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German President Visits China
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, German President Joachim Gauck made his first official visit to China from March 20 to 24. As a former civil rights activist in East Germany and a passionate advocate for democracy and freedom of speech, Gauck’s visit to China has drawn significant attention from the international community. Media groups reported that back in March 2014, when Xi traveled to Germany, Gauck spoke with him about human rights issues in China. Xi invited him to visit and see the country for himself. Gauck did not dodge sensitive issues during his time in the Middle Kingdom – he even brought human rights commissioner Bärbel Kofler with him. According to Germany’s presidential office, Gauck talked with Xi about human rights, environmental protection, Internet security and China’s controversial management of foreign-based nongovernmental organizations. Yet, despite some disputes, Gauck and Xi both stressed bilateral strategic cooperation. At a meeting with reporters from the State publication Global Times (GT), Gauck spoke highly of China’s rapid development, adding that he wanted this visit to
deepen his understanding of China and help the two countries maintain a close relationship. Gauck’s talk with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also focused on “cooperation.” Li expressed a strong desire to connect China’s “Made in China 2025” plan to Germany’s “Industry 4.0” strategy. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Li said that the two countries can best collaborate by combining Germany’s advanced technology with China’s highly cost-effective and competitive manufacturing. China will continue to open up its massive market to the outside world and welcome investment from foreign corporations. Li added that both sides will discuss further cooperation when Chancellor Angela Merkel comes to China this year for the fourth round of Sino-German talks. During his stay in Beijing, Gauck also talked about cooperation with the senior leaders of the Party School of the Communist Party of China. He spent his last two days of the trip in Shanghai, where he visited the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, and in Xi’an, the city that marks the beginning of the ancient Silk Road. Some German media commented that Gauck is trying to find a balance between nurturing a healthy relationship with China while still staying true to his activist identity.
Society
Vaccine Scandal Shandong Province police recently shut down a large-scale vaccine peddling operation responsible for the illegal sale of vaccines valued at more than US$41.3 million. Police said that over the past five years, the two main suspects, a mother and daughter surnamed Pang, have allegedly illegally accumulated 25 types of Class II vaccines and delivered them to 24 municipalities and provinces without following proper storage procedures. Given that Class II vaccines are optional and paid for out of pocket, unlike compulsory Class I vaccines, which are provided free of charge by the government, it is hard for the officials to accurately calculate the number of victims.
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Experts said that these improper storage methods make vaccines ineffective or at least less effective, but the risk of them being harmful is very low. Still, many people in affected regions have expressed anxiety over not knowing whether or not their vaccinations were efficacious. Police have so far detained over 100 people allegedly involved in some aspect of the vaccine ring. Given the massive scale of the operation and the relevant government departments’ failure to detect it, both the media and the public have posited that corrupt officials may also have been involved. On March 22, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang ordered a detailed investigation into the
vaccine scandal under the supervision of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and pledged to hold culpable officials accountable. Chinese media outlets have taken advantage of the uproar to once again urge the government to improve its supervision of vaccinerelated departments as well as those departments’ compensation schemes, a demand which had been ignored for years. NEWSCHINA I May 2016