News » Society » China's sex ratio at birth declines 4 years in a row

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• China's sex ratio at birth declines 4 years in a row
• China's sex ratio at birth declines 4 years in a row
• China unveils ambitious transport, energy plans
• VIDEO: China village clash over land grab
• China's parliament convenes as new leadership expected
• Stolen car found, baby still missing
• China defense budget to grow 10.7% in 2013
• Apple’s the best damn thing that’s ever happened to Chinese workers
• China's ocean policy one of peaceful development
• Call to relax adoption criteria
• New rules to ensure safe formula for infants
• Animal flu lab gets UN links
• SUV, baby left inside it vanish as parents work
• Gas blast injures over 20
• Bird flu `epidemic' sparks chicken cull
• Grave robbers sold corpses as `ghost brides'
• Four people have been jailed in China for digging up corpses to sell as brides for traditional "ghost marriages" - where dead single men are buried with a wife for the afterlife - local reports said.
• PLA budget request refused
• Wen Jiabao opens China parliament
• Have You Heard…

China's sex ratio at birth declines 4 years in a row Posted: 04 Mar 2013 07:38 PM PST CHINA registered a sex ratio at birth of 117.7 boys for every 100 girls in 2012, marking the fourth year of decline, the People's Daily reported today, citing figures from the National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC). A normal ratio should stand at 103 to 107 boys for every 100 girls, considering the discrepancy in mortality rates between the two genders. The decline is a reflection of China's successful efforts to curb an imbalance in the ratio, which reached a record high of 121.2 boys for every 100 girls in 2004, the NPFPC said, adding that the imbalance remains problematic. The figures for the previous three years were 119.45 in 2009, 117.94 in 2010 and 117.78 in 2011. Boys are traditionally preferred over girls in China. The sex ratio at birth has hovered at a high level since fetal ultrasound exams became common in China in the 1980s. The one-child policy has further complicated the issue.

China's sex ratio at birth declines 4 years in a row Posted: 04 Mar 2013 07:38 PM PST CHINA registered a sex ratio at birth of 117.7 boys for every 100 girls in 2012, marking the fourth year of decline, the People's Daily reported today, citing figures from the National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC). A normal ratio should stand at 103 to 107 boys for every 100 girls, considering the discrepancy in mortality rates between the two genders. The decline is a reflection of China's successful efforts to curb an imbalance in the ratio, which reached a record high of 121.2 boys for every 100 girls in 2004, the NPFPC said, adding that the imbalance remains problematic. The figures for the previous three years were 119.45 in 2009, 117.94 in 2010 and 117.78 in 2011. Boys are traditionally preferred over girls in China. The sex ratio at birth has hovered at a high level since fetal ultrasound exams became common in China in the 1980s. The one-child policy has further complicated the issue.

China unveils ambitious transport, energy plans Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:47 PM PST THE Chinese government on Tuesday announced ambitious plans to develop projects in transport and energy sectors as part of efforts to accelerate the country's industrial transformation and upgrading. With those proposed projects, the government will expedite development of a comprehensive transport system, according to a report submitted by the National Development and Reform Commission to the first session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature. The proposed transport projects in 2013 include putting into operation more than 5,200 km of new railway lines, building an additional 80,000 km of highways, and putting into service 100 seaport berths for 10,000-tonne class or larger ships, as well as 10 new civilian airports. In the meantime, the government will actively develop clean energy and increase installed power-generating capacity of hydropower by 21 million kilowatts, nuclear power by 3.24 million kilowatts, wind power by 18 million kilowatts, and photovoltaic power by 10 million kilowatts.

VIDEO: China village clash over land grab Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:59 PM PST Residents in a south China village clash with authorities and demand democratic polls amid claims local officials and businessmen are stealing their land.

