FEATURED ARTICLEOverseas Missions: The Chinese Church in Action (November 26, 2012, Chinese Church Voices)When you see the local need it will become clear: The Chinese church does not lack people or money. What we lack is love. These are the heartfelt words of a Chinese missionary to Pakistan. During a recent church service at Yingshang county, Anhui province, six Chinese missionaries brought together photographs and personal experience to share the ways they have encountered Gods grace and presence in missions and to communicate the needs of the mission field. Picture after picture displayed the impoverishment and struggles of the local people, while the heartfelt and sincere plea of the missionaries touched the nearly thousand brothers and sisters in attendance.GOVERNMENT / POLITICS / FOREIGN AFFAIRSPlanning for Chinas Fall (November 22, 2012, The Diplomat)Indeed, any discussion of China these days would be far more foresighted to focus on the growing challenges and potential dangers that the new leadership is facing. The implications of China experiencing an unexpected economic crash or major political crisis, let alone a military conflict, should be as much a part of strategic planning as plans based on more optimistic scenarios.Will China’s new leaders change Tibet policy? (November 23, 2012, BBC)China emphasis its development of Tibetan areas, saying its rule has brought huge economic benefits to what was a poor, feudal society. Nonetheless the authorities appear unable to end the protests. The question now is whether there will be a change in direction under the leadership of Xi Jinping.Churning the oceans (November 24, 2012, The Economist)As their navies expand, India and China will begin to bump up against each other at seaWatch: VIP tour of the 18th National Congress(November 25, 2012, Shanghaiist)Reuters chief photographer Petar Kujundzic-Pedja is a bad ass. In 2010 he covered the unveiling of now-leader Kim Jong Un in North Korea, and now he has released a first-person look inside the Chinese leadership transition. The video, shot in hidden-camera style and with a fittingly glorious soundtrack, is a fascinating glimpse into a world of polite doormen, metal detectors, and unanimous decisions.Chinas Leadership Change Puts Pair Ahead of Their Peers for 2017 (November 26, 2012, The New York Times)If Mr. Hu and Mr. Sun both make it onto the Standing Committee in 2017, they would be in position to vie for the top two party posts in 2022, which would confer on them the state titles of president or premier.China Aircraft Carrier Style! Assessing the First Takeoff and Landing (November 27, 2012, China Real Time)Once again, China has exceeded the expectations of many foreign observers regarding timelines for military capabilities development, though the tremendous publicity the event has received could limit the countrys ability to move with such speed in developing its aircraft carrier going forward.Photos: China Lands Jet on New Carrier (November 26, 2012, China Real Time)Asias Passport Wars: Chinese Map Triggers Diplomatic Firestorm (November 27, 2012, Time)But, if it wasnt enough of an albatross, the Asian passport has become something else altogether more absurd: a crude weapon of geopolitics. In the past week, neighboring governments reacted with anger after Beijing rolled out a new iteration of Chinese passports. The Indian Foreign Minister deemed it unacceptable. A Vietnamese official, speaking to the Financial Times, described it as one very poisonous step by Beijing among their thousands of malevolent actions.Online Chatter May Herald Deep Reforms in Chinas Administrative Government (November 27, 2012, Tea Leaf Nation)For those who look for hints of political reforms after the leadership transition in Chinas 18th Party Congress, here is a piece of glad tidings: A round of bureau downsizing led by the State Council is likely to come soon. Although not confirmed by any official source yet, a detailed plan to make super-ministries out of existing governmental organs has gone viral among Chinese web users. A tweet about the possible reforms from one Weibo user, @ which included a link to the rumored plan, was re-tweeted almost 9,000 times. It is said that the plan is being discussed within Chinas State Council. Some of the rumored measures, which are surprisingly bold, would fundamentally change the landscape of Chinas governmental system if turned into reality:Respect for elders trump change (November 27, 2012, Asia Times Online)As China’s leadership change takes full shape, it’s becoming clear that less-popular officials who demonstrated hard-earned, on-the-job experience have triumphed over the younger, more reformist and enterprising. As long as those who escape the complex institutional process unscathed are chosen over those who display educated ambition, there is less scope for trumpeted changeWhat do we know about Chinas new leadership? (November 28, 2012, Reuters)As China obsessives know, it is tough to read tea leaves when the water is as opaque as that surrounding Chinas Politburo. In the wake of the Chinese leadership transition, were left to sift through the news in search of answers. There is plenty we do not know about the process or what its outcome will bring, but when it comes to underlying themes we can understand, it is possible to make some predictions. Start with