Hebei Province: a Sense of Frost

^{Click picture for “Jimu News” video}

The following is not a translation but my loose repetition of some of its content – JR

Main link: “near zero degrees”

“I never thought that the drop in temperature would be that hefty,” “Jimu News” quotes a farmer from Guyuan County, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.
There had been a blue alert of cold weather, issued by the Zhangjiakou Meteorological Obervatory on Thursday afternoon (August 25), saying that temperatures could be as low as 1 to 4° Celsius in Kangbao County, Guyuan County, Shangyi County among other places in the morning of Saturday (August 27), and suggested that farmers took precautions.

The farmer sensed frost when waking up and then found frozen water in the courtyard’s basin. Rushing to his fields, he found that leaves of zuchini as well as zuchini in its early stages had been killed.

“Jimu News” got similar accounts from other farmers, but does not quantify the overall damage done in the region. The quoted farmer estimates his personal damage at about 40,000 yuan, while in a normal year, he would have made 80,000 yuan RMB from 10 mu. This year, his picking season would end one month early.

A trader from Shandong Province is quoted with expecations of higher prices. Some kind of common beans (芸豆) are said to have been at 9.4 yuan per kilogram on Friday, but to have risen to over 14 yuan per kilogram by Saturday.^*) Some areas had even stopped production, the trader is quoted.

Also from the trader’s point of view, based on five years of his own activity, frost has been early by one month, as it would usually be expected in late September.

Some web pages with the “Jimu News” article have been removed. The above draws on news.cnhubei.com content (also removed), but it still seems to be available elsewhere.

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Notes

*)	除此之外，芸豆的产量和价格也受到了影响。“26号芸豆还是4块7一斤，今天7块多了，基本上一天涨一块。”刘华说，即便收购价格还不错，但当地芸豆产量也不多了。

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The Paper: Youth Day Activities in Weihai, Shandong Province

The following are extracts from an article published by The Paper (澎湃) , Shanghai, on Youth Day activities in Huancui District, Shandong Province. According to Chinese historiography, the transfer of Qingdao to Japan (rather than to China) after WW1 gave rise to the “May-4th Movement”. Therefore, a May-4 related activity in Shandong Province is probably relevant for media elsewhere in China.

Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Revolutionary deeds shall be rewarded

Main Link: On May-4 Youth Day, Weihai City youngsters greet youthfulness with their struggles!

Middle school Youth League Committees in Huancui District extensively launched online league lessons with the May-4th spirit as an important topic, organized student members’ studies of on-hand disease prevention heroes’ advanced achievements, to follow the role models’ examples, to arouse the membership school children’s patriotic feelings and sense of responsibility, encourage numerous students to inherit and to enhance the Communist Youth League’s glorious tradition, and to perpetuate the student league members’ ideals and faith in following the party.

环翠区各中学团委广泛开展以“五四精神”为主要内容的线上团课，组织学生团员学习身边防疫英雄的先进事迹，引导学生团员向榜样看齐，激发学生团员的爱国之情和责任意识，激励广大学生团员继承和弘扬共青团的光荣传统，坚定学生团员跟党走的理想信念。

[…]

The cadres of the departments, organizations and organs directly under Huancui District [jurisdiction] integrated themselves into the launch of Youth Day activities. Huancui District Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Office and Huancui District Development and Reform Bureau launched “assault fortified positions and build a youthful volunteering industry” volunteer service activities including tree-planting and environment protection, fire-prevention propaganda, Haibei reward points  promotion and other content, helping in building a fine city.

环翠区直部门组织机关干部结合自身职能开展青年节活动。环翠区综合行政执法局、环翠区市场监督管理局、环翠区发展改革局开展“攻坚突破 筑梦青春 志愿同行”青年志愿服务活动，包括植树护绿、防火宣传、公筷文明宣传、海贝积分推广等内容，助力精致城市建设。环翠区机关事务服务中心组织开展了“弘扬‘五四’精神，展青春风采”主题活动，讲述在防疫过程中，干部职工冲锋在前、无私奉献的奋斗故事，传递正能量。

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Related

Cargo cult, Wikipedia (acc May 4, 2020)
Open the Skies, May 5, 2013

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Wang Dashan does Agriculture and Countryside Investigation and Research Work

Main Link: https://new.qq.com/omn/20190509/20190509A0IQMU.html

Addional Link: Laoling

Wang Dashan conducts investigation and research work on agriculture and countryside

王大山调研农业农村工作

On May 8, municipal party committee vice secretary and city mayor Wang Dashan went to some of the village and township for investigation and research of agriculture and countryside, rivers and lakes administration, hospital construction and other work. Vice mayors Wu Feng and Zhao Meng took part in the investigation and research.

