May 24, 2013

Editors from the EO's Chinese website publish a daily collection of extracts from commentary pieces on topical issues that appear in the mainland press alongside reactions on Sina Weibo. Every Friday, the EO's English team translates a selection of these opinion pieces.

Rice Tainted with Cadmium Found in Guangdong
Background: Recent food safety inspections in Guangdong province found that 44 percent of the rice tested contained excess amounts of cadmium, a heavy metal that correlates with high blood pressure. Of the 17 batches found tainted, 12 were from Hunan province. Experts suggest that people should avoid long-term consumption of rice produced from the same area.

Commentary:
Some regions may have missed the early stages of controlling water and soil contamination. But eliminating the crisis and improving water and soil conditions is a long-term process. The most important thing is to take immediate action, and we’d better start by revealing the truth about how the contamination started in the first place.
Beijing Times
Original article: [Chinese]

The restoration process of the contaminated soil is not transparent at all, as usual. The sampling, analysis and inspection processes lack public supervision and information transparency, so it is likely to be tainted with corruption.    
China Business View
Original article: [Chinese]

This case sends us another warning that we should stop pursuing high GDP growth at the cost of the environment. The ecological environment around us needs urgent rehabilitation.   
Dongfang Daily
Original article: [Chinese]

Contract System for Civil Servants
Background: A contract system for civil servants has been tested in Shenzhen and introduced to other provinces like Jiangsu, Fujian and Guangxi in recent years. Now the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security is making plans to launch trial systems around the country. The contract system is the opposite of the lifetime employment system that has traditionally existed. The idea is to bring more fair play and competition to these highly sought after positions.   

Commentary:
The contract system is complementary to the current employment system and it shows the direction of future civil servant system reform. For this reason, we should perfect the system and improve the efficiency of government. That is true reform.   
Southern Metropolis Daily
Original article: [Chinese]

The contract system will not contradict the current system since it only applies to supportive roles that require strong professional skills. Under the current circumstances, the symbolic meaning of a contract system is more significant than the actual effect.  
Guangzhou Daily
Original article: [Chinese]

The Most Beautiful Matchmaker’s White Lies
Background: At a recent award ceremony in Wuhan, Xiong Ling (熊玲), a registrar from the Wuchang District marriage registration center, received "The Most Beautiful Matchmaker" Gold Award. Xiong has worked at the center for more than nine years and witnessed more than 30,000 marriages. However, she also told white lies like “the printer is broken” or “the internet is down” in order to get over 500 couples to withdraw divorce applications. Her behavior has been criticized by some as going beyond her authority.

Commentary:
The behavior of government agencies and their staff must follow the corresponding system and honestly perform their duties. That doesn’t mean one shouldn’t be flexible when implementing official duties, however, being flexible can only be a very occasional thing. But breaking rules and then being awarded for being a good staffer? It’s a mockery and satire of professional boundaries.
China Business View
Original article: [Chinese]

Her white lies shouldn’t be overly criticized. She merely inserted a “patch” over the shortcomings of the divorce system temporarily. Setting up a “buffer area” for those impulsive divorces is perhaps much more meaningful than disparaging a registrar’s white lies.
Chongqing Morning News
Original article: [Chinese]

A Miscarriage of Justice
Background:On May 20, the Zhejiang Provincial Higher People's Court awarded Zhang Hui (張輝) and Zhang Gaoping (張高平), an uncle and nephew in Hangzhou, 1.1 million yuan each for “a miscarriage of justice.” The men spent 10 years in prison after being tortured and forced to sign confessions for the rape and murder of a 17 year old girl - a murder that was later found to have been committed by another man. Although they were each compensated 1.1 million yuan, they were denied 100,000 yuan in lawyer fees and other expenses they demanded.

Commentary Wrap:
State compensation and subsidies are ultimately paid by taxpayers, but the people responsible for the wrongful conviction didn’t pay a cent.  I’m afraid this will make it hard to gain public trust. We expect the people responsible for the case to be charged according to State Compensation Law. Then fairness can be demonstrated.
Dongfang Daily
Original article: [Chinese]

Extorting a confession through torture is a malignant tumor in judicial civilization. Using one crime against another not only violates the rationality principle of procedures, but also damages people’s expectation for justice. We must insist on saying no to this.
Guangzhou Daily
Original article: [Chinese]