Father Andrew Ding Wang, 44, was ordained today under the 2018 Sino-Vatican agreement. Leo XIV conferred on him the title of archbishop, as required by the jurisdiction of the Holy See (and the history of the local Church), even though China has no metropolitan sees. Three of the four bishops chosen in recent weeks in China were born after 1980.
In “atheist” China communism has proven unable to explain the tide of CP officials seeking the help of “masters” and clairvoyants toe help them achieve their ambitions. Experts: it is just one aspect of the general religious rebirth in the country.
Official sources admit protests only yesterday, but claim they were caused by the occasional high fine and reject claims about coercive measures against women and families. The 28 people arrested for allegedly instigating the protest action will be punished. Many residents however insist that forced abortions did take place, that police did ransack private homes and that five people died during the incidents.
Despite the positive spin put by the two sides, the two-day summit falls short of expectations. No progress is made on the main issues and the concessions that were made were few and of limited import. If Beijing does not open its economy more to market forces it may not be able to sustain the country’s development.
Abortions and forced sterilisations, fines worth years of wages, homes ransacked for not paying them are but some of the atrocities inflicted by the authorities on the residents of Bobai County in the last two months of one-child policy enforcement. Among locals a silent pledge of unity and resistance to such violence prevails.
Panama and the Dominican Republic report tainted toothpaste imported from China containing diethylene glycol. Importing countries now demand transparency; Beijing pledges inquiries and greater controls. Toothpaste makers object that they have been making the same products for years without causing death.
Deputy Premier Wu is in the United States, heading a high-level delegation, to discuss trade, the economy, energy and industrial co-operation. Yuan-dollar exchange rate, Chinese food product safety and intellectual property rights are on the discussion table.
Economists worldwide are concerned about the highs and lows of Shanghai's stock market and the frenzy over empty real estate. The financial bubble risks exploding; effects would be far-reaching.
Authorities in Bobai issue fines and sterilisation orders for women who violate the one-child policy. In the last few days, farmers attack public buildings and clash with police. The situation is “tense but quiet” after days of disturbances.
The H5N1 virus spreads to several Vietnamese provinces, perhaps because of continued cold weather. Another outbreak confirmed in China, possibly due to migratory birds.
The Internet Society of China has posted a draft code of conduct for bloggers and service providers on its website for a week of feedback. Its aim is to keep mainland’s 20 million bloggers on a leash. Name registration is one of recommended requirements, but is strongly opposed as a limitation to freedom of speech on the net.
Many Protestant groups want to take advantage of easier entry requirements to evangelise in the mainland. Currently, they are organising real training courses in the matter. Other groups however are talking about boycotting the Games if Beijing does not intervene to stop the genocide in the Darfur.
The underground priest is suffering from an illness probably contracted during the period of his detention. He has thanked all those who mobilized themselves for his release and to bring to light his situation. Fr Jiang Sunian remains in prison.
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