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China plans to launch Tiangong-2 space lab around 2015

June 27, 2013, 6:25 am
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China plans to launch Tiangong-2 space lab around 2015 Beijing (XNA) Jun 27, 2013

China will continue to carry out development and construction of space lab and plans to launch Tiangong-2 space lab around 2015, an aerospace official said Wednesday. This is in line with China's overall outline and plan for the country's manned space program, Wang Zhaoyao, director of China's manned space program office, told a press conference after the reentry module of the Shenzhou-10 Reported by Space Daily 10 hours ago.
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China calls for international cooperation in manned space program

June 27, 2013, 6:25 am
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China calls for international cooperation in manned space program Beijing (XNA) Jun 27, 2013

A Chinese astronaut research and training official Wednesday called for international cooperation to promote the development of manned space technologies. China has long been pushing for international cooperation in manned space program under the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, as well as of transparency and opening, said Deng Yibing, director of China Astronaut Reported by Space Daily 10 hours ago.
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Air Pollution Not Bird Flu Should Be the Concern When Visiting China

June 27, 2013, 6:53 am
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According to the CDC and the American Embassy the fear of exposure to bird flu while traveling in China should be less of a concern than the country's air quality.


One of New York City allergist Dr. Arthur Lubitz's patients asked him about traveling to China and whether or not she should be worried about the recent outbreak of cases of H7N9 bird flu. He told her that despite this outbreak the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that it is still a safe destination for tourists. Of greater concern than bird flu, though, is the country's widespread air pollution.

Bird flu cases continue to grow but there is still only a relatively small number of cases and very few fatalities. Still, the CDC offer these tips on what preventative measures tourists can take while visiting China:

Stay clear of open air markets which off chickens and other fowl for sale.
Do not touch live or dead birds.
Only eat chicken that has been thoroughly cooked.
Avoid street vendor food.
What I advise my patients should be a greater concern for them is the widespread air pollution. Seth Kugel, columnist for the Frugal Traveler of the New York Times, said that on a trip to the Southwestern city of Chongqing at night the air pollution was burning his nose.

The American Embassy issued a report on the air quality in China based on a a scale (large air particles) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a hazardous air quality topping out at 500, Beijing's air was 755 at 8PM on one particular evening. People were seen wearing masks and the embassy suggested that all tourists stay indoors until the air quality improved.

For asthmatic patients or those patients with other respiratory problems paying attention to air quality while traveling is very important. Low air quality caused by air pollution can seriously exacerbate respiratory symptoms by irritating the respiratory system. For some patients this may be just a minor annoyance but for others it can be deadly. It's advised that patients be aware of conditions when traveling.

Tourists with asthmatic or respiratory problems, says the Embassy, should avoid traveling to Beijing in the winter when pollution is the worst and other big cities like Shanghai. The best seasons to travel to China is late summer and autumn. They should also listen to Embassy air pollution reports daily. For relatively pollution-free tourist sites, tourist operators suggest the mountains of Changbabaishan, the highlands of the Yunnan Province and Tibet, as well as most coastal areas and the islands of Hong Kong.

For more information about how air pollution and poor air quality can affect your respiratory conditions visit our website at NYCAllergyDoctor.com

Company Contact Information
NYC Allergy Doctor, Arthur Lubtiz MD
315 W 57th St
Suite 309
10107
866-632-5537

News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 9 hours ago.
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Silver Demand Surges In India While Gold Premiums at $35/oz In China

June 27, 2013, 7:37 am
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Silver Demand Surges In India While Gold Premiums at $35/oz In China Today’s AM fix was USD 1,232.00, EUR 945.51 and GBP 806.07 per ounce. 
Yesterday’s AM fix was USD 1,229.00, EUR 942.85 and GBP 799.97 per ounce.

Gold fell $53.20 or 4.17% yesterday and closed at $1,224.10/oz. Silver slid to a low of $18.421 and finished down 5.46%.