5月8日，市委副书记、市长王大山到部分乡镇调研农业农村、河湖清违清障、卫生院建设等工作。副市长吴峰、赵蒙参加调研。

At Yang‘an Town hospital, Wang Dashan minutely enquired about patients‘ medical treatment conditions and mental health stations‘ construction promotion. He emphasized the need for continuous strengthening of management, hospital affairs management and staff management, improvement of professional levels and hospital safety, as well as safeguarding medical treatment safety.

在杨安镇中心卫生院，王大山详细了解病人就医条件及精神卫生场所建设推进情况，他强调，要进一步细化管理，强化医院业务管理和人员管理，提升专业水平和服务水平；要加强医院安全管理，保证医疗安全。

At Kongzhen Zhangqiao Community, Wang Dashan heard [reports about] clearing Majia River and emphasized that, in accordance with necessities, the pace of construction work and removal of illegal constructions on the rivers needed to be accelerated in accordance with the law. There was a need to set up robust mechanisms, to resolutely put an end to the phenomenon of negative repercussions, ensuring the clearance of illegal river course issues, and safeguarding against floodings.

在孔镇张桥尹社区，王大山听取马颊河清违清障工作推进情况，强调，要根据问题台账，按照应拆尽拆的要求，加快工作进度，依法依规对河道违法建筑进行拆除。要建立健全机制，坚决杜绝反弹现象的发生，确保河道违法问题全部清零，保障河道行洪安全。

At Kongzhen‘s Wangmutui Fruit Tree demonstration base, Wang Dashan minutely enquired about the building of cooperatives and operations, emphasizing the need to conscientously bring into play the village party branch‘s model leading role in launching cooperatives, the establishment of village business concepts, creation of own trademarks, successful carrying out of packaging, strengthening of model examples‘ drive [for other projects], giving prominence to distinguishing features, establishing bright spots, striving for radiance and spurring more peasant masses to become rich.

在孔镇王木腿果树示范基地，王大山详细了解合作社建设和运营情况，强调，要切实发挥好村党支部领创办合作社的模范带头作用，树立经营理念，打造自己品牌，做好产品包装；要强化示范带动，突出特色、打造亮点，争取辐射和带动更多农民群众致富。

Having enquired about Kongzhen Fantuncun [or model station village] village and township department “New Village Loudspeaker Project”, Wang Dashan emphasized the need for strengthening everyday administration, deeply penetrating and implementing the party‘s propaganda policy, taking advantage of flat-roofed building and let the farmers obtain tangible benefits.

在孔镇范屯村了解了乡镇村部“新农村大喇叭工程”建设情况后，王大山强调，要加强日常管理，深入落实党的宣传政策，利用平台优势，让农民切实得到实惠。

At Guojia Street‘s Daonan Fucun Scientific Science and Technology Institute, Wang Dashan examined the three-dimensional wheat seedling distribution experimental field supervision and cornfield management, minutely enquiring about the experiment implementation. He hoped the Institute would accelerate the spreading of achievements made there, playing a promotional role in the development of scientific agriculture, strengthen guidance and coverage of the countryside, and let the farming masses gain greater benefits.

在郭家街道南夏村科技小院，王大山现场查看小麦立体匀播实验田管理及麦田管理，详细了解实验实施情况，希望科技小院加快科技实验成果在当地的转化推广，发挥科学技术对农业发展的推动作用，加强对村民的引导，扩大覆盖面，让农民群众获得更大的效益。

Reporter: Wang Yugang

【记者:王玉刚】

 

 

Cybercrime Report: “Major targets”

The following is a translation of an article by Xinhua newsagency. The cybercrime report reproduced by Xinhua on November 13 was apparently published nearly two weeks earlier, on November 1, with the keywords online fraud (网络诈骗), pretended moonlighting (虚假兼职), false shopping items (虚假购物), red envelopes (红包), finance (理财), cash returns (现返), and false identities (身份冒充).

