An international tribunal's ruling that China has caused severe harm to coral reefs and endangered species in the South China Sea will not stop further damage to an already plundered ecoystem, scientists and academics said. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled on Tuesday that China did not have historic rights to the South China Sea and that it had breached Philippine sovereignty by endangering its ships and fishing and oil projects in the energy-rich waters. China claims more than 90 percent of the South China Sea, an area which accounts for more than a tenth of global fisheries production and is also claimed in part by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. "China will take no notice of the Hague ruling," Brian Morton, Emeritus Professor of Marine Ecology at Hong Kong University, told Reuters. "And it will be virtually impossible to restore the reefs given global warming and destructive fishing techniques continuing." William Cheung, associate … [Read more...] about South China Sea ruling won’t stop plundering of ecosystem, experts say
Chinese say
Jon Stewart’s humor a hit with millions of envious Chinese
Humor may not always translate well, but Jon Stewart is picking up millions of fans in China, where his gloves-off political satire is refreshing for many in a country where such criticism is a rarity - especially when directed at their own leaders. Recent popular sequences have included one in which Stewart lampooned the Chinese hackers who hacked into the New York Times computer system earlier this year, wondering if that was the best they could do. But far from squelching Stewart, CCTV even used one of his sequences on Guantanamo Bay to criticize Obama in a regular broadcast - a move widely derided by netizens. In China, however, such criticism tends not to be welcomed by the government. Dissident artist Ai Weiwei, who regularly criticizes the government for what he sees as its flouting of the rule of law and human rights, was detained for 81 days in 2011, sparking an international outcry. "There's nothing like political satire here," said David Moses, who studies and … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart’s humor a hit with millions of envious Chinese
Chinese say no as MH370 to Thai coup deter trips
Chiang Mai, Thailand. … [Read more...] about Chinese say no as MH370 to Thai coup deter trips
Son of Chinese army singers gets 10 years’ jail for gang rape
BEIJING - A Chinese court jailed the teenage son of two celebrity army singers for ten years on Thursday for gang-raping a woman in a case that has fanned resentment against the offspring of the political elite who are widely seen as spoilt and above the law. The verdict was a strict warning to the sons and daughters of China's top-ranked Communist Party officials, who many Chinese say can dodge punishment because of family influence. Li has become the most prominent target of these complaints. Li's father is Li Shuangjiang of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), a singer known for performing patriotic songs on television shows and at official events. As dean of the music department for the Chinese army's Academy of Arts, he enjoys the same treatment as a lieutenant-general, according to the People's Liberation Army Daily. Li's mother, Meng Ge, is also a famous singer in the PLA. "I think this verdict is unjust," Chen Shu, one of Li's lawyers, told reporters. "This decision is … [Read more...] about Son of Chinese army singers gets 10 years’ jail for gang rape
Let’s show 1904 Chinese map to China: expert
A map of China published in 1904 showing that the Paracels and Spratlys did not belong to China should be announced widely, not only to local people and researchers but also to the world, especially Chinese, says Dr. Phan Van Hoang. >> Spratlys, Paracels not on 1904 Chinese map >> Speak with once voice on China: Aquino>>China's Sansha city election in East Sea under fire>> Discoverer of official documents on Hoang Sa honoured Hoang, former secretary of Ho Chi Minh City's Science History Association, said Vietnam has a large amount of sovereignty data about the Hoang Sa (Paracels) and Truong Sa (Spratlys) islands in the East Sea, but the information has yet to be systemized and announced in a proper way. "The government should have released the sovereignty data a long time ago. The map, called "Hoàng triều trực tỉnh địa dư toàn đồ" (Map of all Chinese provinces), is one example of available and valuable data that we have," Hoang says. In research circles, many … [Read more...] about Let’s show 1904 Chinese map to China: expert