*#444444; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.15em;">#e0a810;">Must Attend Webinar: "Has Gold's 'Bubble' Burst Or Is This Another Buying Opportunity?"*


Cross Currency Table – (Bloomberg)

Gold inched upward today after investors and speculators viewed the recent price falls as excessive and some began to dip their toes back into the market.

Gold tumbled to its lowest level in nearly three years yesterday after concentrated selling in electronic trading on the COMEX, less liquid Asian trading Tuesday night that led to stop loss orders being triggered and further price falls.

Bullion dealers, mints and refineries have seen a small increase in clients liquidating physical bullion in June but nothing that would justify the scale of price weakness seen. There has been a small bit of panic selling which suggests capitulation and the market may be close to exhausting itself to the downside. 

There are also many retail and wealthy buyers looking to accumulate at these lower prices – both in western markets and in Asia.

Physical demand remains robust internationally especially in China and India where premiums are moving higher again.  In China, physical demand remains robust and premiums remain at elevated levels near $35/oz. In India, premiums charged shot to $20 an ounce overnight from $8-$10 on Tuesday.

Demand in both countries and in Asia in general is set to continue due to real and valid concerns about currency devaluations.

Despite futures prices falling in India to their lowest in more than a month, gold premiums doubled as dealers struggled to meet surging demand after a ban on bullion consignment imports.

India, the world's biggest buyer of gold, now requires importers to pay upfront for inventory, making it difficult for smaller jewellers with lower working capital to source supplies. The government also raised the import duty to 8% in May. India has ruled out a blanket ban on gold imports or any increase in customs duty from the current 8%.

Attempts to prevent Indians from buying gold are contributing to them buying poor man’s gold, or silver. There has been a massive increase in silver demand in India in recent months and the government's meddling and controls in the gold market will likely led to even more demand for silver.

While India imported 1,900 tonnes of silver in 2012, in the first five months of 2013 alone, imports have touched 2,400 tonnes.


Silver in USD, 5 Year – (GoldCore)

According to industry estimates, silver imports during the January-March quarter stood at 760 tonnes. Imports shot up 720 tonnes in April alone, and in May, they further swelled by 920 tonnes.

Gold Coin and Bar Sale Controls Create Deep Concern In India 
Gold buyers in India are concerned after the India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation asked its 42,000 member companies to stop selling gold coins and bars from July 1. The Indian government is believed to have put pressure on the powerful trade group in order to curtail India’s massive demand for gold.


Gold in Indian Rupees (2008 to 2013)

Indians are seeking ways to circumvent any prohibition and acquire gold which is the most popular form of saving in India. Many are concerned about the status of gold savings schemes that they had invested in to accumulate gold coins for future use.

The All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, which represents 90% of jewellers, had come out with an open call on Monday to its members to stop selling gold bars and coins. 

This has triggered a lot of concerns among consumers who have put their money in a few gold savings schemes – some of which were launched during the recent crash of the gold price in April.

Assuaging fears, president of the Madras Jewellers and Diamond Merchants’ Association Jayantilal Challani said, “Though we have asked our members to stop sales of coins by July 1, all the schemes will continue and consumers will get the promised quantity of gold, but may be in the form of jewellery of their choice.”

However, this has caused a lot of concern among the public as they stand to lose out due to the very high premiums on jewellery versus those on coins and bars. There are concerns that gold dealers will use this as an opportunity to sell much more expensive jewellery.

Another unintended consequence of the Indian government’s extremely anti gold policies will be the growth of smuggling and a black market in gold. 

Ironically, it may also lead to Indian people, particularly the wealthier middle classes and high net worth Indians to store their bullion in safe jurisdictions which treat gold favourably such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Zurich. In a worst case scenario, it could lead to capital flight.

