Scarpetta: Hidden Homey Italian Cuisine

Scarpetta: Hidden Homey Italian Cuisine
Watch: A peek inside Shanghai's Lubolang Restaurant
Women sexually harassed and stripped of clothes by crowds in Water Splashing Festival
‘Gangnam Style’: PSY–Not Hot In China. Huh?
Bikini-Clad Protesters In Shenzhen Urge “Civilized Patriotism, Rational Japanese Resistance”
Speeding Cop Runs Into Seven People, May Have Been Drunk
Pic of the day: Sculpture of erotic/filial pigs in Zhengzhou’s CBD
Valentine’s Day Heartbreak: Boy Publicly Proposes To Girl, Gets Kicked For It
The eighth annual Kunshan International Beer Festival (and other food news)
How To Handle Chinese Negotiating Tactics
China's power monopoly dilemma
Mengniu Dairy Scandal: manager caught altering production dates
Video: Romance, Chinese style
Shanghai Weekender: Wo Ai Shanghai
Meme Thursday: Welcome To Fengtai District!!! 8-}
Taobao Now: S-Y-M's Chic and Quirky Threads
Was Liu Xiang’s Olympic flop all a set-up?
Hunan supermodel Liu Wen now the face of China
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WIN Two Evian Golf Baby Tees

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 07:46 PM PDT

Date: Aug 24th 2012 10:28a.m.
Contributed by: electronicdrew

Every week, City Weekend reviews Shanghai's newest restaurants. Today we take a look at the Italian Scarpetta.

Watch: A peek inside Shanghai's Lubolang Restaurant

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 08:10 PM PDT

CNN takes us on a tour of the venerated Lubolang restaurant, an establishment famous for serving the likes of Bill Clinton, Fidel Castro, and Deng Xiaoping, and a personal favorite of ours. [ more › ]

Women sexually harassed and stripped of clothes by crowds in Water Splashing Festival

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 01:23 PM PDT

From NetEase

The Water Splashing Festival of some of China's ethnic minorities is meant to be a Carnival-like celebration where everyone gets splashed, sprayed or soaked with water, but the one held in a county traditionally inhabited by Miao people in Hainan province on August 23 ended abruptly on an ugly note: not long after the start of the festival was announced at 8:30 a.m., a dozen women were pinned down by a crowd of males, who mauled the women's breasts and stripped off clothes of a few in broad daylight.

Finally the local police intervened and escorted the female victims away, although the wicked smile on one officer's face is pretty self-explanatory.

The Water Splashing Festival of some of China's ethnic minorities is meant to be a Carnival-like celebration where everyone gets splashed, sprayed or soaked with water

A dozen women were pinned down by a crowd of males, who mauled the women's breasts and stripped off clothes of a few in broad daylight.

Top comments on NetEase

清风泛舟 [网易广东省佛山市网友]：2012-08-23 14:37:49 发表
Hainan Water Splashing Festival, why not just call it Boys Taking Liberties Festival? People's quality of character is really leaving the rest of the world behind.

长城先生 [网易浙江省台州市网友]：2012-08-23 14:53:24 发表
Even though they have taken advantage, they've lost their human qualities. So these people should be called 'Animals.'

龙德云 [网易广东省汕头市网友]：2012-08-23 14:36:25 发表
A bunch of animals. Those who laid their hands, wish your wives and daughters would be molested in the future as well!

网易湖南省衡阳市网友 [我志在必得] 的原贴：1
Those who fish in muddied waters (who profit by taking advantage of disturbances) will always live at the bottom hierarchy.

网易北京市网友 ip：114.244.*.*2012-08-23 17:08:19 发表
This I agree.

toumingju风飘过 [网易河北省石家庄市网友]：2012-08-23 19:18:48 发表
I am once again shocked by news like this. First of all, should we really reflect upon the issue of our countrymen's (low) quality of character? Should those institutions, which only go after economic interests and ignore real education introspect over the happening of such things? Second, look at the facial expression of these spectators. It reminded me of scenes of little Japanese invaders burning, killing and pillaging in China in those movies. I guess the man who held his girlfriend in his arms should have had the same thought. Third, I myself really denounce the organizers in Hainan of such an event. Stop ignoring issues like safety for the blind pursuit of the so-called tourism industry. Last but not least, I want to remind those who have been to or are planning to go to Hainan on vacation: My friend, think twice about that.

