China
China is bulldozing parks and “green belt” around Chengdu to create more farmland
Reversing years of expensive work, Chinese bulldozers are tearing up parks and gardens in the “green belt” around the southwestern city of Chengdu to create more farmland as Beijing pushes ahead with a food security strategy that some are calling “New Great Leap Forward.”
Before the pandemic, authorities had started to plow billions of dollars into the signature project, touted in state media as a sign of a greener future for China.
The green belt was home to the Tianfu Greenway around the city of nearly 10 million, and linked parks, gardens and “ecological zones,” in a move some said would “envelop Chengdu in one massive garden.”
But now, authorities led by “agricultural management” enforcement officials, are bulldozing much of the green belt in a bid to replace it with 100,000 mu (around 40,000 hectares) of farmland in the next three years.
”Restoration of farmland has begun near the … Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone,” an article on local news site Good Morning Tianfu reported on Friday. “It may seem a pity that the park encircling the city will be turned back into agricultural fields, food is the foundation of this country’s existence.”
“The government has made it clear that only grain and vegetables can now be grown on farmland, and that … previous farmland must be reclaimed,” it said. “This is the latest red line, and anyone who crosses it will fall from power.”
Planning for a crisis?
A local resident who gave only the surname Tong for fear of reprisals said the campaign to reclaim land for farming purposes is happening across China, not just in Chengdu.
“Maybe it’s to do with tensions in the Taiwan Strait or crisis planning for political and national security,” Tong said. “But they are preparing.”
“They want to make sure they have enough agricultural land, and they are stepping up investigations and cracking down via the agricultural management teams, through administrative channels,” he said.
Beijing-based political journalist Gao Yu said the project only opened to regular users last year.
“Now they’re bringing out the bulldozers again, to turn the park into fields,” she said. “So much money was invested, all of it taxpayers’ money.”
Gao drew a parallel with the mass agricultural mobilization of the Great Leap Forward, when then supreme leader Mao Zedong sent officials into villages to order farmers around, and to set up backyard steel furnaces in a bid to catch up with developed countries.
“It’s like the Great Leap Forward and the steelmaking campaign, which didn’t make any [viable] steel in the end,” Gao said. “Instead, what happened was that tens of millions of farmers starved to death.”
Wasted taxes
The ruling Chinese Communist Party-backed news site The Paper quoted an employee at the Chengdu Tianfu Greenway Construction Investment Group as confirming the move, saying the land must all be converted to agricultural use by the end of this year.
He denied that green belt land was being demolished to create farmland, however, saying that city planning officials had said it had been agricultural land all along. But The Paper cited district ecological protection regulations from Jan. 1, 2013, as “clearly prohibiting the use of such ecological land for agricultural purposes.”
Online comments estimated that it would take 442 years to earn back the 34.1 billion yuan originally spent on the greenway project, which was to have eventually encompassed the entire city, with returns on crops and produce that could be grown there.
“Twenty years ago, it was all about turning farmland into forests, and Chengdu invested 34.1 billion yuan to build the world’s largest park all around the city,” one comment read. “Now they are turning forests back into farmland, and tens of billions of yuan of taxpayers’ hard-earned cash has been wasted.”
“They only care about politics, not economics,” another comment read.
Heavy-handed enforcement of new agricultural zoning rules has prompted a wave of online complaints about “agricultural management” officials in recent weeks.
A farmer in the southeastern province of Fujian who gave only the surname Yang said they bulldozed fields of daffodils he had been growing without the consent of those who had planted them.
Another farmer made a video complaining that they had changed the status of his bamboo crop and forced him to cut it down.
Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
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Business
Gordonstoun Severs Connections with Business Led by Individual Accused of Espionage for China
Gordonstoun school severed ties with Hampton Group over espionage allegations against chairman Yang Tengbo. He denies involvement and claims to be a victim of political tensions between the UK and China.
Allegations Lead to School’s Decision
Gordonstoun School in Moray has cut ties with Hampton Group International after serious allegations surfaced regarding its chairman, Yang Tengbo, who is accused of being a spy for the Chinese government. Known by the alias "H6," Mr. Tengbo was involved in a deal that aimed to establish five new schools in China affiliated with Gordonstoun. However, the recent allegations compelled the school to terminate their agreement.
Public Denial and Legal Action
In response to the spying claims, Mr. Tengbo publicly revealed his identity, asserting that he has committed no wrongdoing. A close associate of Prince Andrew and a former Gordonstoun student himself, Mr. Tengbo has strenuously denied the accusations, stating that he is a target of the escalating tensions between the UK and China. He has claimed that his mistreatment is politically motivated.