NEWS
Gold Rebounds With Silver From Lowest Levels Since August 2010 - Bloomberg

Gold inches up on weak U.S. GDP, sits near 3-year low - Reuters

Plunge at the Start of Trading in Asia Triggered Automatic Sell Orders, Creating a 'Domino Effect' – Wall Street Journal

New EU rules will force 'wealthy' savers to share the costs of future bank failures - BBC

COMMENTARY
Video: Bull Case For Gold Has Not Changed: Jim Rickards – Yahoo Finance

Gold Drops Below Its Average Cash Cost – Zero Hedge

Gold Could Fall To $1,000 If It Breaks Through Key Resistance - Forbes

Video: Gold market rigging 'wouldn't surprise me a bit' - CNBC

Venezuela on the Brink of Hyperinflation – Ed Dolan’s Econ Blog

Gold Correction In 1975/76 vs 2012/13 – The Short Side of Long

For breaking news and commentary on financial markets and gold, follow us onTwitter. Reported by Zero Hedge 9 hours ago.
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U.S. Boss Held Hostage In China Walks Free

June 27, 2013, 7:40 am
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BEIJING — A pay dispute was resolved Thursday at a medical supply factory, ending a labor standoff in which the Chinese workers detained their American boss for nearly a week inside the plant until they reached agreement on a compensation package.

Chip Starnes, a co-owner of Florida-based Specialty Medical Supplies, told The Associated Press he had been forced to give in to what he called unjustified demands while he was held by about 80 workers inside the factory, an experience he described as "humiliating, embarrassing."

The workers began blocking all exits from the plant in Huairou district on the outskirts of Beijing on June 21 after seeing equipment being packed for shipment to India and thinking the entire factory was being shut down. They said the company owed them unpaid salary.

At the start of the standoff, the workers deprived Starnes of sleep by shining bright lights and banging on windows of his office, he said.

Police had made no moves to end the standoff but guarded the plant and said they were guaranteeing Starnes' safety while a labor official was brought in to broker negotiations.

It's not rare in China for managers to be held by workers demanding back pay or other benefits, often from their Chinese owners. Police are reluctant to intervene, as they consider it a business dispute, and local officials typically are eager to see the matter resolved in a way least likely to fuel unrest.

Starnes, who had spoken to reporters in recent days through the barred window of his factory office, said the workers' demands were unjustified. Neither he nor district labor official Chu Lixiang gave details of the compensation deal.

Chu said all the workers would be terminated, although Starnes said some would be rehired later.

"It has been resolved to each side's satisfaction," Chu told reporters at the plant. She said they had been sorting out paperwork until 5 a.m. and that 97 workers had signed settlement agreements.

Starnes had quietly departed the factory grounds by the time Chu spoke. He wrote in a text message: "Yes!! Out and back at hotel. Showered. 9 pounds lost during the ordeal!!!!!!"

He told the AP he was "saddened" by the experience.

He has said the company had been winding down its plastics division, with plans to move it to Mumbai, India. When he arrived in Beijing last week to lay off the last 30 people, workers in other divisions started demanding similar severance packages.

The deal reached Thursday would also pay those workers, even though the company said they weren't being laid off.

"We have transferred our funds from the U.S.," he said. "I am basically free to go when the funds hit the account here of the company."

Starnes said he planned to get back to business, and even rehire some of the workers who had been holding him.

The labor action reflected growing uneasiness among workers about their jobs amid China's slowing economic growth and the sense that growing labor costs make the country less attractive for some foreign-owned factories. Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.
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Human Rights Watch: China: End Involuntary Rehousing, Relocation of Tibetans

June 27, 2013, 7:45 am
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(New York) – The Chinese government is subjecting millions of Tibetans to a policy of mass rehousing and relocation that radically changes their way of life, and about which they have no say, Human Rights Watch said in a new report published today.

Since 2006, under plans to “Build a New Socialist Countryside” in Tibetan areas, over two million Tibetans have been “rehoused” – through government-ordered renovation or construction of new houses – in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), while hundreds of thousands of nomadic herders in the eastern part of the Tibetan plateau have been relocated or settled in “New Socialist Villages.”

The 115-page report, “‘They Say We Should Be Grateful’: Mass Rehousing and Relocation in Tibetan Areas of China,” documents extensive rights violations ranging from the absence of consultation to the failure to provide adequate compensation, both of which are required under international law for evictions to be legitimate. The report also addresses defects in the quality of the houses provided, absence of remedies for arbitrary decisions, failures to restore livelihoods, as well as a disregard for autonomy rights nominally guaranteed by Chinese law in Tibetan areas.