人生入戏2 [网易广东省深圳市网友]：2012-08-23 14:37:58 发表
You have to be psychologically prepared for this if you want to have fun with it. Just look at those girls abroad. They all strip themselves naked and let others tough.

网易安徽省芜湖市手机网友 ip：117.65.*.*2012-08-24 04:20:41 发表
Look at the hairstyles of all those people. They are all rural migrants!

网易美国手机网友 ip：174.96.*.*2012-08-24 04:10:25 发表
In an era when men far outnumber women, when a girl with even a tiny little beauty would rather be the mistress, when poor people are not allowed to find a hooker, or download porn for masturbation, the consequence is, women, a rarity, are sexually taken advantage of by the glut of men. If there are more men than women, like in the All-Female Kingdom in Journey to the West (Chinese classic novel), it will be men who are molested.

网易广东省深圳市手机网友 ip：113.104.*.*2012-08-24 03:52:53 发表
Everyone, look at the fourth picture. The policeman on the left has a ghastly lewd smile while looking at the victim.

‘Gangnam Style’: PSY–Not Hot In China. Huh?

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 06:53 PM PDT

In July, my Korean wife, Sojeong, summoned me to watch a newly released music video. My wife is a K-Pop fan, especially Big Bang, and I'm, well, less eclectic in my Korean pop music tastes.

I answered her call, expecting to see G-Dragon once again on her computer screen (all right, I admit that 'Fantastic Baby' is terffic, but 'Monster'?, what a waste). Instead, I watched a video that at the conclusion I pronounced, 'That's the greatest music video ever made.'

Turns out my judgment was better than usual. Since I first watched the video in July, it's had over 50 million views on YouTube worldwide to date.

The video was 'Gangnam Style,' by PSY. And, ever since I first saw it, I have been wracking my brain trying to find some China connection, however tenuous, so that I could legitimately bring this masterpiece to those benighted CHINA Debate readers who somehow missed it. Now, I have found the connection, sort of. Here it is.

While 'Gangnam Style' has become an international hit, it's found little enthusiasm in China. As Weibo microblogger, Ryoko Rabbit, put it: 'Today, a friend told that there is an "uncle" song that has swept the world (except for China), and even went to the top of US Billboard chart! Powerful "Uncle" PSY.' [emphasis mine]

So, in the interest of better understanding contemporary Chinese culture, I ask that you now watch 'Gangnam Style,' and muse about this: what's not to like?

Now that you seen 'Gangnam Style' you are ready to meditate on the importance of regional stability to China by watching the parody, 'Pyongyang Style,' starring Kim Jong-Il, below.

Could it be time for Mr. PSY and Mr. Dear Leader to join in a world tour?

Bikini-Clad Protesters In Shenzhen Urge “Civilized Patriotism, Rational Japanese Resistance”

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 06:30 PM PDT

Four protesters in Shenzhen on Tuesday afternoon came up with a creative way of voicing discontent over the Japanese claims on the Diaoyu islands. With bayonets between their thighs — and three of them in swimwear — they chanted things like, "Civilized patriotism, rational Japanese resistance." I think what they mean is: don't do this. Youku video for those in China after the jump.

Speeding Cop Runs Into Seven People, May Have Been Drunk

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT

A cop in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is taking heat for hitting seven people with his car, including a child. Oh, and he was speeding. Oh, and he may have been drinking. And he may have been on an invalid license. Um, and he allegedly fled the scene. Possibly he was a zombie, too.

I made that last one up. But speculation abounds, as it usually does in these cases when the people whose duty is to serve and protect citizens wind up hurting them instead. This happened on Tuesday at about 5 pm. A witness says, according to Huasheng Online, that the two people in the police car, after the accident, roved around and made calls on their phones instead of helping the injured. Eventually, they waved down cabs and sent some of the wounded to the hospital.

Luckily, no one died, though two were injured badly enough that they'll need a month for recovery. (The pictures after the jump show how much worse this accident could have been.) One of the victims interviewed from the hospital rants about the car's speed and driver's general recklessness. Did we mention he was possibly drunk and on an invalid license?

