An Alternative Option

Lifeweek
June 3

In recent years, a growing number of Chinese high school students are giving up national college entrance exams to study abroad. In 2009, 840,000 students followed this route, while the number came close to 1 million in 2010. About 21.1 percent of these students went to study at foreign universities.

In addition, more children are going abroad to attend high schools. In the 2005-06 school year, the number of Chinese students going to attend U.S. high schools was only 65. However, it reached 6,725 in the 2010-11 period, a 100-time increase in five years.

In the past, Chinese youth would go abroad to further their studies after graduating from university. However, parents are now sending their children abroad to attend high school or even middle school to avoid dilemmas faced by Chinese education.

By sending their children abroad, parents hope to free their kids from exam-oriented education and fully develop their aptitudes. They are also saved the trouble of getting their children into better-performing schools. The price they pay is only half that of an apartment in a first-tier city.

However, this path involves many uncertainties. On the one hand, more students are attending international classes or schools, making competition for foreign universities increasingly fierce. On the other hand, it's a huge challenge for a teenager to live abroad independently considering they have to learn a new language, overcome cultural barriers and take care of themselves.

What's more, compared with those educated at local universities, overseas students' competitive edge in the domestic job market is decreasing. Parents have to consider whether studying abroad suits their children when making such a decision.

Saving Rice

Caixin
May 27

Rice produced in south China's Hunan Province has attracted public attention in recent months due to an excessive amount of cadmium.

Cadmium is a heavy metal harmful to the human body.

For many years, south China's Guangdong Province has been the main consumer of Hunan rice. On May 22, Guangdong Food Safety Office announced that 31 batches of rice sold in the province contained an excessive amount of cadmium, among which 14 came from Hunan.

During China's fast industrialization, mining has released poisonous materials such as cadmium into nature, polluting a large area of soil through rivers and air, thereby contaminating the rice.

According to a sample survey, around 10 percent of Chinese rice carries an excessive amount of cadmium.

Over two months since the problem with Hunan rice was revealed, rice farmers and dealers have suffered a huge blow. The area's rice has failed to sell in many places.

In Lanximi of Hunan, at least 70 percent of rice producing factories have suspended or half suspended production. Many rice farmers told Caixin reporter that if their rice does to sell, they might consider turning from double to single cropping rice, or even stopping cultivation altogether.

The Hunan Provincial Government has still made no public response to multiple inquiries. 

Behind the Grain Base Fire

Changjiang Daily
June 4

The public still doubts the reasons behind the fire on May 31 that burned down a grain barn in Lindian County, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, operated by China Grain Reserves Corp. (Sinograin). A Central Government inspection report blamed the incident on a short- circuited distribution box.

The cause has been put down to improper management. The grain was stored openly without fire protection, as the barn was already overstocked.

Sinograin normally requests fire checks at least once a month for key areas, alongside 50 percent spot-checks for other areas. However, whether this rule was strictly followed remains unclear.

The incident has also raised concerns about corruption, with some suspecting the fire to be the result of arson, aimed at covering up crimes committed by corrupt local officials.

Though lacking evidence, suspicions have been fueled by previous scandals of the company concerning scalping and defalcation.

To meet public expectations, management will need to be improved.

Tax on Luxury Cars

Yanzhao Evening News
June 4

A rumor stating the government would levy a tax on luxury car purchases was recently confirmed by Luo Lei, Deputy Secretary General of China Automobile Dealers Association. China is slated to impose a luxury tax of 20 percent on cars priced over 1.7 million yuan ($277,440), excluding value-added tax, starting on June 1.

Such a move is common around the globe and, as the world's largest consumer of luxury items, China should operate in line with international practice.

Many people still fail to understand the driving force of domestic consumption behind the national economy. Some government departments despise homemade goods. The rich are additionally wild on purchasing imported luxury cars to demonstrate their success. To levy a tax on luxury car purchases will not affect the living standards of medium- or low-income groups.

Besides, the policy will prevent excessive consumption of luxury brands.

Currently, with many private company owners purchasing luxury items such as airplanes and yachts to evade tax, the government should strengthen its collection efforts and administration.