Monthly Archives: February 2009
China Passes Food-Safety Law
China has passed its first food-safety law, and established a cabinet-level commission to oversee it. The idea is to create a national set of food-safety standards under one regulator and put more legal liability on China’s 500,000 food producers. How … Continue reading
Filed under Economy, Product Safety
China To Get A Muni Bond Market
In the wake of the Asian financial crisis a decade ago, China dabbled with issuing local government debt to fund local projects. Come another financial crisis, and the idea is being dusted down again. Officials have reportedly been discussing a … Continue reading
China Strikes Back At Christie’s For Auctioning Two Historic Bronzes
Christie’s is going to find itself wading through a lot more red tape in China following its sale of two Qing dynasty bronzes in the Paris auction of the late Yves St. Laurent’s art collection. The State Administration of Cultural … Continue reading
Filed under China-E.U., Politics & Society
Japanese And South Korean Families Ship Out Of Shanghai
The press officer at the South Korean consulate in Shanghai was unable to answer a question from the FT‘s Patti Waldmeir about South Korean companies retrenching their presence in the city and emptying out Little Korea because her own job … Continue reading
Filed under China-Japan, China-Koreas, Economy
Work Starts On New Chengdu-Lanzhou Railway
Work has started on a new high-speed rail line between Chengdu and Lanzhou. When completed in 2014/2015 it will cut travel time between the Sichuan and Gansu provincial capitals from 20 hours to four. As well as being a shovel-ready … Continue reading
Filed under Economy
A Typical Couple Of Days
The last couple of days encapsulate modern China. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up her visit with an exhortation to her hosts to keep buying U.S. treasury bonds, and an online chat with netizens. A gas blast at … Continue reading
Filed under Politics & Society
Another Tainted Food Scare
China Daily reports that 70 people in Guangdong have been sickened after eating pork contaminated with the steroid clenbuterol, an illegal animal feed additive used to reduce the fat content of meat. The tainted pork was sold in Guangzhou and … Continue reading
Filed under Politics & Society, Product Safety
Drought Receding On North China Plain
The extensive irrigation drive and light rain and snow falls have relieved the three and a half month drought in the wheat fields of the North China Plain. Heavier and widespread rains are in the forecast across the eight affected … Continue reading
Filed under Economy
Death Toll Mounts In Shanxi Mine Blast, 3 Officials ‘Sacked’
The number of confirmed dead is now 74 with 114 injured, 26 seriously. An unknown number may still be trapped underground. There is some confusion over whether rescue efforts have stopped. China Daily is reporting that three officials at the … Continue reading
Filed under Politics & Society
Latest Mine Blast Kills More Than 40
Another black day for China’s deadly coal mines. More than 40 miners have died and dozens remain trapped following a pre-dawn blast at a mine in Gujiao City in Shanxi province. Xinhua reports that 340 miners had escaped but some … Continue reading
Filed under Economy, Politics & Society