“The scale and speed at which the Tibetan rural population is being remodeled by mass rehousing and relocation policies are unprecedented in the post-Mao era,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “Tibetans have no say in the design of policies that are radically altering their way of life, and – in an already highly repressive context – no ways to challenge them.”

The authorities in the Tibet Autonomous Region have announced plans to further rehouse and relocate more than 900,000 people by the end of 2014.In Qinghai province, on the eastern part of the Tibetan plateau, the authorities have relocated and settled 300,000 nomadic herders since the early 2000s, and have announced their intent to turn an additional 113,000 nomads into sedentary dwellers by the end of 2013.

The Chinese government asserts that all relocation and rehousing operations are entirely voluntary and respect “the will of the Tibetan farmers and herders.” It strongly denies that any forced evictions take place in the process, and suggests it is being culturally sensitive by stating that the design and appearance of the new houses suit “ethnic characteristics.” The government also claims that all those who have moved to new houses are satisfied and grateful for the improvement in their living conditions. While some Tibetans have genuinely welcomed aspects of the housing policies and benefited from them, many are concerned about their ability to maintain their livelihood over time. Most consider themselves targets of policies that they are powerless to oppose or affect.

Initial fears among Tibetans that the establishment of “New Socialist Villages” might be accompanied by increased government interference in their communities have proven well-founded. In 2011, the government announced that it had started to implement a plan to station new teams of official and party cadres in each of the 5,400 villages across the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). These new teams, who will “live, work, and eat together” with the villagers, are tasked with enforcing policies that establish a system of political surveillance and overtly violate basic civil, cultural, political, and religious rights of Tibetans. Since 2009, 119 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese policies, triggering even more repressive policies from the government.

Tibetans coming from both farming and nomadic herding communities, interviewed by Human Rights Watch between 2005 and 2012, say that large numbers of people relocated or rehoused did not do so voluntarily, and that they were never consulted or offered alternatives. They say that many face financial difficulties as a result of having to move, reduce their herds, or demolish and reconstruct their houses. They claim that new settlements are sometimes inferior to the ones they previously inhabited, and that many pledges made to them by local officials to induce them to move have never materialized.

Official policy documents detailed in the report show that, contrary to official rhetoric, Tibetan households have to bear the greatest share of the overall cost of rebuilding their houses – up to 75 percent. One study from the central government claims that “for every yuan in governmental subsidies, households had to contribute 4.5 yuan themselves.” The financial implications of complying with government orders to renovate or rebuild housing go a long way in explaining why, in interviews with Human Rights Watch, Tibetans consistently expressed fears about their ability to sustain their livelihood in the future, and maintain their separate cultural identity.

“The Chinese government claims that it is bringing economic benefits to Tibetans by building modern ‘New Socialist Villages,’” Richardson said. “And while it may be true that some Tibetans have benefitted, the majority have simply been forced to trade poor but stable livelihoods for the uncertainties of a cash economy in which they are often the weakest actors.”

The Chinese government has deliberately obscured the full impact of its policies by refusing to allow any independent fact-finding investigations in Tibetan areas. Closed at the best of times to human rights investigations, access to the Tibetan plateau – especially to the TAR – has remained extremely limited for journalists, diplomats, academics, and even foreign tourists since the March 2008 protests and the ensuing crackdown. Yet analysis of open source satellite imagery reveals the magnitude of change faced by some Tibetan communities. In several cases, images show traditional villages entirely demolished, while a pre-planned “New Socialist Village” made of identical houses in parallel rows is erected nearby.

While the main justification for the rehousing and relocation policies in Tibetan areas have been economic, the Chinese government has also made clear that these policies are an integral part of larger political objectives such as combating ethno-national or “separatist” sentiment among Tibetans, and are designed to strengthen political control over the Tibetan rural population.

