June 7, 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.

Violent Chengguan in Yan’an
Background: Five Chengguan (city management officers) in Yan’an recently had a violent altercation with local vendors when they tried to confiscate their bicycles. Video from the scene showed a Chengguan jumping and stomping on one of the vendor’s heads. One witness said some of the chengguan smelled strongly of alcohol. The Yan’an Urban Management Bureau says that the inspector who stomped on the vendor’s head was only a temporary worker.

Commentary:
The enforcement of urban management shouldn’t be violent. Blaming a “temporary worker” isn’t a reasonable explanation that people can accept, and will only bring more inquires to the official department. That explanation showed an attitude of dodging responsibility and passing the buck. The negative effect shouldn’t be ignored.
- Beijing News

An investigation must be done. It should not just be show business. The city’s good reputation will be rebuilt only after the bullies get their punishment. And by the way, it is time for the government to do a complete overhaul of the urban management system.
- China Business View

We should pay attention to evidence and details and clarify responsibilities of each party in the case. Only in this way can we establish law and order to solve social disputes. Otherwise, business owners are likely to get unfair treatment and city inspectors can cover their crimes easily. The hatred behind every case will eventually cause trouble. Like People’s Daily once said: “A minor problem can be dragged into major one and a major problem can be dragged into grave one.”(小事拖大，大事拖炸)
- Southern Metropolis Daily

We can find a temporary worker in every case, but supervision of the law enforcement system cannot be temporary. Therefore the fundamental solution to law enforcement violence is to eliminate the temporary system and establish a regular one.
- Chongqing Times
Link: [Chinese]

Fining Unwed Mothers
Background: Recently, the Wuhan government began a new population management regulation fining mothers who give birth out of wedlock at a rate twice the normal fees for childbirth. The regulation is aimed at discouraging affairs with married men.

Commentary
Men who are responsible for pregnancies though extramarital affairs are likely to put a heavy financial burden on unmarried mothers and leave them to live in squalid conditions. The public uproar reflects the policy’s shortcomings, which are a lack of practical use and also a little bit of bullying.  
- Beijing News

Being a mistress is unethical. However, not all unmarried mothers are mistresses and it’s not always their fault when they get pregnant before marriage. We should draw a line between ethics and law. That’s what we do in a civilized society. Otherwise, all the law enforcement that attempts to correct morals and ethics will be considered an abuse of power.
- Chongqing Times

The main problem with this regulation is the disregard for women and the right to give birth. It deprives women of the right to have children without getting married.
- Global Times
Link: [Chinese]

Anhui Vice-Governor’s Political Misdeeds
Background: After the Ministry of Supervision recently announced that Ni Fake (倪發(fā)科), the former vice-governor of Anhui Province, was under investigation for “serious disciplinary offenses” several newspapers exposed that he at the center of a political scandal in 1998. Ni was then a local official in the city of Wuhu (蕪湖). When central leaders from Beijing came to examine a granary in Anhui, he lied to them and then-Premier Zhu Rongji (朱镕基) about the true amount of grain in the granary.

Commentary:
The current promotion system in the government doesn’t take into account officials cheating. In order to have a justice system, we should take away promotion opportunities from officials who have cheated in their work before. It’s a very simple expectation.
- China Business View

It’s been 15 years since the scandal happened. People still care about it because in their eyes, an official must be responsible for all the things he or she has done during their political career. No matter how long ago it was, as long as the problem is exposed, we must call those responsible to account. To investigate things that happened in the past is a way to examine officials’ work.
- Beijing News
Link: [Chinese]

The Strictest Security Check In Gaokao History
Background: Jilin province has introduced a very strict security check process for people sitting China’s annual gaokao college entrance exam in order to weed out people trying to sneak in devices to help them cheat. It forbids any metal material - even the iron wires in bras. If students set off the metal detector, they won’t be allowed to sit the exam. Students that have metal medical devices inside their body must present a letter from a hospital.

Commentary:
To ensure gaokao security, the fundamental measure lies with people. Tools only assist them. Even if passing through the strictest gaokao security check, will it be able to ensure there is nothing that gets through?
China Youth Daily
Original article: [Chinese]

It is the duty of the education system to prevent cheating, but no measure can exceed boundaries of authority and violate citizens’ rights.
Beijing News
Original article: [Chinese]