Eyes on the Skies

China Newsweek

June 16

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in March has raised concerns over aviation safety. China Newsweek traced the process from a flight's takeoff to its landing and discovered a massive organizational system behind the process, one akin to our own nervous systems. Any mistake in the system would surely result in disaster.

The magazine chose Beijing Capital International Airport to show the many components of this system: Security, ground services, security checks, runway maintenance, flight checks and air control. It is these interlocked gears that enable a plane to take off and fly that are the secrets of the airport.

Power of Talent

Outlook Weekly

June 16

In 1798, 21-year-old British spinner Samuel Slater moved to the United States, where he replicated the spinning machine invented by Richard Arkwright, the most advanced spinning machinery at that time. In this way, the United States broke Britain's technological monopoly and boosted its own textile industry in the process.

During World War II, the then U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established a command to lure hydrogen bomb, missile and computer experts from Germany. This enabled U.S.'s status as a superpower to last through the modern era.

Looking back on the developmental courses of such strong countries as Britain, Germany, the United States and Japan, their rises can all be attributed to the talented people. Even today, the range of experts a country possesses tend to decide its position in the new international hierarchy.

However, China is in a disadvantaged position in the global talent pool. On the one hand, talent outflow exceeds inflow, exemplified by the fact that more Chinese students study overseas than foreign students study in China. On the other hand, though China has launched various projects to cultivate and attract experts, their numbers are still small and functions limited.

To better its position globally, China should improve its startup investment policies in order to retain both Chinese and foreign experts and boost domestic development.

Dog Meat Debate

Beijing Morning Post

June 24

The heated debate over the annual dog meat festival in the city of Yulin, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has recently occupied the media spotlight.

Regardless of the stance debaters choose, the discussion itself represents social progress in China, as more people are daring to express their opinions in public. Though there are ocassionally irrational voices in the crowd, modern society needs such debates to progress. Debates enrich our minds and broaden our perspectives. In order to grow, it's important to challenge ourselves with controversial ideas and criticism.

However, these discussions should be carried out under the laws of ration and reason. Though it's often hard to reach a consensus, people should not insult their opponents but exercise patience and understanding. The world is complicated. There is a wide grey zone between black and white, and it's therefore impossible to find one correct answer to every question. Social problems are often intertwined with tradition, culture, and customs. Progress can only be achieved gradually.