Despite their involuntary character and unequal outcomes, the central government is using rehousing and relocation policies in Tibetan areas as a template for relocating ethnic minority communities in other parts of the country. In June 2011, the central government instructed all provincial units, including Sichuan, Qinghai, and Gansu, and autonomous regions, including Inner-Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Tibet, to complete all ongoing relocation programs for hundreds of thousands of nomadic herders by the end of 2014.

Human Rights Watch called on the Chinese government to halt all projects involving mass relocation and rehousing, and allow an independent assessment of the design and impact on these policies, including by agreeing to long-standing requests by various United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteurs to visit.

Human Rights Watch said that defusing larger political tensions in Tibetan areas required that the Chinese government address long-standing grievances, and implement the PRC Autonomy Law in a way that actually devolves substantial policymaking power to Tibetans, including over economic and cultural matters, in line with relevant international legal standards.

“The fiction that Tibetans enjoy any kind of autonomy under Chinese rule is laid bare by mass rehousing and relocation policies in which they have no say,” Richardson said. “Forging ahead with mass relocation and rehousing programs in a broadly repressive environment will only fuel tensions and widen the rift between Tibetans and the Chinese state.” Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.
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China, South Korea Reiterate Goal of Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula

June 27, 2013, 8:36 am
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The new presidents of China and South Korea have reiterated their goal of achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula as they met in the Chinese capital for their first talks since taking office earlier this year. Speaking at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, China's Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye agreed on a need for denuclearization, maintaining peace in the region, and resolving disputes through dialogue. South Korean President Park added that both sides ... Reported by VOA News 8 hours ago.
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FIDELITY CHINA SPECIAL SITUATIONS PLC - Total Voting Rights

June 27, 2013, 8:57 am
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Fidelity China Special Situations PLC Voting Rights and Capital as at 27 June 2013. This announcement is made in accordance with DTR5.6.1. As at 27 June 2013 Fidelity China Special Situations PLC'... Reported by FinanzNachrichten.de 7 hours ago.
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China Has Made Some Giant Leaps In Its Space Program

June 27, 2013, 9:52 am
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China Has Made Some Giant Leaps In Its Space Program China has just gotten back from an historic 15 day training mission in space, marking a series of leaps and bounds in earth's orbit.

They say their recent emphasis on space is for economic and military purposes, and the U.S. definitely notices.

From USA Today: 

China flies fewer missions than the U.S. Apollo program, "but takes bigger steps," said Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor of national security affairs, and an expert on the Chinese space program, at the U.S. Naval War College. "They read the Apollo playbook, and know all the things the U.S. got from a human space program," she said, including economic benefits, dual-use technology with military capability, and a boost for science programs and public interest.

The mission, dubbed Shenzhou 10, included manual docking with an orbiting space station, which showed off the prowess of China's pilots.

China also recently shot an old satellite out of the sky with a ground-based, long range missile. They stayed mum about the missile at first, before finally admitting that it was an interceptor.

Again, the U.S. was spooked.

"Any time you have a nation-state looking to have a more aggressive posture in space, it's very concerning," said Rep. Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, at a cybersecurity conference.

Near concurrent with the launch of a satellite-intercepting missile, Chinese communications firms inked a year-long contract with the Department of Defense to provide satellite coverage for the U.S. over Africa.

Again, Washington lawmaker Rogers expressed misgivings.

The contract “exposes our military to the risk that China may seek to turn off our ’eyes and ears’ at the time of their choosing,” Rogers, a Republican, said in an e-mailed statement to Bloomberg.

Johnson-Freese later described the race between the China and the U.S. as a "tortoise and hare" type situation, respectively.

Well, when it comes to the rapid evolution of China's space program, maybe the world is seeing the first instance of a leaping tortoise.

