Restart Telecom Reform

Caijing Magazine

June 2

Since 1999, China's telecom sector has experienced a complete reorganization and reshuffling four times, creating far more profits and providing more benefit to society than any other monopolized sector in the country.

Now China's telecom market is in need of a new round of reform. Compared with previous reforms, this reform is to be conducted against the background of a new technological revolution. Telecom giants that are at risk of being marginalized have also demonstrated their desire for a reform.

Over the past two decades, telecom has been one of the sectors that have experienced the most sweeping and pervasive changes. Its achievements in reform have been striking. China now has more than 1 billion cellphone users and 800 million of those use phones to go online.

However, these achievements are not sufficient to cope with the arrival of the new era. The application and use of new mobile technologies, products and services depend on telecom networks, and this is forcing the government and telecom companies to give up more and more monopolized resources.

For years, it has been anticipated that a unified supervisory and monitory institution overseeing the related government departments would be set up. Monopoly remains in the sector and the reform on state-owned enterprise is not yet complete. However, as long as these crucial hurdles can be surmounted, the reform will be effective and thorough.

Common Challenge

Oriental Outlook

May 29

In May 2014, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Shanghai and Beijing and also attended the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). In an interview with Oriental Outlook, Ban answered a series of questions on a number of topics ranging from CICA and climate change to sustainable development.

He said that the Asia-Pacific region is a vibrant land, full of possibilities. Despite differences and conflicts from time to time, there is still a bright prospect for common prosperity among all of the countries in this region. An important objective of the CICA is to strengthen preventive actions and thus avoid conflicts. He acknowledged that some conflicts exist among Asian countries. However, he stated as long as all sides stand ready to conduct dialogues sincerely, it's more than possible to solve all of these issues.

He went on to say that though the UN is only an observing organization of the CICA, it has always insisted that conflicts should be solved through peaceful means, and dialogues and trust should be strengthened to promote development.

Ban said that climate change is a key part of his tour in China. China is expected to play a leading role in coping with climate change. He observed that China has suffered much hardship owing to climate change and natural disasters. He stated that nature is emitting signals toward us: the Earth is ill. If we do not pay more attention to this issue, it will not be curable. He elaborated that the Earth is our home and also the home of all future generations and that we must try to make this planet a pleasant place to live while maintaining sustainable development.

He said that the UN Climate Change Conference will take place this coming September, and by then, it will be a platform for all participating countries to share their experience in coping with climate change and explore the possible directions of further actions in the future. This will be a summit committed to producing solutions to climate change.

HIV/AIDS Tests

Changjiang Daily

June 4

Recently, provincial health and education authorities in central China's Henan Province jointly issued a notice, demanding that new college freshmen undergo HIV tests. The intention is to publicize facts about HIV prevention and educate new students, and the tests will be involuntary and confidential.

The move of the province is quite questionable. Schools are populous places, and the task of publicizing HIV prevention there is not only an important, but also an arduous, one. However, if the aim of HIV tests is to compile crucial information and then impose surveillance on HIV carriers, leading to invisible isolation, it's unacceptable. This initiative may be welcomed by some students, as it will monitor their well-being, but the laws are to protect people's basic social rights even if they are HIV carriers. It's not a game where the minority should follow the majority.

If the HIV virus were to spread rampantly, and was impossible to control, then compulsory isolation would necessarily have to be imposed, and the relevant tests and surveillance would be reasonable. However, this is not the current case. There are already many ways to protect people's safety while ensuring HIV carriers can live a normal life. On this precondition, they have the legitimate right to mingle with others in their social lives and this right requires safeguarding.