ZGBriefs | November 12, 2015

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ZGBriefs is a compilation of news items gathered from published online sources.
ChinaSource is not responsible for the content, and inclusion in ZGBriefs does not equal endorsement.

Featured Article

NGOs in China: Seeing through a Law, Darkly (November 11, 2015, LinkedIn Pulse)
International NGOs operating in China not only need to understand how the law will regulate their operations in China, but also how the exigencies of their China operation may compel them to alter their behavior abroad. At some point, many NGOs will face a hard choice between sticking to their principles globally on one hand, and continuing to operate in China on the other.

Government / Politics / Foreign Affairs

Video: China and Taiwan’s Love-Hate Relationship (November 5, 2015, China Real Time)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou will hold talks on Nov. 7, the first time the leaders of the two nations have met since 1949. Will it be a milestone in cross-strait relations? The answer is in the history.

 

Q. and A.: Geremie R. Barmé on Understanding Xi Jinping (November 8, 2015, Sinosphere)
The dark art of Chinese rule combines elements of dynastic statecraft, official Confucianism, the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist legacy and the mixed socialist-neoliberal reforms of the post-Mao era.

Four Hong Kong publishers known for books critical of Chinese regime missing (November 9, 2015, The Guardian)
A group of Hong Kong booksellers specialising in books criticising China’s Communist elite have gone missing. The four men work for Sage Communications, a publisher and bookshop famed for producing sensational and salacious tomes on the private lives of top Chinese leaders.

Challenging the Myth of Chinese Land Grabs in Africa: A China in Africa Podcast (November 10, 2015, China File)
Among the most durable myths surrounding the China-Africa relationship is the fear that the Chinese government and private enterprises are buying vast tracts of African farm land and have plans to transplant millions of Chinese peasants to live and work on the continent.

China Corruption Fight Extends to Top Officials in Beijing and Shanghai (November 11, 2015, The New York Times)
President Xi Jinping’s sweeping crackdown on corruption has claimed senior officials in China’s two largest cities, the latest indication that Mr. Xi’s effort to consolidate power and sideline political enemies shows no signs of abating.

Religion

Chinese migrants convert to Christianity (November 4, 2015, DW.com)
Chinese migrants have moved to South Africa where they are enjoying the freedom of choosing a religion. Most of those who are religious identify as Buddhist – but recently, an increasing number of Chinese migrants have started to convert to Christianity.

Mentoring in the Chinese Context, Part 2 (November 9, 2015, ChinaSource Conversations)
In part two of our podcast “Mentoring in the Chinese Context,” we’ve brought back the same group of speakers to continue the conversation. In this episode they discuss what it means to be effective in ministry in the context of a changing China. They also explore the cultural complexities that should be noted when mentoring in China. 

Chinese Famous Writer Ran Yunfei Converts to Christianity (November 10, 2015, China Christian Daily)
Famous writer Ran Yunfei has converted to Christianity recently. Being a famous public intellectual, the topic became a point of discussion to many Christians and non-Christians. Many Christians thanked God for His grace, while non-Christians were shocked.

Interview with a “Post-80s Pastor” (November 10, 2015, Chinese Church Voices)
The Christian Times recently published an interview with a young urban pastor in which he discusses some of the challenges of urban ministry in China. In this first part of the interview, he focuses on the need for Chinese churches to be more socially engaged, and for more theological reflection.

Getting Rid of the B-I-G (November 11, 2015, From the West Courtyard)
The latest episode in our ChinaSource Conversations podcast series continues our exploration into mentoring in the Chinese context.

Communist Party in Tibet Aims to Punish Dalai Lama Followers (November 11, 2015, The New York Times)
The Chinese Communist Party in central Tibet is aiming to peer into the hearts of its members to hunt down secret worshipers of the Dalai Lama or people who secretly hold religious beliefs.

Life with a dissident in China: searching for ‘horizontal freedom’ (November, 2015, Open Democracy)
The role of women in house churches in China reminds us of both the social malleability of religion and the complexity of female agency.

Society / Life

Noodles of longevity: A new study casts a new light on China’s progress (October 31, 2015, The Economist)
China’s economic rise is well-known. But the vast improvement in the health and longevity of its people—despite appalling levels of pollution—is less so. A new study published in the Lancet for the first time offers a province-by-province breakdown of China’s health. Our map displays life expectancy at birth for each of the 33 provincial-level regions, matched with the country that is most similar by this measure.

Where ‘Anchor Babies’ Can Be a Lucrative Business (November 5, 2015, China Real Time)
Thousands of wealthy foreign women, mostly Chinese, come to America each year for the express purpose of having babies on U.S. soil. The women arrive on tourist visas and typically go home with the baby after several months.

Some ‘Ghost Cities’ in China Are Seasonal, Study Says (November 5, 2015, China Real Time)
Following years of a debt-fuelled frenzy to build rows and rows of apartments and villas, Chinese towns with high vacancy rates – also known as “ghost cities” — are a dime a dozen. But not all are ghostly all year round, a new study shows.

