July 13, 2010 Newsletter
Topics: China-Taiwan relations, Google, natural disasters
Date Published: 07/15/2010
Last week, China and Taiwan signed a milestone trade agreement which should further foster economic ties between the longtime political adversaries. The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement will eliminate numerous trade tariffs across the Taiwan Straight, allowing greater accessibility for Taiwanese companies looking to the mainland for business. While some see this event as progress towards improved relations between China and Taiwan, others believe it to be a part of China's long-term goal of better controlling its island neighbor.
Google managed to secure a renewal of its license to operate in China. Prior to the government's decision to extend Google's right to do business in China, the company stopped automatically redirecting Google.cn visitors to the company's Hong Kong's website. Instead, the company's page now includes a link to the Hong Kong-based search engine. Users now have to click on the link in order to go to the Hong Kong site. This arrangement seems to meet China's determination to limit the net access for internet users there while at the same time keeping the leading internet company invested in China.
The latest statistics and weather reports for China continue to be dismal and mark one of the worst years for weather in history. The Ministry of Civil Affairs released a report which said that natural disasters in the first half of 2010 resulted in 3,514 deaths, 486 people missing, and a 211.39 billion yuan (US$31.19 billion) economic loss. In recent months, China has been victim to an onslaught of earthquakes, droughts, floods, and ice storms, such as the 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Qinghai Province in April 14th, and an additional 44 provinces and areas struck by droughts and floods. Read more about China`s economy, politics and other current events in the Daily Updates section of our website.
US-China Today recently published both a new multimedia photo series and feature article. East West in Harmony: Kaiping Diaolou, contributed by USC student Tina Zeng, offers beautiful images and a glimpse into the Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the county-city of Kaiping in Guangdong Province. The architecture of the majestic diaolou, or protective fortresses,represents a fascinating blend of both Eastern and Western influences.
Life Across the Border: North Koreans in China by staff writer Paul Kim explores the complex North Korean refugee situation in China. Recent events such as the accidental shooting of Chinese nationals at the North-Korea China border and the sinking of the South Korean submarine Cheonan have only further added to the complexity of China’s relationship with North Korea. Should the North Korean regime worsen or collapse, the refugee issue will take on proportions of an even greater magnitude. Find out about this and other news at our website.
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