30 March 2014

Hello everyone,

My 5th post.  My original thought in starting this blog in February 2014 was to do a post at the end of each month.  But there was so much happening that I decided to try doing a weekly post.

I've enjoyed doing the posts, but am starting to feel that the blog is sort of taking over.  Maybe I'm being a bit too ambitious in trying to cover too many things?  I'll see how things go, but am thinking that perhaps a fortnightly post might be better.  What do you think?

Many of you have sent emails commenting on the new blog.  Thank you for your feedback.  I always enjoy getting comments, so please keep them coming.

What made the news in March 2014

Because I don’t read Chinese, the sources of my local news are mainly the China Daily English language newspaper and the English news channel on CCTV (both government institutions).  It is well to remember that the Government (read: Communist Party of China) directly or indirectly controls the media in China, and the fundamental role of these institutions is to support the Party and the leaders.

Activities of the top leaders, especially the President Xi Jin Ping and Premier Li Ke Qiang, always get extensive coverage in the media.  For example, President Xi’s speech in Paris on 28 March to mark the 50^th anniversary of bilateral ties was replayed in full on CCTV (with an English translation on CCTV’s English News channel).  Likewise, his speech at UNESCO was also replayed in full (it was actually a thoughtful speech about different cultures and civilizations – worth a look).

Other news sources I often check are ABC News (abc.net.au) and The Economist, as well as some other Australian and international web sites. 

Note that the events shown in the tables below usually happened the day before the date shown - the date reflects the date it appeared in the news which is often the day after it occurred.

Highlights in March 2014

• Local headlines for the first 2 weeks of March were dominated by the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC).  Other major stories during the month were:

• The disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 on 8 March was closely followed in the local media because 68% of the passengers were Chinese.

• The unfolding drama between the Ukraine + EU + USA and Russia over the referendum in Crimea and Crimea’s subsequent incorporation into the Russian Federation.

• Michelle Obama arrived on 20 March for a one-week visit (see photos in 23 March post).

• President Xi Jin Ping visited Europe 22 – 31 March. 

• For vera and me, the big news during March was the birth of Eddie Olah on 14 March 2014. 

Here is a summary of issues which made the news in China in March 2014.

(a) International

1 Mar	Ousted Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, holds media conference in Russia.  Russia’s Parliament authorises the use of armed forces ‘to protect ethnic Russians in the Ukraine.”  Acting Ukraine President Yatseniuk described Russian troops in Crimea as an act of war.
2 Mar	Roger Federer won in Dubai, his 78th ATP win.  Jimmy Connors has most ATP wins with 109, followed by Ivan Lendl with 94, Federer with 78, and John McEnroe 77.
2 Mar	Oscars awarded in Hollywood.  Cate Blanchette got Best Actress and Matthew McConaughey Best Actor.  Best movie: 12 Years a Slave.
3 Mar	Oscar (Blade Runner) Pistorius trial starts for murdering girlfriend Steenkamp last year.
9 Mar	Referendum in Crimea on future links with Russia. 18 March Russia moves to incorporate Crimea after overwhelming vote in referendum.  EU and USA impose sanctions on leading Russians.  22 March EU signed “political association agreement” with Ukraine.
12 Mar	Prime Minister of New Zealand announced a referendum on a new flag within 3 years.
17 Mar	Smog shrouds much of France and into Belgium and Germany.  Paris restricted car use.
17 Mar	Demonstrations continue in Venezuela.  28 killed in last 6 weeks.
19 Mar	NZ Prime Minister John Key official visit to China.  Dairy exports to China booming.
19 Mar	Thailand lifted State of Emergency as protests diminish.  23 dead over last 3 months.
24 Mar	17 days after its disappearance, announcement by Malaysian PM Hajib Razak that evidence from British company Inmarsat showed that flight MH370 crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, far from land.  The implication was that all died.  Chinese families refused to accept this conclusion without any concrete proof (like wreckage).
24 Mar	Adam Scott blew a 3 shot lead going into the last round to come 3rd in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Golf Tournament in Miami.  He is so close to becoming World #1.
26 Mar	Big land-slide near Arlington, Washington State destroyed houses.  27 dead; many still missing.
27 Mar	China/France celebrated 50th anniversary of recognition. President Xi in Paris.
27 Mar	Bayern Munich football team claimed its 24th German League title – the fastest ever with 7 rounds still to go in the competition.  The taem has won 52 consecutive games.
28 Mar	South Korea gave to China the remains of 437 Chinese Peoples Volunteers who died in the Korean War (1950 – 3).
28 Mar	After almost 4 decades of conflict, the Philippine Government signed a peace treaty with the largest of the rebel groups, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. By mid-2016 a new semi-autonomous region called Bangsamoro will be created in Mindanao, but it will be a secular state (not based on Islamic law).
28 Mar	Egypt’s Defence Minister and Chief of Military, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that he was resigning from the army to contest the coming Presidential elections.
28 Mar	The Annual Laureus Sporting Awards were presented in Kuala Lumpur.  Sebastian Vettel was named Sportsman of the Year for winning 13 of 19 F1 races in 2013; Missy Franklin (only 18 years old) was named Sportswoman of the Year for her 6 gold medals at the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona last year; Bayern Munich was named Team of the Year for winning three titles: the Bundesliga, the Champions League, and the German Cup.  The team also won the World Club championship.

