Will Ebola Be Transmitted to China?

Caixin Century Weekly

October 27

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa is continually worsening. The World Health Organization predicts that by December, new cases can be expected to reach up to 10,000 per week.

The Ebola virus is one of the most dangerous to be identified in human history. The recent outbreak in West Africa is not the pathogen's first. In 1976, the first ever Ebola outbreak, in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killed 280 people.

This time around, more than 14,000 cases, including those suspected, probable and confirmed, have been reported in a number of countries including Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Spain, the United States, Nigeria and Senegal. Of this total, more than 5,000 sufferers have so far died.

At present, Africa is no longer an isolated continent. The Ebola outbreak in Africa concerns the whole world including China. Economic ties between China and African countries are growing increasingly closer, with 1 million Chinese living and working in Africa and 100,000 Africans living in south China's Guangdong Province alone.

As the Ebola virus continues to spread in Africa, is there a risk that the virus may be transmitted to China? Chinese experts believe that chances for the virus to become widespread in China are slim. In addition, the country's disease prevention and control system has improved since the SARS outbreak in 2003. However, China should remain vigilant given the unpredictability of the virus.

Taking Root in Cities

Oriental Outlook

November 6

The household registration system, or hukou, is regarded as a vitally important element of a person's life in China. The system, which was formed during the era of the country's planned economy, has played an important role in controlling population migrations. However, as China's economy and society undergo ever more profound reforms, the negative impact of the system has become increasingly obvious. Although China has attempted to reform the system many times in the past 30 years, the speed and efficacy of such reforms have fallen short of the public's expectations.

In July, the Central Government published a document on the further reform of the hukou system, putting an end to the dual household registration system that divided the nation into rural and urban populations.

According to statistics for 2013 published by the National Bureau of Statistics, 289 million people lived away from their registered place of residence, among which 245 million were migrant people. China's Migrant Population Report for 2013 published by the National Health and Family Planning Commission showed that in 2012, the average age among members of the migrant population was 28. The younger generation of migrants was reported to have moved to cities at an earlier age and to live further away from their hometowns in comparison to previous generations. They have also displayed a clear preference for settling in big cities.

Against this backdrop, the goals of the recent spate of hukou system reforms are twofold: to promote the transformation of the migrant rural population to urban residents and to establish an entirely new registration system.

Don't Play With Your Phone While Driving

Xinhua Daily Telegraph

November 3

As smartphones become widely used and social networking platforms such as Twitter-like micro-blogging service Weibo and instant messaging tool WeChat gain popular traction, many drivers have gotten into the habit of checking their Weibo or WeChat or even taking photos with their phones while driving.

In recent years, drivers who use their phones while driving have caused many traffic accidents. However, there are no laws governing behaviors such as driving while looking at one's micro-blog or WeChat.

Designating such behaviors as a crime would greatly help to reduce traffic accidents. However, it is highly possible that such an initiative would meet with difficulties in reality. For example, as many drivers use Global Position System (GPS) applications on phones while driving, offenders may defend themselves by claiming that they were not looking at social networking platforms but at their GPS. This poses a considerable challenge for the drafting and implementation of any related legislation.

Every driver should be responsible for the safety of themselves and their passengers and be encouraged to avoid reckless behaviors. If dangerous driving practices continue, the legislature will have no option but to enact new laws to ensure road safety.