While the reporting units are located in Beijing, the statistics refer to cases from all over China. According to the report, Guangdong, Shandong, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Henan, and Zhejiang provinces topped the list with 13.4%, 6.4%, 5.6%, 5.5%, 5.0%, and another 5.0% respectively.

Main Link: Men most easily fooled online, young users as fraudsters’ major targets

Xinhua Tianjin, Nov 13 2017 (Zhou Runjian reporting) — Online fraud reporting website Liewang’s¹⁾ “2017 third-quarter report on online fraud research” points out that there are more men than women among the victims of online fraud, especially men born from 1990 to 1999²⁾.

新华社天津１１月１３日电（记者周润健）国内网络诈骗信息举报平台——猎网平台最新发布的《２０１７年第三季度网络诈骗趋势研究报告》指出，在网络诈骗中，男性受害者占比大大高于女性，９０后受害者最多。

The report says that among the accounts that reported cases, 67.4 percent were men, and 32.6 percent were women. However, men reported an average loss of 13.404 Yuan RMB, while women reported an average losso f 17.522 Yuan RMB.

报告指出，从报案用户的性别差异来看，男性受害者占比大大高于女性，分别占６７．４％和３２．６％；但从人均损失来看，男性为１３４０４元，女性为１７５２２元。

The report’s analysis says that in cyberlife, chances that women would be fooled are much smaller than with men, but that once women do trust a fraudster, they will frequently pay much more.

报告分析说，在网络生活中，女性的上当几率其实要比男性低得多，但女性一旦相信了骗子，往往会比男性付出更大的代价。

The report also points out that there are also significant differences between the occasions on which men and women are cheated. Those cheated in online gaming transactions, gambling, lotteries and establishing contacts, nearly 80 percent of those cheated are men, while most women become victims of refunding fraud and schemes that seem to offer moonlighting opportunities.

报告进一步指出，男性和女性在不同类型的网络诈骗中被骗几率也有明显不同。其中，在网游交易、赌博博彩、交友诈骗中，被骗的几乎８０％都是男性，而退款诈骗、虚假兼职类诈骗是女性被骗比例最高的诈骗类型。

It is worth noting that there are also big differences in the ways men and women are cheated. Faked concurrent-job offers are the ones that most women are cheated with (28.3 percent), while the most frequent fraud reported by men is financial fraud (19.4 percent).

值得注意的是，男性和女性在被骗类型方面也有很大的区别。虚假兼职是女性被骗最多的类型，占比２８.３％，男性被骗举报数量排名第一的是金融诈骗，占比为１９．４％。

The report also says that 42.0 percent of online fraud victims are 1990ers, 29.7 percent are the second largest group with 29.7 percent, and 11.8 percent of the overall number are 1970ers with 11.8 percent. The specific age group focused on by online fraud are those aged between from 18 and to 31.

报告还指出，从被骗网民的年龄上看，９０后的网络诈骗受害者占所有受害者总数的４２．０％，其次是８０后占比为２９．７％，再次是７０后占比为１１．８％；从具体年龄上来看，１８岁至３１岁的人群是网络诈骗受害者最为集中的年龄段。

The report believes that young people with particular internet skills and extensive online time who, at the same time, lack sufficient social experience, are major targets and victims of online fraud.

报告认为，即具有一定的上网能力，上网时间较长，同时又缺乏足够社会经验的年轻人是网络诈骗的主要对象和主要受害人群。

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Notes

¹⁾ “Liewang” (“internet hunt”) is a cybercrime reporting website run by the “Beijing Alliance for Online Security and against Cybercrime”, which in turn is co-run by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (PBS) and Qihoo 360, an (apparently privately-owned) online security company.

²⁾ ９０后 (1990ers) refers to people born between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1999

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International Press Review: Huanqiu Shibao “quotes” German newspaper on Social Credit System

Main Link / Headline – German media: “Social Credit System” plan will change Chinese Peoples’ Sincerity for the Better

The following is a translation from Huanqiu Shibao‘s international press reviews. Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Germany’s “Süddeutsche Zeitung” in an article on May 23, titled digital plan will change Chinese for the better. China is trying some new things. One of these is social credit digitalization. In the coming three years, China will carry out the “social credit system” plan. Social credit rating will change Chinese peoples’ sincerity for the better.

