China Reform Monitor: No. 694

April 30:

In his capacity as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Hu Jintao met with Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan in Beijing “to create a new phase in the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations,” the Xinhua News Agency reports. The Communist Party chairman, publicly warming to Taiwan’s new pro-China ruling party, called for both sides to “strengthen personnel exchange and cooperation in the economic, cultural, and all other areas and, on the basis of the ‘1992 Consensus,’ resume cross-Strait consultation and negotiation as early as possible.”


May 4:

About 200 people staged a protest in a city in Chengdu province against construction of a major petrochemical complex, arguing the plant would lead to serious air and water pollution. Protesters in Sichuan’s capital marched peacefully for about two hours to demonstrate plans for an ethylene plant and an oil refinery on the city's northern outskirts. "Because of fears that these two projects, when finished, could seriously pollute Chengdu's air and water resources, the people 'took a stroll' to express their opposition," the Beijing News quoted an unnamed resident as saying.

[Editor’s Note: In January, authorities in Shanghai shelved an extension of the city's high-speed "maglev" train after hundreds of people marched through city streets in protest. Last year, thousands of street protesters in Xiamen lead authorities to abandon plans for a paraxylene plant on the city’s outskirts.]


May 5:

Satellite imagery, passed to the Daily Telegraph, confirms that a substantial underwater harbor has been constructed by the Chinese with the capability to house a score of nuclear ballistic missile submarines and a host of aircraft carriers. Images show numerous warships moored to long jetties and a network of underground tunnels at the Sanya naval base on the southern tip of Hainan island. Massive tunnel entrances, estimated to be 60ft high and capable of hiding up to 20 nuclear submarines from spy satellites have been built into hillsides around the base. The Telegraph story notes that China has diverted much of its resources from the huge Peoples Liberation Army to the navy, air force and missile development in recent years. Within the next five to ten years, say some analysts, the Peoples Liberation Navy could build up to six aircraft carriers.

Talks between China and the Dalai Lama's envoys have not resulted in a breakthrough, but both sides have agreed to keep the door open for continued dialogue. The one-day closed-door meeting in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, the first between the two sides in over a year, comes in the wake of global pressure on China to reopen talks following seven weeks of deadly unrest in Tibet, Radio Australia reports. Both sides agreed to hold another round of consultations. “The door of dialogue remains open,” President Hu Jintao said of the talks, in comments carried by the Kyodo News Agency.