Immigration Challenges and Legal Responses
Yang Tengbo, also known as Chris Yang, has faced additional challenges regarding his immigration status in the UK. After losing an appeal against a ban enacted last year, he reiterated his innocence, condemning media speculation while emphasizing his commitment to clear his name. Gordonstoun, on its part, stated its inability to divulge further details due to legal constraints.
Source : Gordonstoun cuts ties with business chaired by man accused of spying for China
Business
China Dismantles Prominent Uyghur Business Landmark in Xinjiang – Shia Waves
The Chinese government demolished the Rebiya Kadeer Trade Center in Xinjiang, affecting Uyghur culture and commerce, prompting criticism from activists amid concerns over cultural erasure and human rights violations.
Demolition of a Cultural Landmark
The Chinese government recently demolished the Rebiya Kadeer Trade Center in Urumqi, Xinjiang, a vital hub for Uyghur culture and commerce, as reported by VOA. This center, once inhabited by more than 800 predominantly Uyghur-owned businesses, has been deserted since 2009. Authorities forcibly ordered local business owners to vacate the premises before proceeding with the demolition, which took place without any public notice.
Condemnation from Activists
Uyghur rights activists have condemned this demolition, perceiving it as part of China’s broader strategy to undermine Uyghur identity and heritage. The event has sparked heightened international concern regarding China’s policies in Xinjiang, which have been characterized by allegations of mass detentions and cultural suppression, prompting claims of crimes against humanity.
Rebiya Kadeer’s Response
Rebiya Kadeer, the center’s namesake and a notable Uyghur rights advocate, criticized the demolition as a deliberate attempt to erase her legacy. Kadeer, who has been living in exile in the U.S. since her release from imprisonment in 2005, continues to advocate for Uyghur rights. She has expressed that her family members have suffered persecution due to her activism, while the Chinese government has yet to comment on the legal ramifications of the demolition.
Source : China Demolishes Uyghur Business Landmark in Xinjiang – Shia Waves
China
China Expands Nationwide Private Pension Scheme After Two-Year Pilot Program
China’s private pension scheme, previously piloted in 36 cities, will roll out nationwide on December 15, 2024, enabling workers to open tax-deferred accounts. The initiative aims to enhance retirement savings, address aging population challenges, and stimulate financial sector growth.
After a two-year pilot program, China has officially expanded its private pension scheme nationwide. Starting December 15, 2024, workers covered by urban employee basic pension insurance or urban-rural resident basic pension insurance across the country can participate in this supplementary pension scheme. This nationwide rollout represents a significant milestone in China’s efforts to build a comprehensive pension system, addressing the challenges of a rapidly aging population.
On December 12, 2024, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, together with four other departments including the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration, the Financial Regulatory Administration, and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, announced the nationwide implementation of China’s private pension scheme effective December 15, 2024. The initiative extends eligibility to all workers enrolled in urban employee basic pension insurance or urban-rural resident basic pension insurance.
A notable development is the expansion of tax incentives for private pensions, previously limited to pilot cities, to a national scale. Participants can now enjoy these benefits across China, with government agencies collaborating to ensure seamless implementation and to encourage broad participation through these enhanced incentives.
China first introduced its private pension scheme in November 2022 as a pilot program covering 36 cities and regions, including major hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an, and Chengdu. Under the program, individuals were allowed to open tax-deferred private pension accounts, contributing up to RMB 12,000 (approximately $1,654) annually to invest in a range of retirement products such as bank deposits, mutual funds, commercial pension insurance, and wealth management products.
Read more about China’s private pension pilot program launched two years ago: China Officially Launches New Private Pension Scheme – Who Can Take Part?
The nationwide implementation underscores the Chinese government’s commitment to addressing demographic challenges and promoting economic resilience. By providing tax advantages and expanding access, the scheme aims to incentivize long-term savings and foster greater participation in personal retirement planning.
The reform is expected to catalyze growth in China’s financial and insurance sectors while offering individuals a reliable mechanism to enhance their retirement security.
| 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. |
Read the rest of the original article.
- Gordonstoun Severs Connections with Business Led by Individual Accused of Espionage for China
- China Dismantles Prominent Uyghur Business Landmark in Xinjiang – Shia Waves
- China Expands Nationwide Private Pension Scheme After Two-Year Pilot Program
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