High on the list of conceivable outcomes of the 17th Party Congress that will cause strong social resentment in China is the possibility that the newly established Politburo will be filled with many “princelings,” leaders who come from families of former high-ranking officials. In the... MORE

In an open letter to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Politburo Standing Committee, 170 retired senior cadre denounced the current government's economic policies as unfair toward the working class and harmful to the environment, adding that they had departed drastically from the original socialist values... MORE

BEIJING BEGINS NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS WITH PROMISES OF ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL POOR In accordance with President Hu Jintao’s commitment toward creating a “harmonious society” (hexie shehui) within China, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao unveiled a new series of measures that would provide medical, agricultural and social... MORE

BEIJING BEGINS NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS WITH PROMISES OF ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL POOR In accordance with President Hu Jintao’s commitment toward creating a “harmonious society” (hexie shehui) within China, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao unveiled a new series of measures that would provide medical, agricultural and social... MORE

U.S. AND JAPAN’S ISLAND CHAIN POLICIES CRITICAL TO TAIWAN’S DEFENSE In a recent report assessing the future missions of the four Keelung (Kidd) class destroyers that were recently commissioned into the Taiwanese Navy, Chien-tuan K’o chi (Defense Technology Monthly) senior editor Chang Li-teh argued that... MORE

U.S. AND JAPAN’S ISLAND CHAIN POLICIES CRITICAL TO TAIWAN’S DEFENSE In a recent report assessing the future missions of the four Keelung (Kidd) class destroyers that were recently commissioned into the Taiwanese Navy, Chien-tuan K’o chi (Defense Technology Monthly) senior editor Chang Li-teh argued that... MORE

CHINESE HEALTH AUTHORITIES PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL SARS AND AVIAN FLU OUTBREAKS As warmer weather begins to arrive in southeastern China, provincial and local authorities have begun to undertake a number of additional measures to prepare for potential SARS and avian influenza epidemics. On January 9,... MORE

CHINESE HEALTH AUTHORITIES PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL SARS AND AVIAN FLU OUTBREAKS As warmer weather begins to arrive in southeastern China, provincial and local authorities have begun to undertake a number of additional measures to prepare for potential SARS and avian influenza epidemics. On January 9,... MORE