(b) Local Chinese

1 Mar	Attack by a gang of 5 terrorists at Kunming Railway Station killed 29 and injured 143.  The government blamed Uygur separatist extremists from Xinjiang.  On 20 March the East Turkestan Islamic Movement released video supporting the attack.
1 Mar	2014 world steel demand estimated at 1.52 billion tonnes, with China 47% of total.  Major sectors in China: construction 490 mt; machinery 140 mt; automotive 51 mt.  2013 China imported 820 mt of iron ore at average price of $128.
1 Mar	As quid pro quo, China released report “The human rights record of the USA in 2013.”
5 – 13 Mar	Annual meeting of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. Fu Ying spokesperson.  Target for GDP growth in 2014 is 7.5%.  Many reforms to continue, such as relaxation of the one-child policy; hukou system; five private banks; anti-corruption drive; war on pollution; rural reforms; keep urban unemployment below 4.6%; cut red tape.  The Premier’s work report was adopted by the NPC: 2,887 for, 15 against, 5 abstentions.
5 Mar	Tennis champion Li Na (currently World #2) launched her autobiography; she has 22.4 million followers on Sina Weibo.
6 Mar	New US Consulate General opened in Guangzhou.  7 buildings. Cost $267 million.
8 Mar	Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow during 2013 totalled $118 billion.
10 Mar	Ministry of Environment announced that only 3 of 74 major cities met the national standard for good air in 2013.
11 Mar	The Confucius Institute now has 435 offices in 117 countries.
11 Mar	Share market weak; Shanghai Composite Index slipped below 2,000.
11 Mar	Sales of Passenger Motor Vehicles in February 2014 totalled 1.3 million.  Mercedes Benz 17,596; Audi 32,358; GM 257,770; Ford 73,040.
14 Mar	At the end of 2013, 413,900 Chinese were studying overseas, almost 60% in the USA.
15 Mar	Average monthly white collar salaries:  Shanghai Y7,200 ($1,170); Beijing Y6,900.
18 Mar	Four kindergartens found giving unauthorised anti-cold medicines to students.
18 Mar	2013 urban population grew 1.2% to 53.7% of total; expected to reach 60% by 2020.
19 Mar	Max Baucus (72), new US ambassador, gave press conference.
19 Mar	Survey of 1.3 m Beijing school students: 22% obese; 63% poor eyesight.
20 Mar	A businessman paid almost $2 million for a Tibetan mastiff dog.
20 Mar	The Chinese Yuan depreciated 2.6% in the last 2 months, falling to 6.2 per US$.  Central Bank denied that it was manipulating the currency to ‘punish speculators’.  The Yuan has steadily appreciated against the US dollar for 10 years - first depreciation.
21 Mar	Michelle Obama accompanied by her daughters and mother arrived for a one week visit (Beijing, Xian, Chengdu).
22 - 31 Mar	President Xi Jin Ping commenced official visit to Europe: Netherlands (bilateral visit, and also attend the International Nuclear Security Summit), France (bilateral visit to mark 50th anniversary of ties; also meet with UNESCO), Brussels (EU); Germany.
22 Mar	Estimated 110 million Chinese don’t have access to safe drinking water. Govt priority.
22 Mar	2013 China consumed 169 billion cubic metres of natural gas, of which 53 bcm was imported.  Proven reserves now 616 billion cm.  The huge Long Wang Miao gas field in Sichuan is being developed.
24 Mar	China is pushing ahead with an optic-fibre high-speed internet network: 170 million households already connected; another 30 m to be connected in 2014.
24 Mar	Another man tested positive for H7N9 bird flu in Guangdong. So far this year 120 human cases and 36 deaths in China.
24 Mar	The cherry blossoms at Wuhan University attracted 100,000 visitors yesterday, despite the new entry charge of Y20 ($3.20) per person.
24 Mar	At the end of 2013 China had an estimated 127 million passenger motor vehicles, 80% privately owned.
25 Mar	From 1 April Shenzhen will fine people who litter or spit in public Y50 ($6.50).
27 Mar	The National Common Language Regulation will come into force on 1 April.  Civil servants will have to use Standard Mandarin in their workplaces instead of local dialects.
27 Mar	Two German companies have acquired naming rights of prominent public entertainment venues in Shanghai.  The “Mercedes Benz Arena” hosts large concerts like the Rolling Stones; the “Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall” is the venue for 200 symphony and other concerts a year.

