Mass protest in Taiwan over election results continues
2004-03-25 Xinhua News
The mass rally in central Taipei City on the island of Taiwan
has so far continued for 100 hours in protest over the alleged
unfair election, and some protesters have begun a hunger strike.
Shortly after the poll results of the election were announced
on March 20, the opposition coalition of the Kuomintang and
People First Party questioned the legitimacy of the election,
which was won by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
under the leadership of Chen Shui-bian. The coalition also said
the shooting was suspicious, and demanded an investigation.
The protesters demanded a recount and the truth about the shooting
of Taiwanese leaders Chen Shui-bian and Annette Lu on theeve
of the election on March 19. Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday he
was willing to meet Lien Chan and James Soong, on condition
that the protesters disperse.( ) Chen Shui-bian reportedly won
only 29,000 more votes than the opposition coalition, while
rejected votes total 330,000. Opposition leaders have said the
shooting incident resulted in sympathy votes for Chen.
Extensive consensus reached during Chinese FM's DPRK visit
2004-03-25 Xinhua News
China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reached
extensive consensus over a wide range of issues during Chinese
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's DPRK visit, said a Chinese foreign
ministry spokesman here Thursday. Kong Quan told a regular conference
that Li held a series of important meetings and talks with the
DPRK leaders, including meetings with Kim Jong-il, general secretary
of the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the National
Defense Commission of the DPRK, Kim Yong-nam, president of the
Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, DPRK foreign
minister Paek Nam Sun and DPRK first vice foreign minister Kang
Sok Ju. The two sides discussed a wide range of issues with
focus on bilateral ties, including political exchanges and cooperation
in economic and other areas, he said. The two sides also exchanges
views on the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, and other
regional and international issues of common concern, he said,
adding that the visit was successful. In the meeting between
Li and Kim Jong-il, Kong said, the two sides discussed the six-party
talks and the setting up of relevant working groups. ( )
China opposes Vietnam's move on Nansha
2004-03-25 China Daily
China has lodged solemn representation with Vietnam over its
attempt to open a tourist route to Nansha islands and launch
tourist activities in the upcoming April, a Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman said in Beijing on Thursday. Kong Quan said
in response to a journalist's question that China has indisputable
sovereignty over the Nansha islands and surrounding waters and
the move taken by Vietnam has infringed on China's territorial
sovereignty. It was reported that Vietnam was ready to open
"a tourist route" by boat to the Nansha islands and
launch the first tourist activity in the upcoming April. Kong
said it is the important consensus and common responsibility
of all relevant countries in the region to maintain stability
in the South China Sea. ( )
7 Chinese activists land on Diaoyu Islands
2004-03-24 Xinhua News
Seven Chinese activists landed on the Diaoyu Islands early Wednesday
morning despite interception from the Japan Coast Guard, a spokesman
for the group said in Beijing. "Our people have landed
on the isle. They are doing some scientific and environmental
studies there," said Tong Zeng, chairman of the China Federation
for Defending the Diaoyu Islands.( ) It was the fourth time
Chinese activists set voyage for the islands in the East China
Sea in the past nine months. But they failed to land on the
islands in their last three attempts. The uninhabited island
is located in rich fishing waters between Taiwan Island and
Japan's Okinawa islands. Tong said Wednesday that the group
was blocked by four Japanese vessels when their ship was close
to the islands. Seven activists, however, succeeded in getting
onshore with two small boats early in the morning, he said.
But the Japanese side had confiscated the two boats and is expected
to take action against the activists on the island, Tong said.
In Beijing, about 10 to 15 protesters stood outside the Japanese
Embassy, holding up the Chinese flag and red and white banners.
One read: The Diaoyu Islands are China's Territory.
Pakistani president meets Chinese defense chief
2004-03-25 People's Daily
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has met visiting Chinese
Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan, according to CRI report Thursday.
Musharraf said Sino-Pakistani relations are based on a stable
foundation and the bilateral friendship has stood the test of
time. He expressed appreciation for the lasting help from the
Chinese government and the Chinese army. He also hailed the
effective cooperation in the field of anti-terrorism between
the two countries. Cao Gangchuan said China and Pakistan are
good neighbors and the relations between the two armies have
remained close. He expressed the hope that the current level
of cooperation between the two sides would be further strengthened.
Cao Gangchuan also praised Pakistan's efforts to open a dialogue
process with India and said China will keep on supporting the
Pakistan-India peace process. Cao Gangchuan arrived in Pakistan
on Monday on a three-nation tour that will also take him to
India and Thailand.
US urged not to fingerprint Chinese
2004-03-24 China Daily
US Embassy's move to fingerprint Chinese applicants for visa
to the United States from Mar. 22 aroused great dissatisfaction
among Chinese people of all walks of life. Chinese Ministry
of Foreign Affairs said the move was discrimination against
Chinese citizens and lodged on Mar. 23 serious representations
to the United States. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
been concerned over the matter before the US move and has lodged
serious representations to the United States through diplomatic
means since January 2004, noting that US demand for fingerprints
and photos of Chinese citizens applying to go to the United
States is discrimination against Chinese.
