FEATURED ARTICLE
From the Global Times: Estranged Brethren (October 16, 2013, Chinese Church Voices)
On October 10, 2013, the Global Times, one of Chinas English language daily newspapers published an article titled Estranged Brethren, about the division between the official Three-Self church and the House Church movement. Articles about religion in general, and Christianity in particular, are far and few between in the Chinese media, and articles that reference the house churches are even more rare. This article is particularly noteworthy for its discussion of the background of the division, its discussion of the Shouwang Church in Beijing, its relatively sympathetic treatment of the house church position, and references to calls for changes in Chinas religious policies.
GOVERNMENT / POLITICS / FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Lhasa lockdown: When patriotism is flagging (October 10, 2013, Analects)
More than five years after violent mass protests rocked Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, the city remains in the grip of a severe security lockdown. The first week of Octoberthe festive National Day holiday period when millions in China take the chance to travel to exotic spots like Tibetoffered no relief.
Boris Johnson visits China in pictures (October 14, 2013, The Guardian)
The mayor of London is on a six-day trade mission to China. His visit coincides with that of the chancellor, George Osborne.
Bold political reform in China needed at the local level (October 14, 2013, East Asia Forum)
Local government officials must develop local economies because their opportunities for professional advancement are tied to local GDP growth.
Chinese president's father is getting a postmortem revival (October 15, 2013, Los Angeles Times)
The late Xi, an early communist leader, is enjoying a postmortem revival. In honor of the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Chinese post office issued two commemorative stamps Tuesday, one a portrait and the other showing him in his Red Army uniform. Commemorative ceremonies were held around the country, including one in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, presided over by his son.
Busting Chinas Bloggers (October 15, 2013, The New York Times)
A frequent topic of conversation among my friends here has been: Who will be arrested next? […] But these are different times. In 1957, Chinese intellectuals were on their own. They were defenseless and received no public support. In 2013, the Internet is like a giant public square where citizens can hear and support one another. Otherwise powerless people join together. When a courageous person steps forward, others follow.
Chinas Ex-Premier Resurfaces With Rare Comment (October 17, 2013, China Real Time)
Chinas former premier made his first major public appearance since stepping down last year to praise the late father of current President Xi Jinping as a key reform figure who overcame adversity to fight for the interests of ordinary Chinese.
Chinese Leader Gets a Cartoon Makeover (October 17, 2013, Sinosphere)
Chinas new leader, Xi Jinping, has brought a more down-to-earth style to the job than his famously formal predecessor, Hu Jintao. But a new animated video portrays Mr. Xi and the rest of Chinas ruling Politburo Standing Committee in a light far more playful than typically seen in China. The five-minute video, which has Chinese- and English-language versions, depicts the leadership selection process in the United States, Britain and China. The Chinese version has received more than a million views since it was posted three days ago on Youku, a Chinese video hosting site.
Xi Jinping, playing with fire (October 17, 2013, China Media Project)
Chinas top leadership has recently commemorated the 50th anniversary of something few people have probably heard of the Fengqiao experience. Ring any bells? Almost certainly not, because this is what I would call a cold term (), a Chinese Communist Party buzzword that has long fallen out of use and favor owing to its association with the Mao era. That has all changed in recent days. The fanning to life of this Mao-era term is a lamentable surprise, the latest reminder of those chilly winds that have lately been blowing so strongly from the left, particularly as we near the 120th anniversary on December 26 of Mao Zedongs birth.
China anti-corruption crackdown targets Nanjing mayor (October 17, 2013, The Guardian)
China's corruption watchdog is investigating the mayor of Nanjing, it has announced, in one of the highest-level cases since the party's crackdown on official abuses began last autumn under the country's new leader, Xi Jinping. According to state media, Ji Jianye is being investigated for "severe violations of discipline and law" a euphemism for embezzlement, bribery and other official abuses. Such announcements usually lead to charges, trials and convictions for senior officials, but the process can take months or years.
Outrage Over China's Plans For Mao's Birthday (October 17, 2013, Sky News)
More than $2.5bn (1.6bn) is being spent on events to mark the 120th anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong, to the fury of many Chinese citizens. The money is being directed towards Mao's birthplace of Shaoshan, where a tourist information centre will be renovated and his former residence restored, according to the Changsha Evening News. High-speed rail stations and new highways will also be built to impress the expected influx of visitors.