The news team at Guangdong Satellite TV requested the closed-circuit surveillance camera footage, but unfortunately that's not something one can simply put in a FOIA request for. The footage exists though — we'll post it when it's made public. Youku video for those in China after the jump. UPDATE, 11:32 am: Someone mentioned vertigo in the comments, which reminded us of this from June: a driver killed five cyclists when he lost control of his car.

Images from above link:

Pic of the day: Sculpture of erotic/filial pigs in Zhengzhou’s CBD

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 01:38 PM PDT

FAIL? Residents in Zhengzhou think the sculpture on the city's landmark square, featuring a busty female pig lying on the ground and a male pig kneeling behind her, is "too raunchy", whereas the sculptor says it is only a filial piglet giving his mother a slow-stroke back massage.

Valentine’s Day Heartbreak: Boy Publicly Proposes To Girl, Gets Kicked For It

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 10:15 AM PDT

On Wednesday morning, Chinese Valentine's Day eve, a young man in a Xidan mall got on his knees to propose to his love and serenade her with a song. She was having none of it. Repaying his public display of affection, she kicked him.

Ladies, help me decipher: that's just an expression of embarrassment, and the boy was right to interpret it as an act of endearment… right?

Here's a transcript of their conversation (translation errors mine):

Boy, on his knees: "Take me."

Girl: "What are you doing? Ai, get up. I'm telling you, get up now."

They walk a little before the boy gets back on his knees.

Girl: "What are you doing now?"

Boy, singing: "From the first time I saw you…"

Girl: "Ai! Get up!"

Boy: "…your reflection walked into my heart."

The girl kicks him, demanding, "Are you done yet?"

Love is never done, girl.

Boy, still singing: "Every minute, every second, I'm always loving you."

Girl: "I find this very lame, you know. You still have any face?"

Boy, singing: "Believe in love, there will be miracles."

After a one-second pause, the girl kicks him again on the side. She is very angry.

Girl: "Damnit… get away from me!"

Boy: "I love you, love you…"

And then he follows her, saying, "Heart's set on you," reaching out his bouquet for which he probably overpaid. One imagines, while completing the transaction, his heart swelled with the possiblity that she would say yes, and perhaps he grew dizzy and uncomfortable with thoughts of all that he had yet to plan in the remainder of his long life, a life which he would gladly forfeit — has already forfeited, he is well aware — at the feet of the girl of his dreams.

The two disappear out of the camera's prying eye. A sweet tune stops playing. The seas rock and break on cold gray stones. And somewhere, a whiff of almonds.

The eighth annual Kunshan International Beer Festival (and other food news)

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 05:00 AM PDT

We're a bit late on this (okay, way late on this), but if you didn't already know, the eighth annual Kunshan beer festival kicked off last week! This 11-day event at Citizen Cultural Square in Kunshan (only a 30 min train ride from Shanghai, 40 min by car) is offering 200 beers from eight different countries, as well as live music, snacks, and a beer-drinking contest to reduce the most dignified family man into a hops-slopping, fist-pumping, suds-simian. [ more › ]

How To Handle Chinese Negotiating Tactics

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 03:38 AM PDT

By: Steve Dickinson

We have been drafting an increasing number of contracts for foreign companies licensing their concept or technology for use in China. In the old days, this type of licensing was primarily in the industrial sector. These days, most of our work has been on licensing agreements in the services sector in China. Much of this licensing is for operations in China that are prohibited from direct participation by foreign companies, such as in publishing, media, telecom, insurance and finance. Most of these foreign companies are choosing to license, rather than to participate in a China Joint Venture. This post describes the negotiating tactics I so often see from the Chinese side and sets forth how foreign companies can counter those tactics.

The Chinese government is internally conflicted on how to treat this new form of licensing. In industrial sector licensing, the Chinese government is eager for the technology transfer to occur. The same is not true in the service sector. On the one hand, the Chinese government formally welcomes the transfer of Western expertise in the service sector. On the other hand, the Chinese government fears that U.S. participation in China's service sector will result in unacceptable control of the Chinese system. As always, the Chinese government is uncomfortable with the introduction of Western intellectual concepts into China.

This ambivalence is mirrored by many of the potential licensees that we deal with in the service sector. Industrial licensees bargain hard, but the bargaining is similar to any commercial negotiation. In the service sector, we are finding that the Chinese side works to strike a much harder deal. This often surprises our clients, since they expect the service side to be softer than the industrial.