China's parliament convenes as new leadership expected Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:13 PM PST THE 12th National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliamentary body, opened its first annual session Tuesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. NPC deputies will elect new president and vice president, decide on a new premier, vice premiers and cabinet, as well as approve a government institutional reform plan. Nearly 3,000 NPC deputies from across the country attended the opening meeting along with top Party and state leaders Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli. Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a government work report at the opening meeting, chaired by Zhang Dejiang, executive chairperson of the session's presidium. It was the last time that Wen delivered the government work report as the premier. "Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary, let us unite as one and work hard to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," said Wen's report. The report set the country's economic growth target of this year at 7.5 percent and promised to curb the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase at around 3.5 percent. It also vowed to create more than 9 million new urban jobs and keep the registered urban unemployment at or below 4.6 percent. The government will work to ensure that the per capita income of residents increases in step with economic growth, according to the report which was distributed to media ahead of the meeting. The year 2013 is the first year for fully carrying out the guiding principles of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, a crucial year for continuing to implement the 12th Five-Year Plan and an important year for laying a solid foundation for finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, said Wen's report. "China remains in an important period of strategic opportunities during which much can be accomplished," it said. There are many favorable conditions and positive factors as well as a number of risks and challenges for China's economic and social development, the report said. The profound impact of the global financial crisis persists, and the recovery of the world economy is full of uncertainty and not yet on a stable footing, it said. The report warned of a number of difficulties and problems China have been facing, such as unbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable development as well as increasing conflict between the economic growth and environment. China sees a growing conflict between downward pressure on economic growth and excess production capacity, said the report. "The development gap between urban and rural areas and between regions is large, and so are income disparities between individuals," it said. The government has not fully carried out the transformation of its functions and some areas are prone to corruption.

Stolen car found, baby still missing Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:06 PM PST A stolen car carrying a two months old infant has been found on Tuesday morning, but the baby was not in the car, local police said. A gray Toyota RAV4 SUV of a resident, surnamed Xu, was stolen at around 7 a.m. on Monday in Changchun City, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province. Xu parked the vehicle in front of a supermarket run by him and entered the store to heat up the stove, leaving his two-month-old baby in the back seat without shutting off the car's engine. Xu came out from the supermarket only finding his car was stolen and the baby went missing. He called the police immediately. Thousands of police have been dispatched to launch a city-wide hunt to find the car and the baby. More than 1,000 vehicles from a local vehicle club and dozens of taxi drivers and private car owners also volunteered to help search the missing car and the baby around the city and nearby areas, even villages. The stolen car has been found in Yongfa Township, Gongzhuling City of Siping District at about 8 a.m. Tuesday, but the baby is still missing, local police said. Local police is still searching the baby and investigating the case.

China defense budget to grow 10.7% in 2013 Posted: 04 Mar 2013 05:46 PM PST CHINA plans to raise its defense budget by 10.7 percent to 720.2 billion yuan (US$114.3 billion) in 2013, according to a budget report to be reviewed by the national legislature. The military spending will be used to improve living and working conditions of service people, make the armed forces more mechanized and information-based, and safeguard national security, the report on draft central and local budgets for 2013 says today. China spent 650.6 billion yuan on national defense in 2012, an increase of 11.6 percent than the previous year, says the report to be reviewed at the first session of the 12th National People's Congress.

Apple’s the best damn thing that’s ever happened to Chinese workers Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:23 PM PST YES, we all know the complaints. That those Chinese workers assembling the Apple products are paid a pittance, it's all a shame and the company are capitalist bastards for exploiting the poor so. Or we could look at the actual facts and decide that Apple's the best thing that's ever happened to the denizens of the perfumed east. For it is exactly that Apple and other companies expanding their operations there that is pushing up wages. Which is, I hope we'd all agree, what we'd actually like to happen? That the poor get rich? Wages in Sichuan and Henan have surged 120 percent in six years because of economic growth, increasing local competition for labor and slower population-growth nationwide. That's 120% in only 6 years! And in hte coastal provinces, where this all started, they've gone up by about 5 times (yes, 500%!) just since the year 2000. And yes, of course, those numbers are after inflation. It really is true that this is the greatest and fastest rise in wages enywhere ever. And it's all driven by more companies coming in looking to hire more workers to make more products. Far from Apple and the others exploiting this labour it's making it rich. Best damn thing that's ever happened to the place.