Hong Kong to Consult Public on Elections (October 17, 2013, China Real Time)
Hong Kong took a tentative step toward democracy on Thursday, with the citys chief executive announcing that he plans to begin consulting the public on how elections in 2017 should proceed by the years end.
RELIGION
China: when will five-fold state-backed religious monopoly end? (October 11, 2013, Forum 18 News Service, via religion.info)
The official monopoly over all religious activity by communities of the five state-backed religious headquarter bodies is gradually being eroded. The following report provides an overview of the current situation and developments.
The Tyranny of History and the China Dream (October 15, 2013, ChinaSource Blog)
Everyone wants the China Dream, but no one is quite sure what it is. Of course, the ideas and ideals of the intellectual elites must eventually find purchase or be reflected in the dreams and desires of the rest of China's population. And as the body of Christ for that nation, the Chinese church must collectively discover their own vision of the Chinese Dream, one that is rooted in the Gospel and founded on the values and ideals of God's Kingdom.
SOCIETY / LIFE
Documentary: Dreams of a Different Beat (October 8, 2013, Narratively)
Three budding Chinese reporters crossed the world to build journalism careers at Columbia. A year later, their newfound investigative skills are in direct conflict with the culture of censorship back home.
Chinese journalists to get on-the-job training (October 11, 2013, BBC)
All reporters with Chinese media organisations are to receive on-the-job training to strengthen their "professional practices," according to state media. About 250,000 journalists will undergo the training programme, Xinhua reports, which will last three months. Topics include "theories on socialism with Chinese characteristics," and the Marxist view on journalism.
Number of Chinese Billionaires Skyrockets (October 11, 2013, China Real Time)
According to a report this week by Credit Suisse, the country now has 6% of the worlds total of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, or those with fortunes in excess of $50 million. Thats second only to the United States, which commands nearly half the worlds total.
Chinese Embracing the Perceived Freedom of R.V.s (October 14, 2013, Sinosphere)
Welcome to the Chinese capitals first R.V. park, where visitors can plant their own campers for a few days or rent a stationary model all made in the U.S.A. for a night of American-inspired R&R. Having acquired many of the trappings of American consumer life, from iPhones to Buicks to closets full of Nikes and Coach bags, upwardly mobile Chinese are increasingly setting their sights on the fang che, or house vehicle, as they are known in Mandarin.
Chinas Social Organizations Could Help Tamp Social Unrest (October 15, 2013, China Real Time)
But religion as the solution is hard to swallow from the Chinese Communist Party, which appears to be valuing religious belief primarily as a tool to blunt rising social unrest and cement its own rule.
Visa rules for Chinese coming to the UK to be relaxed (October 14, 2013, BBC)
Visa applications for Chinese visitors entering the UK will be simplified, Chancellor George Osborne has announced during his trade trip to China. Under the plan, Chinese nationals visiting the EU will not need to submit separate UK visa applications if they book with selected travel agents. Mr. Osborne is trying to persuade more Chinese companies to invest in the UK.
Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless Meet Chinas Tuhao (October 15, 2013, Tea Leaf Nation)
They are the tuhao tu means dirt or uncouth; hao means splendor and they are the Beverly Hillbillies of China. Or something like that: A crowdsourced translation call on Chinas social media yielded new money, slumdog millionaire, the riChinese and billionbilly. When English falls short, French is on hand to help: Tuhao have the artistic sensibilities of the arriviste, the social grace of the parvenu, and the spending habits of the nouveau riche.
Old Dreams for a New China (October 15, 2013, New York Review of Books)
It seems unlikely that Xi meant to exalt individual freedoms in this way, especially because he uttered China Dream at an exhibition celebrating the Communist Party. In fact, a nationwide barrage of propaganda posters that went up starting in July gives a clearer explanation of what he is up to. Using the China Dream slogan, these posters extol various national virtues like filial piety and thrift.
Ji Zhongxing: From petitioner to bomber (October 15, 2013, BBC)
If the world has now forgotten about what drove him to detonate the bomb on 20 July, China's blogging public has not. If the world has now forgotten about what drove him to detonate the bomb on 20 July, China's blogging public has not. His story is seen as typical of China's most marginalised and unfortunate members of society; petitioners driven to desperate measures when faced by an apparently unyielding bureaucracy.
