|
|
|
|
Web-only Exclusives November 30, 2000 From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead Bad news for the Philippines - and some others From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights? |
Week of February 26, 1999
BEIJING Exports plunged by 10.8% to $11.4 billion in January, compared to the same month last year, the China Daily reported. Imports for January rose by 13.9% to $9.9 billion, according to the newspaper. While the devaluation of currencies across Asia has lowered costs for rival manufacturers, Beijing so far remains steadfast in its pledge not to devalue the yuan.SPRATLY ISLANDS Philippine defense secretary Orlando Mercado says that China has completed its work on enlarging structures on the chain of reefs. Mercado referred to surveillance photographs showing a three-story concrete building, a wharf, a helicopter landing platform and possible gun and radar emplacements.
CHINA WILL LAUNCH a reusable space shuttle on an unmanned mission by the end of 2000. So far Beijing's rockets have only placed 5-ton geostationary satellites into low-earth orbit.
Week of February 19, 1999
TAIPEI Missiles and Macedonia were the topics of the week. U.S. leaks to the European press claim the mainland plans to deploy more than 650 missiles targeting Taiwan in the next few years. Some 200 M-9 and M-11 medium-range weapons are already in place, the U.S. said. Taiwan's new Defense Minister Gen. Tang Fei says the island will continue developing its own anti-missile system - the Skybow II - in case the U.S. won't supply more Patriot anti-missile systems in the future. And in Skopje, the government expressed regret that Beijing froze diplomatic relations. Macedonia's recognition of Taiwan was "first and foremost made for economic reasons," it explained.IN SOME REGIONS OF CHINA, the proportion of males to females has become alarmingly skewed in favor of males. In some parts of Shandong province, for example, ratios have reached as high as 125 men to 100 women. The international norm is 106 to 100.
Week of February 12, 1999
BEIJING Plans for overhauling the 240-odd trust and investment corporations include closing five of them by the end of February. Securities operations of those firms will be merged to form a single new company. Beijing also wants 13 other small trust firms controlled by central-government ministries restructured by the end of March.ANOTHER PROBLEM IN THE DECLINING RELATIONS between China and the U.S.: President Clinton ordered a formal assessment of possible damage to American security interests after a House of Representatives report accused Beijing of conducting a 20-year espionage campaign to acquire sensitive U.S. technologies, most of them nuclear-related.
THE U.S. AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES are increasingly concerned that while they are preparing for the Y2K bug, Russia, China and many oil-producing countries are not. The fear is that, given the impact of globalization, massive computer failure in less-developed markets will disrupt the entire world.
Week of February 5, 1999
CONSUMERS IN CHINA are becoming increasingly bearish. Despite six interest rate cuts in 1997 and 1998, total deposits in Chinese savings accounts grew 17.1% last year to hit 5.34 trillion yuan - $643.5 billion.Week of January 22, 1999
BEIJING Foreign bankers say they are wary of extending more credit to Chinese companies. The government told overseas creditors that they would not be at the top of the list to receive relief from the failure of the government-owned Guangdong International Trust and Investment Corp. Beijing announced that GITIC had debts exceeding $4 billion, more than twice its first estimate.BEIJING: On Zhongguancun Street near Beijing's university district, pirated CDs are back, but with a new twist. Keeping a few disks under their outer clothing, women with infants in their arms sell to any takers. When police come around they flee or, if caught, protest loudly that they must first feed their child before being arrested. The cops usually give in and shoo the hawkers off with a warning.
Week of January 15, 1999
WASHINGTON A U.S. Congress inquiry concluded that high-tech deals with China over the past two decades harmed national security. A six-month investigation led by legislator Chris Cox was initiated after claims that two American companies had transferred technology to China after their satellites were destroyed in Chinese rocket explosions.A CASINO OWNER AND SUSPECTED 14K triad member was shot dead in a tropical fish shop. The killing was one of four shootings in three days as triad gangs stepped up the battle for control of gambling rackets.
Week of January 8, 1999
Jiang Rids Himself of a Thorn
Watch for propaganda chief Ding Guangen to step down from China's Communist Party Central Committee soon. Ill health will be the cover story. But the reality is that in recent months the cantankerous Ding, 69, has fallen far from favor with President Jiang Zemin. Ding is also dismissive of Premier Zhu Rongji and his economic policies. Jiang is so irritated with Ding that, when he gave an audience to retired General Xiao Ke who was overseeing the compilation of a military encyclopedia, Ding was kept out of the meeting. The propaganda post is the most dreaded job on the Central Committee - it's difficult to do and you're always playing the role of "bad cop." It looks like Education Minister Chen Zhili will take on Ding's job, possibly leaving Education to aging Liu Ji, former vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.News from China in 1998
News from China in 1997
News from China in 1996
News from China in 1995
