China
Uncivilized? Chinese City Introduces Shame List
Shopkeepers in Chinese-dominated parts of New York City have long favored a particular form of extra-legal justice in dealing with badly behaving customers: catch the offense (typically shoplifting) on tape, seize the offender’s ID, take a photograph and threaten to paste the picture on the wall–along with the would-be thief’s name and crime–unless he or she agrees to pay a penalty. The approach has its critics but also benefits from a certain logic: Why bother going through the rigmarole and uncertainty of criminal prosecution when shame works so much better? Now a group of local officials in China has decided to apply that approach to an entire city. Wuhan Evening News The March 19, 2010 edition of the Wuhan Evening News displays the Wuhan government’s inaugural “Uncivilized Residents” lists. Frustrated at the inability of traditional propaganda and fines to improve the behavior of its citizens, the government of Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei Province, has teamed with local media to produce a city-wide name-and-shame list. The inaugural list–released over the weekend and teased on the front page of the Wuhan Evening News with a blaring headline “City Reveals First Group of ‘Uncivilized Residents’”–verbally tars and feathers 40 people for engaging in one of four unacceptable activities: careless running of red lights, careless parking, jaywalking (“careless crossing of the street”) and littering (“careless throwing around of garbage”). Offenders are named in three of the four lists (jaywalkers appear in photographs but aren’t named). Perpetrators of traffic offenses have their license-plate numbers listed along with the time and location of the infraction, while the list for litterers offers offenders’ ages as well as the punishment received (typically a 50 yuan fine). (The lists and photos have been duly reproduced by Chinese media, including the website of Phoenix TV) The Wuhan Evening News promises a fresh set of lists every week, but the categories could change. Next time, the lists might include “carelessly dumping sediment,” “throwing things from high places” or any number of other inconsiderate activities, Yan Hong, head of the Wuhan Civilization Office, told Xinhua ( in Chinese ) on Wednesday. Public reaction to the new initiative appears sharply divided. A number of online commenters have lauded the lists as a way to improve Chinese people’s character (素质) – a topic of much discussion in the wake of the disaster in Japan, which has produced an outpouring of admiration in China for the discipline and orderliness of regular Japanese people. Others, however, have been less enthusiastic. Many seem to bristle at the idea of government officials, who in China are often assumed corrupt until proven otherwise, labeling other people uncivilized. “Work up a black list for the government, then its fair,” one commenter writing under the name Xiaosi Dake said on the microbbloging site Sina Weibo. Many others worry that the list represents an infringement on privacy, with some questioning whether it’s legal. “Publicizing a list of uncivilized residents is a misuse of power!” Guo Pulong, an account based in the southern city of Shenzhen wrote on his microblog. “What legal basis does this have?” As with the shame tactics employed by the shopkeepers in New York, the answer to the legal question in Wuhan isn’t immediately clear. For his part, the man in charge of the lists suggests people focus more of their attention on the system’s intended goal. “Exposure is just the means, not the end,” the Civilization Office’s Mr. Yan tells Xinhua. “All of this is to build an enduring mechanism for establishing civilization and improving the character of residents on multiple fronts.” – Josh Chin. Follow him on Twitter @joshchin
Shopkeepers in Chinese-dominated parts of New York City have long favored a particular form of extra-legal justice in dealing with badly behaving customers: catch the offense (typically shoplifting) on tape, seize the offender’s ID, take a photograph and threaten to paste the picture on the wall–along with the would-be thief’s name and crime–unless he or she agrees to pay a penalty. The approach has its critics but also benefits from a certain logic: Why bother going through the rigmarole and uncertainty of criminal prosecution when shame works so much better?
Now a group of local officials in China has decided to apply that approach to an entire city.
- Wuhan Evening News
- The March 19, 2010 edition of the Wuhan Evening News displays the Wuhan government’s inaugural “Uncivilized Residents” lists.
Frustrated at the inability of traditional propaganda and fines to improve the behavior of its citizens, the government of Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei Province, has teamed with local media to produce a city-wide name-and-shame list.
The inaugural list–released over the weekend and teased on the front page of the Wuhan Evening News with a blaring headline “City Reveals First Group of ‘Uncivilized Residents’”–verbally tars and feathers 40 people for engaging in one of four unacceptable activities: careless running of red lights, careless parking, jaywalking (“careless crossing of the street”) and littering (“careless throwing around of garbage”).