China's ocean policy one of peaceful development Posted: 04 Mar 2013 09:48 AM PST A CHINESE spokeswoman yesterday blamed Japan for causing the current tensions in bilateral relations by breaking the consensus on the Diaoyu Islands issue. Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the first session of the 12th National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, said China is willing to resolve disputes through negotiations. However, "one hand alone can't clap," Fu said, quoting a Chinese proverb to indicate that Japan has failed to engage in negotiations. She said the Japanese government's move to "purchase" part of the islands went against the consensus reached by the two countries, which in turn shook China's basis for maintaining restraint. "That's the reason why China sent patrol vessels to the Diaoyu Islands area," said Fu. "If the other party chooses to take tougher measures and abandon consensus, 'it is impolite not to reciprocate,' as another Chinese proverb says," she said. Fu said it was necessary for China to strengthen its oceanic strategy to further open up and integrate into the international community. She emphasized that China's oceanic policy was one of peaceful development and cooperation. Fu said some Western countries and Japan had acted in an aggressive way in questioning China's words and actions. China used to be very weak and is a new player in the game, and that's why the old powers paid so much attention to a newcomer gradually getting close to the center of the world stage, she said. "All the world wishes to know more about us, more about our future role, whether we'll get along well with them or not." "In fact, many Chinese people hope that China should act in a more agressive way, especially when facing provocation," she said. Fu defended China's military spending, saying investments in the armed forces contributed to global peace and stability. This year's defense budget will be in the overall budget to be released today. Approving the budget is among the key tasks of the NPC session, which this year will see new leaders elected into top government positions. Fu said China maintained a strictly defensive military posture and cited UN peacekeeping missions and anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden as examples of China's contribution to world peace and stability. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Call to relax adoption criteria Posted: 04 Mar 2013 09:47 AM PST CHINA should make adoption easier amid the increasing number of families who want to adopt as well as the problem of abductions and child trafficking, a national lawmaker said yesterday. China has more than a million families who want to adopt, but strict legal criteria dissuades many of them, Jia Weiping, director of the Shanghai Diabetes Institute and Shanghai No. 6 People's Hospital, said. The law stipulates that adopters must have no children and be above 30 years old. Each family can adopt only one child and the children also have to be younger than 14 years old. Jia said the age of adopters could be younger so that young couples who can't have children can adopt earlier, while the age limit on children could also be raised. The increasing number of families who want to adopt include infertile couples and families who have lost their only child, according to Jia. However, the number of adoption has been decreasing, she said. A total of 31,000 families were registered to adopt children in 2011, 9 percent fewer than in 2009. Meanwhile, the number of orphans in China was more than 700,000. "Lower standards on adoption can allow more orphans to be adopted and protected from being abducted and forced to beg on streets," Jia said.

New rules to ensure safe formula for infants Posted: 04 Mar 2013 09:46 AM PST CHINA is working on new regulations to ensure the safety of infant formula, with stricter supervision of the entire chain from production to circulation, an industry official said yesterday. Zhou Bohua, director of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, told Xinhua news agency that the stricter measures would counter improper practices by breeders, milk powder producers and salespeople, ensuring people's access to safe milk powder products. He admitted that a lack of administration and supervision in the dairy industry was to blame for past food safety scandals, Xinhua reported. In the 2008 baby formula scandal, six babies died and about 3,000 were sickened after consuming melamine-tainted milk powder products. The topic of infant formula hit the headlines again recently when Hong Kong imposed a limit on the amount of baby formula people could take through customs. It was also a much discussed topic among members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference yesterday. Macau limits Exceeding the limit of milk powder for infants under the age of three years - two cans, or 1.8 kilograms - could result in fines of up to HK$500,000 (US$64,500) and even jail terms of up to two years. On Sunday, it was reported that 45 people had been detained in Hong Kong for trying to take a total of 178 cans of baby formula and 1.2 kilograms of loose milk powder through customs. The detainees were 26 Hong Kong residents and 19 people from the mainland. Political advisers from Macau told reporters yesterday that the special administrative region might impose its own limits on milk powder if there was a shortage of baby formula in the city. They said residents have expressed worries that people might now travel to Macau for formula instead of Hong Kong. An official told a press conference in Beijing that 99 percent of formula produced on the mainland was safe.

