Forgotten Toxin Plagues China's Air

Caixin Century Weekly

September 8

Ammonia, composed of nitrogen and hydrogen, is a highly toxic chemical that easily dissolves in water. The salt substances that result from chemical reactions between ammonia, water and acids are the major factors contributing to ammonia's influence on PM 2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter) levels. Nitrogen fertilizers and the agricultural industry contribute 90 percent of the ammonia in the environment that goes on to pollute the air.

By 2006, China's total ammonia emissions had already reached 9.8 million tons, and over the past two decades, China has consistently been the world's biggest ammonia emitter.

In August, the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued technical guidelines on ammonia emissions. At the same time, however, it noted that China is still lacking the scientific and technological tools to monitor and cope with its level of ammonia pollution. The country is now unable to make an accurate estimation of its total ammonia emissions.

Even if environmental bodies are able to treat the ammonia released into the land and air, the success of this project will rely on the involvement of the agricultural industry, farmers, fertilizer producers and more. Without cooperation, it will be difficult to make a dent in the formation and spread of the chemical. However, knowing that the ammonia pollution levels in the air are above the "safe" range is the first step toward fixing the problem.

Chinese Cellphones Gain Favor

Oriental Outlook

September 18

Recent statistics issued by the International Data Corp. show that the shares of Samsung and Apple in the global smartphone market dropped to their lowest in recent years in the second quarter of 2014. However, Chinese cellphone brands such as Huawei and Lenovo are on the rise in the rankings, immediately following those long-time worldwide favorites.

In 2013, the total number of cellphones produced worldwide numbered around 1.8 billion, with 1.46 billion being produced in China. In 2000, the proportion made in the country was less than 5 percent.

After experiencing rapid expansion by selling low-end, cheap phones, homegrown cellphone makers have been left to figure it out for themselves how to build up quality brands. The lack of domestically produced chips and operating systems poses a problem. It is, however, not expected to hinder the pace of Chinese cellphone manufacturing—even Samsung and Sony do not use their own chips.

No longer satisfied with the domestic market, the nation's cellphone manufacturers are actively exploring the overseas market. Huawei, for instance, has already recorded sales in over 100 countries. Though domestically made cellphones have long been regarded as low-end products, these days, some Chinese brands are able to compete with their international counterparts and even surpass them in terms of quality.

Currently, competition between domestic and foreign brands is becoming even fiercer. In the second quarter of this year, Lenovo sold 13 million cellphones in the domestic market alone, replacing Samsung as the long-time favorite.

The arrival of 4G networks is finally offering Chinese producers the chance to overtake foreign brands.

Will Curtailing Classes End Corruption?

The Beijing News

September 16

The past August has seen many government officials quit Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) classes in well-known business schools. This massive "quitting wave" is largely related to a ban issued in August forbidding officials from attending expensive training programs.

It's difficult to know whether or not these programs helped improve government officials' administrative management capabilities. However, one thing is certain: They created more opportunities for officials to meet business people. In that regard, EMBA courses served as little more than incubators for corruption.

Government officials should be encouraged to continue their education, but there are many other ways for them to learn. Why go specifically to expensive business schools? That's likely because these officials didn't need to pay tuition with their own money. Taxpayers or companies paid it for them.

Though a large number of officials have quit these business courses under pressure from the official ban, will the connections and trade between capital and power be served? Only when officials' power is regulated and restricted by law, rendering them unable to use administrative power freely, can we expect schools to be real bastions of higher learning, instead of places that breed corruption.