Lessons of Japan's atrocities

Thursday's official ceremony in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, was the focal point for remembrance of the 1937 massacre, unleashed when the Japanese Imperial Army entered what had been the Chinese capital.

US two-faced toward Syria

The United States recognized the Syrian Opposition Council, Syria's newly formed main opposition group, as the sole "legitimate representative" of the Syrian people on Tuesday. It is evident that the US-led Western countries are determined to push their own agenda on the Syria crisis.

The changing ground of human rights

Editor's note: Experts from across the world were invited to present papers at the Fifth Beijing Forum on Human Rights, which focused on Science and Technology, Environment and Human Rights, in Beijing from Dec 12 to 14. Excerpts from some of experts' papers follow:

Promoting human rights

It is meaningful for specialists and officials on human rights from around the world to attend the Fifth Beijing Forum on Human Rights, co-hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, to promote international cooperation and communication on human rights issues.

Cartoon

Premature sex education cause for concern

The other day I heard an 8-year-old boy say that he had "a small crush" on a girl in his class. I asked for the difference between a big crush and a small crush. A big crush, he said, is when you go "mmmmmoooch", demonstrating a kiss. I sighed out of relief. "A small crush," he explained, "is when you stare at somebody and think peaceful thoughts." That is just so beautifully naive.

DPRK satellite launch

The democratic people's republic of Korea said on Wednesday morning it had successfully sent a satellite into orbit. It is a pity that a chance for diplomatic mediation, which emerged after Pyongyang said on Monday it was extending the launch window, has been lost.

Disclosing officials' assets

In a move widely anticipated to help more effectively fight corruption, South China's Guangdong province has decided to launch a pilot program in Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai and Shixing county of Shaoguan, requiring Party and government officials to report and disclose their assets.

The benefits of an FTA for Asia

Next week will see Japan and the Republic of Korea, two of China's important neighbors, going to the polls, which could add to the uncertainty in the East Asia region. Japan's relations with China and the ROK are at the lowest in years because of the islands disputes it has with the two countries.

Income inequality plan a test of will to reform

The release later this month of government proposals to reduce income inequality will provide early evidence of whether a change of leadership in China has given new momentum to economic reform. The plan has had a slow journey to this point: it has been eight years in the drafting.

Dalai Lama works against peace and Buddhism

The New York Post, a US tabloid, recently became the target of harsh criticism for publishing the photograph of a man about to be struck by a subway train on its front page. The newspaper and the photographer were criticized for being "too insensitive and sensationalist", showing how highly the majority of the people across the world regard life.

Double drivers for economy

China is realizing a transformation from an external demand-driven economy to a domestic demand-driven, especially consumption-driven, economy to maintain its sustainable development, and the ever-increasing domestic consumption will be an important driving force for the country's economic growth.