德国《南德意志报》5月23日文章，原题：数字计划让中国人变得更好  中国正尝试一些全新的事物。社会信用数字化就是其中之一。在未来3年里，中国将实施“社会信用体系”计划。信用评价将让中国人的诚信变得更好。

This means that in the future, there will be a “social credit office” and a sincerity app, assessing if a citizen is honest. Based on the social credit data it will be decided if a citizen can board a plane. Those who always cross the street on a crosswalk and pay their bills in time will be rewarded. For others, who cheat in the higher education exams, or download bootleg movies, their bad social credit will lead to serious consequences.

这意味着未来将有“信用办公室”和诚信App，来评估一个公民是否诚实。而信用电子数据将决定一个公民是否可以登机。那些总走斑马线、及时支付所有账单的人，将得到奖励。而另一些人，如果他们在高考上作弊，或下载盗版电影，其不良的信用将造成严重的后果。

Reportedly, the coastal city of Rongcheng will serve as a testing ground for the “social credit system”. This city hasn’t only established a social credit management structure, but has also defined a social credit standards system, from triple-A to D. If citizens in Rongcheng allow their dog to defecate on public lawns, or if they spread “rumors” on social networks, they will receive punishment by downgrading.

据悉，中国海滨城市荣成市是“社会信用体系”的试点城市。这个城市不仅建立了信用管理机构，还制定了社会信用评价标准体系，等级从“AAA”到“D”不等。在荣成市，如果市民让宠物狗在公共草坪上拉屎，或者在社交网络传播“谣言”，都将受到信用降级惩罚。

According to Chinese plans, the “social credit system” will be implemented nation-wide in 2020. It’s goal, according to the government’s wish: Trustworthy people shall fly freely in the sky, and people with shortcomings in trustworthiness will be “unable to move”.

按照中国的计划，“社会信用体系”将在2020年首次在全国实施。其目标，按照政府的意思：讲信用的人应该自由地在天空下翱翔，而信用缺失的人将“寸步难行”。

Imagine this – in an omniscient, all-perceptive world, a digital system may know you even better than you know yourself.  By means of algorithms, it can help you to do better, and to become more honest. This system will also help you to get loans at lower interest rates, and to get a job at government departments. Isn’t this an honest and harmonious world? (Author: Kai Strittmatter)

想象一下，在一个无所不知、无所不见的世界里，数字机制将比你自己还要了解你。它会通过算法，帮助你做得更好，让你变得更加诚信。这一系统，也助你得到低息贷款，并获得政府部门的工作。难道这不是一个公平、和谐的世界？(作者凯·施特里特马特尔，青木译)

The account by Huanqiu Shibao is no precise reproduction of what Strittmatter wrote – if based on this German-language original. Strittmatter himself based much of his short article on statements by a professor Zhang from Beijing -the  “Imagine-this”-sentence, for example, is originally a quote from the professor, who isn’t mentioned by Huanqiu.

And what is completely left out of the Huanqiu translation is Strittmatters rather succinct roundup: “A dictatorship that reinvents itself, digitally.”

One could think that the translator simply missed the scoff in the original  – but hardly so once the most critical remark is   left out altogether. There must be another plan for even more perfect sincerity at work. Something like this:

If the international press doesn’t work in line with the people’s wishes, the Chinese nation will build itself a more sincere international press review, in line with China’s national conditions.

Pope’s Meeting with Suzhou Bishop Raises Questions

Central News Agency (CNA), via Radio Taiwan International (RTI), →quotes Taiwan’s foreign ministry as saying that the diplomats were closely following developments after Pope Francis had held the first public reception for a mainland Chinese pilgrimage group, led by Suzhou bishop Xu Honggen (徐宏根), on October 5. According to the report, the foreign ministry added that the Vatican, as a non-secular state, remained “absolutely concerned” about the treatment of mainland Chinese underground church members.

