Showing papers in "China Report in 2008"
TL;DR: In this article, a recent report suggests that the overall energy consumption can be reduced by 25 per cent by taking appropriate energy conservation measures in India and that a rapid deployment of new renewable energy technologies, both for electricity generation and for thermal applications, can result in significant reduction in demand for fossil fuels.
Abstract: To achieve a sustained growth of 8 per cent during the period 2005–31, India would need to grow its primary energy supply by three to four times. Similarly, China’s energy demand is expected to increase by two to two-and-a-half times during the same period. By 2030, the two countries combined together would account for around 25 per cent of the total energy consumption in the world and would become two of the largest carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emitters. The overall demand for energy in the two countries can be significantly lowered by adopting energy efficiency measures to lower energy intensity. A recent report suggests that the overall energy consumption can be reduced by 25 per cent by taking appropriate energy conservation measures in India. Also, a rapid deployment of new renewable energy technologies, both for electricity generation and for thermal applications, can result in significant reduction in demand for fossil fuels. These measures would not only result in lowering the CO 2 emissions and reducing the dependence of the two countries on energy imports, but would also assist in building of a more sustainable and efficient energy infrastructure in the two countries. Some of the common areas of interest for the two countries in energy efficiency and renewable energy are:
505 citations
TL;DR: The 2008 Beijing Olympics can be used to reveal the changing nature of the state, society and market forces and their mutual interaction in the People's Republic of China (PRC) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics can be analysed to reveal the changing nature of the state, society and market forces and their mutual interaction in the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is also useful in understanding the consensual aspect of the Chinese state. Examining how the Beijing Olympics is being organised as a spectacle is important in understanding how Chinese state power has developed and maintained its consensus vis-E-vis the society in the post-Mao period. This process of institutionalisation of state, society and market interactions in the field of sport could provide insights regarding parallel developments in other sectors as well in China today.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors found that neither displacement into the area surrounding the dam nor movement to other towns, can meet the needs of the communities displaced by dams, and they concluded that overcoming the limitations of the contradictions between dam construction and resettlement is difficult.
Abstract: When choosing the site of a dam, meeting the needs of the resettled local communities should be a key criterion in making any decision to build a dam. On the basis of a pilot study in Yunnan, China, this article finds that neither displacement into the area surrounding the dam nor movement to other towns, can meet the needs of the communities displaced by dams. This is because: (a) ideal areas for dam building often do not coincide with the factors necessary to restore the economy of the resettlement communities; and (b) cultural diversity exacerbates the impacts of displacement by a dam. It is concluded that overcoming the limitations of the contradictions between dam construction and resettlement is difficult. More work is needed on the resettlements in Yunnan. The cultural dimensions should be taken into consideration before further decisions on dam building and resettlement are made.
11 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines the relationship between West-promoted human rights and China-led neo-Confucian values within the context of globalisation rather than examining what Confucian value are in what ways can a cultural discourse be viewed and employed to promote human rights without denying their universality.
Abstract: This article aims to explore China's attempt to shift the tension between the global value and local difference over human rights debates In other words, this article examines the relationship between West-promoted human rights and China-led neo-Confucian values within the context of globalisation rather than examining what Confucian values are In what ways can a cultural discourse be viewed and employed to promote human rights without denying their universality, is the focal point of this article This article: (a) reviews why universalist versus relativist is a false dichotomy; (b) introduces the reconstruction of Confucianism since the 1980s in China and examines the possibility of re-appropriating Confucian values; (c) elaborates the necessity of nation–states for resisting the threats of globalisation and for implementing human rights practices; and (d) concludes with Confucian discourse, developed in China, as an exemplary case that universal values and particular differences can be negotiated in
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reflect on the experience of India's engagement with China in two multilateral forums: the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Forum for Regional Economic Cooperation, formerly known as the ‘Kunming Initiative’, and the China- India-Russia Academic Trilateral Conference.