As part of this process, in service sector licensing contracts we are starting to see the Chinese side dust off negotiating tactics that were common in the 80′s and 90′s when the Chinese were negotiating their famously dysfunctional joint venture agreements. In negotiating service sector licensing agreements with Chinese companies, we are seeing the following tactics from the Chinese side:

The most common tactic is for the Chinese company to seek to wear the foreign side down with endless issues. This tactic actually has two variants. In the first variant, the Chinese side raises a series of issues. As these issues are resolved, the Chinese side then raises a series of unrelated new issues. The list of issues is endless and the process never stops. The second variant is for the Chinese side to make a several unreasonable demands and then refuse to address the concerns of the foreign company on the other side. As in the first variant, the discussions proceed with no attempt at all by the Chinese side even to pretend to address the concerns of the other side. All of this is designed to simply wear down the foreign side in the hopes that the other side will simply concede. When the other side concedes, the Chinese side then inserts provisions in the agreement that are beneficial to the Chinese side, under the assumption that the foreign side is simply too tired to object. The success of this strategy rests on the negotiators on the foreign side being busy people with a lot to do, while the negotiators on the Chinese side are functionaries who have no other job but to involve themselves in the endless negotiation.

My favorite tactic is the artificial deadline. It is my favorite because it is such an obvious manipulation of the foreign side and yet it seems to work extremely well. The tactic works like this. At the very beginning of the negotiating process, the Chinese side sets a fixed date for executing the contract. It then sets up a public signing ceremony on that date, at which high-level officers from both sides will participate amidst much pomp and circumstance. The date is set far enough in advance to ensure that parties negotiating in good faith can reach agreement on the contract. The Chinese side then ensures that no agreement is reached. This results in panic on the foreign side, since failure to get an agreement that the bosses will sign is seen as a loss of face. The Chinese side then uses this concern to extract concessions from the already exhausted foreign side negotiator. This tactic also has two variants. The first variant is the crude approach. The Chinese side simply refuses to concede on key points under the quite reasonable assumption that the foreign side will crumble when faced with the fixed signing deadline. The second variant is much more subtle. In this variant, the Chinese side initially concedes on key points, while still holding its ground on numerous minor points, consistent with the "wear them down" tactic. Then, just a day or two before the signing ceremony, the Chinese side announces that the contract must be revised on one or more key issues in a way that entirely benefits the Chinese side. The Chinese side usually justifies this by refering to the demand of a "government regulator" or an outside source such as a bank or insurance company. The claim is "we don't want to go back on our word, but these other folks have forced us to do this." Again, the plan is that the combination of the pressure of the impending signing ceremony and the general fatigue of the negotiators will result in a crucial concession favoring the Chinese side.

The final technique is to come back to the key issues after the lawyers have left the room. Again, though this is an obvious technique, it seems to work very well with service businesses. This tactic involves the Chinese side signing a contract, conceding on the key issues. By virtue of the contract having been signed, the key negotiators, China advisors and most importantly the lawyers, are off working on other projects. The Chinese side then waits a reasonable time and works to get the project started. Once the project is started, the foreign side is then invested in the project. Since service projects involve people, rather than machines or product, this means certain key persons on the foreign side are now fully committed to the project. Once this happens, the Chinese side then comes to the committed parties on the foreign side and announces that certain key provisions of the contract must be changed. The Chinese side usually claims this change is mandated by law, government regulators or banks and insurance companies. The only people left at this point are the "committed parties" with a strong incentive to allow for the change so the project can proceed. Often, these people do not even fully understand the implications of the change the Chinese side is now demanding. The foreign side then presents the change to busy upper level management as a minor technical revision and it gets signed. Everyone remembers how the initial negotiation was so troublesome and nobody wants to bring in "legal" to start the process over again.

