On Chinese Media

IT Time Weekly

Issue No. 17， published on September 5， 2014

China Advances amid Doubts about Its Anti-Monopoly Action

The Chinese market regulator has launched anti-monopoly probes into giant companies in the technology， automobile， and auto components and parts sectors， signifying a step forward in the enforcement of the countrys six-year-old AntiMonopoly Law.

Anti-monopoly action is part of the market economy， and is necessary to regulate the market order. However， China had a late start in this regard， and is inexperienced compared to foreign countries. There is still a lack of transparency and power of implementation when dealing with big state-owned enterprises. So the outside world often suspects that Chinas anti-monopoly action is actually anti foreign companies. In fact， some Japanese auto parts enterprises have been under similar anti-monopoly investigations in the U.S. In September of 2013， a total of nine Japanese auto parts suppliers， including Hitachi and NSK， were fined US $745 million by the U.S. Department of Justice. In February this year， the Japanese auto and truck parts manufacturer Bridgestone was fined US $425 million for price manipulation， and also by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The anti-monopoly actions that China has taken recently are conducive to promoting the fairness and openness of the market， as well as protecting consumer rights. From the Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shen Danyangs point of view， Chinas anti-monopoly action is definitely not antiforeign companies. All enterprises， whether they are domestic or foreign-funded， are liable to sanctions if they contravene the law. Since the Anti-Monopoly Law took effect， companies on the anti-monopoly list have included foreign firms such as Samsung， LG， Microsoft， Qualcomn， Audi， BMW and Hitachi， Taiwanese companies such as Chimei and AUO， as well as companies from the Chinese mainland such as Kweichow Moutai and Wuliangye Group.

South Reviews

Issue No. 20， published on September 20， 2014

A Speed Test of Reforms

China （Shanghai） Pilot Free Trade Zone celebrated its first birthday on September 29. A flag bearer of Chinas new round of reforms， it is believed to exert influence on the countrys development in the coming decade and provide impetus to new reforms.

Openness of the financial industry has been a sticky issue for years. Many believe China survived the global financial crisis largely unscathed thanks to its unliberalized capital account. The country intends to open its financial sector at a measured pace and within a calculated scope. The Shanghai FTZ is， therefore， designed to tip the balance between international rules and domestic stability.

The past year has shown that it is difficult to satisfy the demands of all parties. Some foreign media have criticized the Shanghai FTZ for not making significant headway， while the Chinese government thinks the reform progress is fast enough， particularly that involving government functions.

How to handle the relations between the government and the market， and between development and openness are the questions that require definite answers. The solution lies in reforms of proper velocity and intensity that are based on a sober understanding of the situation on the ground here instead of external pressures.

Life Week

Issue No. 38， published on September 22， 2014

Robots in China

French historian Raymond Aron （1905-1983）， in describing the contemporary robot era， said： “The structure of artificial intelligence， which embeds intelligence from a human brain into a machine， is a significant moment in human history.”

China is striding into this era. Accurate statistics from the International Federation of Robotics cite that in 2013， the Chinese market had sold about 37，000 industrial robots in total. The sales， accounting for approximately 20 percent of the global market， exceeded that of Japan and elevated China to the biggest industrial robot market in the world.

With the growing cost of land and labor， Chinese manufacturing is facing double pressure from both developed and developing countries. On the one hand， Western developed countries are constraining Chinese manufacturing in technology and trade； on the other， developing countries like India， Vietnam and Mexico have become new sites of international industry due to advantages of low-cost labor. With the birth of industrial robotics， China aims to improve efficiency in manufacturing and product quality in order to reduce overall costs. Under such a background， the development and application of the Chinese robotics industry will enable the nations economic transition to be constantly upgraded.

Southern Metropolis Weekly

Issue No. 35， published on September 22， 2014

The Grand Canal， Cradle of Ancient Chinese Civilization

The Grand Canal gained World Heritage status on June 22， becoming Chinas 46th World Heritage site. The components of the Grand Canals application for World Heritage listing cover 27 cities in eight provinces and municipalities.

The Grand Canal has been integral to the ups and downs of the cities along it. Meanwhile， urban development has also shaped the canals fate. With a stake in each others success， the canal and the riverine cities have jointly nurtured Chinese civilization.

Chinese cities first appeared 5，000 years ago. Until the Qin Dynasty （221-207 BC）， prosperous cities were in the Central Plains and North China in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Owing to waterways， regions in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River developed later.

With rivers converging， cities and towns sprang up； as rivers diverted， cultural centers shifted. Construction and development of human habitats hinges on fertile soil and convenient transport brought about by tamed rivers， notwithstanding the storms， drought and flood that inevitably accompany them. Hence， when reviewing the four ancient civilizations， it can be said that only China has survived history， thanks to its competence in taming and harnessing rivers since the very beginning of its history.

Economy & Nation Weekly

Issue No. 19， published on September 15， 2014

Bets on New-Energy Vehicles

Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang indicated on September 7 at the 2014 International Forum（TEDA） on Chinese Automotive Industry Development that speeding up the development of new-energy vehicles would be key to the Chinese auto industrys transformation and upgrading.

In fact， in July Chinese authorities introduced four policies and measures in succession to support new-energy vehicles， aiming to promote the industrys development with price leverage.

“The supportive policies concerning electricity prices will step up the development of Chinas electric car market，” one insider told Economy& Nation Weekly. “However， these are all administrative measures， still subject to the constraints of Chinas Electricity Law. So， we still have to wait and see what effect the measures might have.”

“Multiple ministries and commissions have introduced policies to prop up the new-energy vehicle industry. However， conflicting and incongruous rules and measures in these policies have actually impeded the industrys development，” said Wang Binggang， director of the expert panel for 863 Programs major project supervision and consulting on energy conservation and new-energy vehicles. Wang indicated that as one of the first countries to have proposed the new energy strategy， China would possibly face the same quandary as its traditional auto industry – a large market but deficient in core technologies – if it fails to seize the opportunity.