Stories about Chinese from April, 2010
China: Swiss army knife, meet the PLA super shovel
It chops, saws, snips, rips through clay rock, helps you up cliffs and slices your potatoes: it's the People's Liberation Army multifunction shovel. Seen here in this limited speed viral video, order yours today by calling this number — FREE SHIPPING WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.
China: The un-natural death in the Chinese detention center
Damon from interlocals published a video on the issue of un-natural death in the Chinese detention center.
China: The 42th anniversary of Lin Zhao's death
Lin Zhao (林昭）, a Peking University student, was arrested in 1960 during the Anti-Rightist Campaign launched by Mao Zedong in 1957 and sentenced to death on 29 of April (today) in 1968, 42 years ago at the age of 35. She could have exchanged for her freedom and life by...
China: New Avatar theme song inspired by forced evictions
Avatar director James Cameron admits he found inspiration for the film in China, and Chinese viewers saw a common story from today's China being told in the film. Somewhere in between, mashup artists have now imagined a theme song for Avatar as one might have been sung in Chinese.
China: New real estate policy hits market
A new housing policy in China issued on April 17 is being called “the strictest in history.” The State Council has requested a steep increase in down payments on loans for second homes.
China: Tribute to the leader of 50 cent party
This afternoon (April 22) Wu Hao (伍皓), the deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Party Committee of Yunnan Province had a talk in People's University. Before Wu started his talk, a 25-year-old netizen approached him and greeted him with a pile of 50-cent notes. According to online news...
Taiwan: Smart phone supplier's exploitative practice
Young Fast Optoelectronics (YFO), one of the biggest manufacturers of smart phone touch panel in the world, was recently accused by its trade union (YFOTU) of its exploitative working conditions and violation of labour law. According to the trade union blog, being a major supplier of the world's famous cell...
China: Verdict announced in Fujian Three netizen trial
The three netizens in Fujian province arrested last summer for their role in seeking the truth behind the death of Yan Xiaoling were given sentences on Friday ranging from 1-2 years. One retired senior official sees the charges as part of a larger crackdown on social activism.
China: Premier Wen remembers Hu Yaobang
In an open letter published Thursday in the People’s Daily, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao recalled an enlightening journey with purged and disgraced former Premier Hu Yaobang. The letter commemorates the 21st anniversary of his death. The letter not only symbolizes affection and respect for Hu, but stands as a clear reminder...
China: Propaganda order Google calendar
Chinese journalists have over the past two years become more open about discussing news blackout orders received from propaganda departments. Those on Twitter have recently begun posting the contents of these orders to a shared Google calendar which can be found here.
China: Web mobilizes to help Yushu earthquake victims
Between local government attempts to keep news of the Yushu earthquake contained and China's top leaders calling for "all-out" assistance from the public, desire from offline and virtual civil society to contribute to rescue efforts any way they can has been loud and forward.
China: Strolling to save East Lake in Wuhan repressed
East Lake, located at Wuhan city, is a state listed ecological tourist scenic area. It occupies 82 square kilometers, 6 times larger than the Hanzhou West Lake. Being a national 4A tourist area, its planning should be subjected to environmental assessment and public participation accordingly. However, in May 2009, a...
China: Appeal for Hu Jia's release amid fears of liver cancer
Wife of imprisoned blogger and activist Hu Jia, Zeng Jinyan, has issued an appeal calling for Hu's release on medical grounds following reports that he might have developed a form of liver cancer. Artist Wu Wenjian speculates that with standard practice being to provide sick inmates with treatment (in addition...
China: The brief lives of Chinese buildings
At a construction and energy conservation conference that opened March 29 in Beijing, a Ministry of Housing and Construction official revealed that construction in China only has a 25–30 year lifespan.
Taiwan: The winner of the Masters de la Boulangerie 2010 is…
Winner of the Coupe Louis Lesaffre in 2007 and silver medalist at in 2008 the World Cup Baking, Pao-Chun Wu has won the championship at the Masters de la Boulangerie 2010.
Taiwan: WhereCamp Taipei
Schee of Hopendata project announces on the project blog(zh) that WhereCamp Taipei is to be held on April 10th in Taipei. This is a an unofficial follow-up event of Where 2.0 conference. Schee and the two other speakers will talk about recent popular Augmented Reality apps and Location-based services.
China: New calls for Hu Jia's release on medical grounds
Amid fears that imprisoned blogger and activist Hu Jia‘s medical condition might have worsened with the development of cancer, academics Ai Xiaoming and Cui Weiping have launched an Internet petition calling for Hu's release on humanitarian and medical grounds.
China: Most influential most-read blogger
Being the world's most widely-read blogger seems to have made Han Han a candidate for the 2010 Time 100 list, though a certain amount of selection bias probably isn't hurting given the other contenders from China this year. Han's blog service provider Sina.com ran his nomination as a top feature...
Taiwan: Debate over kitten-slayer case
A National Taiwan University graduate student, Lee Nien Lung, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in the end of March 2010 under the charge of animal cruelty. The sentence given to Lee Nien-lung by the Taipei District Court for abusing and killing three cats is the longest in Taiwan’s...
China: County citizens subject to moral appraisal
Defaulting on a loan, running a red light, having a second child, or receiving a serious warning from the Communist Party—just some of the behaviors that might give Suining County citizens a bad credit score, according to the first list of 812 names disclosed March 15 on a government Web...
The Big Issue Hits Taiwan
Taiwan is the 9th country that publishes The Big Issue. Li Chi Zhong, the founder of Roodo Blog, introduces this model to Taiwan with a hope to develop a new type of social business. One month before publishing the first issue, bigissue.tw started its Facebook fan page to recruit volunteers. So far it has 27,000 fans.
About our Chinese coverage
Oi wan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