Though crude and obvious, the three tactics work wonderfully well and so Chinese companies do not hesitate to employ them regularly (pretty much always). There is one simple antidote for each tactic:

If the Chinese side uses the "wear 'em down technique," the foreign side should refuse to participate. The foreign side should firmly state its position and not bend unless and until the Chinese side agrees or at least moves closer to the foreign side's position.
Never agree to a fixed signing date. Make it clear that the signing ceremony will be scheduled only after the contract has completed final negotiations. If that takes forever, then it takes forever. Never allow the Chinese side to use a deadline as a tool. This seems like obvious advice, but we see the rule constantly violated. Chinese companies love signing ceremonies and foreigners fall into the trap because they do not want to cause offense at the start. The Chinese have contempt for a sucker, so refusing to go along on this obvious technique will not cause offense: it will instead earn the respect of the Chinese side.
Make it clear to that there will be no changes to the contract after signing and any attempt by the Chinese side to change the contract will be treated as a material breach, leading to termination and a lawsuit for damages. Chinese companies are well known for using the signing of a contract as the start of a new negotiating process, not the termination. If the foreign party is willing to accept this approach, then a clear procedure must be instituted on the foreign side that brings back in the legal and China advisory team. The neutral players on the foreign side must make the decisions. The decisions should not be made by the foreign side players who have already become committed to the project.

Negotiating a good licensing agreement with Chinese companies is difficult and time consuming, but not so much if you know how to handle Chinese negotiating tactics. There is no reason to make the situation worse by falling for the simple negotiation tactics discussed above.

China's power monopoly dilemma

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 02:27 AM PDT

Consolidation of China's coal and electricity industries may not resolve long-standing price tensions and power shortages argues Liu Chengkun

In late June, China's biggest coal company, Shenhua Group, overtook China Power Investment (CPI) to become the country's fifth largest electricity generator. That month, it acquired Datang Corporation's 40% stake in east China power firm Anhui Ma'anshan Wannengda Electricity, taking Shenhua's total electricity-generation capacity above 5.7 gigawatts.

CPI, meanwhile, appears to be expanding in the other direction: its coal businesses now produce more than 72 million tonnes of the fuel a year, making it China's third biggest coal company. China's power industry is restructuring. But why?

Around the same time as Shenhua's June acquisition, the State Electricity Regulatory Council (SERC) published its annual report for 2011. It said that the electricity businesses of China's five big power companies – Huaneng, Datang, Huadian, Guodian and CPI – suffered combined losses of more than 15.1 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) last year; four times as much as in 2010. Huaneng was the only one of the "big five" that managed to turn a profit: 192 million yuan (US$30.2 million). The worst hit was Datang, which lost more than 5.8 billion yuan (US$912 million).

In the four months before its deal with Datang, Shenhua also took a controlling stake in west China firm Sichuan Bashu Electricity Development. And it has acquired electricity-generation interests in Henan and Jiangxi provinces too. This expansion drive is part of a wider consolidation trend in China's power sector: small power plants making losses or unable to source sufficient coal are actively seeking buyers.

For some, this consolidation is to be celebrated. "Shenhua's acquisition of so many power plants will help integrate the resources of the electricity and coal companies, reduce generating costs and increase power-plant profits," said Wan Xuezhi, an electricity expert at research outfit CIConsulting. "That is great news for the security of China's electricity supply and will help coordinate supply and demand."

Particularly significant was Shenhua's acquisition of State Grid Energy Development, said Zhao Yuwei, of coal and electricity portal zgmd.com. The government wants the national grid company to divest itself of non-core assets, he said. "This will help the grid concentrate its energy and finances on its main business. That's good for electricity-sector reform. Meanwhile, Shenhua's increased generating capacity will give the firms a greater say in how the grid is run."

But Ren Haoning, another researcher at CIConsulting, raised concerns. With big firms snapping up smaller companies, the sector looks set for a greater degree of monopolisation. The entire industry faces a shakeup, and many are worried about the implications for smaller businesses.

China's ongoing reform of the electricity sector, which dates back to 2002 (when the State Power Corporation was dismantled), is meant to be about breaking monopolies and driving competitiveness and productivity in both coal and electricity firms. But integration of the coal and electricity sectors will bolster monopolies and benefit the big state-owned firms, say critics: when certain firms possess the lion's share of advantageous resources and price-setting rights, a monopoly will effectively be created.

Raising prices, making losses

China's five major power firms account for a huge proportion of the country's electricity output. But since 2008 their coal businesses have been losing money, and in the last two years a lot of it. Of their 436 coal power subsidiaries, 236 were in the red in 2010.

In the first half of 2011, the "big five" lost a total of 6.65 billion yuan (US$1 billion), according to a China Electricity Council report. This means they must have lost 8.5 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) in the second half of the year– an increase of more then 27% on the previous six months.