Offenders are named in three of the four lists (jaywalkers appear in photographs but aren’t named). Perpetrators of traffic offenses have their license-plate numbers listed along with the time and location of the infraction, while the list for litterers offers offenders’ ages as well as the punishment received (typically a 50 yuan fine).
(The lists and photos have been duly reproduced by Chinese media, including the website of Phoenix TV)
The Wuhan Evening News promises a fresh set of lists every week, but the categories could change. Next time, the lists might include “carelessly dumping sediment,” “throwing things from high places” or any number of other inconsiderate activities, Yan Hong, head of the Wuhan Civilization Office, told Xinhua (in Chinese) on Wednesday.
Public reaction to the new initiative appears sharply divided. A number of online commenters have lauded the lists as a way to improve Chinese people’s character (素质) – a topic of much discussion in the wake of the disaster in Japan, which has produced an outpouring of admiration in China for the discipline and orderliness of regular Japanese people. Others, however, have been less enthusiastic.
Many seem to bristle at the idea of government officials, who in China are often assumed corrupt until proven otherwise, labeling other people uncivilized.
“Work up a black list for the government, then its fair,” one commenter writing under the name Xiaosi Dake said on the microbbloging site Sina Weibo.
Many others worry that the list represents an infringement on privacy, with some questioning whether it’s legal. “Publicizing a list of uncivilized residents is a misuse of power!” Guo Pulong, an account based in the southern city of Shenzhen wrote on his microblog. “What legal basis does this have?”
As with the shame tactics employed by the shopkeepers in New York, the answer to the legal question in Wuhan isn’t immediately clear.
For his part, the man in charge of the lists suggests people focus more of their attention on the system’s intended goal. “Exposure is just the means, not the end,” the Civilization Office’s Mr. Yan tells Xinhua. “All of this is to build an enduring mechanism for establishing civilization and improving the character of residents on multiple fronts.”
– Josh Chin. Follow him on Twitter @joshchin
Reforms started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment.
Deterioration in the environment – notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the north – is another long-term problem.
The People’s Republic of China is the world’s second largest economy after the United States by both nominal GDP ($5 trillion in 2009) and by purchasing power parity ($8.77 trillion in 2009).
Some economists believe that Chinese economic growth has been in fact understated during much of the 1990s and early 2000s, failing to fully factor in the growth driven by the private sector and that the extent at which China is dependent on exports is exaggerated.
The two sectors have differed in many respects.
A report by UBS in 2009 concluded that China has experienced total factor productivity growth of 4 per cent per year since 1990, one of the fastest improvements in world economic history.
The market-oriented reforms China has implemented over the past two decades have unleashed individual initiative and entrepreneurship, whilst retaining state domination of the economy.
China now ranks as the fifth largest global investor in outbound direct investment (ODI) with a total volume of $56.5 billion, compared to a ranking of 12th in 2008, the Ministry of Commerce said on Sunday.
” Although the figure is already “quite amazing,” the volume is “not large enough” considering China’s economic growth and local companies’ expanding demand for international opportunities, Shen said.
China is expected to have 200 million cars on the road by 2020, increasing pressure on energy security and the environment, government officials said yesterday.
Although China is still a developing country with a relatively low per capita income, it has experienced tremendous economic growth since the late 1970s.
Even with these improvements, agriculture accounts for only 20% of the nation’s gross national product.
In terms of cash crops, China ranks first in cotton and tobacco and is an important producer of oilseeds, silk, tea, ramie, jute, hemp, sugarcane, and sugar beets.
Livestock raising on a large scale is confined to the border regions and provinces in the north and west; it is mainly of the nomadic pastoral type.
Offshore exploration has become important to meeting domestic needs; massive deposits off the coasts are believed to exceed all the world’s known oil reserves.
There are large deposits of uranium in the northwest, especially in Xinjiang; there are also mines in Jiangxi and Guangdong provs.
China also has extensive hydroelectric energy potential, notably in Yunnan, W Sichuan, and E Tibet, although hydroelectric power accounts for only 5% of the country’s total energy production.
Coastal cities, especially in the southeast, have benefited greatly from China’s increasingly open trade policies.
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Uncivilized? Chinese City Introduces Shame List
Business
China Reports Agreement on Ceasefire between Myanmar’s Factions
Myanmar’s conflicting parties have reached a ceasefire agreement, facilitated by China, aiming to reduce violence and promote peace in the region.
