Wary home buyers keep rents buoyant

Demand boosts rental market as flat seekers put off buying in the hope the central government’s cooling measures will cut prices further

Why Wealthy Chinese Are Fleeing China

Many wealthy Chinese are ditching their Chinese passports according to a recent survey by China Merchants Bank and Bain & Co. The report found that 27 percent of Chinese with more than 100 million yuan ($16 million) in investable assets have already migrated and 47 percent are thinking about leaving China.

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The good old days of Good Samaritans are gone for good

Death of an elderly man as people looked on without helping him has sparked intense debate

The man in the party machine

Zhu Rongji’s latest book offers a unique glimpse of life at the top for the former economic tsar

Forget the bluster, DPP is treading softer line on ties

Taiwan’s opposition is preaching stability and harmony, but critics see policy contradictions

Condominium developers upping the stake

It is no longer enough for condominiums to boast a pool, gym, clubhouse and tennis court. Developers are adding fancy facilities such as a spa, sports bar, rock-climbing wall, luxury dining room and even a bird-watching tower to make their projects stand out.

Assets of corrupt officials on the run to be seized

Mainland courts may soon have the power to confiscate ill-gotten gains under a new law

China Uses Rare Earths to Lure Manufacturing Plants

China has long used access to its giant customer base and cheap labour as bargaining chips to persuade foreign companies to open factories within the nation’s borders.

Buyers, sellers get around curbs

Couples fake divorce or even sacrifice marriage to obtain more property, and developers are happy to throw in extras to keep cash coming in

A brief history of Chinese porn

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China rail firm boss, blamed for crash, dies of heart attack

The head of a Chinese railways technology firm blamed for faulty signalling gear that caused a high-speed rail crash last month died of a heart attack while the company was being inspected, Chinese media said Tuesday.

Look for cracks in axles, metal fatigue expert says

Railways ministry complains that German ultrasonic detector used to inspect trains is too sensitive

Law exposes unease at state of modern marriage

Experts say controversy over new interpretation reveals deep sense of social and moral insecurity

The sex trade

Lust will and testament

The earliest recorded wills in Hong Kong show that a group of highly-successful women had one thing in common ... they were all working in the sex trade

To fully legalise the profession or not - it’s a dilemma

It may make sense from a welfare point of view but the economic argument suggests otherwise

Taiwan’s court strips Chen’s son of position

The son of Taiwan’s jailed former president, Chen Shui-bian, has been stripped of his position as a city councillor in Kaohsiung after being sentenced on Wednesday to three months in prison for perjury.

Police seize 'high-quality' fake 100 yuan notes

Police in Zhejiang province have seized an undisclosed number of high-quality counterfeit yuan notes said to look more realistic than any fake cash in recent memory.

Merchants enlisted sham bird’s nest ‘experts’

Mainland bird’s nest merchants accused of selling fake or tainted products staged a press conference with Malaysian officials to defend their reputation. But the event itself was a sham and the officials were bogus.

Yunnan plant dumped toxins for 20 years

A Yunnan chemical plant was exposed for disposing more than 280,000 tonnes of uncontained toxic chromium residue near the source of the Pearl River, dating back about two decades and causing health risks to millions of Guangdong residents.

New Chinese Marriage Law Protects Men’s Assets, Angers Women

New Chinese Marriage Law Protects Men’s Assets, Angers Women

Manchester United’s IPO Looks Offside

You’ve got the replica shirt, now buy the shares. That may be Manchester United’s pitch if the U.K.’s leading soccer team pursues plans to raise up to $1 billion through an initial public offering in Singapore. With two-thirds of its 333 million global fan base based in Asia, looking East to raise capital is an understandable move by United’s American owners, the Glazer family. But investor faith in United shouldn’t be as blind as that of its fans.

New set of measurements for white-collar foreigners

Significant changes to Singapore’s employment pass (EP) framework will kick in from January 2012, further tightening the inflow of white-collar foreign workers and potentially raising businesses’ wage costs by an average of one to 2 per cent.

Red Devils may erase debt with Singapore IPO

Man U said to be raising US$1b in Q4; with Credit Suisse hired as book runner

US credit crisis shocks Chinese consumers

Spurred on by state media which have let rip at the “debt-riddled” United States, the Chinese have listened with wide-eyed amazement to tales of American people living well beyond their means.