Animal flu lab gets UN links Posted: 04 Mar 2013 08:00 AM PST THE Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations yesterday designated an animal influenza lab in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province as a reference center for animal influenza. The Animal Influenza Laboratory, affiliated to the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, is in the provincial capital of Harbin. The center is the first FAO-recognized reference center in China and the second in the world after the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, which is operated by the Friedrich Loeffer Institute of Germany. The institute will share information and jointly carry out animal influenza vigilance, prevention and control programs with the FAO. It also will provide data on epidemiology and influenza virus evolution in Asia and offer consultation on vaccines and immunity, Dr Juan Luborth, chief veterinary officer of the FAO, said at a designation ceremony held yesterday. "The world still faces new risks for avian influenza, as the H5N1 bird flu virus still plagues many Asian and Middle Eastern countries. If we fail to take action, the virus could cause a global pandemic worse than that seen in 2006," he said. According to statistics released by the FAO, more than 400 million poultry died or were slaughtered after contracting avian influenza from 2003 to 2011, causing economic losses of US$20 billion. More than 500 people contracted the H5N1 virus from 2003 to 2011 and 300 of them were killed by the virus.

SUV, baby left inside it vanish as parents work Posted: 04 Mar 2013 08:00 AM PST A DESPERATE mother called for the return of her infant son after he was abducted yesterday in Jilin Province along with a sport utility vehicle that was left unlocked and alone for a few minutes as the infant slept inside. Tens of thousands of people in the northeastern province responded by spreading the news of the missing two-month old as they learned of the case. Thousands of police joined the hunt and taxi drivers kept their eyes peeled. The theft of the Toyota RAV4 occurred at about 7:20am when Xu Haobo was left alone while his parents went into their roadside grocery store in the provincial capital Changchun, local media reported. Neither the husband nor wife grabbed the vehicle's key as they stepped into their little store to serve customers, leaving the boy there because they didn't want to disturb his sleep, she said. The young mother sobbed during an interview with Jilin Traffic Radio. "Please give back my child! I want nothing but my child! I won't press charges against you! I kneel down to you," she cried. 3,500 police in search The woman said they never expected their newly purchased SUV, together with their son, would disappear about a dozen minutes after they stepped away, she said. A province-wide hunt for the boy was launched and police said yesterday they had some clues that might help them locate the suspect. More than 3,500 traffic officers and armed police in Changchun were mobilized to check major roads, highway exits and gas stations. The father said the car should run out of gas soon. Every Toyota RAV4 on the highway in the province was being stopped for inspection, Jilin Traffic Radio reported. Several local radio channels suspended regular programing to follow the case. Jilin Traffic Radio offered a reward of up to 50,000 yuan (US$8,026) for information leading to the boy's recovery. The silver colored SUV is a little dirty, with tiny scrapes on the left rear. The car plate number is prefixed with Ji, the abbreviation for Jilin, followed by AMM102, and the vehicle code is 0063337, police said. The anxious parents also posted their son's picture and detailed information. The boy wore a yellow sweater and white cotton-padded jacket, and was wrapped in a pink blanket. He has a birthmark on his left shoulder. Suspect may be addict A local police officer surnamed Wang told the radio audience the suspect might be an addict who needed money for drugs because of the impulsive and abnormal crime. Young parents are sometimes said to be lacking in concern for their children amidst society's fast pace and job pressures. On February 11, a couple who were busy making phone calls and tidying luggage mistakenly took the wrong baby basket, with a different infant inside, at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport. Thanks to immigration officials, who carefully checked the baby's ID, the parents reclaimed their own child. On January 30, a pair of Shanghai parents left their five-month-old baby in a car and forgot to take the key. The baby pressed the door lock and shut himself inside. Firefighters arrived and smashed a window to rescue the baby.

Gas blast injures over 20 Posted: 04 Mar 2013 08:00 AM PST A GAS explosion in an underground shopping street left more than 20 workers injured in northeast China's Liaoning Province yesterday. The explosion at about 9am was triggered by a gas leak from underground pipelines at a construction site in the underground shopping street in front of a shopping mall in the provincial capital Shenyang, city officials said. Some 40 workers were present at the scene at the time the explosion occurred. More than 20 workers, including some seriously injured, have been admitted to two hospitals for emergency treatment, injured workers and their relatives said. Staff of the shopping mall said they heard "three huge bangs," felt "strong ground shaking" and saw many workers run out of the tunnel with blood stains on their clothes.

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Wen Jiabao opens China parliament Posted: 04 Mar 2013 08:38 PM PST Premier Wen Jiabao issues pledges on growth, corruption and "well-being" as he opens China's annual parliament, the final stage of the leadership change.

Have You Heard… Posted: 04 Mar 2013 08:25 AM PST Have You Heard…

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