In a bid to stem the losses, the government hiked electricity prices three times in 2011, more than any other year in history. On April 10, the National Development and Reform Commission – China's top economic planner – raised the cost of electricity for business and agriculture by an average of 0.02 yuan per kilowatt hour in 12 provinces, including Shanxi, Qinghai, Gansu and Hainan. On June 1, it increased prices in Anhui, Hunan and Jiangxi, by a little under 0.02 yuan per kilowatt hour. And on November 30, prices were bumped up again, by an average of 0.026 yuan per kilowatt hour for power supplied to the grid by coal-burning plants nationwide.

At the same time, the government imposed price caps on coal for power generation, as well as a trial hike of 0.08 yuan per kilowatt hour in the subsidy for scrubbing nitrogen oxides. At 2011 output levels, these increases translate into extra takings of more than 100 billion yuan (US$15.7 billion) for the power firms.

Although it's generally accepted that the sector's losses are due to high coal prices – pushed up by China's ever rising demand for power – there are also problems to be found within the power firms themselves.

Take the Datang group, where losses were heaviest, as an example. The company made a small profit on electricity generation. But it spent more than 20 billion yuan (US$3.1 billion) servicing its high level of debt. The other four big players have similar obligations. The SERC revealed that profits at the "big five" get eaten up by the financing costs – even the company with the lowest debt bill spent more than 15 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion).

The companies are heavily reliant on debt financing. Secretary of the China Electricity Council Wang Zhixuan said that asset-to-debt ratios at the big five are over 86%, and financing costs are rising.

And, despite the long-term trend, coal has actually been getting cheaper this year – prices have fallen by 20% so far. But the corporate losses continue. Of the 24 electricity firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, 17 said in half-yearly results that they expect to lose money or see a fall in profits. In spite of higher electricity prices and half a year of falling coal costs, the power companies have been unable to pull themselves out of the mire.

When coal prices increase, the state makes the power plants absorb 30% of the extra costs, explained Wang. Over time, this has forced power companies into the red. "Although coal prices have fallen this year, the power plants have been burning coal that they purchased earlier at higher prices. Only now are they starting to use the cheaper coal. But coal prices are still on the high side and the power plants are forced to rely on government help."

Electricity reform

Shenhua's aggressive acquisitions are part of a new wave of consolidation.

China operates a dual pricing system for coal: there's market economy coal and then there's planned economy coal, which only state-owned power plants have access to. Prices in the two brackets have become further out of step recently and power companies have suffered – this is one of the main reasons for electricity shortages.

In September 2011, deputy head of the National Energy Administration's coal department indicated that "coal-electricity integration" would be a long-term policy goal.

Since 2008, the big five power generators have all snapped up coal businesses. In November last year, 120 billion tonnes of shallow coal seams were identified at Santanghu in Xinjiang, in China's far west – and Datang, CPI and Guodian are all now working on coal power generation and coal chemical projects here.

On July 31, the government of Shanxi, a coal-mining province in north China, published a proposal for coordinating the development of coal and electricity companies. This year, the province plans to push ahead with joint operations.

But with electricity prices still set by the state, and coal increasingly marketised, tensions are bound to get worse. Companies already complain that state-set prices are too low, meaning they take the hit when fuel prices rise. While the various interest groups continue to drag their feet, it is unlikely real reform of the electricity sector will be seen in the near future.

Lin Boqiang, head of Xiamen University's Centre for China Energy and Economic Research, said the government's aim in promoting joint coal and power operations is to absorb the impact of higher coal prices and ensure electricity supply. But he pointed out a hidden danger: if coal prices continue to rise in the long term, the power plants will have reason to sell coal, rather than use it to generate electricity. Under the market economy, coal and electricity firms should be run separately – the finer the division of labour, the better, he said.

Similar trends were historically seen in the United States, but since the 1990s American electricity generators have divested themselves of coal interests and now tend to rely on long-term supply contracts. "That's the trend worldwide, while China is going the other way," said Lin.

"Proposals for reform of the electricity system were published in 2002, a decade ago. So far, that approach seems to have been a complete failure. The state needs to rethink electricity reform."

Liu Chengkun is a reporter at Time Weekly, where this article was first published.

It is translated and published here as part of our Green Growth project, a collaboration between chinadialogue and The Energy Foundation.