Myanmar Ceasefire Agreement
In a significant development, conflicting parties in Myanmar have reached an agreement for a ceasefire, with China facilitating discussions. This breakthrough is crucial for restoring peace in a nation that has been marred by violence and political strife in recent years. The ceasefire aims to pave the way for reconciliation efforts and improve the humanitarian situation in affected areas.
Role of China
China’s involvement as a mediator highlights its growing influence in resolving regional conflicts. The Chinese government has been working closely with both sides to promote dialogue and trust, crucial elements for a long-term peace solution. Increased stability in Myanmar can benefit regional security and economic development, making China’s mediation significant.
Looking Forward
The hope is that this ceasefire will lead to further negotiations addressing underlying issues in Myanmar. While challenges remain, both parties have expressed willingness to work towards a peaceful resolution. The international community will be watching closely to see if this ceasefire can be sustained and lead to enduring peace for the people of Myanmar.
China
2024 China Economic Review: GDP, Trade, and Foreign Direct Investment Analysis
In 2024, China’s economy grew 5%, supported by stimulus measures, strong exports, and high-tech investments, despite weak domestic demand and demographic challenges. Key sectors like manufacturing and digital economy thrived, necessitating structural reforms for sustained growth into 2025.
China’s economy grew 5% in 2024, driven by stimulus measures, strong exports, and high-tech investment, despite challenges like weak domestic demand and demographic pressures. Structural reforms and targeted policies are essential for sustaining growth into 2025.
China’s economic performance in 2024 saw a return to steady growth, achieving a 5 percent GDP expansion in line with the government’s target, as per the official data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on January 17, 2025. This outcome was largely bolstered by stimulus measures that helped drive a stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter recovery. While the country’s economy faced challenges such as declining population numbers and sluggish consumer demand, there were signs of optimism across key sectors, including industrial output and digital economy growth.
Additionally, China is beginning to pivot away from its dependence on the property sector, with the digital economy playing an increasingly significant role in economic expansion.
This article explores the major economic highlights from 2024 and examines the key trends, challenges, and opportunities that will shape China’s economy in the year ahead.
In 2024, China’s GDP reached RMB 134.91 trillion (US$18.80 trillion), maintaining its position as the second-largest economy in the world, behind only the United States, whose projected GDP for 2024 stands at approximately US$29 trillion. This reflects a year-on-year growth of 5.0 percent, in line with the government’s official target of “around 5 percent“ set during the 2024 Two Sessions. While slower than the 5.2 percent growth achieved in 2023, it highlights a stable recovery largely driven by strong export performance and targeted stimulus measures throughout the year.
The economy saw accelerated growth in the final quarter of 2024, with GDP expanding by 5.4 percent, surpassing expectations and making a substantial contribution to the overall 5.0 percent increase. Indeed, quarterly growth performance in 2024 showed steady improvement: the first quarter recorded a 5.3 percent increase, followed by 4.7 percent in Q2, and 4.6 percent in Q3.
Sectoral performance highlights revealed the manufacturing and service sectors as key drivers.
| This article was first published by China Briefing , which is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and India . Readers may write to info@dezshira.com for more support. |
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China
How China’s appetite for salmon could reshape global seafood markets – new research
China’s salmon demand surged 46% in 2023, prompting global exporters to respond. Challenges in domestic salmon production highlight opportunities for rainbow trout, reshaping the seafood market towards sustainability and consumer preferences.
China’s demand for farmed salmon is growing at an unprecedented pace. In 2023, its imports grew by 46% year on year – with imports of fresh and chilled Atlantic salmon up 63%.
This remarkable growth is reshaping the global seafood trade. Exporters from Scotland, Norway, Chile, Australia, Faroe Islands, Canada and Iceland are racing to supply the needs of this vast and rapidly evolving market.
At the same time, China’s efforts to produce its own Atlantic salmon have faced significant challenges, highlighting the need for substitutes like rainbow trout to meet the country’s growing appetite for seafood delicacies.
An important shift occurred in 2018, when the Chinese government permitted rainbow trout to be labelled and sold as salmon. This decision blurred the distinction between imported Atlantic salmon and locally farmed rainbow trout, creating a more accessible option for cost-sensitive consumers.
Trout is comparable to salmon in appearance and size, with firm and oily meat that has a similar orange-pink colour. Nutritionally too, the species are alike, as are the ways in which they can be cooked and prepared.
