Illegal Organ Harvesting Industry Grows in China
In China, where organs are harvested from death row inmates, whether or not it was voluntary is often debated.
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China Invests in Coal on the Eve of Paris Climate Summit
This “coal boom” shows that China is holding on to a centralized investment-driven growth system, disregarding the promises of government leaders to move towards an economic model based on consumer spending, as reported by the New York Times.
Read MoreFocus on Clicktivism: China
Yang Zhong, one of the first arrested for publishing rumors online, sparked a large amount of online protest, leading to his release. Also, Tang Hui was sentenced to the “re-education through labor” system after constant petitioning of officials who had not been persecuted. Not only did public outcry lead to her release, but it also led to the abolishment of the “re-education through labor” system in China, according to the New York Times.
Read MoreNicaragua Canal Faces New Setbacks
According to Reuters, though the report stated that the canal will have an overall positive impact on Nicaragua, the Nicaraguan government must raise the standards applied in building the canal and protect against risks, such as loss of biological reserves and the risk of earthquakes.
Read MoreTPP Finalized But Faces Congressional Hurdles
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman described the deal to the New York Times as only “an important first step,” as the TPP must still be ratified by the government of each state party. Having already been denied fast-track authority on the deal by the House of Representatives earlier in the summer, President Obama still faces bipartisan opposition to the TPP.
Read MoreChinese Artist, Lego Battle Over Bricks
Posting on his Instagram account, Weiwei said “In September Lego refused Ai Weiwei studio’s request for a bulk order of Legos to create artwork to be shown at the National Gallery of Victoria as ‘they cannot approve the use of Legos for political works.’”
Read MoreFocus on Immigration: China
Although China signed both the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol, the Exit-Entry Law has only slim provisions for asylum-seekers. Due to the lack of concrete provisions, the Beijing office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been carrying out refugee status determination on China’s behalf, with a mounting caseload due to crises in the Middle East.
Read MorePlaying Devil’s Advocate for China and Africa
While some remain undecided on what to think of Chinese-African relations, it is apparent that China is taking a stronghold in the economies of certain African countries. Despite serious political turmoil in some of these states, China has aggressively established businesses, even in places where they seemed unlikely to thrive.
Read MoreShadow of Protests Continues to Haunt Hong Kong
When Hong Kong was surrendered to China by Great Britain in 1997, Beijing promised autonomy and little interference for 50 years. This meant that Hong Kong would adopt a communist system like mainland China by 2045, guaranteeing that the “one country, two systems” policy would not last.
Read MoreChina Links N. Korea With High-Speed Rail
Continuing efforts to boost economic ties with North Korea, China recently opened a high-speed railway network to the North Korean border. Beijing now “increasingly feels like North Korea is more of a liability than an opportunity.”
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