Whose Sky?

Caixin Magazine
August 5

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, since 2010, 25 to 28 percent of flights were delayed every year. The situation may become even worse if flight flow controls are combined with bad weather conditions.

In China, airspace is controlled by the National Air Traffic Control Committee, which has determined two forbidden zones, 66 dangerous zones, 199 restricted zones and a number of military training zones. As a result, civil aviation only shares in 20 percent of airspace.

Although passenger and cargo volume associated with civil aviation has maintained double-digit growth for several consecutive decades, civilian planes can still only fly in 20 percent of airspace as designated by the committee, with strict rulings on takeoffs and landings.

Countries like Japan, India and the United States, where strained airspace has caused air accidents, were prompted to break the military's dominance over airspace and open more space to civil aviation. They stopped dividing airspace between the military and civil aviation, instead distributing airspace according to needs. It still remains unclear when China will do the same.

Increased Salaries for Public Servants?

Yangcheng Evening News
August 20

The salaries of civil servants might stand to rise as the Central Government launches a new round of income distribution reforms, a researcher from the Ministry of Finance said in an article published in The Beijing Times on August 19. His argument immediately hit a public nerve.

Right now, there are two key questions behind the debate. One is how to determine the standard of civil servant salaries, while the other pertains to what procedures salary adjustment should follow?

In terms of basic pay, civil servants receive two to three times more than the minimum wage in China. In addition to income, some believe Chinese civil servants often earn extra money and access additional benefits on the side. Compared to other low-income groups, civil servant salaries should not be increased exclusively.

The fact is, a lot of civil servants, in particular those who work in townships, are not paid much. Most live on fixed salaries. Compared to countries that implement high salaries to ensure clean governments, the pay of Chinese civil servants is low.

However, procedures involved in adjusting to civil servant needs should be clear and transparent. The current Civil Service Law provides that salaries be in line with the economic and social development pace. Nevertheless, it does not regulate detailed procedures and standards. In many cases, salary adjustment depends on government financial status.

Alongside detailed laws and regulations, the will of the people should play a determining role in any adjustments to avoid suspicion and doubt.

Embarrassed Guide Dogs

Beijing Youth Daily
August 19

Beijing recently solicited opinions on the draft of an animal epidemic prevention regulation. Like pets equivalents, guide dogs have become the focus of public attention. More and more people expect the municipal government to eliminate obstacles for the blind to include their dogs onto the public transportation system.

The State Council, China's cabinet, has issued a specific regulation stating that the blind can take well-trained guide dogs out in public. In 2008, when Beijing hosted the Paralympic Games, China promised to let the guide dogs of foreign athletes and tourists enter China. But in reality, such dogs are always not welcome on public transportation.

Unlike pets, guide dogs for the blind offer assistance. They are trained to lead the visually impaired around obstacles. Generally speaking, it takes 18 months and over 100,000 yuan ($16,330) to train such a dog, who are tame and gentle except for when their masters are in danger. As a matter of fact, guide dogs never disturb public peace.

China hopes to further train guide dogs to help the blind. If society does not accept such dogs, laws and regulations would be mere scraps of paper.

Chinese Peacekeeping Forces in South Sudan

Oriental Outlook
August 15

South Sudan declared independence in July 2011 to become the youngest country in the world. Under UN deployment, China had two peacekeeping forces present in the Darfur and Wau regions of the former Sudanese Republic.

A Chinese engineering unit, which is made up of 275 soldiers and equipped with various kinds of heavy machinery, finished building the first transition and training center for veterans from across South Sudan in April 2013. The center, together with an inter-city highway, an airport runway and a bus station built by the unit, was rated as best engineering projects by the UN.

Besides helping locals develop infrastructure, Chinese peacekeepers also provide medical services. During the Wau riot on December 19, 2012, a Chinese medical team treated over 80 refugees and delivered a baby girl on Christmas Eve. They also volunteered to teach nurses about injection and delivery at a local nursery school, subsequently training 120 medical staff.

In addition, Chinese peacekeepers are active in teaching locals how to grow vegetables and stage kungfu performances.