Join the conversation about this story »

 
 
 
  Reported by Business Insider 6 hours ago.
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Low cloud clearance for China Eastern

June 27, 2013, 12:04 pm
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CHINA Eastern Airlines is waiting for a certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China that will allow its pilots to operate flights in low cloud weathers. Reported by Shanghai Daily 4 hours ago.
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Hill+Knowlton Strategies China Bolsters Digital Practice with Brand New Offering - Social PR Lab

June 27, 2013, 11:45 am
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Hill+Knowlton Strategies China Bolsters Digital Practice with Brand New Offering - Social PR Lab SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As one of Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ efforts in expanding their digital practice in China, digital global lead Andrew Bleeker has introduced its brand new offering, Social PR Lab in China today. This is part of the firm’s continual innovative development strategy to bolster its thought leadership platform for its digital practice. “Globally, digital landscapes are evolving rapidly, but in China it really is moving very fast. Through our experience and what we have obser Reported by Business Wire 5 hours ago.
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Nike shrugs off China worries, posts strong quarter

June 27, 2013, 2:03 pm
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Nike answered some critics on Wall Street Thursday with earnings that topped expectations. Several analysts this week speculated slow sales in China would ding the footwear and apparel giant's overall sales for the fourth quarter that ended on May 31. Sales in China were flat, but that didn't stop the company from exceeding the sales and profitability levels forecast by Wall Street stock-pickers. Analysts predicted earnings of 74 cents per share and $6.64 billion in revenue, according to Thomson… Reported by bizjournals 2 hours ago.
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Politics › Japan vows to help Philippines in China sea dispute

June 27, 2013, 3:15 pm
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Japan pledged on Thursday to help the Philippines defend its "remote islands", as both governments expressed concern over China's robust moves to stake its claims to disputed Asian waters. Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said China's contentious claim to nearly all of the South China Sea and its territorial dispute… Reported by Japan Today 1 hour ago.
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Study Shows IT Security Market in China Could Double by 2017

June 27, 2013, 2:16 pm
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Technology market intelligence firm ABI Research believes that the current $4.9 billion (€3.8 billion) cyber security market in China could double by 2017, despite the fact that the country embraces a protectionist economy that prevents many foreign companies from penetrating the market. According to a new report, “Internet and Mobile Security in China,” the cyber security market is growing at a rapid pace in China. The economic and political system are favorable ... Reported by Softpedia 2 hours ago.
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China Finance Online To Announce 2013 First Quarter Financial Results on July 4

June 27, 2013, 3:13 pm
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BEIJING, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- China Finance Online Co. Limited ("China Finance Online", "the Company") (NASDAQ GS: JRJC), a technology-driven, user-focused market leader in China in provi... Reported by FinanzNachrichten.de 1 hour ago.
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'Happy Endings' Just Got A Little Happier In China

June 27, 2013, 3:39 pm
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A recent ruling by a court in Guangdong province is sure to be welcome news for Chinese men looking for a little something extra with their massages.

Last year, the Intermediate People's Court in the city of Foshan ruled that performing masturbation on another person in exchange for money is not illegal and those who perform such acts should not face prosecution, according to a Nandu Daily report translated by the Global Times.

Prostitution is still illegal in China, as it has been since it was banned by the Communist Party in 1949. However, the Foshan court ruled that manual masturbation and "breast massage," in which a woman massages a man with her breasts, are not sex acts, and therefore do not constitute prostitution, Nandu Daily notes.

The case arose in July 2011 when four men were busted for running a massage parlor in Guangdong province that offered “happy endings” and “other erotic massage services” to customers, according to the South China Morning Post. The men were convicted of “organizing prostitution” and spanked with five-year sentences by the Foshan Court of First Instance.

Hoping to beat the charge, the men appealed their convictions to the Intermediate People's Court, where they were found “not criminally responsible” due to “unclear facts and improper application of the law” and granted a quick release.

Masturbation, which is referred to colloquially in Chinese as "hitting the airplane,""playing with little brother," and "visiting Miss Five," has long been an offering at some massage parlors in China. A 1999 Xinhua report found that one in five Chinese massage parlors were involved in prostitution, the Associated Press notes.

In Guangdong, locals were nonplussed by the new ruling on happy endings. "Girls come up to you and ask if you need it," Zhang Qian, a resident in Shenzhen, told the Global Times. "Of course, it should not be counted as prostitution because there is no actual sex involved."