RTI CNA refers to a Chinese-language report by the Catholic Asian News network (UCAN), →here  in English, on October 13. According to UCA, the event met a mixed reception among the open and underground Catholic communities in China due to ongoing talks between the Vatican and China’s ruling Communist Party that have divided the faithful.

The public reception (including a souvenir photo with the Pope in Saint Peter’s Square) was seen as an indication that the relationship between mainland China and the Vatican were developing further.

Apparently quoting the Taiwanese foreign ministry again, the RTI report points out that there was an alliance between the Republic of China (i. e. Taiwan) regarding religious freedom, democracy, human rights, and humanitarian help, and that in September, → Taiwanese vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) had visited the Vatican on invitation, to take part in the → canonization of Mother Teresa.

→ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that there has been a long-standing friendship between the Republic of China and the Vatican, that the bilateral friendship was stable and strong, with close exchanges, and frequent high-ranking bilateral meetings between the two sides.

外交部表示，中華民國與教廷邦誼源遠流長，雙邊邦誼穩固、交流密切，多年來雙方高層及重要官員互訪頻繁。

According to the → “state administration for religious affairs of P.R.C” (SARA, 国家宗教事务局) website,

In the morning of April 20 [2006], Father Xu Honggen of the Catholic Suzhou parish was ordained bishop in the → Yangjiaqiao Catholic Church. The → Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China Vice Chairman and Bishop of Linyi diocese in Shandong province, Fang Xingyao, Jiangsu Province Nanjing diocese Bishop Lu Xinping, Shandong Qingdao diocese Bishop Li Mingshu, Shandong Zhoucun diocese Bishop Ma Xuesheng and Shandong Jinan diocese Bishop assistant Bishop Zhang Xianwang conducted the ceremony. More than fourty priests from Suzhou diocese and other provincial cities were also on the platform, with nearly 3,000 Catholics attending. — → Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China Chairman Bishop Fu Tieshan and others sent congratulatory messages.  Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association Secretary General Liu Yuanlong, Deputy Secretary General Chen Shujie, were present to congratulate. The ordination was conducted in accordance with the Bishop Conference of the Catholic Church in China’s “Regulations Concerning the Choice of Bishops” and the “Holy Order of Ordination of Bishops”, with the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China’s document of approval being read out. The newly ordained Bishop Xu Honggen swore that he would conscientiously carry out his duties as Bishop, lead all the priests, monks, nuns and church members in the diocese, comply with the state constitution, protect national unity, social stability and unity, and contribute to comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society and to the building of a socialist, harmonious society. The ordainment ceremony was dignified and solemn, warm-hearted and peaceful.

祝圣仪式由中国天主教主教团副主席、山东省临沂教区主教房兴耀主礼，江苏省南京教区陆新平主教、山东省青岛教区李明述主教、山东省周村教区马学圣主教和山东省济南教区张宪旺助理主教襄礼。苏州教区和有关省市40多位神甫同台共祭，近3000名天主教徒参加了祝圣典礼。中国天主教爱国会主席、中国天主教主教团代主席傅铁山主教等致贺电，中国天主教爱国会秘书长刘元龙、中国天主教爱国会副秘书长陈书杰神甫到场祝贺。主教祝圣仪式按照中国天主教主教团《关于选圣主教的规定》和《主教圣秩授予典礼》有关程序进行，宣读了中国天主教主教团批准书。新任主教徐宏根宣誓要善尽主教的职责，带领本教区全体神甫、修士、修女和教友，遵守国家宪法，维护国家的统一和社会安定团结，为全面建设小康社会和构建社会主义和谐社会贡献力量。祝圣典礼庄严隆重、热烈祥和。

Xu Honggen, born in April 1962, graduated from → Shanghai Sheshan Monestary in 1990. He was ordained by former Suzhou diocesan Bishop Ma Longyao as a priest the same year. From 1994 to 1999, he went to America to study at → St. Joseph’s Seminary and Church in New York and the 联合神学院 in Chicago. He earned theological and classical master’s degrees and is currently [i. e. 2006] the Jiangsu Catholic educational administration’s deputy director.