Homepage image from Time Weekly

Mengniu Dairy Scandal: manager caught altering production dates

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Mengniu's sales manager in Yiwu, Zhejiang province has been arrested for altering production dates on 5000 boxes of the dairy giant's products. [ more › ]

Video: Romance, Chinese style

Posted: 22 Aug 2012 11:21 PM PDT

From Youku

Youtube version (English captions by Ministry of Tofu)

Full text below:

Love, the seemingly sacred and beautiful word, is no longer that simple these days. After the Chinese society went through roller-coaster changes in the past few years, marriage, this topic of significance, seems to be more than just a matter of love. The complex interplay of factors such as money, life, and parents has led to the birth of Chinese style romance.

Students nowadays have become unprecedentedly active in dating. As many as 24.7% of junior high students (age 12-15) have had their first love, whereas 3.3% of primary school students have dated. Puppy love may be sweet, but isn't it a bit too early? Back in the 1970s, only 3.6% of junior high students (age 12-15) fell in love, whereas the figure in primary schools was only 0.3%, and it was limited to kid stuff like passing notes. Indeed, in terms of early romantic experiences, each new generation excels the previous one much as in the Yangtze River, waves behind always drive those ahead.

On the one hand, we have parents busy tackling "puppy love," on the other hand, we have parents busy finding dates for their children. Today, there are 180 million singles in China, 23.8% of whose parents are pulling the strings for them, which means, 260 million people are somewhat engaged in seeking romance. Those who do not make enough effort to find love in their youth will be grieved when they grow old and have to rely on matchmaking events. The "love conundrum" turns into a robust industry and gives rise to a string of matchmaking television programs and dating websites. "Xiang qin" (Meeting a Blind Date) has become the hottest word in recent years. One is either meeting a blind date, or on one's way to meet a blind date.

Everyone wishes that his/her other half is perfect in every way, but it is impossible in reality. In today's world of romance, men and women have different sets of standards for choosing their mates. The major difference of course lies in the material requirements of the other half.

The 2011 survey on marriages and romantic relationships of Chinese people by China's Ministry of Civil Affairs shows, 92% of women polled said the basic requirement for marriage is a "stable income." 70% agreed that a man must own a home before marrying. 80% of women believe men should earn more than 4,000 yuan (US$635) per month to be in a position to seek romance. (Note: The per capita monthly income of China's urban residents in 2011 is 1,817 yuan, or US$286). 27.1% even say that men should not seek romance until they make more than 10,000 yuan per month. Well…65% of men have to admit they are severely hindered by the fact that they don't own a home.

Jack from the United States is getting married. He needs to spend 1,000 dollars on car rental, 4,000 dollars on the first month's rent for the house, 3,000 dollars on furniture and furnishings, 1,000 dollars on a wedding ring, 4,000 dollars on a week-long honeymoon, 3,000 dollars on the down payment for a car, which add up to 16,000 dollars.

Mr. Liu from Beijing is also getting married. He needs to spend 2.2 million yuan on a new home, 30,000 yuan on wedding rings, 5,000 yuan on wedding photos, 9,000 yuan on a tux, 20,000 yuan on a wedding gown, 2,000 yuan on a pair of shoes, 3,500 on a ceremony host, 20,000 yuan on ceremony planning and preparation, 80,000 yuan on the banquet, which total up to 2.37 million. Marriage seems to be getting more and more expensive.

Is having money synonymous with happiness? Not really. According to the 2011 Single-Person Happiness Survey, less than 20% of respondents have chosen wealth, status and housing as their criteria for happiness, whereas 80% have chosen health, family and marriage. Contrast this result to the requirements for an ideal mate, and you will find a bizarre mentality: When you are still single, it doesn't matter if you are rich or poor; but marriage is all about marrying a man of means.

In 2010, 71% of women believed a good job is less important than a good marriage. In 2011, the percentage went down to 57%. Even though the role that economic reasons play in marriage choices has somewhat diminished, income and home ownership are nevertheless top two factors in women's choices.

However, in August 2011, the New Marriage Law added a judicial proviso, stipulating that property bought by one spouse before marriage, even if on mortgage, belongs solely to the spouse whose name is on the deed; property purchased by the parents of either spouse and registered under their child's name, is recognized as separate property (and will not be split between the couple on divorce). Consequently, many women and their mothers started to get really upset…

On the one hand, leftover men and women in late 20s and 30s are contemplating whether or not to get married; on the other, married couples are contemplating whether or not to get divorced. In 2011, divorce rate in urban China has reached 34%. In Beijing, the capital city, it is as high as 39%.