The ruling did rub some people in China the wrong way. According to the Global Times, Beijing police released a statement Thursday clarifying that massage parlors providing happy endings in the capital city would still be prosecuted based on a 2001 decree that oral sex and masturbation count as prostitution.

International Business Times notes that rulings by Chinese courts "generally do not set binding precedents," meaning that China's prostitution laws could remain out of whack for the foreseeable future. Reported by Huffington Post 42 minutes ago.
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China Has Forced More Than 2 Million Tibetans To Relocate

June 28, 2013, 4:45 am
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China Has Forced More Than 2 Million Tibetans To Relocate More than two million Tibetans in China have been forced to change homes or relocate in a government-sponsored programme that is damaging their traditional culture and rural lifestyle, a human rights monitoring group said.

"The scale and speed at which the Tibetan rural population is being remodelled by mass rehousing and relocation policies are unprecedented in the post-Mao era," Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch, said in a release accompanying the report.

"Tibetans have no say in the design of policies that are radically altering their way of life, and -- in an already highly repressive context -- no ways to challenge them," she added.

Citing Chinese official figures, the report, entitled "'They Say We Should Be Grateful': Mass Rehousing and Relocation in Tibetan Areas of China", said that two million people "were moved into new houses or rebuilt their own houses between 2006 and 2012".

The number of people affected accounted for "more than two-thirds of the entire population" of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), it said.

Additionally, "hundreds of thousands of nomadic herders" in Tibetan regions outside the TAR, such as in Qinghai province -- which lies in the eastern portion of the massive Tibetan plateau -- were "relocated or resettled", said the report, released Thursday.

Citing China's 2010 census, it said there were about 6.2 million ethnic Tibetans living in China, with 2.7 million of them in the TAR, the group said.

"A chief aspect of the policy regarding herder communities, and one that upsets many Tibetans because of its impact on Tibetan culture, is that many of those rehoused or relocated have been sedentarized, moved off the land and into permanent structures," the report said.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said that it interviewed 114 Tibetans outside China over a seven-year period from March 2005 to June last year in compiling the 116-page report.

According to Human Rights Watch, the report cites violations such as lack of consultation and proper compensation, quality defects in housing and the disregard for autonomy rights in Tibetan areas.

The Chinese government blasted the report.

"The organisation you mentioned often criticises China wilfully and makes groundless statements," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing Thursday in response to a question. "I would not read seriously their reports, nor would I make any comments here," she added.

"It is an undeniable fact that Tibet has made huge development and progress on all fronts including politics, economics and society in recent decades."

Copyright (2013) AFP. All rights reserved.

Join the conversation about this story »

 
 
 
  Reported by Business Insider 12 hours ago.
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Second clash hits China Xinjiang in three days: Media

June 28, 2013, 4:32 am
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June 28, 2013 7:05 PM

TURPAN, China (AFP) - Fresh violence erupted in China's restive Xinjiang on Friday, state media said, two days after 35 died in what the government called a "terrorist attack" and a week before the anniversary of major 2009 clashes.

 
 
 
  Reported by Straits Times 12 hours ago.
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China Knife Attack Ends WIth 36 Dead: Reports

June 28, 2013, 4:51 am
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China Knife Attack Ends WIth 36 Dead: Reports Chinese Knife Gang Attack Police – Leave 36 Dead Lukqun, China – A gang of ten knife wielding men attacked both police and civilians in this region of rising tensions between dominant Han ethnic group and the Muslim Uighurs. The [...]

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China appoints Ding Xuedong as new CIC chairman -sources

June 28, 2013, 5:01 am
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June 28, 2013 7:44 PM

BEIJING (REUTERS) - China's US$500 billion (S$ 635 billion) sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp (CIC) has appointed cabinet official Ding Xuedong as its new chairman, two sources said on Friday, ending a three-month search.

 
 
 
  Reported by Straits Times 12 hours ago.
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