徐宏根主教生于1962年4月，1990年毕业于上海佘山修院，同年由原苏州教区马龙麟主教祝圣为神甫。徐宏根主教1994年至1999年赴美国纽约若瑟修院、芝加哥联合神学院学习，先后获神学硕士、圣经学硕士学位，现任江苏省天主教教务委员会副主任。

According to Vatican Radio‘s German-language → website at the time (April 2006), Xu Honggen’s ordination was approved both by the Vatican, and the Chinese government. Oddly, Radio Vatican spotted the diocese in Hong Kong.

The BBC Mandarin service quotes UCAN as writing that this public meeting with Xu Honggen and the pilgrims was considered neglicance of the underground church. Members of the underground church had said the event confirmed that even though they were loyal to the Vatican, they got very little support.

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Related

→ Inexhaustible Wisdom, Febr 17, 2016
→ Unachieved Dream, Mar 13, 2013
→ Hao Jinli, 1916 – 2011, Mar 28, 2011

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Maritime Powers – Argentina and Indonesia arrest Chinese Fishing Crews

1. China, Taiwan vs. Indonesia

Chinese fishing trawlers have been involved in two rather strongly publicized disputes this month.

One of the two disputes occurred on March 19 local time, in a location called a traditional Chinese fishing ground by the Chinese embassy in Jakarta. This was, reportedly, a bit south of the South China Sea, and well inside Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone, according to Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesian minister of fisheries and maritime affairs (and, according to this announcement on “Facebook”, previously an entrepreneur in the seafood distribution and fisheries industry). The Indonesian coastguard reportedly arrested eight fishermen from a Chinese fishing ship before a Chinese coast guard ship intervened and rammed the fishing ship back into the South China Sea, according to the English-language Jakarta Globe. Beijing has since demanded the release of the eight fishermen, but Indonesia appears determined to prosecute them.

Chinese foreign-ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, just as the Chinese embassy in Jakarta, referred to the incident location as “traditional Chinese fishing grounds”. She also said that Natuna Islands belong to Indonesia, and there is no objection from China on that. The Jakarta Globa quoted Pudjiastuti as saying that the incident occurred occurred just 4.34 kilometers off Indonesia’s Natuna islands, adding her conclusion that this was inside Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone. On another press conference two days later, Hua answered even more questions concerning the incident.

Two days (local time) after the arrests, two Taiwanese fishing boats were fired at by what they believed to be an official Indonesian vessel while in the Strait of Malacca, according to the English-language Taipei Times. According to the report, a spokesman for the Indonesian Navy Headquarters said that there had been no report by the Indonesian coast guard or navy vessels of chasing Taiwanese fishing boats, but on Thursday, the Straits Times quoted an Indonesian government taskforce against illegal fishing as saying that there had been an incident involving two Taiwanese tuna longliners, and that the shots had been fired in self-defense as the Taiwanese vessels had tried to ram it.

2. China vs. Argentina

On March 14, Argentina’s coast guard sunk a Chinese trawler off the Patagonian coast. The BBC’s Mandarin service reported in an online newsarticle quoted the Argentine coastguard as saying that

The Chinese trawler Luyan Yuanyu 010 was detected while conducting illegal activities in the [Argentine] economic exclusive zone on Monday (March 14). When trying to stop [the Chinese trawler], the coast guard was surprised by  a counter-attack and then sank this trawler.

来自中国的拖网渔船“鲁烟远渔010”周一（14日）被发现在其专属经济水域（EEZ）非法作业，警备队在阻挡时遭反击，随后击沉这艘渔船。

The speaker of the Chinese foreign ministry, Lu Kang, said on March 16 that the trawler in question had been “chased for several hours during its work in Argentine fishing grounds. The statement said nothing about “illegal fishing”, nor about whether or not the trawler had put up a counter attack [or counter attacks].

中国外交部发言人陆慷周三（16日）表示，有关渔船“在阿根廷渔场作业时，被阿海警船追赶数小时”。声明并未提及任何关于“非法捕鱼”的字句，也没有提及中方渔船有否反抗。

Lu Kang emphasized that all 32 crew members had been saved, that the Chinese side had made urgent representations to the Argentine side, that it had demanded an investigation and a report as well as safeguarding the safety and legal rights of the crew, as well as avoiding similar incidents from happening in the future.