The ups and downs of the economy and the caprices of policies have made self-proclaimed city slickers increasingly unclear about their future. Many choose to seize the day, thinking that even earning their bread becomes a headache, much less buying a home. Now that they are in love, why not seize the chance to wave goodbye to single life by jumping into a naked marriage (i.e. with no ceremony or any material basis)! But, where will the future lead them?…

If (lack of a) home has become the major hindrance to marriage, then parents' attitude is another solid line of defense. Even if the two persons madly in love decide to join hands and get their "little red book" (marriage license), a solid "No" from parents can be a strong signal for a breakup. Because first, wedding is costly; 81.6% of people need varying degrees of financial support from their parents. Secondly, what the wife's mother wants, and the relationship between the husband's mother and the wife are the most complicated things in the world. How to tackle frictions among them?…

The social development has changed the way people choose their mates, but love conquers all, and no definitive conclusion should be made about romance. People vary and have their own destiny. Take the Japan earthquake in March, 2011. Many people woke up to reality overnight after that. "Kizuna-kon" (marriage by bond) becomes the word of the year. The crucial part of this type of marriage is "Kizuna", or bond, which implies fate that bring people together. Instead of fussing over the partner's income and personal conditions, people flung aside their doubts and plunge into marriage with their loved ones, as long as they can be together. After all, life is too short. One too concerned with personal gains and losses may miss the happiness right under his nose more easily. Love is just love!

Shanghai Weekender: Wo Ai Shanghai

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 01:55 AM PDT

Date: Aug 23rd 2012 3:09p.m.
Contributed by: katvelayo

Meme Thursday: Welcome To Fengtai District!!! 8-}

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 02:09 AM PDT

Showcasing the best in Asian-related memes. Sources: China Memes, Wuluwu.

WHEN I SEE SOMEONE WEARING A FACE MASK AROUND TOWN FOR 'PROTECTION':

Taobao Now: S-Y-M's Chic and Quirky Threads

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 12:26 AM PDT

Date: Aug 23rd 2012 3:19p.m.
Contributed by: mengsta

Wingfree, a Shanghai-born Taobao store owner / fashion designer, has a new label S-Y-M.

Was Liu Xiang’s Olympic flop all a set-up?

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 05:40 AM PDT

by Barry van Wyk on August 23, 2012

The front page of the Oriental Guardian (东方卫报) today speculates on the conspiracy theories surrounding Liu Xiang's Olympic race.

At 1747 on 7 August, countless Chinese people collectively cried out in anguish when Liu Xiang fell on the first hurdle of his Olympic race. Yet the CCTV commentator Yang Jian did not sound at all surprised; in fact, as some Chinese web users have speculated, Yang sounded as if he anticipated that Liu would fall. As if confirming what many people were already suspecting, revelations from a CCTV Olympic report discussion forum yesterday confirmed that CCTV knew before the race the grave extent of Liu Xiang's injury.

According to the story that leaked out from the CCTV discussion board, Yang Jian prepared a contingency version of the commentary should Liu Xiang somehow succeed in the race, but the version he expected to use – and did use – was to describe how Liu Xiang crashed out – hence him not sounding very surprised when it happened.

Many Chinese web users also believed that the entire episode, including Liu Xiang's fall, was some kind of set-up. The dramatic fall at the first hurdle, the kissing of the hurdle, the forlorn hopping along the track – it all seemed like a staged event.

Yet despite all these critical views, Oriental Guardian cautions its readers not to demonize Liu Xiang. He in all likelihood took a great risk in still deciding to run the race, betting with great odds against his injury that he might still somehow be able to make it to the finishing line. Its unfortunately a bet that he lost big time.

Links and sources
Oriental Guardian (央视赛前就知道刘翔伤重杨健含泪解说是设计好的)
More Front Page of the Day stories

Hunan supermodel Liu Wen now the face of China

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 01:12 AM PDT

Supermodel Liu Wen talks to China Daily about her journey from a small town in Hunan province to the catwalks of the world's top fashion capitals, as well as her life in New York City, where she is now based. [ more › ]