Abstract: This article reflects on the experience of India's engagement with China in two multilateral forums: the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Forum for Regional Economic Cooperation, formerly known as the ‘Kunming Initiative’, and the China-India-Russia Academic Trilateral Conference. Though both forums are so-called ‘Track Two’ ventures, the dynamics of the two exercises are rather different. As of now, the ‘Trilateral’ is rated relatively successful in so far as it has shown more substantial progress from ‘Track Two’ to ‘Track One’. Tracing these brief histories, this article argues that academic cooperation should be seen to have value in and of itself, and not merely as the mechanism that propels a speculative, academic exercise into state-to-state policy.In social science terms, the two exercises afford very different challenges, which are still to be realised in effective academic collaboration and a substantive agenda of research. In particular, the BCIM framework commends a perspective on transna...
8 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors investigated the nature and structure of criminology as a discipline and its focus and scope; direction and trend; theories and findings; and problems and issues.
Abstract: As a scholarly discipline, criminology in China is growing in stature, maturity and utility In the short thirty years since 1979, China has successfully established criminology as a scientific field of study with well-defined subjects, recognised scholars and copious research/publications A cursory review of pertinent literature in law, criminology and China studies shows that to date, there are very few systematic and comprehensive studies of criminology (in English language) as an emerging and important field of academic discipline in China As a result, we know very little about its focus and scope; direction and trend; theories and findings; and problems and issues This is a first attempt to do so The article (in two parts, published separately) investigates into: ‘Literature on law, crime and punishment in China’; ‘The idea of crime (Fanzui)’; ‘Traditional thinking of crime and punishment in imperial China’; ‘Nature and structure of criminology as a discipline’; ‘Contemporary development of criminology in China’; ‘Contemporary theories on crime and punishment’ and ‘Fundamental issues and challenges’ facing criminological research in China
7 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper investigated literature on law, crime, and punishment in China, including the idea of crime (Fanzui), traditional thinking of crime, nature, structure and development of criminology, contemporary theories on crime and punishment, and fundamental issues and challenges facing criminological research in China.
Abstract: As a scholarly discipline, criminology in China is growing in stature, maturity and utility. In the short thirty years since 1979, China has successfully established criminology as a scientific field of study with well-defined subjects, recognised scholars and copious research/publications. To date, there are very few systematic and comprehensive studies of criminology (in English language) as an emerging and important field of academic discipline in China. As a result, we know very little about its focus and scope; direction and trend; theories and findings; and problems and issues. This is a first attempt to do so. The article (in two parts, published separately) investigates into: ‘Literature on law, crime and punishment in China’, ‘The idea of crime (Fanzui)’, ‘Traditional thinking of crime and punishment in imperial China’, ‘Nature, structure and development of criminology’, ‘Contemporary theories on crime and punishment’ and ‘Fundamental issues and challenges’ facing criminological research in China.
6 citations
TL;DR: The challenge for China and Japan, therefore, is to augment the component of cooperation while minimising conflict for the benefit of global technological development in gene... as discussed by the authors, which is a challenge for both countries.
Abstract: Technology transfer in Sino-Japanese relations assumes immense significance given the increasing role of technology in the developmental trajectory of the international, regional and their respective domestic contexts. What is singularly distinct about the technology transfer process is that it is punctuated by two contrasting phenomena of conflict and cooperation. Of these two, cooperation dominated until the 1980s, so long as the Chinese technological capabilities were still in the process of maturation. Once China began its journey on the path of becoming a technological superpower in the 1990s, conflict entered the technology transfer architecture between the two. Currently, both these phenomena characterise technology transfer between China and Japan in varying proportions and this trend might continue in the foreseeable future. The challenge for China and Japan, therefore, is to augment the component of cooperation while minimising conflict for the benefit of global technological development in gene...
4 citations
4 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors suggested that further administrative reforms in Shanghai should be implemented with more rationalization and marketisation in order to build up a true market economy without administrative interference from the government.
