China
Can China fund the US and European bailouts?
By John Chan, October 23, 2008
As American and European governments outlined bailouts of their failing banks to the tune of $US2.8 trillion, it is obvious that none of them have sufficient cash.
China’s land reform will deepen the gulf between rich and poor
By John Chan, October 17, 2008
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a far-reaching new round of market reform at its Central Committee plenum on October 9-12. The meeting established the framework for peasants to freely trade...
Corruption and shoddy construction behind school collapses in China earthquake
By Carol Divjak, October 16, 2008
Four months after the massive earthquake in Sichuan province on May 12, a Chinese government committee finally admitted last month that shoddy workmanship and substandard materials—the result of cor...
China’s first space walk signals new rivalry in outer space
By John Chan, October 13, 2008
China's third manned space flight, launched on September 25 and returning to earth on September 28, was its most ambitious. Some 40 years after the Soviet Union and the US, China has become only the t...
Fears in China about the impact of global economic crisis
By John Chan, October 9, 2008
Beijing is increasingly worried about the impact of the global financial storm and looming international recession on the Chinese economy. While joining other major economies to try to stabilise Ameri...
Asian stocks tumble after rejection of US bailout package
By John Chan, October 2, 2008
All major share markets across Asia tumbled badly on Tuesday after the US House of Representatives rejected the Bush administration's $US700 billion rescue package for Wall Street.
China’s milk crisis: another disaster unleashed by the capitalist market
Unregulated dairy industry
By John Chan, September 24, 2008
The contamination of Chinese milk products with the toxic industrial chemical melamine is rapidly becoming a major national and international scandal. Already, some 53,000 infants have become sick and...
Row over Internet
By John Chan, September 22, 2008
Relations between Vietnam and China deteriorated over the past fortnight after Hanoi formally protested at online discussions in China about a war with Vietnam. While only a small layer of Chinese nat...
The American “financial tsunami” hits Asia
Regional downturn
By John Chan, September 18, 2008
The American financial crisis has sent shockwaves throughout Asia over the past few days as governments, banks and corporations scramble to cope with plunging share prices, international financial tur...
Nuclear Supplier Group gives India unique “waiver,” but only after row between Delhi and Beijing
China’s opposition
By Kranti Kumara and Deepal Jayasekera, September 17, 2008
In the face of immense political pressure from the United States and a frantic Indian lobbying campaign, the 45-nation Nuclear Supplier Group agreed on September 6 to grant India a unique “waive...
Chinese economists warn of the “biggest adjustment” in 30 years
The domestic market
By John Chan, September 12, 2008
While last weekend’s bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae received plaudits from Wall Street, it was also warmly welcomed by the Chinese government. Most immediately, Beijing was concerned abou...
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation cautiously endorses Russia over Georgia
Strategic rivalries
By John Chan, September 3, 2008
Even before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annual summit began in Tajikistan on August 28, it was clear that the Russia-Georgian conflict was going to be high on the agenda. On the eve of...