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China showing model progress in meeting MDGs: UN official
2004-03-25 Xinhua News
China is making model progress towards meeting the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) drastically cutting poverty and ensuring
children's enrollment in primary schools, said a senior UN official
here Thursday. Rubens Ricupero, secretary-general of the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development, said the report
on China's progress in meeting the MDGs is very "impressive".
" China's population is such an important percentage of
the world that the achievement of goals by China will help the
achievement of the overall goals," he said.( ) Ricupero
comes to China as representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan to attend a three-day international conference on the
MDGs. The MDGs include eight major goals, namely eradicating
extreme poverty and hunger, universal primary education, promoting
gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality,
improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other
diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing
a global partnership for development.
Finanzielle Hilfe für Familien mit Töchtern
2004-03-25 Zhongguo Ribao
In Guangzhou, werden Familien mit einer oder zwei Töchtern
Unterstützung im Bildungs- und Medizinbereich erhalten.
Damit will man eine grössere Gleichberechtigung zwischen
den Geschlechter erreichen Die neue Verordnung wolle die Diskriminierung
der eigenen Töchter durch viele chinesische Eltern entgegen
wirken. Die letzte Volkszählung zeigte, dass eine derartige
Diskriminierung zu einem Ungleichgewicht in der Geschlechterstruktur
der Bevölkerung führt. Das im September vergangenen
Jahres in China geförderte Projekt "Schutz für
Mädchen" will die Entwicklung von Mädchen in
einer sicheren Umgebung und den Schutz der Interessen von Frauen
allgemein fördern. Offizielle Statistiken belegen, dass
die derzeitige Geburtenrate von Jungen und Mädchen im Verhältnis
bei 116,9 zu 100 liegt und damit 14 Prozent über einer
"normalen" Geburtenrate. Einschätzungen der Kommission
zufolge, wird es bei einem weiteren Anhalten des aktuellen Trends
bis zum Jahr 2020 in China 40 Millionen mehr Männer als
Frauen geben. Rund 50% der 50 Millionen von Armut betroffenen
Menschen in China sind Frauen auf dem Land. Von den 85 Millionen
erwachsenen Analphabeten sind 70% Frauen. ( ). Vor allem auf
dem Land halte die Bevölkerung an der traditionellen Denkweise
fest, dass nur Jungen die Ahnenlinie der Familie fortsetzen
können und Frauen Männern unterlegen seien. Folge
ist eine unausgeglichene Geburtenrate. Die Regierung solle zum
Zweck der Beseitigung der traditionellen Diskriminierung die
öffentlichen Zuwendungen für Frauen verbessern. Andernfalls
müsse man mit erheblichen Problemen durch das wachsende
Ungleichgewicht bei der Geburtenrate rechnen.
Former vice governor of SW province on trial for corruption
2004-03-25 Xinhua News
Liu Changgui, former vice governor of the southwestern China
province of Guizhou, was put on trial Wednesday for suspected
corruption and owning a huge amount of property he could not
account for. Liu is accused of having accepted bribes totaling
160,000 US dollars between 1995 and 2000 and having another
200,000 US dollars of personal property he could not account
for, said a source with the Intermediate People's Court of Zunyi
city, where the hearing was held. A court ruling would be made
on a separate occasion, the source said. Liu, 58, was a technical
school graduate and had not received higher education. He served
as acting mayor and mayor of Guiyang city, the provincial capital
between 1994 and 1997, and was elected vice governor of Guizhou
in 1997. He was arrested in April 2003 on charges of bribery.
Internet cafes banned around schools, residential areas
Internet cafes are a great harm to the mental health of teenagers
2004-03-24 People's Daily
Local governments across China have been ordered not to approve
any Internet cafe operations in residential areas or within
200 meters of primary and high schools. The General Administration
for Industry and Commerce (GAIC), China's market watchdog, said
in Beijing Wednesday that currently in China, many Internet
cafes, especially those without licenses, admit juveniles in
violation of relevant regulations and spread unhealthy online
information." They have brought great harm to the mental
health of teenagers and interfered with the school teaching,
which has aroused strong reactions from the public," said
the GAIC. The Chinese government has, therefore, launched a
nationwide check on all Internet cafes from February to August
so as to halt the entry of minors as well as to prevent access
to detrimental information through the Internet, according to
a circular released in February jointly by the Ministry of Culture,
the GAIC, the Ministry of Public Security and other relevant
government departments.During the period, the government departments
will take resolute, unyielding measures to enhance supervision
over Internet cafe business and shut down those with no licenses.
