Worrying demographic changes

China's working-age population, that is people aged from 15 to 59, registered a rare and worrying decline in 2012, decreasing by 3.45 million to 937 million, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The proportion in the total population shrinking by 0.6 percentage points to 69.2 percent. This is worrying as the NBS predicts the decline will continue to 2030.

Standoff over Diaoyu Islands

Tensions between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands dispute have escalated after the recent incidents involving the two countries' vessels and planes.

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Defaulting on workers' pay must stop

Not paying the wages of farmers-turned-workers on time has become a chronic problem. So severe is the problem that in 2003, Premier Wen Jiabao intervened personally to get a migrant worker her arrear wages.

Alarming emergence of 'online guillotine'

Two months ago, I wrote a column on micro-blogging in China that now makes me blush. I'm embarrassed to realize how fast the situation has changed and how myopic some of my views were.

US needs to rethink rebalancing

The United States is facing a number of thorny diplomatic challenges at the start of President Barack Obama's second term. For example, stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan to enable a smooth withdrawal of US forces this year; stabilizing the situation in the Middle East, especially to placate Egypt and Israel, and achieve a smooth political change in Syria; managing the issues surrounding the nuclear programs of Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; and handling relations with emerging powers, including the stalled relations with Russia and the complex relations with China.

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Wallowing in misperceptions of China

The US-China Business Council, a trade association representing 240 companies in the United States, issued a report on Wednesday listing the opportunities and challenges in bilateral trade with China. It targets the new 113th US Congress, which began session on Jan 3.

Building peace in Mali

Two weeks into the French-led military intervention in Mali, members of the international community have accelerated their support while the mission to hunt down extremists and Islamist militants is making headway. The mission, backed by the United Nations, is believed to be instrumental in rounding up rebels linked with al-Qaida and restoring order in the West African country.

Anti-corruption system

Although no details have been disclosed about the new leadership's five-year anti-corruption plan (2013-17), the recent vow made by its top disciplinary watchdog to conduct spot checks on officials' assets is a forcible step forward and inspires the hope that some potent follow-up measures are in the offing.

Japan's designs must be defeated

After returning as Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe has been acting "tough", claiming that Japan enjoys an advantage in the Diaoyu Islands dispute and launching "attacks" on China on the diplomatic front.

Focus on energy efficiency

With the country's dramatic economic growth and rising living standards more people in the south of China are demanding central heating to keep them snug in winter.