Thousands Protest in Flood-Hit Chinese City (October 15, 2013, Time)
Official media say arrests have been made following massive anti-government protests in an eastern Chinese city hit by catastrophic flooding. Photos from the scene showed protesters smashing vehicles and attacking city offices during Tuesdays protest in Yuyao. Hundreds of riot police were massed in front of city hall. The official Global Times newspaper said Wednesday thousands had taken part in the protest and that an undisclosed number were arrested. It said residents were angered over an allegedly botched response to the flooding and the slow restoration of services.
China's rich get richer despite slowing economy: Forbes (October 16, 2013, AFP)
China's 400 richest people became $150 billion wealthier this year, Forbes magazine said Wednesday, despite a slowdown in the world's second largest economy. The vast increasean average of almost $400 million eachhighlights the growing inequality between the Communist country's superrich and the millions who still live in poverty.
The anatomy of a Shanghai land grab: Residents kidnapped, their homes destroyed (October 16, 2013, Marketplace)
On the morning of September 24th, a group of men broke into the Shanghai home of Chen Zhongdao and Xie Guozhen, bound and gagged them, threw them into the back of a van, and detained them in a nearby courtyard while a crew hired by the local government district of Xuhui razed their home, located on some of the most valuable land in Shanghai. Legal experts say Illegal demolitions like this are on the rise as China's economy slows and local governments scramble to maintain GDP growth through land sales.
100 Women: The jobs Chinese girls just can't do (October 16, 2013, BBC)
In China, the idea that girls can't or shouldn't do the same jobs as boys is passed on early. It's a lesson that extends into university and beyond. Six hundred kilometres south of Beijing, at the China Mining and Technology University in China's eastern Jiangsu province, a group of mining engineering students listen intently to their professor. They're the envy of others at this school, since they belong to one of China's so-called "green card majors", courses that all but guarantee employment after graduation. But this program has one clear entrance requirement: men only.
EDUCATION / HISTORY
Notes on a Scandal: Corruption at China's Top Classical Music Academies (October 4, 2013, Thats Magazine)
For young musicians looking to enter Beijings prestigious Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM), the jury audition is the most stressful performance of their nascent careers. For many of their professors, however, its the most profitable time of the year. The new semester is when they make all their money, admits one professor over lunch, requesting anonymity. Students and parents have already handed out cash hongbao to most or all of the professors who will sit on their jury panels.
China's Cram School from Hell (October 11, 2013, Foreign Policy)
Having already graduated from high school, some of these re-takers hunker down at home for a year to study. Others attend cram schools like Maotanchang High School, which lies tucked away in a small town in the mountains of central China's Anhui province and specializes in the dark art of military-style test prep. With an annual enrollment of more than 10,000 students, the school, known as Maozhong, has earned the dubious honor of being called "China's Largest Gaokao Factory" in Chinese state media.
A Bridge Between Western Science and Eastern Faith (October 11, 2013, The New York Times)
Quantum theory tells us that the world is a product of an infinite number of random events. Buddhism teaches us that nothing happens without a cause, trapping the universe in an unending karmic cycle. Reconciling the two might seem as challenging as trying to explain the Higgs boson to a kindergarten class. But if someone has to do it, it might as well be the team of scholars, translators and six Tibetan monks clad in maroon robes who can be spied wandering among the magnolias at Emory University here.
As China Moves to Lower Professors Profile, Colleges Are Seeking to Raise Theirs (October 14, 2013, The New York Times)
In the coming weeks, Professor Xia says, he is likely to be dismissed from his teaching post at Peking University, one of the nations most prestigious schools, a move he and others say reflects the governments determination to control intellectual discourse at the nations leading educational institutions.
Hong Kongs New Big Draw: The SAT (October 16, 2013, China Real Time)
Every day, thousands of mainland Chinese cross Hong Kongs border toting suitcases, cash for luxury splurges andincreasinglyNo. 2 pencils. Hong Kong has long been a top spot for mainland tourists seeking high-end retail therapy and a place to stash their cash. Now, thousands of mainland Chinese students are flocking to the former British colony for a shot at U.S. education, as well.
HEALTH
You are falling short of your 'crazy quota', Zhengzhou officials warned (October 10, 2013, South China Morning Post)
A provincial capital in central China has informed its administrative divisions that they have failed to fulfil their quotas for reporting cases of mentally ill residents. A document leaked from the Department of Health of Zhengzhou, the capital of Chinas third most populous province Henan, showed that sub-districts were required to report at least two cases of grave mental illness for every 1,000 residents. The requirement is too high, Huang Linlin, a health worker at the Linke sub-district, told Southern Metropolis Daily. We have registered 12 patients at the moment. According to the requirements, our target is 71.