The US credit crisis has brought to light a fundamental difference between thrifty consumers in China -- the largest foreign holder of US debt -- and their credit-loving US counterparts.

US oil firm admits spill was bigger than it said

The American operator of troubled oil platforms in Bohai Bay has admitted that the total amount of oil that leaked around its rigs was more than double its original estimates, amid mounting criticism from marine authorities that the company has yet to offer a permanent solution to the problem.

The best prescription to restoring consumers’ trust on the mainland

John Gong urges mainland companies to learn from a benchmark crisis response

Maiden voyage tests for defects

The Varyag’s sea trial is searching for faults following modifications to vessel, experts say

Last hurrah for China’s microblogs?

Authorities, fearing spread of rumours, may tighten control

Cathay pilot and hostess sacked over sex act on airliner

Incident did not happen while any plane was airborne, says chief executive John Slosar

China cuts public home building target

It will build 8 million units for 2012, 20% less than initial goal, in a move that may disappoint investors

Train drivers in low-paid race with time

Being a train driver used to be a prestigious technical career on the mainland. Working for a large, state department meant a stable, well-paid job with the added perk of travelling around the country when few even had the chance to visit a neighbouring city.

Bullet train system unreliable, insiders say

China’s bullet train system still faces many unpredictable risks and any small error could bring another crisis upon the giant Ministry of Railways, industry insiders warn.

Chemical plant at centre of suspicion

Claims surface that petrochemical facility involved in typhoon scare last week operated for a year without environmental approval from provincial watchdog

Japanese Rare Earth Consumers Set Up Shop in China

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Home comfort for divorcees’ folks

Mainlanders whose parents buy them property when they marry will keep it if they divorce

Banks told to tighten grip on property market loans

Expected impact from Beijing’s efforts to cool an overheated market prompts regulator to urge lenders to protect themselves from price plunge

Deadly accident exposes government fault lines

Differences in public statements about high-speed trains reveal divisions over the national system

A truly open government is one that welcomes public involvement

Beijing’s latest circular on transparency will have bite only if channels are in place to give voice to people’s views and seek their support

Beijing puts brakes on railways

High-speed trains will be ordered to slow down and approval for new lines suspended as investigation into fatal Wenzhou disaster continues

Into uncharted waters

Yesterday’s maiden sail of reconditioned Varyag seen as major step towards PLA’s decades-long ambition to have a naval force capable of projecting Chinese strength

Uncertain times for Asian Markets

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China awash with counterfeit vintage wine

“There is more Lafite 82 in China than was produced in France. So you really have to be wary if you find any of that in China,” he told AFP.

China launches first aircraft carrier on maiden sea trial

China launched its first aircraft carrier for a maiden run on Wednesday, a step likely to boost patriotic pride at home and jitters abroad about Beijing’s naval ambitions.

Hard landing may be good medicine

Short-term crisis, while painful, could give policymakers a chance to steer mainland economy onto a healthier growth path for the long term

Business blooming in China risk detection

Agricultural firms are trying to get buyers back on their side, while investors turn to investigators to verify the claims companies make about their assets

Beijing housing woes eased by state subsidy schemes

More people getting homes at a fraction of market rate

The latest fake - Shanxi’s famed mature vinegar

Producers omit fermented vinegar, use additives and even industrial acetic acid to make condiment

Red Cross health project ‘a scam to sell insurance’

Carers at community service stations were working undercover for China Life, TV investigation reveals

Military spending cause of US debt: China

The United States must rethink its huge military outlays, big footprint abroad and summon the courage to defuse debt woes, Chinese state-run media said on Monday, reflecting the political pressures on Beijing with its big stash of dollar assets.

Drive to close illegal golf courses flops

Just 10 of 600 clubs on the mainland have full government approval, and many take water illegally, but crackdown efforts have been distinctly under par

Lessons from China’s deadly train accident

The deadly train collision near Wenzhou underlines the incongruous fact that despite China’s soaring economy, vestiges remain of the ultra-left ideology behind the Great Leap Forward campaign more than 50 years ago.