solidarity. In the most telling example of Chinese political unity, the Politburo, the elite political body that makes all of Chinas major decisions, went from nine people to seven to consolidate control of the political process. The Communist Party is now more unified than before and is less likely to tolerate dissent from within. The stability of the Communist Party is paramount. All else will fall in line.Smoke and mirrors fail the CCP(November 28, 2012, Asia Times Online)The Chinese Communist Party will find it impossible to maintain its grip power by suppressing its membership, using foreign scapegoats, and ignoring deeply needed political reforms forever. There is an alternative, but the absence of any real attempt to redefine itself means the party faces impending extinction from within.87th Self-Immolation, Death of Earlier Protester Reported(November 28, 2012, China Digital Times)Dharamsala-based Phayul.com reports the 25th self-immolation case this month and news of one of the five Tibetans who set fire to themselves on November 7th, on the eve of Chinas 18th Party Congress. The man is said to have died in police custody on November 18th after allegedly being refused treatment for his burns. The total now stands at 87 cases since 2009, excluding four cases in India, one in Nepal, and two unconfirmed cases in Sichuan.Chinese officials will board, seize ships in disputed waters (November 28, 2012, Christian Science Monitor)Police in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan will board and search ships which enter into what China considers its territorial waters in the disputed South China Sea, state media said on Thursday, a move which could raise tensions further. The South China Sea is Asia’s biggest potential military trouble spot with several Asian countries claiming sovereignty. New rules, which come into effect on January 1, will allow Hainan police to board and seize control of foreign ships which “illegally enter” Chinese waters and order them to change course or stop sailing, the official China Daily reported.A Partys Over, but Nostalgia Lingers(November 28, 2012, The New York Times)But now, the heart of this ancient capital has returned to what passes for normal these days: hazy gray skies above the granite expanse; crowds of tourists, both Chinese and foreign, milling around and posing for photographs; and uniformed security officers watching them carefully in front of the Forbidden City. (Less familiar was the sight of some of those officers zipping around the square on two-wheeled, Segway-like vehicles as the ageless Mao Zedong gazed down from his portrait.) Elsewhere, pirated DVDs and English-language books on China have reappeared on shelves after having been relegated to storerooms in some shops. Several prominent activists who were asked to leave Beijing during the conclave have slowly found their way back to their homes.Chinas Future Premier Shrugs Off U.S. Elections China Bashing, Says Trust Us(November 29, 2012, China Real Time Report)Chinas future premier shrugged off the China bashing of the U.S. presidential-election campaign, suggesting that the harsh words are now behind the two countries and that Washington has nothing to fear from Beijing. Li Keqiang, named to the No. 2 spot in the Communist Party hierarchy earlier this month and expected to be named premier next March, said that relations had bright prospects despite occasional difficulties, though he suggested that Washington should show greater trust in Beijing.China and the United States will certainly encounter difficulties in the process of cooperation, he said, according to an official transcript of his remarks. Our two countries have areas where interests intersect and these areas can expand continuously, Mr. Li said. I personally believe there is unlimited room for expanding these areas.U.S. Not Neutral in Island Dispute, Armitage Told Beijing (November 29, 2012, China Real Time Report)The U.S. isnt saying who it thinks has legal sovereignty over islands disputed by Japan and China in the East China Sea, but dont mistake that stand for neutrality, says former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Mr. Armitage traveled with a delegation of ex-U.S. officials to both countries in late October at the behest of the State Department to convey U.S. concerns about the way the dispute had flared up. Were not neutral when our ally is a victim of coercion or aggression or intimidation, said Mr. Armitage in an interview, referring to Japan.Will Chinas New Leadership Loosen Its Grip on Mainstream Media?(November 29, 2012, Tea Leaf Nation)For regular viewers of China Central Television (CCTV) who have grown used to its formulaic propaganda, the past week has brought refreshing changes to its news coverage, and Chinas astute online commentators are openly wonderingcould this be a bellwether for reforms under Chinas new leadership?Wen ‘wealth’ probe can boost Xi (November 30, 2012, Asia Times Online)Outgoing Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao wishes to defend his reputation against claims of his family being linked to hidden great wealth. A court case is unlikely, but the Communist Party could do worse than conduct the investigation he has requested. That at least would convince the public that the party can honor its commitment to combat corruption and strengthen the authority of new leader Xi Jinping.Chen Guangcheng: Rebel of the Year 2012(December 2012, GQ)In a GQ exclusive, Chen recounts his time as a humanitarian cause clbre in the United States and adjusting to life in the slow, steady fade of the footlights that had burned so bright and hot in May.RELIGIONWhen Christians are Persecuted(November 21, 2012, ChinaSource Blog)Reports of Christians being detained, harassed, fined or otherwise hindered from living out their faith have led many to conclude that persecution is the norm in China. Yet while such incidences do occur, a much larger number of Christians engages seemingly unhindered in a wide variety of activities on a daily basis. Where, then, is the tipping point? Why are some (in reality, most) activities ignored, while others are attacked with a vengeance? A review of numerous cases through the years suggests the following “triggers,” which are likely to prompt official action directed against Christians.Bishop K. H. Ting: Home to Be With the Lord (November 23, 2012, tspmccc.org)Bishop Ting Kuang-hsun, honorary chair of the Eighth National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China (TSPM), honorary president of the Sixth China Christian Council (CCC), honorary principal of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, chairman of the Amity Foundation, went home to be with the Lord on November 22 in Nanjing at the age of 98.Charity Begins in China (December 3, 2012, The Weekly Standard)For all of communisms promises, the Sichuan quake established that the Chinese government simply isnt up to the job of responding to citizens in need. Its not only victims of national disaster, either: From treating victims of AIDS to feeding the hungry to taking care of the countrys orphans, disabled, and elderly, its clear that Chinese Christian charities do a much better job than the government. And that reality is leading to a seismic change in modern Chinese society that has gone mostly unreported.Weibo and advancing freedom of religion or belief(Forum 18)There is no indication that Weibo has been used to mobilise collective action to address specific religious freedom violations. But there is a freedom to express beliefs on Weibo that would have been unthinkable in China not very long ago.HEALTHHIV on the rise among Chinese, both young and old(November 28, 2012, Xinhua)China’s health authority announced on Wednesday that HIV rates have risen among people aged 15 to 24 and those over 50.From January to October, 16,131 new cases of HIV infections among citizens over 50 were reported, marking a year-on-year increase of 20.2 percent. There were also 9,514 new cases of HIV reported among young people aged 15 to 24, up 12.8 percent year on year, according to figures from the Ministry of Health (MOH). The MOH said the HIV/AIDS epidemic is rampant in some locations and among certain groups of people.Chinese AIDS Patients Fight Hospital Rejections (November 29, 2012, AP, via Time)In China, hospitals routinely reject people with HIV for surgery out of fear of exposure to the virus or harm to their reputations. After years of denying AIDS was a problem in China, the country has significantly improved care for patients, but the lingering stigma sets back those advances. In my hometown, not a single hospital is willing to operate on people infected with HIV, said Wang, who traveled to Beijing from Runan county in the central province of Henan to try to draw the attention of central authorities to the issue by speaking to the foreign media. This is not discrimination by one single person but by an entire country, he told The Associated Press.Doctor axed to death in North China hospital(November 29, 2012, Shanghai Daily)A female doctor was axed to death by a man in a hospital in north China’s Tianjin Municipality today, police sources have confirmed. Kang Hongqian was attacked and killed at around 1:30 pm by the axe-wielding man in her clinic on the second floor of the No.1 Hospital, which is affiliated to the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, sources said. Kang, who was on duty at the time of the incident, was a chief doctor with the department of acupuncture at the hospital. The attacker, whose identity is not known, jumped out of the building after the attack and wounded himself. He is now under police custody. The scene has been cordoned off by police, who are investigating the cause of the attack.EDUCATION / CULTUREPhotos: Inside China’s “Black Kindergartens”(November 23, 2012, Shanghaiist)Mega-Bite: Watch the English Version of CCTV’s “A Bite of China” Show (November 26, 2012, The Beijinger)The “A Bite of China” Chinese documentary series took the country by storm earlier this year. Now, CCTV-9 has made available on its website the English versions of all seven episodes of the series.The show first appeared back in May, with each episode showcasing different ingredients, dishes and restaurants throughout China.1.12 million sit for national civil service exam (November 27, 2012, Shanghaiist)A record-breaking 1.12 million people took China’s national civil service examination this past weekend, vying for approximately 20,000 jobs in state-level government agencies and public institutions. This year’s number of examinees is a significant increase from the 970,000 who sat for the exam in 2011, as is the number of positions available, slightly up from last year’s 18,000 slots. AFP reports that the number of test-takers has increased more than 30 times over the past decade, as government jobs provide stability in an increasingly competitive private job market.Uyghur Culture in Kashgar: A Photo Essay(November 27, 2012, Far West China)The Troubling Inner Workings of One U.S. College Application Consulting Company in China(November 27, 2012, Tea Leaf Nation)From my experience with the process, however, what the Chinese overseas study consulting companies are trying to offer is not just essay editing but something dangerously close to plagiarism. Because the concept of intellectual property is still relatively weak in China, however, many people do not regard rewriting essays as problematic; they view it as an easy, efficient alternative to the gruelling process of editing.Yao Mings Cure for What Ails Chinese Basketball (November 28, 2012, China Real Time)We need to do something to help local basketball grow. You cant always rely on the foreign basketball players to come and help with your marketing and all that, retired eight-time NBA All-Star Yao Ming told China Real Time in a recent interview. You need to have local people come in and have a deep impact, to make that link, that connection between the players and the fans.Telly Addicts: 5 Popular Chinese Soap Operas (November 28, 2012, World of Chinese)Being a couch potato can finally be a good thing, at least for numerous young Chinese fans of American television shows ( Mij M). These eager viewers claim its a shortcut through excruciating reading comprehensions and vocabulary exercises to achieve English proficiency. In order to do so, they have bought Friends DVD box sets, and play episode after episode of Greys Anatomy on their iPhones. Whether its at home or on the subway, they are studying hard. In the same spirit, we have compiled a list of popular Chinese television shows for Chinese learners or prospective learners. At the same time being entertained with some Chinese drama, your Chinese proficiency may also be magically improved!SOCIETY / LIFEChinese citizens refuse demolition of their homes – in pictures (November 22, 2012, The Guardian)An elderly couple in Wenling, Zhejiang province, are the latest people in China to refuse to sign an agreement to allow their home to be demolished, resulting in the authorities building a planned road around the building. Dingzihu is the Chinese term for households that refuse to move out during demolition and literally means ‘nail house’ ie they stick outImpressions of Kashgar(November 23, 2012, Danwei)Kashgar, in Xinjiang, is Chinas Westernmost city. A traditional stop on the Northern silk road, with a strong Central Asian flavour Kashgar replaced Kabul as setting for the shooting of The Kite Runner it remains an exotic place for city dwellers of the eastern seaboard. Todays post offers an insight into the way Han visitors may experience Kashgar through two different narratives. Although both acknowledge the beauty of the place and Uyghur hospitality, the tone differs. Ji Shuomings Experiencing a different Kashgar proposes the vision of an integrated, developing and Mandarin-embracing Kashgar, whereas Wang Zhongweis piece, Impressions of Kashgar, gives a stronger sense of distance and alienation, in particular around the status of women.Dodging Bullets on Weibo (November 24, 2012, World of Chinese)As a result of this mass of young netizens, several phrases which began within the confines of the Internet have been promoted to popular usage across the country.Im leaving China and it doesnt mean a thing (November 26, 2012, Imagethief)There is no greater message behind our departure. Im not disappointed in China. I havent been involved in public slanging matches with any Chinese celebrities. There is no shroud of legal action looming above me. I am, in fact, profoundly grateful to have been able to live and work in China for as long as I haveChinas lack of concern for the safety of children (November 27, 2012, Seeing Red in China)When one combines Chinas legal loopholes that allow for children to be abused by teachers and family members, and a seeming lack of concern over child abductions, one begins to wonder whether children are valued by Chinas legal system. This seems unimaginable given Chinese societys emphasis on the importance of children, and yet the system remains broken.For whom Mr. Bell tolls (November 28, 2012, China Media Project)The provocative headline of Bells piece, with its question-mark hedge Freedom or Truth? hinted at the core question (assertion?) from the outset: does Chinas restricted media culture actually produce fairer and more accurate journalism while freer Western media twist the facts to pander to bottom lines and base instincts? As though playing out a psychological pattern, Bell finds merit in the Chinese way of doing things: [] I dont want to occupy space here explicating Bells ignorance on both sides of this issue. This should be as clear to Bell himself as it is to journalists and communications scholars on both sides of the fence he has unfairly raised. Let me just say there is no such thing as the Chinese way of reporting news something, time permitting, we will address in the next few days.A look at the 6 Chinese thinkers on Foreign Policy’s Top 100 (November 28, 2012, Shanghaiist)Netizens Revel in Peoples Daily-Onion Gaff (November 28, 2012, China Digital Times)Yesterday, the state-run Peoples Daily Online ran the story Kim Jong-un Named The Onions Sexiest Man Alive For 2012, embellishing it with a 55-photo slideshow of the North Korean leader. The American parody paper later pointed readers to the Peoples Daily pages, praising the exemplary reportage of their Communist subsidiary. Not surprisingly, the Peoples Daily post has since been removed. (Korea Times also missed the humor and reported the Onion story as real news.) Weibo denizens didnt miss a beat:Memorial service held for jet fighter production head(November 29, 2012, Shanghai Daily)A high-profile memorial service was held for Luo Yang this morning in Shenyang, the birthplace of China’s new J-15 fighter jet as well as the provincial capital of Liaoning. Luo, head of the production phase of the J-15, experienced a heart attack on Sunday after observing aircraft carrier flight landing tests for China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. He later died in hospital. He was also chairman and general manager of Shenyang Aircraft Corp. (SAC), a subsidiary of China’s state-owned aircraft maker, Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC). Thousands of people stood in silence in the Huilonggang Cemetery for Revolutionaries in a tearful farewell to Luo.Disposable diapers or bare bottoms? China frets over potty training (November 29, 2012, Christian Science Monitor)As they rapidly enter the middle class, Chinese parents are scorning traditional environmentally-friendly split pants for disposable diapers.SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY / ENVIRONMENTNo VPN? No Problem. A New Way Around Chinas Great Firewall (November 29, 2012, China Real Time Report)A key method for circumventing Chinas Internet filters, virtual private networks have come into the crosshairs of the government lately. During the 18th Party Congress earlier this month many faced blockages and more recently China Digital Times has reported on what appear to be written warnings to Chinese who have access to VPNs on their office networks to use the services for work purposes only. But a number of savvy Chinese Internet users have found a way to escape their fetters without a VPN. Using a little bit of computer knowledge basically copying and pasting a chunk of text from one file to another users can get around the Chinas Facebook, YouTube and a host of other foreign sites blocked by Chinas Great Firewall.BUSINESS / ECONOMICS / FOREIGN TRADEU.S. declines to name China currency manipulator (November 28, 2012, Reuters)The Obama administration said on Tuesday that China’s currency remained “significantly undervalued,” but stopped short of labeling the world’s second-biggest economy a currency manipulator. Although Beijing controls the pace at which the yuan can rise, the U.S. Treasury said in a congressionally mandated semi-annual report that China did not meet the legal requirements to be deemed a currency manipulator. The label is largely symbolic, but would require Washington to open discussions with Beijing on adjusting the yuan’s value. It has been 18 years since the U.S. Treasury has designated any country a manipulator. China was labeled a manipulator between 1992 and 1994.ARTICLES IN CHINESE (November 23, 2012, Gospel Times)RESOURCESOrdering Noodles in China (November 26, 2012, Lets Eat China)As time goes on weve been surprised to realise how many different alternatives there are to beef fried noodles, so here is another downloadable list (aka Menu Reader) of some of the common ones youll find in many restaurants.The Yangtze River (November 26, 2012, Chinanewz)Chinese people have a famous saying that, If you havent traveled up the Yangtze, you havent traveled anywhere. The Yangtze River is the longest river in China at 4,000 miles and appropriately named the Changjiang, meaning the Long River.BOOKSSalt and Light: Chinese Lives of Purpose(Global China Center)Global Readers, be surprised and inspired to discover the importance of faith as a valuable resource for a flourishing modern society, in China as elsewhere. []Chinese Readers, do you long for a life of purpose? Here are shining examples of strong character and outstanding service by your early compatriots. Learn how faith is a source of personal fulfillment and motivation for helping others. []Chinese Christians everywhere, be encouraged to find a lost legacy for linking faith and society, and meet your current counterparts.Why China Will Never Rule the Word: The Interview (November 27, 2012, Chengdu Living)So about a year ago when I caught wind of a book titled Why China Will Never Rule the World, I was immediately drawn to it. The title was so bold that I felt like a great onus was on the author, Troy Parfitt, to convince readers of his controversial claim: that Chinas apparent rise is not what it appears to be.Many of us in Chengdu have spent years witnessing the explosive growth of a megalopolis, and we wonder what does Chinas future look like? I was able to ask a few questions of Troy Parfitt, a Canadian author and ten-year resident of Taiwan, which he took the time to answer in great detail. Some of the answers are controversial, and there are no punches held. buy snow leopard 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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