US foreign policy set to a hawkish wavelength?

Abrupt as it was, United States President Donald Trump's dismissal of Rex Tillerson as secretary of state came as no real surprise. There has been speculation for a long time about a parting of ways, as the entire world witnessed them differ on Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Paris climate agreement, among other things.

New watchdog good for consumer rights protection

China Central Television marks World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 each year with an annual gala that uses investigative reporting to name and shame unscrupulous retailers. Many brands, both domestic and foreign, have come under fire for either their shoddy goods or poor after-sale service and been forced to apologize and offer customers compensation.

How far will Trump's trade war go?

This year, the Trump administration's trade friction with China escalated. The US sped up the regular trade investigations such as countervailing, antidumping, and Section 337 investigations. At the same time, non-regular trade protection measures, such as Section 301, 201, and 232 investigations, global safeguard measures, and a reciprocal tax directed at trade partners, were also taken. The friction caused by these attempts to "change the imbalance in China-US trade" has become more serious.

Protectionism out of step with the times

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, signed by 11 countries on either side of the Pacific Ocean in Santiago, Chile, on March 8, is widely believed to be an antidote to US protectionism. At the least, it is a timely wake-up call to US President Donald Trump that his "America First" policy is not only becoming increasingly unpopular but also making the United States lose benefits rather than increasing them.

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Institutional reform for better governance

The Third Plenary Session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee made the decision to deepen the reform of Party and State institutions, saying the reform will facilitate the modernization of the country's governance system and capability from a strategic and long-term perspective.

Historic move to streamline departments

Editor's note: The deepening of Party and State institutions' reform is a big move initiated at the Third Plenary Session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee. Six scholars share their views with China Daily on the State Council's proposal to reshuffle the institutions. Excerpts follow:

Institutional reform plan will improve governance

The Institutional Reform Plan of the State Council, China's Cabinet, was submitted to the ongoing first plenary session of the National People's Congress for deliberation on Tuesday, initiating the process for the restructuring of government so that it better meets the nation's needs for progress and development.

New aid agency displays resolve for shared growth

With China's foreign aid continuing to increase along with its growing global reach, the announcement on Tuesday that an international development cooperation agency is to be set up as part of the restructuring of government departments is noteworthy but not undue.

Law should stipulate what nontax revenues governments can collect

DURING THE ANNUAL SESSION of China's top legislature in Beijing on Monday, the legislators suggested that all government nontax revenue be stipulated by law, just like tax revenue. Xiaoxiang Morning News commented on Tuesday:

Curb crazy extra hours for office workers

AT THE ONGOING SESSION of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, China's top political advisory body, some representatives have called for better protection of labor rights for white-collar workers. Thepaper.cn comments:

Tagged water helps promote sustainability

AT THE ONGOING two sessions in Beijing, the bottles of water have green tags on which the drinkers can use their fingers to write their names. Beijing News comments: