Old Version
“What the middle class should be vigilant about is not just reduced social mobility, but also those who want to profit from their concerns.”
Fang Ledi, a columnist for the Shanghai-based news portal The Paper, who says some new media and the interest groups behind them want to amplify the worries of China’s middle class in order to exploit them for commercial gain, giving the example of private classes for children.
“How many Chinese films have been raped by commercialism? Not mine. No way!”
Wu Jing, writer, director and producer of the Chinese military blockbuster Wolf Warriors II defending his decision not to cast any Chinese heartthrobs in the film, which is China’s greatest ever box office success, grossing more than 5 billion yuan (US$770 million) in its first 24 days.
“You’ve fulfilled the mission the US gave you well.”
When meeting his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi expresses disappointment at a joint communique issued by the foreign ministers of Japan, Australia and the US, which strongly opposes China’s military buildup in the disputed South China Sea.
“People thought that printing money would create value, and financial expenditure would create effective demand, but it turns out the source of economic growth is creativity and the best way to create demand is to increase incomes, and that relies on the efficiency of enterprises.”
Chinese economist Xu Xiaonian in his new book, China: Market Economy or Planned Economy.
“The Sea of Japan does not belong to Japan.”
Ma Xiaotian, China’s air force chief, responding to concerns in the Japanese press about Chinese marine exercises in the region.
“Everyone wants to talk about morality, but being obsessed with morality is unhealthy. It can be an obstacle to social reform and progress, especially if the discussion stops there.”
Cao Lin, chief commentator for the China Youth Daily, who says shallow moralizing prevents Chinese from exploring social issues in more depth.
“When it comes to children’s rights and human dignity, these seemingly ‘voluntary’ choices are not really voluntary at all.”
Yao Yao, a columnist for Beijing News, on reports that orphans from poor, mountainous areas of Sichuan were adopted by a wrestling club in the provincial capital of Chengdu to be trained to participate in Ultimate Fighting Championship competitions.
“A citizen has the right to do anything not forbidden by law, and the government has a responsibility not to act in any way not authorized by law. This ‘crackdown’ on a banquet held by ordinary people was not a legitimate exercise in corruption control – it violated the law.”
Author and commentator Xi Po on a county-level government in Hubei Province that punished a local villager for holding a birthday banquet for his 10-year-old daughter, stopping the event and dismantling the stage, according to reports. The move was ostensibly part of a frugality campaign.
“As there are few high-return projects to invest in, it is better to own real estate than hold Chinese yuan domestically.”
Real estate mogul Pan Shiyi dismissing his previous idea of selling his real estate properties.
