Voice from Los Angeles

Los Angeles Times: In tough remarks on Google, China gives no evidence that accord is near 12/03

A top official in China further stoked the flames of the nation's dispute with Google on Friday when he said that if the search giant didn't follow its laws, it "will have to pay the consequences."

Li Yizhong, China's minister of industry and information technology, offered no new information on the status of the country's negotiations with Google

"Whether they leave or not is up to them,"Li said. "But if they leave, China's Internet market is still going to develop."

Los Angeles times: China sports official skewered for criticizing skater who didn't thank government after win 09/03

It was a political gaffe for Chinese short track speedskater Zhou Yang — failing to thank her country and its government after winning two gold medals at the Vancouver Olympics.

But the 18-year-old is winning widespread support for her honesty and naivete, after being criticized by a top sports official this week for mentioning her parents in a post-win interview but failing to express gratitude for the Chinese sports system.

"How can somebody love their country if they don't even love their parents?" China Youth Daily reporter Ma Jing wrote in an opinion piece published Tuesday, echoing the many online comments supporting Zhou in a case that is currently one of the hottest topics on Chinese internet sites.

Los Angeles Times: China's economic recipe: Creating jobs at home rather than boosting market for imports 05/03

Derek Scissors, a specialist on Asian economies at The Heritage Foundation think tank, said there's no reason for American manufacturers to think that more of their products will be getting into China because of Wen's speech. He said China is still committed to investment in its own companies so that strong sales to foreign countries continue.

Wen's focus on jobs, Scissors said, is "a sign that we're going to get quick Chinese growth of the same kind that we've seen before, which doesn't reduce the trade imbalance and doesn't provide any spark to the American economy."

Michael Green, former President George W. Bush's top Asia adviser, said this will create disappointment and frustration among world leaders that China is not doing enough to encourage local demand for other countries' products.