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Fri, Apr 25, 1997
Computers: the computer industry in Shanghai jumped 43 percent over last year, reports the Shanghai Star.
"The fast development of Shanghai's computer industry is greatly facilitating Shanghai's march to the information age. The industry reported sales of 6.1 billion yuan ($734 million) last year, increasing by 43 per cent over the previous year, according to the local Liberation Daily."
"The city's computer industry has increased sixfold in annual industrial output since 1993."
The paper also mentions a number of local computer manufacturers in the municipality and notes that the growth in the industry fits in with Shanghai's "Info Port" concept.
"Many computer information networks have been established in Shanghai as the city is embracing the information age through its ambitious 'Info Port' project."
"Work is currently underway to build the US$4.17 billion Xiaolangdi dam - considered one of the most difficult in dam-building history because of the complex geological structure of the site, its large scale and various technological difficulties.""The networks cover general information services, education and science and technology. A project called Shanghai Information Exchange Network recently has been completed to join these networks."
Presumably this would build shanghai as not only the head of the mighty Yangzi river "dragon" but also the source of information and tellecommunicaiton technologies for outlieing counties and along the Yangzi river valley.
Development: the Three Gorges dam project on the Yangzi river usually caputres our attention, but an ambitious project to build a dam on the Yellow River at a location about 40km north of Louyang in the central province of Henan promises to regulate the cycles of flood and droubt which have plauged the region for so, so long. As the Asia Times reports,
"The dam, measuring 154 meters high and 1,667m long, aims to raise protection to a level where a flood would arise only once every 1,000 years."
" 'The first purpose of this dam is to fight soil erosion, prevent floodings, regulate the water flow of the river,' says the ever-smiling Wang Xianru, vice-general manager of the Xiaolangdi dam, the largest in China after that of the controversial Three Gorges dam and a top national project according to Beijing."
" 'The production of electricity is just fifth in the list of our priorities,' he added."
According to the paper, some 170 000 people will be resettled to make way for the dam.
In the end, though, the question remains: will the dam simply silt up?
Xinjiang: we get some more information on Jiang Zemin's trip to Russia. The public face of the trip, to sign a Asia Times: 22-04-97 a series of troop-reduction pacts, has been well known. But as the Asia Times reports, "Russia will ask China to support its objections to NATO's eastward expansion and China expects Russia to pressure the Central Asian republics to control local anti-Chinese movements, an East European diplomat said."
The paper also reports that Chinese officals hjave been putting more focuson the problems in xinjiang. Qiao Shi, chairman of the Naitonal People's Congress, recently stopped there on a return from Europe. China will likely look to limiting "the flow of preachers and religious funds from Iran and the Gulf states to Xinjiang".
According to a book cited by the paper, "Sino-Russian economic exchanges lagged behind political relations. Last year, it said, trade with China accounted for less than five percent of Russia's total trade and 2.3 percent of China's total. Two-way trade last year was worth US$6.8 billion, an increase of 24 percent compared with the year before."
Hong Kong: as the Asia Times reports, although the territory will be returned to the 'motherland' very shortly, people have mixed perceptions about the significance of the territory and its handover.
Taiwan: Taiwan will apply for observor status at the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of its new strategy to gain international recognition, reports the Asia Times.
The application by Taiwan, submitted to WHO director-general Hiroshi Nakajima on April 3, will be debated in the WHO annual convention from May 5 to May 17. WHO does not have an official chapter spelling out criteria for gaining observer status, but Chang hopes Taiwan could be admitted following the precedents set up by the Vatican in 1950 and under which the UN has accepted 17 countries so far.
Business: overseas CPAs will be permitted to work in mainland China, reports the China Daily.
"Laos": the New York Times has an excerpt from "Shooting at the Moon: The Story of America's Clandestine War in Laos" by Roger Warner. It recounts how the United States destabilized Laos in 1960 by fostering a series of events which culminated in the very problem the US supposably was working to prevent. Sigh.
Hong Kong: the New York Times has a story on the iinstallation of Chinese journalist Feng Xiliang on the ediotiral staff of the "STMP" . The founder of the China Daily, China's official English language daily, Feng has taken on some kind of role in editorial decisions on the paper but his exact duities are not not known. As the Times reports, some at the paper regard Feng as the new "political commissar."
Hong Kong: an April 22 New York Times article tells of the arrival of an advance party of the PLA.
"The 40 officers and men, the first Chinese troops to take up positions in Hong Kong in 150 years, arrived to begin preparations for China's resumption of sovereignty in 71 days."
"Shortly after noon, and moments after a Royal Navy ship fired a 21-gun salute in Victoria Harbor to honor Queen Elizabeth's birthday, the Chinese troops crossed into the British colony at Lok Ma Chau. The uniformed troops, who were unarmed, were led by Maj. Gen. Zhou Borong, who studied at a military college in London for a year in the late 1980s."
Some interesting tid-bits about the troops to be stationed:
- the senior general of the contingent will earn "only 1,200 yuan a month, about $145, enough for an evening meal for four at a mid-range restaurant."
- when all is said and done there will be 10,000 troops located in 14 bases across the territory.
- troops will not be permitted to wear their uniforms outside bases and will be prohibited from "carousing in karaoke clubs, bars or restaurants and from moonlighting or gambling, according to assurances from Chinese officials."
The PLA has extensive business connections in the territory, and some wonder if the stationed troops will keep out of commerce and local business, as has been promised.