navigate a complicated relationship with the government, which has no tolerance for competition. To discuss what the new government leadership means for Chinas Christians, Open Doors News turned to Brent Fulton, Ph.D and president of China Source, a Hong Kong-based nonprofit formed in 1997. China Source collaborates with hundreds of China-oriented churches and organizations through conferences, publications and consulting.What follows is an edited version of the conversation.Xiao Min on Preparing for the Lords Return (November 21, 2012, Chinese Church Voices)Xiao Min is the composer of a body of traditional Chinese worship music called the Canaan Hymns. This article from the Christian Times reports on a talk that she recently gave in Anhui Province on the topic of the Second Coming.The Present Condition of Christianity and Religious Regulations in China (Pacific Institute for Social Sciences)The development of Christianity in China over the past thirty years has been extraordinary, both in terms of number of followers and influence. The official figure for number of Christians in China is 18 million; however many scholars believe that this figure is under-estimated. Outside of China, the estimated figure for the number of Christians is even higher, with some researchers suggesting 100 million. In the past few years, the study of Christianity in China has become more rigorous, with the result being greater understanding of Christianity in China, both in China and abroad. EDUCATION / CULTUREBeijing to issue college matriculation policy for migrant children (November 17, 2012, Xinhua)A new plan for the college entrance exam policy for migrant children in Beijing will be worked out by the end of this year, Beijing education authorities said on Friday. The Beijing Municipal Commission of Education made a public announcement in response to an application filed by migrant worker volunteers in October. The volunteers asked educational departments to publish the results of migrant children’s college matriculation research and measures for balancing educational resources. The commission said the new plan will provide equal rights to education and matriculation opportunities for migrant children.Why Are Chinese Web Users So Impressed By Their New Leaders Chinese Language Skills? (November 19, 2012, Tea Leaf Nation)Xi not only debuted speaking what one user called really not bad Mandariner, Putonghuahe managed not to sound like an insufferable bureaucrat in the process. That alone is not a towering achievement, but surely provides some relief for Chinese accustomed to a decade of Hus soporific speech. It was also apt fodder for an information-starved Chinese commentariat searching for any clues about how Xi might govern.Ten Must Try Foods in Yunnan (November 19, 2012, Life on Nanchang Lu)Here are a group of ten foods we enjoyed over the last few weeks as we travelled through Yunnan from the cold and mountainous north, to the subtropical jungles in the south and the exquisite rice terraces landscape of the east. We’ve eaten well, as you can see!How Chinese Students Choose a Foreign University to Attend (November 20, 2012, East West Connect)Due to the increase in the average income level of Chinese citizens, more and more Chinese people can now afford to study abroad. And with the proliferation of the Internet in China, Chinese students are now able to gain a much deeper understanding of the differences between Chinese and Western education. More and more have chosen to attend high-level educational institutions in the West in order to attain an education that they see as being more comprehensive and systematic. Chinese parents also hope to see their children gain a better education and experience the world.Education crisis in rural areas (November 21, 2012, Shanghai Daily)One of the unexpected by-products of China’s urbanization is the decline in rural education over the past decade. The number of rural students has dropped to a 10-year low with 63 primary schools and three middle schools closing every day from 2000 to 2010. This is partly a result of the excessive merging of rural schools during the decade, according to a report released by Yang Dongping, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute. The number of rural primary schools decreased by 52 percent from 2000 to 2010 while the number of countryside pupils dropped by 37.8 percent, the report said. The decrease in rural schools began 10 years ago when educational authorities advocated the merger of facilities in light of the shrinking rural population, due to China’s urbanization. The policy was meant to improve study conditions for pupils and save educational resources. However, the concentration of schools has made pupils’ journeys to school longer and more expensive, especially in remote mountainous areas.Top 20 ancient Chinese inventions(November 21, 2012, China Whisper)China held the worlds leading position in many fields in the study of nature, from the 1st century before Christ to the 15th century, with the four great inventions having the greatest global significance papermaking, printing, gunpowder and the compass. Actually China contributed countless ancient inventions to the world. Ancient Chinese inventions such as gunpowder, silk, paper, and the compass were and still are prominent pieces of Chinese and global life. SOCIETY / LIFEWhat you need to know about China’s new first lady(November 20, 2012, Sydney Morning Herald)China has a new Paramount Leader. Which means a new Mrs. Paramount Leader. The country’s First Ladies have tended to hover in the side wings, rather than take a place in the spotlight. But are we about to see all that change as the new president Xi Jinping ascends to the throne, with a glamorous pop singer wife called Peng Liyuan in tow? A woman who, for a long time was far more famous than her politician husband? The 49-year-old folk singer first found fame as an entertainer for the troops of the People Liberation’s Army. She sometimes performs patriotic songs in uniform and holds a civilian rank equivalent to major general. For years her shining, round face and uplifting performances were a mainstay at CCTV’s glittering New Years galas. And she’s caught the attention of the international media, who have