Monthly Archives: August 2009
Beijing’s Discombobulted Buffer With Burma
China’s border with Myanmar has long been pretty porous. Kokang, an enclave in Shan state on the Burmese side, has acted as a buffer zone between the two countries. The Wa who live there are ethnic Han and Mandarin speaking … Continue reading
Filed under Politics & Society
China Starts To Curb Excessive Inventory
The cutback in steel and and cement production that Beijing has ordered can be read to mean that the economic planners are confident the re-acceleration of growth is soundly based. Or it can be seen as continuing concern that the … Continue reading
Filed under Economy
Drought Eases Slightly In North China
Rain and artificial rain making have brought some relief to the parched grain-growing provinces of north China that have been suffering drought since July. Officials said the affected area of farmland had shrunk to 126 million mu, 65 million mu … Continue reading
Filed under Environment
Toyota Car Recall A Big Embarrassment
Oops. Toyota is recalling 690,000 cars made at two of its joint ventures, Guangzhou Auto and Tianjin FAW because of faulty electrical window switches. That is more cars than it sold in China last year. Though not a safety threatening … Continue reading
Filed under Economy, industry, Product Safety
North China Water Shortages Worsen
More than 4.5 million people are now left short of drinking water as the severe drought in the north spreads, Xinhua reports, while a new hot dry spell to the south threatens new water shortages in Hunan and Hubei in … Continue reading
Filed under Environment, Politics & Society
China CNR Gets IPO Clearance
Securities regulators have given China CNR the go-ahead for its proposed 6.5 billion yuan ($1 billion) initial public offering for up to 34% of its equity. The company, which along with China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock (CSR), is one … Continue reading
Filed under Markets
Just In Time?
We have previously noted that while Japan’s path to rapid industrial growth involved making cheap export goods by raising productivity and taking labour out of manufacturing, China reversed the process and kept costs low by putting labour in. That was … Continue reading
Filed under Economy
Third Toxic Smelter Closed
The smelter scandal is starting to echo last year’s melamine-tainted infant formula in that it is spreading out of control. A third plant within a month is being closed because children living near it are falling ill. In this case … Continue reading
Filed under Environment, Politics & Society
PetroChina, Exxon Strike Biggest Australia-China Trade Deal
PetroChina is to buy 2.25 million tons a year of liquefied natural gas from ExxonMobil’s part of the Gorgon gas field off Australia’s northwest coast (Release). The 20-year deal is valued at $41 billion and shows the growing economic ties … Continue reading
Filed under China-Australia, Economy
North China Drought Spreads
Typhoon season may be battering the coasts, but northern China and Inner Mongolia are parched for lack of rain. Between Aug.1st and Aug.16th, the area had just 50 mm of rain, with some places getting less than 10 mm as … Continue reading
Filed under Environment, Politics & Society
