All of China loves Zhang Guimei as a girls’ education pioneer. So why is her biopic making some people see red?

All of China loves Zhang Guimei as a girls’ education pioneer. So why is her biopic making some people see red?

However, a new film based on her inspirational life has sharply divided opinion between the public and the state. When Zhang founded her boarding school in a remote area of China’s southwestern Yunnan province 15 years ago, many of the local girls would drop out early to marry or earn a living, while the boys … Read more

China says respiratory disease surge driven by mix of pathogens, calls to ‘minimise personnel movement and visits’

China says respiratory disease surge driven by mix of pathogens, calls to ‘minimise personnel movement and visits’

“Efforts should be made to implement effective epidemic prevention and control measures in key locations with dense populations, such as schools, childcare institutions and nursing homes,” Mi said. “This includes minimising personnel movement and visits.” Hospitals have also been told to improve their ability to grade patients according to the severity of infection, for better … Read more

Opinion | US-China thaw means Beijing can focus on development, not security

Opinion | US-China thaw means Beijing can focus on development, not security

But how long will the reset last? As the systemic divisions underlying US-China relations remain unresolved, people have reason to wonder. For example, Biden stressed that both countries should manage their competition responsibly to prevent it from veering into conflict while Xi wondered aloud “are we adversaries or partners?”. Few would expect the diplomacy between … Read more

Chinese state media drops ‘Tibet’ for ‘Xizang’ after release of Beijing white paper

Chinese state media drops ‘Tibet’ for ‘Xizang’ after release of Beijing white paper

“Xizang” is the pinyin, or Chinese romanisation, of the Mandarin script for “Tibet”. Since the release of the November white paper, “Xizang” has largely replaced “Tibet” in several official Chinese media reports, with “Tibet” now used only in a few scenarios, including translations of already established geographical terms and names of institutions. Between November 10, … Read more

Chinese academics tout alternative path to modernisation at forum

Chinese academics tout alternative path to modernisation at forum

China is on an alternative path to modernisation that is more sustainable than the Western development model, academics told a state-sponsored forum. The China studies conference was hosted by the State Council Information Office on Friday. A letter from the president was read out at the gathering of hundreds of Chinese and foreign academics in … Read more

How China is using the law to tackle cyberbullying and internet violence

How China is using the law to tackle cyberbullying and internet violence

Beijing can detain or fine individuals for modifying other people’s pictures, spreading sex-related rumours or harassing others with insulting text messages and phone calls, China’s Ministry of Public Security said on Tuesday as it addressed 10 typical cases of cyberbullying. Beijing’s latest push to crack down on cyberbullying came after some cases caught national attention. … Read more

President Xi Jinping to chair Yangtze River Economic Belt meeting during Shanghai tour in display of support for the financial hub

President Xi Jinping to chair Yangtze River Economic Belt meeting during Shanghai tour in display of support for the financial hub

Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair a meeting of officials from the Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, urging them to make concerted efforts to reinforce the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, one of his signature projects, sources familiar with the matter told the Post. The meeting, to be held on Wednesday or … Read more

Taiwan election: KMT’s Hou Yu-ih climbs in polls after collapse of joint ticket, but DPP’s William Lai still leads

Taiwan election: KMT’s Hou Yu-ih climbs in polls after collapse of joint ticket, but DPP’s William Lai still leads

KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih and running mate Jaw Shaw-kong came in second place with the support of 31 per cent of respondents, while 23 per cent of respondents favoured the TPP’s Ko Wen-je, another Beijing-friendly candidate. Other polls conducted right after talks for the KMT and TPP to run on the same ticket collapsed … Read more

Xi Jinping calls legal backing on foreign affairs an ‘urgent task’ for China

Xi Jinping calls legal backing on foreign affairs an ‘urgent task’ for China

President Xi Jinping has called for stronger legal backing in areas related to foreign affairs so that China can better manage its opening up and mitigate risks. Xi described this as an “urgent task for advancing high-level openness to the outside world and addressing external risks and challenges”, state news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday. … Read more

Beijing slams Taiwan’s DPP over cross-strait ‘chaos’, warns of rising risk of war if 1992 consensus not heeded

Beijing slams Taiwan’s DPP over cross-strait ‘chaos’, warns of rising risk of war if 1992 consensus not heeded

Beijing has slammed “pro-independence forces” in Taiwan for sowing chaos in the Asia-Pacific region, while once again warning of the rising risk of war if the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party continues to challenge its sovereignty. “Taiwan separatists are incompatible with peace in the Taiwan Strait and a source of chaos affecting the stability of … Read more