Debate among Chinese intellectual over emissions cut target

Beijing has unilaterally and voluntarily announced to cut 'carbon intensity' to per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005. Carbon intensity is average emission rate of a given pollutant from a given source relative to the intensity of a specific activity. Thus, in cut in relation with GDP signifies cut in carbon emission emitted in producing energy required to achieve per unit of GDP. No doubt it has placed China at higher and respectable position in global politics. Although, environmentalist welcomed the decision and expects similar responses from other major powers, economist and academician debate the decision.

Wu Changhua, the Greater China director of the Britain-headquartered non-governmental organization Climate Group, deemed it as "a significant and meaningful step," Though, he accepts that "The cost (in achieving the emissions cut target) will be huge."

The ENGOs (Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations) shaw target declared by China as "greater contribution" to the world in addressing climate change, Chen Ying, a senior research fellow of the Research Center for Sustainable Development under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), told Xinhua.

However, Qi Jianguo (an economist also with the CASS) see the the target as "great pressure" on China's development. He further highlights that in 2020, China's gross domestic product will at least double that of now, so will emissions of greenhouse gases. But the target means the emissions in 2020 have to be roughly equivalent to the present level. Thus, it will presents a great challenge before China.

Wu said China had already closed down many small energy-consuming thermal power plants, without complaining to the international community or seeking international financial support.

Therefore, it's quite, Wu further says, difficult to cut more emissions so long as the most inefficient plants have been stopped and technological upgrading for existing plants would cost a lot.

(Interview from Xinhua)

China's media to go global

China is seeking to improve its global image by helping the country's main media organizations cover the world to raise understanding of China among the international community.

Wang Chen, minister in charge of the State Council's Information Office, made a speech at the symposium.[China.org.cn]

Wang Chen, minister in charge of the State Council's Information Office, said at a national symposium on international communication, which opened Thursday, that Chinese media should cooperate and compete globally with a "wider scope."

He called on media organizations to set up influential, information-rich and globe-spanning national media and to promote the application of new media in the Internet era.

International communication capability was an important tool of building the image of the country and a reflection of China's soft power, he said.

It would be impossible to show an authentic China to the world without strong international communication capabilities, he said.

China's major national media such as the Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television have already started to extend their networks abroad.

Xinhua is poised to build a global TV broadcast network and to increase its overseas bureaus from more than 120 to 200 by the end of 2020.

The symposium, with the theme, "Building China's Modern Communication System," is an authoritative theoretical workshop sponsored by the State Council Information Office and China International Publishing Group.

Courtesy: Xinhua, 27 Nov 2009

Wen: China's emissions cut promise serious

China's promise on its carbon dioxide emissions cut target was "a serious and solemn one," said Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Friday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd, R) meets with representatives from India, South Africa, Brazil and the G77 group of developing nations, who are in Beijing for consultations with China on climate change issues on Nov. 27, 2009. [Xinhua]

Wen made the remarks in a meeting with representatives from India, South Africa, Brazil and the G77 group of developing nations, who were here for consultations with China on climate change issues.

The State Council, or the Chinese cabinet, announced Thursday that China was going to reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005.

Wen told the foreign representatives that the Chinese government set down the task plan "based on our own national conditions and long-term interests," and "in the spirit of being responsible for the welfare of all the people in the world."

China's target was made after full scientific research and conformed to reality, the premier noted.

"We need to devote great efforts to reach the target," he said.

Wen called for global cooperation in addressing climate change issues, saying that the developing nations enjoyed common interests in this sector.

China valued the mechanism of consultation with India, Brazil and South Africa, and would increase coordination with the G77 group, he said.

"We will work with all parties concerned to help bring about reasonable and realizable outcome of the upcoming UN climate change conference in Copenhagen," said Wen, who is scheduled to attend the conference next month.

The foreign representatives applauded China's efforts and achievements in tackling climate change issues.

They agreed that developing nations should work together to safeguard common interests and make contribution to coping with this challenge and achieve sustainable development.

Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, Brazilian Presidential Advisor Marcel Fortuna Biato, and South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica were here for the ministerial consultations on climate change on Nov. 28.

The Chinese representative to the consultations will be Xie Zhenhua, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Sudan's Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, a representative of the G77, had concluded his consultations with Xie earlier Friday.

How Chinese News Paper perceives India

The recent controversy over boundary between India and China again highlighted Chinese propaganda. Both big powers are expected to behave rationally but it is not New Delhi morally bind to behave always the same. There is an Indian saying that 'to clap one need both hand '. This saying is very much applicable in the case of Indo-China relations. Thus, to enhance the current relationship between the two countries, it is essential to have mutual understanding and China must behave rationally. Otherwise, these short term propaganda will hamper the long term interests of both countries.

Below is an editorial which was published in Peoples Daily. This excerpts very vividly portrays the Chinese perception of India.

Nobody can deny that today's India is a power. In recent years, Indians have become more narrow-minded and intolerable of outside criticism as nationalism sentiment rises, with some of them even turning to hegemony. It can be proved by India's recent provocation on border issues with China.

Given the country's history, hegemony is a hundred-percent result of British colonialism. Dating back to the era of British India, the country covered a vast territory including present-day India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh as well as Nepal. India took it for granted that it could continue to rule the large area when Britain ended its colonialism in South Asia. A previous victim of colonialism and hegemony started to dream about developing its own hegemony. Obsessed with such mentality, India turned a blind eye to the concessions China had repeatedly made over the disputed border issues, and refused to drop the pretentious airs when dealing with neighbors like Pakistan.

Many Indians didn't know that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, had once said that India could not play an inferior role in the world, and it should either be a superpower or disappear.

Although the pursuit of being a superpower is justifiable, the dream of being a superpower held by Indians appears impetuous. The dream of superpower is mingled with the thought of hegemony, which places the South Asian giant in an awkward situation and results in repeated failure.

Throughout the history, India has constantly been under foreign rule. The essence for the rise of India lies in how to be an independent country, to learn to solve the complicated ethnic and religious issues, to protect the country from terrorist attacks, to boost economic development as well as to put more efforts on poverty alleviation.

Additionally, the hegemony can also be harmful in terms of geopolitical environment. The expansion of India is restricted by its geographic locations. It has Himalaya Mountain to its north, a natural barrier for northward expansion; it has Pakistan to the west, a neighbor it is always at odds over the disputed border issues.

To everyone's disappointment, India pursued a foreign policy of "befriend the far and attack the near". It engaged in the war separately with China and Pakistan and the resentment still simmers. If India really wants to be a superpower, such a policy is shortsighted and immature.

India, which vows to be a superpower, needs to have its eyes on relations with neighbors and abandon the recklessness and arrogance as the world is undergoing earthshaking changes. For India, the ease of tension with China and Pakistan is the only way to become a superpower. At present, China is proactively engaging in negotiations with India for the early settlement of border dispute and India should give a positive response.

Giant Mao statue unveiled in Hunan

A giant statue of Chairman Mao Zedong under construction in Changsha, the capital of South China's Hunan Province. When complete, the sculpture, which is 32 meters in height and covers an area of 2300 square meters, will be the largest statue of Mao Zedong in China. Courtesy: china.org.cn