latched onto any whiff of personality that breaks through the tightly scripted, impenetrable facade that is Chinese politics.Crossover 11/20/2012 Shepherd’s field (November 20, 2012, CCTV9)An interview with Tim Baker, founder of Shepherds Field Childrens Village in BeijingForeigners who live in China for 10 years may soon be eligible for ‘green card’ (November 21, 2012, Shanghaiist)China’s Ministry of Public Security, which oversees immigration, is considering a draft regulation which proposes a number of amendments to ease requirements for permanent residency. According to Liu Guofu, an immigration law expert at the Beijing Institute of Technology, the draft regulation proposes allowing foreigners who have lived in the country for 10 consecutive years to apply for permanent residency, providing they have spent at least 9 months of each year in China. Applicants must also be employed, have accommodation and a good tax record. Current regulations require applicants to hold a position of at least deputy general manager or associate professor for at least four successive years. The draft regulation would do away with such position based requirements.Deaths of 5 runaways prompt soul search in China (November 21, 2012, AP)On the day China unveiled its new leadership in Beijing with promises of a better life for all, five runaway boys seeking shelter and warmth died in a garbage bin in the south. The boys were all brothers or cousins aged 9 to 13. Surnamed Tao, they were the sons of three brothers two of whom are migrant workers with jobs far from home and most of them lived largely unsupervised in the care of their blind grandmother. They had been missing for more than a week when, police say, they lit a fire to stay warm on a cold, damp night Nov. 15 in the city of Bijie and died from carbon monoxide poisoning. As details of the tragedy emerged this week, it touched off the country’s latest soul-searching about social responsibility. It renewed concern over the “left-behind” rural children who are often left with grandparents while parents seek work in thriving coastal cities, and the failure of the country’s social services to adequately care for them.How do the Chinese celebrate Thanksgiving? (November 19, 2012, Chinese Comics Online)21 crazy buildings in China (China Underground)Chinese website 163.com, compiled a gallery of the 21 craziest buildings built in recent decades in China. BUSINESS / ECONOMICS / FOREIGN TRADEChinas Next Step on Yuan Is Convertibility, Zhou Says (November 18, 2012, Bloomberg)Chinas central bank governor said convertibility will be the next step in the overhaul of the exchange-rate system as calls grow for the nations new leadership to deepen changes in the economy to sustain growth. For the central bank, I think the next movement related to the yuan is going to be reform of convertibility, Zhou Xiaochuan said at a conference in Beijing on Nov. 17. We are going to realize it, we are moving in this direction, we need to go further, we will have some deregulation. ARTICLES IN CHINESE(Pacific Institute for Social Sciences) (Pacific Institute for Social Sciences) RESOURCESThe American Thanksgiving StoryThis video illustrates the history of the Pilgrims going to America and describes present day Thanksgiving celebrations. This would be effective in helping others understand American history and culture, improve English listening comprehension, helping to foster hearts of thankfulness and would be a very good lead-in to excellent small group discussions.YouTube (English subtitles)YouTube (Chinese subtitles)Youku (English subtitles)Youku (Chinese subtitles)51 Computer related terms in Chinese(November 17, Proofread China) BOOKSChinas Coming Storm (November 20, 2012, Global China Center)Review of Socialist China, Capitalist China: Social tension and political adaptation under economic globalization, edited by Guoguang Wu and Helen Lansdowne. New York: Routledge, 2009.This volume explores some of the social challenges facing China, including rural-urban migration, unemployment, the healthcare crisis, the rise of religion, the desire for increased individualism, and new mass movements. It also analyzes the government response to these developments in an era of globalization. The question boils down to how far a traditionally socialist nation can be integrated into global capitalism.Shangri-La: Along the Tea Road to Lhasa (November 16, 2012, China Rhyming)Shangri-La: Along the Tea Road to Lhasa is a lovely book of photographs from the National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita just published. Its the result of a five year project by the intrepid snapper to capture Tibet on film.My First Trip to China Scholars, Diplomats and Journalists Reflect on their First Encounters with ChinaThirty leading China expertsranging from Perry Link, Andrew Nathan and Jonathan Mirsky to W.J.F. Jenner, Lois Wheeler Snow and Morton Abramowitzrecount their first visits to China, recalling their initial observations and impressions. Most first traveled to China when it was still closed to the world, or was just beginning to open. Their subsequent opinions, writings and policies have shaped the Western relationship with China for more than a generation. This is essential reading for those who want to understand the evolution of Western attitudes toward modern China. At the same time, this collection provides a vivid, personal window onto a fascinating period in Chinese history. mac os x 10.6 download ZGBriefs is a weekly compilation of the news in China, condensed from published sources and emailed free-of-charge to more than 6,000 readers in China and abroad. ZGBriefs brings you not only the most important stories of the week, but also links to blogs, commentaries, articles, and resources to help fill out your understanding of what is happening in China today. Coverage includes domestic and international politics, economics, culture, and social trends, among other areas. Seeking to explore all facets of life in China, ZGBriefs also includes coverage of spiritual movements and the role of religious believers and faith-based groups in China. The publication of ZGBriefs is supported by readers who find this weekly service useful. 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