China milk powder crackdown is tough medicine for doctors, sales representatives (October 14, 2013, Reuters)
A crackdown on corruption in China's infant milk formula sector has made sales representatives and hospital doctors fearful of talking to each other, putting a brake on marketing and possibly hitting revenue growth for foreign firms.
China reports first new case of H7N9 bird flu since August (October 16, 2013, Reuters)
China has confirmed a new human case of the deadly H7N9 strain of bird flu, the country's first report of an infection since August, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.A 35-year-old man in Shaoxing in China's eastern province of Zhejiang has been hospitalized with the virus and is in critical condition, WHO said. Zhejiang has recorded the highest number of H7N9 infections anywhere in China.
Physician speaks on adoption of China's special needs children (October 17, 2013, MNN)
As domestic adoptions increase in China, special needs orphans are left in a state of "distress." Adoption Associates is calling on Western believers to respond.
In China, Alzheimer's Care Nearly Forgotten (October 17, 2013, Caixin)
That gnawing feeling of helplessness is shared by millions of Chinese across the country whose elderly relatives suffer from Alzheimer's disease, an incurable form of dementia. They have to bear ever-weightier care-giving tasks as their loved ones' mental faculties slowly diminish. Only a fraction of these patients receive professional health care in China. About 3,000 nursing home beds are available for dementia sufferers nationwide, according to reports released at an Alzheimer conference in Beijing in September, with even fewer set aside for the nation's estimated 9.1 million diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
ECONOMICS / BUSINESS / TRADE
China Has Taken 2 Big Baby Steps Toward Internationalizing Its Currency (October 11, 2013, Reuters)
China's economy has grown to be a global powerhouse, and the yuan is the ninth most traded currency in the world. But China has some way to go before its currency is fully internationalized. It announced two steps recently that again prompted chatter about the country taking steps to internationalize its currency.10
China Management Risks You Can Eliminate by Training (October 11, 2013, China Solved)
Doing business in China is hard enough when you get everything right. Western managers often end up repeating the mistakes that others have made before. ChinaSolved has assembled a list of 10 Deadly Sins of China Management. The bad news is that any one of these can undermine your efforts in China. The good news? They are relatively easy to eliminate through training and planning.
China reports unexpected drop in September exports (October 11, 2013. AP)
China's exports suffered an unexpectedly sharp decline in September amid weak global demand but imports grew. Exports fell 0.3 percent to $185.6 billion, a customs official said at a news conference. That fell short of private sector forecasts of growth at least in low single digits following August's 7.2 percent growth.
China inflation rate rises on higher food prices (October 14, 2013 BBC)
Consumer prices in China rose more than forecast in September, fuelled mainly by a surge in food prices. Prices rose 3.1% during the month, from a year earlier, up from 2.6% in August, the National Bureau of Statistics said. The bureau said that food prices rose 6.1% from a year ago due to the impact of national holidays, as well as droughts and floods in some regions.
Cockroach farms multiplying in China (October 15, 2013, Los Angeles Times)
The 43-year-old businessman is the largest cockroach producer in China (and thus probably in the world), with six farms populated by an estimated 10 million cockroaches. He sells them to producers of Asian medicine and to cosmetic companies that value the insects as a cheap source of protein as well as for the cellulose-like substance on their wings.
China warns of slowing demand from emerging markets (October 17, 2013, Reuters)
China's exporters face a difficult time in coming months as demand from emerging markets slows, the Chinese trade ministry warned on Thursday after the latest trade data showed sales to Southeast Asia slowed sharply in September.
Video: Why is China's growth slowing? (October 17, 2013, BBC)
After decades of blistering growth in China, the government is now prioritising slower, but steady and sustainable expansion. Huge state investment has driven double-digit GDP rises over past decades, but Beijing sees an increase in middle-class affluence and consumption as key to providing long-term economic success.
