Grim environment challenge

WITH ALL THE INPUT, OF BOTH PLEDGES AND resources, into an environmental cleanup, what this country achieved in 2013 appears less than impressive.

Risks for good Samaritans

The tragedy in Zhaoyuan, Shandong province, where a 35-year-old woman was beaten to death by six members of a religious cult on May 28, aroused hot debate online, with some people harshly criticizing the customers and members of staff in the fast food restaurant where the attack took place for not stepping in to help the woman.

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History backs China in sea disputes

China has been criticized by some countries for making "ambiguous" claims on the islands, islets, reefs and waters in the South China Sea. For example, it has been criticized for "failing to honor" the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea despite being a signatory to it, as well as for "violating" other international laws on the sea.

True religion is for people's good

Religions may differ from each other in many ways, but they have one thing in common: respect for life. That also distinguishes religion from evil cults, which challenge social norms and inflict damage upon human life, dignity and liberty. By placing their misguided tenets above everything else, such cults not only break laws, but also offend religions.

Letters

Beware of the Abe-Obama plot

From the Chinese press

Police officers need to respect life

World's largest Internet hacker

Last month, the United States Attorney-General Eric Holder announced the indictments of five Chinese military personnel on cyber espionage charges, accusing them of hacking into US companies in the nuclear power, metals and solar products industries.

Senseless violence shows banality of cool

On May 23, California student Elliott Rodger slaughtered six students from the University of California, Santa Barbara, leading to a flurry of theories that tried to explain his senseless killing spree. One explanation that I read is Elliott Rodger's mind, like many, was a pro-duct of "media programming" which celebrates a culture that justifies killing and violence of the young as shown in the movie Hunger Games. Ironically, the killer's dad was an assistant director on the movie.

Orderly change of gear

IN SPITE OF MOUNTING PRESSURE ON DOMESTIC house prices since late last year, Chinese policymakers have so far resisted the temptation to introduce a massive stimulus to bolster the cooling real estate sector; and for a good reason.

Worrying words from proactive Abe

The proposal put forward by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Japan should make a more "proactive contribution to peace", which is a translation of a phrase in Japanese that can also be rendered as "proactive pursuit of peace", should be questioned.

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