Timeline of China's family planning policy (November 6, 2015, China Daily)

“Connect Changping” (November 6, 2015, From the West Courtyard)
A new blog Connect Changping highlights two such lesser known places—Changchun and Siping both in Jilin Province—and gives us the opportunity to experience everyday China through the adventures of those who live and work there.

As China ends one-child policy, illegally born kids ask: 'What about us?' (November 8, 2015, Christian Science Monitor)
China has at least 13 million 'nonpersons,' second or third children born illegally in the past 40 years, who have no papers and no rights.

Months After Blasts in China, Rebuilding Tianjin Homes and Lives Is a Struggle (November 8, 2015, The New York Times)
Almost three months after the blasts damaged over 17,000 homes and stunned the nation with apocalyptic scenes, residents say they are struggling to rebuild their lives in the face of a campaign of intimidation by government officials intent on putting the embarrassing episode behind them and on suppressing public criticism of the Communist Party.

In China, relatives of disaster victims are cast as troublemakers (November 9, 2015, Washington Post)
For the two dozen people gathered there one recent day, the pain of losing loved ones when an excursion boat sank on the Yangtze River in June has been joined by a deep disillusionment with the government.

5 Things to Know about China’s Singles’ Day (November 10, 2015, China Real Time)
Nov. 11 is China’s Singles’ Day, the largest online shopping day of the year in China and in the world. Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. kicked off the event on Tuesday night with a gala at the Water Cube in Beijing, one of the 2008 Olympic venues. 

For many moms, the end of China’s one-child rule came too late (November 11, 2015, Washington Post)
She was supposed to be having an abortion last week: This 39-year-old Chinese woman would lose her hard-earned job at a state-owned company if she had a second child. The date was even marked on her calendar, but she was panicking at the prospect. Then, she spotted rumors online that China was about to abandon its one-child policy after 35 years. It was, she says, “like a life-saving straw.” For days, she sat nervously at home watching television, waiting for news.

China’s High-Speed Railway: Netizens Praise Excellent Service (November 11, 2015, What’s on Weibo)
The personal account of one high-speed railway passenger went viral this week. His view: China’s high-speed railway staff should be praised more, as their service has become better than that of “developed countries”.

Economics / Trade / Business

Doing Business In China: It Crosses Sectors (November 8, 2015, China Law Blog)
I was somewhat surprised how such a different sector can be experiencing many of the same trends apparent in other sectors. For me this reinforces that there is a change happening on a macro level in China that is having real and lasting effects on the nation as a whole.

Video: What is Tencent? (November 10, 2015, China Real Time)
Tencent first became known for its instant messenger service and games, and is now one of the biggest tech firms in the world. The WSJ’s Wayne Ma explains how Tencent got so big.

Education

State Council eyes world-class higher education (November 5, 2015, English.gov.cn)
China plans to build a series of world-class universities and disciplines in as short as five years, according to a State Council document released on Nov 5, which vowed increasing financial support and stronger performance management.

China's education dilemma: building Harvard-level universities within a firm ideological lock (November 9, 2015, South China Morning Post)
A new government plan to create "world class" universities in the coming decades could be undermined by the Communist Party's determination to keep a firm ideological grip over education, analysts say. To create institutions that can compete with the best, teachers and administrators must have independence to structure the learning environment, they argue.

Health / Environment

Report: China is burning way more coal than we thought (November 4, 2015, Christian Science Monitor)
The Times reports that the country has been burning 17 percent more coal annually than once thought, equating to a billion more tons each year. That increase alone is equal to about 70 percent of what the world's second largest coal polluter, the United States, consumes every year.

Coal-fired boilers are on their way out of Beijing (July 6, 2015, China Daily)
Beijing has beaten its target this year for replacing coal-fired boilers with those using cleaner natural gas and electricity, just in time for the beginning of the heating season, the Beijing Environmental Bureau said on Thursday.

China decries Shenyang pollution called 'worst ever' by activists (November 10, 2015, BBC)
Chinese state media and netizens have decried high pollution levels in the northeast city of Shenyang, which activists have said could be the "worst ever" air quality seen in the country. On Sunday pollution readings were about 50 times higher than that considered safe by the World Health Organization. State media have blamed the local government for the thick smog.

A City Choking on Cars Hopes Commuters Will Return to Two Wheels (November 11, 2015, The New York Times)
China’s capital, often choked by motorized vehicles, is eager to encourage more commuters to return to two wheels. It wants to increase the proportion of commuters who use bikes to 18 percent by 2020, according to city transportation officials.

As smog reaches record levels, what steps is China taking? (November 11, 2015, Christian Science Monitor)
A dense wave of smog developed in Northeast China this weekend, disrupting air travel and forcing people to stay indoors. Authorities have warned it could linger until Saturday.

China’s Bottled Water Industry to Exploit Tibetan Plateau (November 11, 2015, China File)
Tibet wants to bottle up much more of the region’s water resources, despite shrinking glaciers and the impact that exploitation of precious resources would have on neighboring countries.

Science / Technology

China says it plans to land rover on Mars in 2020 (November 4, 2015, CNN)
After exploring the moon, China now has its sights on Mars. The country plans to send a rover to the Red Planet in 2020, according to the country's state news agency Xinhua.

