Perspectives Chinoises
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cefc perspectives chinoises Centre d’études français Press Meeting sur la Chine contemporaine 31/07/2009 POLITICS AND SOCIETY 1. After the Xinjiang riots Media coverage on Xinjiang after the riots is widely noted on mainland news and magazines. Most reports focused on the damages resulted from the riots, while being vague in examining the root causes. For a few pieces that attempt to look into the issues, they mostly turn to unemployment and other social and economic problems in Xinjiang and the infiltration of terrorism. China Newsweek made it the cover story for two consecutive issues (China Newsweek, Jul 13 & 20 Issue)1. It ran a number of articles that gave in-dept accounts of the riots and terrorism in the region, which media rarely talked about. Worth noting is a feature article on China Newsweek, which look at the confusion of Uighur youth with identity in the complex economic and political reality in Xinjiang and in a wider part of China. Through the story with a 16 year-old Uighur (who is a half-Han and half Uighur), it presents a picture how cultural, social and economic tensions stand between Han and Uighurs. Oriental Outlook’s article accused western media and overseas forces of politicizing an ordinary case to an incident of ethnic conflict (Oriental Outlook, Jul 16 Issue)2. The view has been widely presented in state media’s editorial and commentary. For instance, in response to the accusation of China’s ethnic policy, a university professor argued in an op ed article on Global Times that resource exploitation, poverty and the wealth gap are not exclusive in Xinjiang, but also in other parts of China. It is unfair to pinpoint Xinjiang as a sufferer and link them to ethnic issues. He added that, the problems lie on underdevelopment, not economic colonialism. (Global Times, Jul 16)3 This apparently echos the central government’s assertion on the irrelevance of ethnic policy to riots in Xinjiang. In an interview with Asia Week, a Uighur NGO worker and former Xinjiang official revealed that Xinjiang authorities ignored an alert given by a Uighur intellectual about the violence a day before the riot. While rejecting the influence of Rebiya Kadeer and the Uighurs’ desire of independence, he accused an illegal religious group in southern Xinjiang of being the real instigator of the riots. He disagreed that the problem in Xinjiang is one of ethnic separatism but economic problems that have contributed ethnic conflicts. But he said that ethnic tensions are deeply rooted in Xinjiang, especially 1 ‘流血的ᷴ氩木滸’, China Newsweek, Jul 13 Issue, pp. 21-37; ‘劫后ᷴ市’, China Newsweek, July 20 Issue, pp. 24-40. 2 ‘Ọ〠ᷴ氩木滸’, Oriental Outlook, July 16 Issue, pp. 10-13, 16-17. 3 ‘Xinjiang suffers from underdevelopment, not colonialism’, Global Times, July 16, 2009, http://opinion.globaltimes.cn/editor-picks/2009-07/447421.html (090716GlobalTimes.doc) with the policy of bilingual education and organising Uighurs to work in coastal cities. (Asia Week, Aug 2 Issue)4 A Ming Pao commentary said the Xinjiang riots have positive impacts to China’s foreign relations with the west, esp after Al Qaeda’s threat of retaliation. This has made China an ally of US and European countries in the fight of terrorism. But it also reminded China of being sober-minded as the supports of the West is based on their anxiety of extremist Islamic forces, but has nothing to do with their approval of China’s ethnic policy or human rights conditions. (Ming Pao, Jul 14)5 SCMP said that while Beijing is right to react to the al-Qaeda threat by focusing on the safety of Chinese citizens and increased co-operation with other countries to fight terrorism, it should not ignore the warning signal that its management of Muslim minorities is also an issue. It urged the government to rethink its approach in ethnic areas and reconcile its historical fear of disunity with the strengths to be found in cultural diversity. (SCMP, Jul 16)6 2. Universities cook up employment data of graduates It is reported that universities provide fake employment data of its new graduates to boost their stature. Some universities have reportedly been faking job contracts for graduates. Education officials insisted accuracy of employment figures provided by universities, and latest reports of faked employment rates are individual cases. According to unwritten rules at many universities, students cannot graduate if they do not find a job. Many unemployed students have to buy a fake job contract or employment agreement from small companies so that they can get their graduation certificates. A Peking University professor suggested the education authorities to stop the assessment of employment rates of universities before graduation and compile the statistics at least six months after. Universities are urged to put more efforts into helping unemployed graduates find jobs after graduation instead of cooking up employment rates. (China Daily, Jul 29)7 A commentary on Changjiang Daily said the fake employment figures unveiled the root problems of the higher education policy that links admission targets and resources allocation to graduate employment rates. The rate is an important performance indicator that decides development and even the fate of a higher institution. Education officials also lack motivation to check data accuracy, giving space for cheating at universities to compete for funds and resources. (Changjiang Daily, Jul 29)8 4 ‘專訪:維族NGO工作者、前新疆法制報總編室主任海萊特’, Asia Week, August 2, 2009 Issue, http://www.yzzk.com/cfm/Content_Archive.cfm?Channel=ag&Path=2311577102/30ag3a.cfm (090802AsiaWeek.doc) 5 ‘中国评论:新疆骚乱 外交更和谐, Ming Pao (via Chinesenewsnet.com), July 15, 2009, http://www.dwnews.