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Oriental Outlook
January 31
In recent years, more and more Chinese are buying real estate in foreign countries. From 2011 to 2012 the proportion of Chinese property buyers in Vancouver increased from 29 to 40 percent of the total buyers. About 30 percent of the city's residents are from China. In one of London's two main financial centers, Canary Wharf, one third of new properties are sold to the Chinese. Because of surging sales, the housing price in the center of the city and its traditional high-end living districts has risen from 5 to 10 percent.
Before 2011, those who bought real estate abroad intended their children to study overseas. However, since 2012, most Chinese buy properties in foreign countries mainly due to the high reward. In Canada, the housing price in Vancouver has tripled and even quadrupled in the past 10 years while that in Toronto has increased 7 percent per year in the past six. In Australia, the housing price has doubled every seven years.
As foreign real estate agents try their best to attract the Chinese, more and more residents in those countries are frightened by such buyers. Since 2012, Chinese real estate investors have made the cover of many foreign media services. According to a recent news report, 150 apartments in Westminster, Canada, sold out only two and a half hours from entering the market, with 40 percent of purchasers being Chinese.
In fact, purchasing property abroad does not always mean high profit. For example, buying property in Germany does not only involve paying the house price, but also expenses such as transaction taxes, which account for more than 20 percent of the overall property cost.
Caijing Magazine
January 28
In the past 30 years, more high-level officials in China were involved in corruption cases.
Yi Junqing, Director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, was expelled from his post on January 17 for having an extra-marital affair with a female student, who posted a long article disclosing their affair online, which was wildly forwarded afterward.
The case has again shown that the public forms the major anti-corruption force. Cases exposed online can be widely spread and gain intense public attention. However, the government needs to consider why people turn to the Internet to expose corruption rather than directly addressing the state.
In addition, anti-corruption netizens should unite under organizations, such as the workers' union, to be more powerful.
Recently, officials who own multiple properties well beyond their financial means have ignited a hot discussion on whether an official asset declaration and publication system should be established and enforced as soon as possible. On December 18 last year, the state said it was considering drafting regulations on the issue, but it was unclear when such laws would come into being.
To fight corruption, different agencies should better coordinate and an anti-corruption law be brought into play.
Qilu Evening News
January 31
Many netizens are calling on authorities to allow traffic police officers to wear face masks in smoggy weather as a protection against serious air pollution. The Public Security Bureau of Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, announced on January 30 that it will allow traffic officers to wear masks in bad smog when on duty.
As smoggy weather frequents Chinese cities, allowing traffic police officers on duty outdoors to wear masks represents a putting-people-first approach. Compared with indoor workers, traffic officers suffer more from bad weather conditions.
As with traffic police officers, sanitation workers and delivery staff also have to work long hours outdoors. Many netizens are alerting these workers to the dangers of being exposed to smog and calling on them to wear masks.
In addition, the meteorological department should publish up-to-date weather data and the sanitary department should give guidance on when to wear masks. Laws and regulations protecting outdoor workers should also be set up.
Beijing Youth Daily
January 31
Chen Weicai, a senior police officer in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, and a deputy to the National People's Congress, proposed introducing Singapore's caning to China during the annual session of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on January 30.
Chen's proposal has triggered hot debate. Most people opposed his proposal, saying that introducing caning is retrogressive and barbaric, violating human rights. However, a small number supported his advice, arguing caning should be used on corrupt officials.
Applying caning to such officials reflects the public's loud outcry against corruption, however, it is irrational. Punishment is not the purpose of the rule of law, but protecting human rights and dignity is. And to achieve this purpose, instead of harsher punishment, a sound system of law should be the answer. | 