More secret ‘black jails’ exposed in the capital

More secret prisons locking up petitioners in Beijing have been exposed by mainland media, after several similar facilities were revealed to the public in the past couple of years.

Mainland soy milk drinkers up in arms

Consumers angered to discover restaurant chains and fast-food giant are serving powdered drinks

All eyes on the PLA’s new guard

All eyes on A reshuffle of the Central Military Commission will see veteran officers replaced and some ‘princelings’ expected to follow in the footsteps of famous fathers

Ouch! U.S. booted from Triple-A debt club

The Triple-A debt club just got even more exclusive: Late Friday, the United States was booted out of a prestigious group of countries that boast a spotless credit rating.

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Thailand gets first female Prime Minster

Yingluck Shinawatra became politically turbulent Thailand's first female prime minister yesterday after parliament endorsed her crushing election victory.

China mulls new regulator for state financial sector

China is considering a proposal to create a ministerial-level body to manage its state-owned banks and non-bank financial enterprises, two sources with knowledge of the plan said, a move that would strengthen Beijing’s grip on its lenders.

Wenzhou crash response exposes rot in political system

Calls grow for overhaul to restrict unlimited power and prevent its abuse after accident reveals flaws

Made for China

Chinese faces are different from Westerners and most sunglasses are created according to Western facial features. But help is at hand, Gan Tian finds out.

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Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue

Skyscraper boom in China

China is in the midst of a skyscraper boom.

Taxi driver protests hit two Chinese cities

Thousands of taxi drivers in China’s eastern city of Hangzhou went on strike Monday over high petrol prices and traffic congestion, while drivers in Shanghai also protested over benefits.

Critics denounce ban on rail disaster reports

Decision by propaganda authorities’ to restrict unfavourable coverage shows that a ‘decades-long habit of muzzling’ is still in force, say analysts

Families may sue railways ministry

Frustrated by the handling of their demands, relatives of victims of the Wenzhou disaster say they may have to resort to court action for justice

18 killed in 2 attacks in troubled NW China

A city government said Monday that six more civilians died and five “terrorist” suspects were killed by police in one of China’s most troubled ethnic regions, raising the death toll from weekend violence to 18.

Aquanauts take one giant step for China

The captain of the Sea Dragon submersible compares his job to an astronaut’s as he and his crew test the limits of Chinese technology in the dark ocean depths

Press points finger at greedy and callous railways officials

Ministry faces barrage of questions about its overconfident attitude to the high-speed-train crash that took 40 lives

10 days’ training, long hours for drivers in focus

Many drew attention to a state media report late last year about a driver who was given just 10 days to learn how to drive the first Chinese high-speed train. His German instructor had expected a training period of several months.

Censors slap ban on crash coverage

Newspapers forced to ditch pages of reports at last minute after propaganda chiefs issue sudden order, despite premier’s pledge of transparency

China lawyers told not to take train crash cases

Chinese authorities have apologized after lawyers were told not to help victims of a deadly train crash file lawsuits without permission, state media said.

Knife attack in China’s Xinjiang leaves seven dead

Seven people were killed and 28 others wounded by two knife-wielding assailants in China’s ethnically-tense Xinjiang region, authorities said Sunday, in the latest bout of unrest to hit the area.

China ‘forced papers’ to scrap rail crash coverage

China imposed a widespread ban on coverage of last week’s high-speed train crash, forcing newspapers across the country to scrap pages of stories, a Hong Kong newspaper reported Sunday.

China forced papers to scrap rail crash coverage

China imposed a widespread ban on coverage of last week’s high-speed train crash, forcing newspapers across the country to scrap pages of stories, a Hong Kong newspaper reported Sunday.

Contract makers review business model

Contract manufacturers rolling out an array of gadgets such as Apple’s iPad, Dell’s PCs and other devices in China are re-examining their business models as they grapple with surging costs and shrinking margins.

China defends carrier plans, neighbours fret over

China’s neighbours are worried its aircraft carrier program may in time intimidate regional rivals but its military on Thursday defended the plan as vital for maritime security.

U.S. says cooperating with China to repatriate graft fugitives

The United States is cooperating with China to repatriate Chinese fugitives facing corruption charges, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday, a move that could pave the way for the return of hundreds of government officials wanted for graft.