陆慷指出，32名船员全部获救，中方已和阿方展开紧急交涉，要求阿根廷彻查详情并向中国报告，保障中国船员的安全及合法权益，避免类似事件再发生。

The official news agency Xinhua said that while a debate about whether one side had trespassed or whether the other had acted out of proportions while enforcing the law, the Chinese embassy in Argentina had reminded the Chinese fishing companies busy in the South Atlantic to pay attention to safety.

The BBC report reproduces the Argentine coast guards account as saying that the Chinese trawler, after its detection, had tried to escape into international waters. In the process, it had rammed the coast guard vessel several times, thus putting not only the Chinese crewmen at risk, but the Argentinians, too. While 28 crew members were apparently saved by another Chinese vessel, four were picked from the water by the Argentine coast guard and will reportedly be prosecuted in Argentina.

According to the online trade publication SeafoodSource.com, the Luyan Yuanyu 010 trawler was operated by Shandong Yantai Marine Fisheries Co., […] a subsidiary of the China National Fisheries Corporation (CNFC), which ultimately, across some shareholding, makes this a state-owned operation.

A possibly similar incident, but in politically-charged waters, occured four and a half years ago, in the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands which are controlled by Japan, and considered Chinese by Beijing and Taipei. Japan released the crew and the captain of the Chinese fishing vessel about a fortnight after his arrest, and China gave the captain, Zhan Qixiong, a hero’s welcome.

During the two weeks of the crisis, China, according to the Economist,

apparently suspended its export of rare-earth minerals, which are vital to making electronics components used in everything from handheld gadgets to cars. On September 23rd China emphatically denied that it is blocking exports. And this may be true: there probably isn’t a formal directive. But in a country where informal rules abound, exporters know that it can pay to withhold shipments—in solidarity with a government that is angry at its neighbour.

The Japanese government in office at the time was largely seen as roundly defeated by Beijing, and efforts have since been made to make Japan less dependent on business with China in general, and on “rare earth minerals” in particular.

Probably, neither Argentina nor China are interested in escalating the conflict, and the Ji Lu Evening Post (齐鲁晚报) from Jinan, Shandong Province, quoted Xinhua as, in turn, quoting the Argentinian foreign minister Susana Malcorra as saying in a televised interview on March 18 that Argentina hoped the sinking of the trawler wouldn’t greatly affect the bilateral relations with Beijing.

The Chinese service of Argentina’s foreign broadcaster Radiodifusión Argentina al Exterior (RAE) quoted Malcorra correspondingly.

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Related

» No bit of Humanity, July 22, 2012

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“Star of the East” Aftermath: at Ease, under the Party’s and Government’s Help

A breathless Xinhua article published online by the People’s Daily today, with coverage which reads as if the whole story had unfolded only within the past twenty-four hours.

The Xinhua article seems to be the authoritative account of what happened, and how the authorities reacted. It was announced on Saturday evening’s Xinwen Lianbo. Click picture above for video.

On June 1, at about 21:30, the “Star of the East” from Chongqing’s Dongfang Ferry Company, on its way from Nanjing to Chongqing, suddenly capsized, hit by a tornado. In the furious storm and the surging waves, 456 passengers and crew were in a desperate situation.

６月１日２１时３０分许，重庆东方轮船公司所属旅游客船“东方之星”轮在由南京驶往重庆途中，突遇龙卷风顷刻翻沉，狂风暴雨，巨浪滔滔，４５６名旅客和船员陷入绝境。

Life is greater than the heavens!

生命大于天！

Under the strong leadership of the Party’s Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the Secretary General, under the State Council’s work group’s direct command, the party committees and governments of Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing and elsewhere, the united action of the central authorities, the People’s Liberation Army’s and Armed Police and maritime authorities rapid mobilization abilities, nationwide mobilization for search and rescue action quickly unfolded.

在以习近平同志为总书记的党中央坚强领导下，在国务院工作组直接指挥下，湖北、湖南、重庆等地党委和政府，中央有关部门统一行动，人民解放军、武警部队及海事部门迅速调集力量，一场举国动员的搜救行动迅速展开。

After receiving the report, Central Committee Secretary General, State Chairman, and Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping issued important instructions right away, ordering the State Council work group to go to the site to guide the rescue work, and that Hubei Province, Chongqing Metropolitan, and other work groups unfold all efforts with their adequate strength, and properly deal with the aftermath.