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2009_7_14_18_26_21_977.html (090714MP.doc) 6 ‘Have the confidence to embrace ethnic diversity’, SCMP, July 16, 2009. (090716SCMP.doc) 7 ‘Colleges cook up employment data’, China Daily, July 29, 2009, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-07/29/content_8484011.htm (090729CD.doc) 8 ‘李䏤:被就᷂根源在高教体制缺陷李䏤:被就᷂根源在高教体制缺陷’, Changjiang Daily, July 29, 2009, 2 3. Residents believe rumors, not government On July 17, rumors of a radiation leak spread as people began hearing word that explosions occurred at an irradiation plant in the area. This caused chaos on the streets. Residents of Qi County fled homes for fear of radiation leak. Environmental bureau issued a statement to dismiss the rumors the next day. A local resident estimated that about a third of the county’s one million people fled, but the county government said only ‘a small portion of the people left’. The incident has sparked concerns on rumor spread, which has contributed to a number of mass incidents in recent months. It is pointed out that in China, many do not trust local officials and the government-controlled media because they downplay or in some cases boycott negative news fearing it will trigger social unrest. Yet, this makes people easily overreact to rumors. While some suggest harsh punishment on rumor mongers, a Peking University law professor said the standard and ways of punishment would have significant implications on how to balance of freedom of speech and public interests. It is not an easy task to define rumor; and forbidding rumors may bring even terrible results. The professor said media reports and investigation into the rumors would be more persuasive to clear public fears than official assurance given in press conference. Punishment of rumor mongers should be based on the consequences that the rumor has caused; and if the alleged rumor monger spread rumors in circumstances that he or she has no knowledge about the facts, he or she should not be punished. The professor made an important point that, since the current system does not seem to make one totally trust the information released by government and media, it would be inappropriate to get so strict on information dispersed in public channels. He worried that strict measures would eventually deprive public access to facts and information that might otherwise be intentionally withheld or overlooked. (Nanfang Du Shi Bao, Jul 24)9 A Xinhua commentary criticised incompetent local government officials blamed protests and riots on ‘people ignorant of the truth being manipulated by schemers’, which is a lame excuse for bad governance. It said, ‘blaming people for not having all the facts is no different from saying they are unable to distinguish right from wrong, and that is simply untrue.’ It pointed to government officials who did not do their part to provide ‘the facts’ to the people when the mass incident was still developing. It could have prevented the mass incidents from happening. The article gave an implicit warning that officials who let protests spin out of control will be punished. (Xinhua, July 29)10 http://news.sina.com.cn/pl/2009-07-29/083218320401.shtml (090729ChangjiangDaily.doc) 9 ‘张千帆:由杞人忧钴看谣传的自由与限度’, Nanfang Du Shi Bao, July 24, 2009, http://news.sina.com.cn/pl/2009-07-24/101218289819.shtml (090724NanfangDuShiBao.doc) 10 ‘新⋶㖞孬:群体性事件中少用不明真相’, Xinhua, July 29, 2009, http://news.sina.com.cn/pl/2009-07-29/073318319404.shtml (090729Xinhua.doc) 3 4. Call for asset disclosure of new cadres An article on Study Times said cadres and government officials who are not willing to disclose their assets should resign. It proposes, new (and young) cadres should take the initiation to disclose their assets, making it the first step to formalise an asset disclosure system. A commentator responded that public scrutiny would make government officials cleaner. It is pointed out that the disclosure should not be made public only at the time of taking office, but extended to official’s annual assets report, which is kept for internal check. (Oriental Morning Post, Jul 24)11 Procuratorate’s Daily criticised the proposal of the Study Times article of intentionally protecting senior cadres and government officials who are indeed far more exposed to corruption from asset disclosure to public.