Abstract: Since the last decade, the Shanghai government has carried out administrative reforms towards the goals of rationalisation and marketisation. Various reform measures have been implemented, including, for example, segregation of government and enterprises (zheng qi fen kai); reduction of administrative examination and approval (jianshao xingzheng shenpi); and devolving some of the government functions to the third sector. Among various measures, probably the setting up of a new local government in the Pudong New Area is the most significant. After the examination of different aspects of the Shanghai administrative reforms, we conclude that the goal of the reform has been set correctly but without enough bold and innovative attempts. We suggest that further administrative reforms in Shanghai should be implemented with more rationalisation and marketisation in order to build up a true market economy without administrative interference from the government.
3 citations
TL;DR: The concept of the Russian Federation (RF) Foreign Policy, approved by the RF President in 2005, has been observed properly, and it can and will be used to derive the undisputable advantages that are inherent therein this article.
Abstract: Russia’s international activities are acquiring multi-vector and multi-directional features, which form the basic principles enshrined in the concept of the Russian Federation (RF) Foreign Policy, approved by the RF President in 2005. This approach signals recognition of the commensurable value of each respective vector. Observation of these principles means that the unique phenomenon of Russia’s Eurasian identity has been understood properly, and that it can and will be used to derive the undisputable advantages that are inherent therein. Moreover, the enhanced attention to the temporarily ‘lagging’ vectors—that is, fi rst and foremost, to the Asian-Pacifi c policy—has become an imperative for Russia in the context of several global developments.
TL;DR: This article examined the ways in which contemporary doctrinal disputes in the Shansabanid sultanate of Ghur influenced elite cultural production during the period and suggested that a rhetorical emphasis on idolatry and unbelief was part of a contemporary intra-Sunni polemic, and notprimarily an address to those who were literally outside the fold of Islam.
Abstract: The eastward expansion of the Shansabanid sultanate of Ghur in the late twelfth century has usually been depicted as a confrontation between a unitary Muslim self and its Hindu ‘other’. The reification of heterogeneous and protean categories of belief implicit in this paradigm is particularly ill suited to represent the dynamic religious life of mediaeval Ghur. This was characterised by shifting patterns of royal patronage that reflect intense competition between the Karramiya, a popular pietistic sect, and the orthodox Sunni madhhabs. Drawing on Ghurid architectural and numismatic inscriptions, this article examines the ways in which contemporary doctrinal disputes inflected elite cultural production during the period. Based on the content and context of Qur™anic citations, it suggests that a rhetorical emphasis on idolatryand unbelief in Ghurid epigraphy was part of a contemporary intra-Sunni polemic, and notprimarily an address to those who were literally outside the fold of Islam. The deploymentof scr...
TL;DR: There has been increasing speculation in recent weeks of a possible military stand-off in the Taiwan Straits in the early part of 2008 in the context of the proposed referendum on the island over Taiwan's membership to the United Nations (UN) as "Taiwan" (not "Republic of China"). The referendum is to be held at the time of Taiwan's presidential election in March 2008 and the move comes even as Taiwan’s last twelve attempts to join the UN as the ROC failed.
Abstract: There has been increasing speculation in recent weeks of a possible military stand-off in the Taiwan Straits in the early part of 2008 in the context of the proposed referendum on the island over Taiwan’s membership to the United Nations (UN)—as ‘Taiwan’ (not ‘Republic of China’). The referendum is to be held at the time of Taiwan’s presidential election in March 2008 and the move comes even as Taiwan’s last twelve attempts to join the UN as the ‘Republic of China (ROC)’ failed. The sources for the recent speculation on heightened cross-strait military tensions emanate from Chinese, Taiwanese and Western sources (both unofficial and official). The speculation is traced to two major developments in the past six months. The reshuffling of the top brass of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the run-up to the 17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the first cause of worry.1 It has been reported that at least five members of the new Central Military Commission (CMC) line-up have a background in Taiwan-related affairs.2 They are:
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyze the potential for cooperation among Russia, India and China in international economic governance and identify areas of cooperation to change the operation of the world economic system to satisfy their objectives.
Abstract: This article analyses prospects for cooperation among Russia, India and China (RIC) in international economic governance. Section I discusses how the membership of these countries in the different international economic institutions affects their potential for cooperation. Section II analyses their recent economic performance. Then, Section III seeks to understand their interests and to identify areas of cooperation among them to change the operation of the world economic system to satisfy their objectives. Section IV pulls together the main threads of the discussion.
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual question is asked: what makes countries come together? Three possible answers, each flowing out of a distinct strand of international relations theory, could be advanced to answer this question: realists argue that states make alliances to aggregate power. Constructivists hold that states come together to build community.
Abstract: Given the generally troubled history of China–India relations, is there any sense in speculating about a future partnership between the two countries? In order to counter the scepticism inherent in this question, it is worth recalling that China–India relations have spanned the security spectrum—war at one end, alliance at the other—through much of the twentieth century. That the two countries fought a war—brief and limited, but war nonetheless—against each other in 1962 is a part of Indian popular memory. There is, however, a tendency to forget that the two countries were allies during the Second World War, before Indian Independence and the Chinese Revolution. If the two countries were once allies in the global struggle against fascism, perhaps their future relations could over time evolve in the direction of a partnership. The challenge lies in identifying issues and defining an agenda for cooperation, which is what this brief article proposes to do. In our search for an agenda for cooperation, we will begin by asking a conceptual question: what makes countries come together? Three possible answers, each flowing out of a distinct strand of international relations theory, could be advanced to answer this question. Realists argue that states make alliances to aggregate power. Liberals suggest that states cooperate to solve problems and thereby enhance their opportunities. Constructivists hold that states come together to build community. Theoretical disputes aside, each of these answers rings true. We will, therefore, use each of them in turn as an analytical frame to analyse the future of China–India relations.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed that China is an early mover in this field, while India has become one, in building its active Asian connections, mainly after the launch of its economic reforms in 1991.
Abstract: Regional diplomacy is today a strong force around the world. China is an early mover in this field, while India has become one, in building its active Asian connections, mainly after the launch of its economic reforms in 1991. At present, the two countries collaborate in some regional bodies where they are members or observers, and this cooperation is likely to become stronger in the future, supported by objective circumstances and economic opportunities, and the growth in their bilateral economic exchanges. This will have beneficial consequences for Asia as a whole and also, for the world community.
TL;DR: This article explored, examined and assessed a discourse which has been the all important tool, mediating the many Tibetan contexts and conundrums through a variety of contexts that have shaped and re-shaped it constantly.
Abstract: A reading of the Dalai Lama’s statements over time reveals an ideological as well as philosophical change of stance. What are these shifts and what do they mean? Is there an ‘earlier’ and a ‘later’ Dalai Lama and how does this get refl ected in his discourse. This writing explores, examines and assesses a discourse which has been the all important tool, mediating the many Tibetan contexts and conundrums through a variety of contexts that have shaped and re-shaped it constantly. As against the ‘earlier’ Dalai Lama, the ‘later’ Dalai Lama (both the categories— ‘earlier’ and ‘later’—are important to understand, not only in terms of the epistemological underpinnings but also the political arguments given by the Dalai Lama) emerges from 1978 onwards and the shift between the two has been captured in the following observation of Tsering Shakya:
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze the development and growth of the rubber industry in China since the reforms began and suggest some important policy options for sustaining the growth dynamism of rubber industry.
Abstract: The article analyses the development and growth of the rubber industry in China since the reforms began. It reflects the contradictions arising from the mismatch between growing shortage of rubber vis-a-vis the dynamic and spatial growth of rubber-based industries. The article suggests some important policy options for sustaining the growth dynamism of the rubber industry in China, in the era of economic integration, which calls for a thorough revamping of state policies and evolving (virtually non-existent) institutional intervention strategies addressing a broad spectrum of activities, namely (a) demand and supply management; (b) redefining the status of natural rubber as a strategic commodity and potential industrial raw material; (c) strengthening property rights status of the rubber small producers; and (d) capital investment for research and development (R&D), facilitating the expansion of natural rubber (NR) cultivation to non-conventional areas. Given the fact that the global market integration wo...