Suing A Chinese Company For Breach Of Contract. (October 17, 2013, China Law Blog)
So to reiterate, if you want to maximize your chances of being able to pursue a Chinese company for breach of contract, your contract should be in Chinese (in most cases), should be sealed by the Chinese company, should call for disputes to be resolved in a China court (in most cases), should be incredibly specific regarding what the Chinese party is required to do to comply with the contract, and should include a liquidated damages provision setting forth the exact amount of damages to which you are entitled for the Chinese companys failure to comply.
SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY / ENVIRONMENT
Water: All dried up (October 12, 2013, The Economist)
Northern China is running out of water, but the governments remedies are potentially disastrous.
Beijing to reduce traffic during serious pollution (October 17, 2013, Xinhua)
The Beijing Municipal Government will soon issue an emergency response program requiring alternate driving days for cars with even- and odd-numbered license plates in case of lingering smog, Xinhua has learned. When the city issues a red alert for air pollution, the system will be initiated to reduce pollution, according to the Beijing Municipal Heavy Air Pollution Emergency Response Program. Moreover, 30 percent of government cars of various levels will be halted, and schools in kindergartens, primary and high schools will be suspended during such polluted days, under the program.
FOOD / TRAVEL / CULTURE
Television: Sacred Mountains – Series Trailer (October 14, 2013 YouTube)
This is a series trailer for Ryan's new television series entitled: Sacred Mountains with Ryan Pyle. The show is a 4x60min television series that will follow adventurer and award winning photographer Ryan Pyle to the furthest and most remote corners of China in the name of natural and cultural exploration, and of course some brilliant photography.
LANGUAGE / LANGUAGE LEARNING
China's spelling bees aim to punctuate written word (October 12, 2013, USA Today)
If you think digital devices and predictive text are hurting Americans' writing skills, consider the Chinese, who must master 4,000 complex calligraphy-style characters to be considered functionally literate.
Video: How to Pronounce in Chinese Pinyin And Never Say Choo Choo Again (October 17, 2013, The Beijiinger)
If there is one sound in Chinese Pinyin that native English speakers struggle with most, its got to be the sound. This vowel sound can be found in Western languages such as German and French, but it doesnt exist in English and many hear it and pronounce it as "ew" or "ooo". Common Chinese phrases like chq, or "to go out", end up being pronounced like "choo choo" or "choo chew."
BOOKS
Civil Society in China: The Legal Framework from Ancient Times to the "New Reform Era,"by Karla Simon (Oxford University Press)
A Monument to What Might Have Been: Qian Zhongshu's "Fortress Besieged" by Brendan O'Kane (October 13, 2103)
On the other hand, that novel, Fortress Besieged, seems to me to be the high-water mark of something significant, if hard to explain, so Im going to make my best case for it being enough to secure Qians place in history.
ARTICLES FOR RESEARCHERS
A New Tool – The District Survey (October 17, 2013, ChinaSource Blog)
As its name implies, the Survey breaks down the region into countries, then into provinces, then into districts, and finally (if warranted) into subdistricts. The goal is to get down to population segments that are about 100,000 in size. We feel that this kind of population target is appropriate for any given strategy team (especially those using a methodology based on church planting movements).
Catholic Belief in Rural Chinese Culture: Evidence from Catholicism in North China during the Late Qing Dynasty (Pacific Institute for Social Sciences)
ARTICLES IN CHINESE
营利性机构可以有宗教目的吗？October 15, 2013, Pacific Institute for Social Sciences)
评《中国基督教第九次代表会议告全国主内弟兄姊妹书》(October 15, 2013, Pacific Institute for Social Sciences)
政教分离国家的危机与新形式的宗教表达方式 (October 15, 2013, Pacific Institute for Social Sciences)
EVENTS
WISPAD Specialized Workshops on Strategic Nonprofit Management, Fall 2013, Beijing.
The Wilberforce International School of Poverty Alleviation (WISPAD) has opened registration for the fall season of professional Workshops on key areas of nonprofit management. WISPAD has trained directors, managers, and staff of over 80 nonprofit organizations, social enterprises and public agencies operating in 16 provinces of China. Training areas include Strategic Nonprofit Management, Program Evaluation, Financial Leadership and Management, and Strategic Human Resource Management for Nonprofit Organizations.
ZGBriefs is a free weekly compilation of the news in China, condensed from published online sources. Highlighting articles and commentary from major news sites, and blogs and other new media sites, ZGBriefs brings you not only the most important stories of the week in order to help deepen 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. ZGBriefs is a reader-supported service. If you find this resource useful, please consider making a donation.