接报后，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平立即作出重要指示，要求国务院即派工作组赶赴现场指导搜救工作，湖北省、重庆市及有关方面组织足够力量全力开展搜救，并妥善做好相关善后工作。

Standing Politburo member and Chief State Councillor Li Keqiang immediately issued written instructions and, on behalf of the Party’s Central Committee and the State Council, and on behalf of Secretary Xi Jinping, hurried to the site by plane, directing the rescue and emergency reaction work.

中共中央政治局常委、国务院总理李克强立即批示，并代表党中央国务院、代表习近平总书记急飞事件现场，指挥救援和应急处置工作。

After the description of the political will behind the rescue work, the article goes into more technical and bureaucratic detail. Further down, the article mentions that the relevant local party committees and governments (i. e. Hubei Province, the Changjiang Maritime Bureau, Yueyang City, Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Chongqing, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Shandong Province, Tianjin Metropolitan authorities etc), on their own initiative, coordinated their actions. Support from companies with nationwide significance is also acknowledged.

The article also quotes reportedly positive coverage from the Wall Street Journal (WJS), and a Weibo message allegedly resent more than 100,000 times within a day, saying that “what most touched me is that the water level was lowered to facilitate the rescue work, with the Three Gorges Dam damming up water”.

That’s the role “social media” are meant to play in China, under the CCP’s guidance. Issuing authoritative information and news is for the authorities:

To publish authoritative news on ones own initiative is an effective medium to respond to society’s deep concerns. By the afternoon of June 6, the relevant authorites had done 13 press conferences, convened by the ministry of transport, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the ministry of civil affairs, by the People’s Liberation Army, Hubei Province, and other people in charge who explained the situation and replied to the reporters’ questions, supplying information regarding the rescue and salvage work and the investigations in a timely, accurate, open and transparent manner.

主动发布权威信息，是回应社会关切的有效渠道。截至６日下午，有关部门已在事件现场召开了１３场新闻发布会，交通运输部、卫计委、民政部、人民解放军及湖北省等相关负责人到会发布情况，并回答记者提问，及时、准确、公开、透明地传递救助、打捞、调查等信息。

After the incident, Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, BBC, and other foreign media, some 62 of them, arrived at Jianli, Hubei Province, covering the rescue work, the aftercare for the relatives, and how the aftermath was dealt with. Front command staff also organized three trips to the site for foreign media.

事件发生后，美联社、路透社、ＣＮＮ、ＢＢＣ等６２家境外媒体先后抵达湖北监利，就事件救援、家属安置及善后处理等采访报道。事件前方指挥部还３次组织境外媒体赶赴事故现场采访。

The article’s firt page ends with the same character it started with: Xi Jinping giving an important speech on the morning of June 4, concerning the next steps of rescue work.

Assuming high responsibility for the people’s life and safety – the attitude of the party’s and state’s highest decision-making levels is distinctive!

对人民生命安全高度负责——党和国家最高决策层态度鲜明！

the Xinhua article jubilates, and concludes the first page of its online article (there are two more pages) with what it says is a quote from French daily Le Monde:

“At a time of disaster, the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party have built the image of responsible national leaders.”

“中国共产党领导人在灾难时期树立了负责任国家领导人的形象。”法国《世界报》

The following two pages are mostly a chronicle of the rescue efforts, of blood, sweat, and respect for the dead (对逝者的尊重), apparently written to evoke the readership’s national pride and trust in the authorities.

Zhu Hongmei, a survivor saved from the wreck around noon of June 2, is hospitalized in Jianli. The article’s final line:

At Jianli County People’s Hospital, Zhu Hongmei’s condition is stable. She says that with the Party’s and government’s help, she feels at ease.

在监利县人民医院，病情平稳。她说，有党和政府的帮助，心里踏实。

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Related

»Mourning the Victims, Radio Japan, June 7, 2015
» Rescuers, Families Bow in Silence, NYT, June 7, 2015
» En quête de réponses, Le Monde, June 5, 2015
» Search complete, L. A. Times, June 6, 2015
» To the Directorate for Religious Affairs, Russian Orthodox Church, June 4, 2015
» Reluctant to embrace Transparency, NYT June 4, 2015

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