History / Culture

NYT 1913: Yuan Shikai expels KMT from Parliament (November 5, 2015, Jottings from the Granite Studio)
A strong Chinese leader takes a bold stance against constitutionalism and Western-style democratic institutions and the foreign community…high fives him for it?

A Long and Glorious History (November 9, 2015, From the West Courtyard)
Eye-rolling notwithstanding, those of us who are engaged in China need to grasp what this “long and glorious history” means to our Chinese friends and colleagues.

Arts / Entertainment / Media

Somersaults in six-inch heels: the punishing world of Peking Opera (November 8, 2015, The Guardian)
They start as young as nine and wear costumes so lavish, heavy and painful some of them faint. As Chinese opera heads for Britain, our writer goes behind the scenes at its Beijing HQ.

Unblocking Youku, Tudou and Other Chinese Websites – VPN Servers in China (November 9, 2015, Sapore di Cina)
What happens when we want to access the network that exists within the Great Firewall? This article is intended for people who for whatever reason want to access websites located in China without any type of restrictions.

Miss World Canada, outspoken on rights, says China has not issued her visa for event (November 9, 2015, Los Angeles Times)
A 25-year-old actress and outspoken human rights advocate who won the title of Miss World Canada says the Chinese hosts of the pageant’s global finals are refusing to provide the paperwork necessary for her to obtain a visa to participate in the beauty contest next month.

Chinese Hits Miss Out on the Global Box Office (November 10, 2014, China File)
Though Hollywood studio films are making greater returns than ever at China’s box office—despite imports being limited to 34 each year—market forces pigeonhole screenings of Chinese-language films from the People’s Republic into a small but growing group of U.S. theaters that dedicate a few screens to serving an audience made up almost exclusively of diaspora Chinese and Chinese students studying abroad.

Billboard Teams With Local Firm to Declare China’s No. 1 Song (November 10, 2015, China Real Time)
It’s probably something by the clean-cut TFBoys, or from the soundtrack to the local comedy film “Goodbye, Mr. Loser.” But for industry insiders and music fans alike, it can be hard to tell exactly what China’s top song might be. That’s in part because China has a lot of music charts – 213, according to a government-backed report released last week.

Travel / Food

Exploring the ancient towns of Guangxi, China (November 3, 2015, Lonely Planet)
Today both Guilin's and Yangshuo’s natural wonders still fascinate, but the cities are increasingly used as basecamps for exploring some of the next most beautiful places below heaven – the ancient towns and villages tucked away in the verdant Guangxi countryside that surrounds the two cities.

In Shanghai, exploring old and new (November 5, 2015, Travel Weekly)
Tall, new buildings may dominate the skyline of China's financial capital today, but you don't have to go far to find the pulsing heart and history of Shanghai.

China’s Winemakers Seek Their Own Napa Valley (November 7, 2015, The New York Times)
Taking a cue from that boutique-winery model, Ningxia has ambitions to become the Napa Valley of China. Local winemakers have won prestigious awards, and plans are underway to double the region’s vineyards and create a wine tourism hub. Foreign investors have also taken notice. The French Champagne maker Möet & Chandon makes sparkling wines there, while the spirits giant Pernod Ricard is spending heavily to modernize its local winery.

The Beijing Bucket List: Lao She Museum (November 7, 2015, The Beijinger)
In a tiny hutong north of Wangfujing lies the former residence of one of Beijing's most beloved literary figures of the 20th century. The modern cult of playwright, novelist, and satirist Lao She (1899-1966) belies his mysterious suicide after being persecuted by the Red Guards.

Language / Language Learning

Chinese character variants and fonts for language learners (Hacking Chinese)
When learning Chinese characters, there are a number of things that can be really confusing if you don’t know what’s going on. One example of this is character variants and regional standards, which is what I will explain in this article.

Books

China’s Urban Christians: A Light that Cannot be Hidden (Wipf and Stock)
The purpose of this book is to explore how Christians in China perceive the challenges posed by their new urban context and to examine their proposed means of responding to these challenges.

(Simplified Chinese) Nine Marks Of A Healthy Church (The Gospel Coalition)
This is a pack of 10 E-Book Digital Downloadable Resources. You will be sent cards with the e-book information to download onto a tablet, computer, or smartphone. Not Physical Books.

Tea on the Great Wall: An American Girl in War-Torn China (Amazon)
Shirley Temple in Wonderland meets Chinese opium addicts, Nazis, and Japanese bayonets “Tea on the Great Wall” is a young American girl’s account as the world falls apart in 1930s China.

Articles for Researchers

Feeling at home in the “Chocolate City”: an exploration of place-making practices and structures of belonging amongst Africans in Guangzhou (Taylor & Francis Online)

Events

Chinese Propaganda Posters 1949-1979, By Yang Peiming Of Shanghai’s Propaganda Art Museum (China Rhyming)
What: “Nov.14 Rasbj Talk: Chinese Propaganda Posters 1949-1979 By Yang Peiming Of Shanghai’s Propaganda Art Museum
When: Saturday  November 14th 4:00pm-7:00 Pm

Image credit: Oxfam International, via Flickr.