Today's Links: Airport boss executed, Dalai Lama on Beijing, and a vague Olympic legacy
- Former Beijing airport boss executed in China [AP] "The former head of Beijing airport's management company was executed Friday following his conviction on corruption charges, state media reported. An intermediate court found 60-year-old Li Peiying guilty in February of accepting almost $4 million in bribes and embezzling about $12 million in public funds over the past 14 years, the Xinhua News Agency said."
- Australia Plans to Make Arrangements for Second Hu China Visit [Bloomberg] "Australia will soon be making arrangements for a second consular visit with Rio Tinto Group executive Stern Hu, detained in China for allegedly stealing state secrets, a government spokeswoman said. 'According to the consular agreement, visits must take place at least once per month,' a spokeswoman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who asked not to be named, said today in an e-mailed statement."
- Uighur unrest shows China's failures - Dalai Lama [Reuters] "Ethnic riots in northwest China have exposed the failings of Beijing's minority policies, and a more "realistic" stance toward Tibetans and others could emerge within a decade, the Dalai Lama said on Thursday. The Tibetan spiritual leader said the Uighur unrest in Xinjiang province in July, in which 197 people died according to the official death toll, showed the need for the Chinese Communist Party to rethink its approach."
- China's Solar Plans Could Stall Without Installers [Wall Street Journal] "China is on its way to becoming a solar power - with financial incentives coming from every corner of the country - but a lack of experienced project developers and equipment installers may cast a shadow over the growing industry. The country is already a powerhouse when it comes to solar manufacturing, with several large solar cell and module manufacturers located in the country. But unlike the U.S. and Europe, China hasn't had much experience developing and installing solar projects. For instance, in 2008 the country had an installed base of solar power of only 50 megawatts. "
- A year later, Beijing Olympic legacy remains vague [Seattle PI] "The splendid stadium, with its ornate steel lattice exterior, has been little-used since the closing ceremony -- an opera, a couple of pop concerts, no sports. The Water Cube, where Michael Phelps made the transformation from human to dolphin, is now mostly a store that sells Water Cube perfume and rice wine, according to a recent Sports Illustrated story. The Olympic Green, where both buildings and six other venues formed the heart of the Beijing Games, is mostly deserted, save for the occasional table tennis tournament."
- China's Hot Money Problem Returns [Wall Street Journal] "Hot money is again flowing into China and that could put Beijing in a quandary. Should the torrent continue, it could complicate policymakers' efforts to battle inflation. Should it reverse, property and stock prices will be hit hard. There's no easy solution to this, nor does Beijing have much control over the situation. As it is the hot money — speculative inflows that aren't explained by direct investment or trade — finds its way around China's tight grip on capital flows."
Contact the author of this article or email tips@shanghaiist.com with further questions, comments or tips.
