March 1, 2013

Editors from the EO's Chinese website publish a daily collection of extracts from commentary pieces on topical issues that appear in the mainland press alongside reactions on Sina Weibo. Every Friday, the EO's English team translates a selection of these opinion pieces.

Son of Famous Singer Li Shuangjiang Suspected of Rape
Background: On Feb 22, Li Tianyi, son of famous singer Li Shuangjiang, was detained by police in Haidian District of Beijing on suspicion of rape. Li’s mother, Meng Ge, hopes that people can forgive him since he’s still a minor.

Commentary:
Whether or not Li Shuangjiang’s son should be forgiven depends on every individual in society. No matter what, however, we should be more rational and pay more respect for law given that it’s a juvenile case. It’s in accordance with a society governed by law that public outrage should never be the reason for severe punishment or conviction.
Beijing News (新京报)
Original Article: [Chinese]

Just because Li comes from a prestigious background, we’ve lost any awareness of saving a juvenile delinquent. In our hatred of misbehaving “second generation officials,” we’ve lost our social responsibilities.
Global Times (环球时报)
Original Article: [Chinese]

Comments from Sina Weibo Users:
@信海光：The Law on the Protection of Minors clearly stipulates that the name, photos and videos of minors like Li Tianyi should not be exposed to the public. Last time I checked, apparently, the overwhelming majority of posts with that information broke the law. Why did our media fail on such a tiny little matter? In fact, justice can be done and we can also let out our rage and criticism without revealing these things.
Original Post: [Chinese]

Environmental Ministry Rejects Releasing Pollution Data
Background: Recently, Beijing lawyer Dong Zhengwei’s request for data about national soil pollution was rejected by the Environmental Ministry on the grounds that it’s a “state secret”.

Commentary:
The soil pollution situation is related to every citizen’s vital interests. The public has a right to know.
Beijing News （新京报） 
Original article: [Chinese]

If relevant information is kept secret, there will be more harm. For one, people living on the “poisoned land” will continue to be poisoned. It will also tacitly encourage officials and businessmen to use poisoned land without cleaning it up.
China Youth Daily (中国青年报)
Original article: [Chinese]

Our country’s soil belongs to all the people. The government is only the manager of the soil. Requiring the manager to disclose the pollution situation is the public’s right as the owner. 
Yanzhao Metropolis Daily (燕赵都市报), a daily paper published by the Hebei Daily 
Original article: [Chinese]

Housing Funds to be Invested in the Stock Market
Background: An official from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) recently revealed that preparation work for national housing funds to be invested in the Chinese stock market have been launched. The official also said that based on international experiences, investing pension funds in capital markets is an irresistible trend.

Commentary:
Investing housing funds in the stock market doesn’t automatically mean maintaining or increasing the value of these assets. Investing in the stock market not only means wealth, but also risk.
Beijing Times (京华时报)
Original article: [Chinese]

Employees who pay housing funds should have the right to choose whether their own housing funds are invested in the stock market or not. Those who decide to invest in the stock market will need to bear the risk, and of course, the possible benefits. Those deciding not to invest in the stock market should get interest in addition to the principal when withdrawing housing funds in the end.
Beijing News (新京报)
Original article: [Chinese]

Our housing funds, of course, should be for us to decide ourselves. This hunk of meat, no matter how big it is, shouldn’t belong to the stock market. CSRC wants to revitalize the stock market, but please, don’t just think of the lack of funds. 
China Business View (华商报), a popular daily newspaper published in Xi'an.
Original article: [Chinese]

New Five Measures on Real Estate Industry Regulation
Background: On Feb 20, a State Council executive meeting decided five new measures on housing regulation. They include improving the responsibility system of housing work, curbing the purchase of housing for speculation and investment, increasing the supply of ordinary commercial housing and land supply, speeding up the construction and planning of affordable housing projects and strengthening market supervision.

Commentary:
Imposing property tax is not the essence of the “five national measures.” The essence was explained very clearly in the measures themselves saying, “Supporting independent demand and curbing housing purchases for speculation and investment is a basic policy which must be followed in real estate market regulation.” In other words, the fundamental principle of real estate macro control and regulation is to change the nature of the current housing market.
Economic Observer Online (经济观察网)
Original article: [Chinese]

The five measures basically just restate the policies used in the past three years, emphasize that they must be strictly implemented and that the important task of implementation has been handed to local governments. This is no different than asking a tiger for its skin. The biggest vested interests will not strictly implement measures to tamp down housing prices.
China Business News (第一财经日报)
Original article: [Chinese]