Premier Wen Jiabao told legislators at the National People’s Congress (NPC) on Wednesday to focus on improving the efficiency and balance of China’s economic growth, the Wall Street Journal reported. In his annual report on the Chinese government’s workings, Wen announced increased social spending, including subsidies for the poor and an end to tuition fees […]
Category: Politics & Society
A man who had taken 10 Australians and a Chinese interpreter hostage in Xi’an in northwestern China was killed by a police sniper on Wednesday, ending a two-hour standoff on a tourist bus, AP reported. None of the hostages, who were travel agents on an educational tour, were harmed in the ordeal. After freeing nine […]
China will form new "super-ministries" to streamline administration and reduce low-level bureaucrats from interfering in state business, the Financial Times reported. The "super-ministries" will be created during the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on Wednesday. The government has not provided details on the make up of the new ministries, but the paper […]
China will boost defense spending to US$58.8 billion this year, an 18% increase over 2007, the Wall Street Journal reported. A spokesman for the National People’s Congress, Jiang Enzhu, said the new funds will be used to raise pay for soldiers, cover higher fuel costs and purchase high-tech arms. The defense budget is the equivalent […]
President Hu Jintao offered a stern warning against any move to split Taiwan from the mainland, the South China Morning Post reported. Meeting with Taiwan delegates to the Chinese People’s Consultative Conference, Hu said that "splittist" activities were the biggest obstacle to cross-straits relations and stability. He left the door open for dialogue between Taiwan […]