( )
China definiert das Menschenrecht auf Entwicklung
2004-03-24 Renmin Ribao
Der UN-Botschafter Chinas in Genf, Sha Zukang, hat am Dienstag
auf der 60. Konferenz der UN-Menschenrechtskommission bekräftigt,
dass das Recht auf Entwicklung ein unveräusserliches Menschenrecht
sei. Der Prozess der Globalisierung gefährde dieses Recht
für die Menschen in den meisten Entwicklungsländern
und insbesondere in den am wenigsten entwickelten Ländern.
Sha Zukang forderte die internationale Gemeinschaft auf, gemeinsam
Rahmenbedingungen für die Entwicklung zu schaffen und die
Entwicklungsländer zu stützen. Der stellvertretende
chinesische Delegationsleiter auf der 60. UN-Menschenrechtskonferenz,
La Yifan, hatte am Montag in Genf erklärt, der "in
neuen Formen auftretende Rassismus" bedeute eine neue Herausforderung
an die Menschenrechte. Die internationale Gemeinschaft und insbesondere
die westlichen Länder müssten dem Problem große
Aufmerksamkeit schenken und Massnahmen treffen. Der Assistent
des chinesischen Aussenministers, Shen Guofang, hat am Dienstag
in Beijing den Botschafter der USA in China, Clark Randt, einbestellt
und den Protest der chinesischen Regierung gegen die Entscheidung
der US-Regierung, auf der diesjährigen 60. UN-Menschenrechtskonferenz
einen auf China bezogenen Antrag einzubringen. Die Menschenrechte
der Bürger Chinas seien garantiert. Es gebe keine sogenannten
Rückschritte oder Verschlechterungen, wie dies von den
USA behauptet werde.
More qualified lawyers needed
2004-03-23 Xinhua News
China now has a total 102,000 certified lawyers for its population
of 1.3 billion, implying that for every 12,745 Chinese people
there is one lawyer. China needs more good lawyers, said Zhang
Fusen, minister of Justice, here Tuesday. The number of lawyers
does not meet the growing demand for legal service in China,
especially in the less-developed west China, he added. So far
there are still 206 counties without lawyers in China and 363
law firms have less than three lawyers each. "We are also
short of lawyers skilled and experienced in international businesses,"
Zhang said. The legal service on the Chinese mainland has been
opening wider after the country entered the World Trade Organization
(WTO)in late 2001 and the central government signed the Close
Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with Hong Kong and Macao
in 2003. The government has showed growing interest in developing
legal service by issuing a series of regulations on lawyers
and law firms. ( ) The ministry plans to set up an office on
supervision and punishment of lawyers and announce to the public
the punishment record of lawyers and law firms. Lawyer associations
should work more on self-discipline of lawyers, Zhang said,
adding the administration is to join hands with them in probing
illegal operations of lawyers. "
Three Gorges Dam Project sparks new relocation
2004-03-24 China Daily
China still has to move another 350,000 people out of the Three
Gorges area in the coming six years to make way for the world's
most gigantic hydroelectric project, migration officials said.
A total of 1.17 million people, among whom 820,000 have been
resettled, have to move out of their homes in the reservoir
areas in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and its neighboring
Hubei Province before the Three Gorges Dam project is completed
in 2009. The central government has allocated 4 billion yuan
(US$482 million) in a special compensation fund earmarked to
build new houses and enterprises and infrastructure facilities
for the migrants in 2004 as about 114,510 people have to be
resettled this year, mostly in Chongqing. To date, over 27 million
square metres of housing has been set up across the country
for the relocated people, according to the statistics of the
Committee for the Construction of the Three Gorges Project under
the State Council. Meanwhile, two cities, 11 county seats and
thousands of townships, along with 1,100 industrial and mining
enterprises, have been moved from the reservoir areas, said
Lu Chun, an official from the committee. ( )
China committed to peaceful use of nuclear energy: Jiang
2004-03-19 Xinhua News
China has always been committed to the peaceful utilization
of nuclear energy over the decades, said Jiang Zemin, chairman
of China's Central Military Commission, while visiting the eighth
China international nuclear industry exhibition here Friday.
China has made great progress in developing its nuclear industry,
which contributes a lot to the national defense and economy,
Jiang said. The exhibition, attracting over 20,000 visitors,
displays nuclear industrial achievements in Canada, France,
Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russia as well as China. After
over 50 years of effort, China has established an integrated
nuclear industry system. The Qinshan nuclear power plant has
safely operated for a thousand days, and China can produce all
the fuels used in nuclear power plants, official sources showed.
Earthquake in Inner Mongolia ruins 40% houses
2004-03-25 Xinhua News
Forty percent of residential houses in and around the epicenter
suffered damages but no reported casualties so far after an
earthquake measuring 5.9 degrees on the Richter scale hit the
central-eastern part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region early
Wednesday, said sources with local seismological authority.
Officials with the Inner Mongolia Seismological Bureau said
the earthquake jolted the area at 9:53 a.m. and 13 aftershocks
were reported as of 4:00 p.m. with the biggest one of 3.5 on
the Richter scale. ( )
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