In our new research which included taste tests, we found that many Chinese consumers could not distinguish between domestic rainbow trout and imported Atlantic salmon in blind testing. But when informed about the origin, testers’ preferences shifted strongly in favour of imported Atlantic salmon, highlighting the power of provenance in consumer tastes.
Although people’s willingness to pay did not vary initially in our blind tests, it became a decisive factor once the origin of the fish was revealed.
But we found that origin alone was not enough. For our testers to be prepared to pay higher prices, they also had to like the look, smell and taste of the product more, or be persuaded by its ecolabel (indicating environmental standards).
Environmental costs
Transporting Atlantic salmon from Scottish lochs, Norwegian fjords or Chilean waters to Chinese markets involves complex logistics and significant environmental costs. The carbon footprint of this trade, combined with the resource-intensive nature of salmon aquaculture, raises critical concerns about sustainability.
These challenges are particularly pronounced in China, where consumers have a strong preference for freshness. This drives demand for quick delivery of imported salmon despite its environmental impact, and consumers are increasingly turning to online platforms to buy their seafood.
E-commerce has reshaped seafood retail in China, offering quick delivery and products that cater to consumer demand for quality and freshness. Salmon stands out in this market due to its perceived high value, premium quality and price point. Unlike other expensive seafood that often needs to be sold live to maintain its value, salmon retains its appeal when chilled or frozen.
This makes salmon particularly suited to modern retail models, where sophisticated cold-chain logistics ensure its freshness without the complexities of live transport. However, these innovations come at a cost.
The energy-intensive storage and rapid transportation required for imported salmon contribute significantly to environmental harm. As China’s seafood market continues to grow, addressing the sustainability challenges associated with this trade will be critical to balancing consumer demand with environmental responsibility. Current international certification schemes aiming to improve the sector’s sustainability have had limited impact in China so far.
A worker processing imported fresh salmon in a Beijing wholesale seafood market.
David Little, Author provided
China has made significant efforts to establish a domestic Atlantic salmon industry, but these attempts have largely been unsuccessful due to technical challenges and environmental constraints. This has left a gap that domestically farmed rainbow trout is poised to fill.
A trout farming raceway in Chengdu, China, supplied with fresh river water.
Zixuan Ma, Author provided
In 2022, China produced 37,000 tonnes of rainbow trout. This is a relatively small amount compared with international production levels, but still notable considering that rainbow trout is a new farmed species in China, unlike traditional species like carp.
However, rainbow trout farming in China is geographically constrained, as the species thrives in cooler freshwater temperatures found in higher-lying lakes and reservoirs, as well as in “raceways” (channels supplied continuously with fresh water diverted from rivers).
Advances in aquaculture systems offer a potential pathway to expand China’s production. Trout farming is a more sustainable, locally sourced alternative to Atlantic salmon that reduces the carbon footprint associated with imports and ensures fresher options for Chinese consumers. Developing a robust domestic trout industry could enhance food security, reduce dependence on imports, and create economic opportunities in rural areas.
China’s evolving seafood market offers valuable lessons for the global industry. Emphasising quality, freshness and sustainability will resonate with the increasingly sophisticated Chinese consumer.
At the same time, investment in eco-friendly aquaculture practices, both domestically and internationally, will be essential to balance the growing demand for premium seafood with environmental responsibility. These could include reducing feed waste and recirculating aquaculture systems (which filter and reuse water) to minimise water use. Recycling waste nutrients by using them elsewhere in food production could also be key.
As rainbow trout gains prominence in China’s seafood landscape, the relationship between consumer preferences, environmental concerns and economic opportunities could in turn shape the future of the global salmon trade.
If domestic fish captures a larger share of the Chinese market, salmon producers in Europe, Canada and other exporting regions may face significant challenges. This could ultimately force them to rethink their strategies in order to adapt to shifting market dynamics.
Although the goal of creating a domestic Atlantic salmon industry has proved difficult for China, trout farming presents a practical and sustainable solution for its luxury seafood sector.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
- China Reports Agreement on Ceasefire between Myanmar’s Factions
- 2024 China Economic Review: GDP, Trade, and Foreign Direct Investment Analysis
- How China’s appetite for salmon could reshape global seafood markets – new research
- China Limits Apple Operations as BYD Manufacturing Moves to India and Southeast Asia Amid Trade Frictions | International Business News – The Times of India
- China’s GDP Grows 5% in 2024: Key Insights and Main Factors
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