Panasonic to Sell Sanyo White Goods Units to Haier

Panasonic will sell its Sanyo Electric unit's washing machine and refrigerator operations in Japan and Southeast Asia to China's Haier Group for about 10 billion yen ($130 million), three sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

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China says equipment flaws caused train crash

Design flaws in signal equipment and human error caused last weekend's high-speed train crash in China that killed at least 39 people, a railway official said Thursday.

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Shanghai tightens property market rules

Shanghai authorities will inspect home sale plans from real estate developers and may reject applications if they find prices to be “unreasonably” high, in its latest effort to fight rising house prices.

China’s investments are not as wasteful as the bears believe

Stories of wasteful infrastructure projects abound across the mainland, but the anecdotes don’t prove that Beijing’s investment binge is money down the drain

Whither this speed?

When a high-speed train was stalled, allegedly by a bolt of lightning, common sense dictated that later trains waited. Tragedy struck when a second train rear-ended into the stalled one, derailing several carriages and killing at least 39 passengers. It could be the result of a technical glitch or human error, or a combination of both. But before the investigation report comes out, a lot of people are asking: “Why so fast?”

China state paper accuses authorities of ‘arrogance’

One of China’s official newspapers on Wednesday accused the authorities of “arrogance” in their handling of a deadly high-speed train crash, joining a rising chorus of public fury.

Chinese officials close 2 of 5 fake Apple stores

Chinese Officials looking into the illegal sale of Apple gadgets say they are waiting for the electronics company to respond before they decide whether to close three more possibly unlicensed stores.

Warnings about lightning ignored

Transport experts alerted rail authorities to the risks, but preventive measures were considered too costly

Furious relatives demand answers

Grief gave way to anger in Wenzhou yesterday as relatives of the victims of Saturday’s high-speed train crash protested outside the municipal government offices, demanding railway officials meet them face to face.

Yes, there’s a property bubble in China

Its bursting can harm the real economy and can cause negative spillovers to other nations

China’s effort to muzzle news of train crash sparks outcry

Government directives demanding journalists not question official accounts of a deadly high-speed train crash in eastern China are fuelling public anger and suspicion about conflicting details of the accident, such as the death toll.

Kunming discovers two more fake Apple stores

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China outraged by rail crash

Chinese media and public reacted with anger on Monday to a fatal high-speed train crash, with even official newspapers saying safety controls on the rapidly-expanding network may have been too lax.

Local government debt poses risk to growth, says PBOC advisor

China has at least two years to sort out its mountain of local government debt, which poses a ‘very serious’ risk for the fastest-growing economy over the longer term, People’s Bank of China adviser Zhou Qiren said.

Train crash could curb China rail equipment exports

A deadly train crash in China over the weekend has raised concerns about the safety of the country’s fast-growing rail network and threatens to undermine its plans to export high-speed train technology.

China sacks 3 railway officials after train crash

China sacked three senior railway officials yesterday after a collision between two high-speed trains killed at least 43 people and raised new questions about the safety of the fast-growing rail network.

China Train Wreck Raises Questions

“China, please stop your flying pace, wait for your people, wait for your soul, wait for your morality, wait for your conscience! Don’t let the train run out off track, don’t let the bridges collapse, don’t let the roads become traps, don’t let houses become ruins. Walk slowly, allowing every life to have freedom and dignity. No one should be left behind by our era.”

2 arrogant Chinese pick on 'wrong' guy in Philippines

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Customs looks at car pricing tactics

The Government may be clamping down on pricing tactics that have made some cars cheaper but the taxman poorer.

Taxpayers finally get to See where the money goes

The 100 million yuan spent on banquets at the Academy of Sciences may prove hard to swallow as government departments finally divulge their expenditure

Lai’s return expected to worry corrupt officials

Before being deported from Canada, the fugitive, who fled with a fortune, vowed to take many other officials to prison with him if he was convicted

上海灘 - 葉麗儀

Mainland home prices heading for a fall

Despite enticing smiles from attractive sales agents beckoning visitors to an exhibition for a new property launch, the cavernous hall in suburban Beijing remained virtually empty for hours at a stretch.