April Fools Day joke?

Surely this can't be true?  Was it an early April Fools Day joke?

I was flabbergasted on 26 March when I read the news of Prime Minister Abbott's decision to reinstate knighthoods in Australia. Surely that's something from another, bygone era; just doesn't seem appropriate in the 21st century.  A retrograde move, in my opinion. Back to the Future.

The mystery of the disappearance of Flight MH370

At 10pm on Monday 24 March, 17 days after it disappeared, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that MH370 had taken the 'southern corridor' and had ended up (crashed) in the southern Indian Ocean.

All eyes turned to Perth, Australia.  Planes, ships, and satellites from Australia, New Zealand, China, USA, UK, and other countries are involved in the search.  The search area is far off the coast of Western Australia, in very difficult conditions.  While satellites have noted debris which could have come from MH370, no concrete evidence has yet been salvaged. The search goes on.

New target area, closer to Perth, identified on 28 March.

The reaction of the waiting families to the PM Razak's remarks was very different.  The Malaysians appeared to accept the announcement fairly calmly ('it's God's will'; 'it's fate'); but the Chinese families angrily rejected it: "It can't be true, there is no evidence yet!".  The following day the group at the Lido Hotel marched on the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing and demanded more answers.

I asked some of my students why the Chinese relatives didn't accept the conclusion that MH370 had crashed and there were no survivors?  After all, the whole world has been searching for this plane for more than 2 weeks, and nothing has been found.   The students said that the Chinese families were angry and frustrated at the way the search has been conducted by Malaysian authorities, and the often-inadequate information which has been provided.  Until concrete evidence is found, they want to cling onto hope that their loved ones may yet be found.

Some observers are wondering if the emotional and aggressive behaviour of the Chinese relatives is to gain more sympathy in the hope of eventually receiving greater compensation? I am not cynical enough to think that, yet.

Media reports say a group of 29 relatives are flying from Beijing to KL today. What can they hope to achieve there, after 3 weeks?  Perhaps they fear that after so long without result, the search may be wound down, and the relatives want to keep pressure on the Malaysians and others to continue the search.  But can it go on indefinitely?

As I write this post on the afternoon of Sunday 30 March much debris has been sighted off the coast of Western Australia, but nothing concrete from MH370 has been found so far.  It is now 23 days since the plane disappeared.  I wonder if this plane or the black boxes will ever be found?

This week 'vultures' arrived in Beijing - lawyers from the USA - wanting to sign up the families for litigation.  Ugly.

A footnote. An Aussie friend teaching at another university in Qingdao told me that his daughter flew on Malaysian Airlines from KL to Bangkok last year.  She was invited into the cockpit and actually stayed there for the landing as well.  Guess who the co-pilot was?  The same guy as on MH370.

Kit Kat King

Paul Bulcke CEO of Nestle visited Beijing recently and an interview appeared in the China Daily on 27 March.  He is a Belgian, speaks 6 languages, joined Nestle in 1979 and worked in Germany, Portugal and Peru.  Became CEO in 2008.  Nestle has 33 factories in China with sales of about $7 billion per annum (they were disappointed with growth of only 29% last year!).

But it was Nestle's overall size which caught my eye.  In 2013 worldwide sales totalled $105 billion!  That's a lot of Kit Kats and cups of Nescafe!  More than the GDP of many countries.  In fact, based on the World Bank's calculation of GDP/PPP, Nestle would be the 73rd biggest economy in the world (out of 220) and sit between Tunisia and Bulgaria!

An extraordinary company.

Paul Bulcke's favorite saying is "Simplicity has many charms."  Given our simple life here (no car, no kitchen, little money), we can relate to that.

Vanessa Mae

This is a bit of relatively old news - but I only became aware of it recently.

Vanessa Mae (Thai father & Singapore mother, grew up in the UK and lives in London) is very well known as a wonderfully talented violinist, but I didn't realise she is a champion skier as well.

I missed this during the Sochi Winter Olympics in February, and was amazed to read about it a couple of days ago.

From this....

World renowned violinist

to this....

Representing Thailand in the opening parade of the Sochi Winter Olympics

and this.....

Competing in the Giant Slalom

The finish! 

According to the article I read, Vanessa Mae decided last year, at the ripe old age of 35, to compete in the Winter Olympics.  She started skiing at an early age, but had never raced.  The German Women's Olympic Ski Team let her train with them  With just 6 months preparation she competed in the Giant Slalom at Sochi.  She came last, 67th, but 23 other competitors didn't even finish.  A very creditable effort, don't you think?

She told the journalist "It's great to have this new experience ... I want to challenge myself ... life without taking risks is no fun."

What a gal!!!
 ...

That's a good note on which to finish.  Keep well, and keep smiling.

Our best wishes from Qingdao, China

Vera & Alex Olah
Teaching English at the China University of Petroleum
Sunday 30 March 2014