Chen Weijun

March 6 the annual session of the National People's Congress begins. It is the "Chinese Parliament" which brings together more than 3 thousand delegates from around the country. Members are banned from checking social networks, smoking in public or falling asleep during meetings. The first move will be to ratify an additional 10% in military spending.

For the first time in a decade, two top military leaders - the former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and the deputy chief of army logistics - under indictment for corruption and embezzlement. General Gu Junshan had built a fake Imperial Palace in Henan and filled it with statues of Mao (in gold ) and " crates of mao-tai", one of the most expensive liquors in the world.

A public shelter in the rich capital of Guangdong stops taking in children for lack of space, asks government for money. Whilst limiting private initiatives, Beijing says it is "studying" the possibility of providing free medical treatment to sick or disabled children.

China's parliament opened today. Its purpose is to ratify government decisions. Prime Minister Li Keqiang lays out his government's goals before the 3,000 delegates present, namely a 7.5 economic growth, higher military spending, and war on smog and corruption.

The former powerful national security strongman is increasingly isolated. Xi Jinping's government has indicted all of his loyalists, as well as his son and brother. A spokesman for the Consultative Conference of the People does not deny claims that he is under investigation. Surveillance around his homes are boosted. The National People's Congress is set to meet. Last year's meeting preceded Bo Xilai's trial.

After Xian, Shenzhen will also open a "baby hatch", a small structure equipped to accommodate abandoned infants. Catholic sources tell AsiaNews : " A good step forward in favor of life, which is under constant threat in the country. But we will have to see how it will be managed".

Despite proclamations in national press, the touted reforms of Xi Jinping’s leadership have yet to be officially sealed. Analysts and experts divided between skepticism and optimism, while the number 3 of the Party appeals to "all to cooperate " to carry forward the plan passed by the Plenum. Either way it will not be implemented until 2020.

The powerful former Public Security chief, who set up China's modern repression apparatus, comes under investigation for "economic crimes". One of his closest aide is also being investigated for taking bribes in the past ten years. Such house-cleaning hides factional infighting meant to eliminate all opposition to President Xi Jinping's rule.

A couple persuaded by deputy director of the maternity department of Maternal and Childcare Hospital in Fuping to give up their child, who according to the doctor has contracted hepatitis and syphilis and "is dying". Soon thereafter, however, they see her leave the hospital with the baby in her arms and decided to report her. At least 7 other cases in the same structure.

The National Audit Office announces a nation-wide audit of local governments, cancelling all other audits. The aim is to figure out how they could use 4 trillion yuan in loans and ghost buildings, built only for the purpose of building, as warnings went unheeded for years.

This morning a man fatally stabbed 3 people in Shenzhen: It is the latest in a series of murders committed by ordinary citizens who, ignored by authorities, seek justice through violence. The government, which requires courts’ loyalty to the Party, unable to resolve the issue.

Report by the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group presents cases of brutal violence against lawyers who defend human rights in China. The story of Liu Shihui, police smashed his feet because he spoke of the Jasmine Revolution, and that of other champions of democracy who pay at the cost of violent abuse for their commitment to a true state of law in the country.