The worst has come to pass. China has legalized secret detentions despite the seemingly-promising proposal of an amendment to outlaw them, and vehement protest from netizens. The new legislature, entitled "Article 73," will allow authorities to kidnap any parties suspected of "national security threats" and "terrorism" and detain them for up to six months at undisclosed locations, without any obligation to inform family members of their whereabouts. more ›

• In an exchange that has been making rounds on the internet, Mao Zedong's grandson lost his bearings last Friday and, beleaguered by journalists on all sides, asked "comrade, where is my car?" [AFP]
• He's not the only one to say a darndest thing though. Lots of officials have given meme worthy answers and opinions this week. [WSJ]
• The head of the environmental ministry in China has proposed that an environmental tax be studied - maybe it can help curb pollution? [Reuters]

While Hu Jintao still hasn't officially signed up for his own microblog, it seems Wen Jiabao's at least continuing to use chatrooms. The Premier signed on over the weekend to discuss matters such as hefty housing prics and unemployment, where he vowed to crackdown on speculation and boost the amount of low-cost apartments. If this sounds familiar, its because this is not the first time the unwashed masses have had their chance to talk to Grandpa Wen online. Last year, Wen also logged on to the www.gov.cn chatroom, and also right before the annual session of the National People's Congress. more ›

China spends up to 200 billion yuan a year on public wining and dining, a fat cat feast that may soon see its end if one Chinese legislator gets his way. National People's Congress delegate Zhao Linzhong wants to make lavish banquets a crime, calling them a "squandering of public funds" and "a waste of social assets." Not only that, it's incredibly unhealthy for the poor officials who have to drink and eat themselves to near bursting every time something important happens. We say huzzah and hurray to any attempt to pass this new law. If Zhongnanhai thinks that four dishes and a soup are good enough for President Obama, there's no reason why any underlings should feel differently. more ›

One of the proposals being presented before the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is a plan to "restore, resume, resurrect, or return" to traditional characters. more ›

Curious about what the Chinese stimulus plan looks like? Caijing Magazine has put together an interesting pie chart based on the recent “rebalancing” by the National People's Congress. Some of the biggest changes: a massive injection into sci-tech and social welfare, and surprisingly less towards rural civilian projects, considering how much publicity talks of “helping the rural areas” have been getting. more ›

• Wen says Beijing ready to hold talks with Taiwan [The Associated Press] "China's Premier Wen Jiabao says Beijing is ready to hold talks with Taiwan on political and military issues aimed at ending hostility with the rival island. In a work report he delivered Thursday at the opening of the annual session of parliament, Wen cheered a significant improvement in ties and a major reduction in tensions over the past year with Taiwan."
• In Crisis, China Vows Openness [Washington Post] "In his first online chat with China's 1.3 billion citizens this weekend, Premier Wen Jiabao tried to charm his audience... It was almost as if Wen were campaigning for reelection, an effort unnecessary in China, where the Communist Party enjoys a monopoly on political power. But as the top legislative body, the National People's Congress, holds its annual meeting Thursday in Beijing, China's leaders acknowledge that these are extraordinary times. "
• Highlights of Premier Wen's gov't work report [Xinhua] "Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is to deliver a report on the work of his cabinet at the opening meeting of the annual full session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, scheduled to start in the Great Hall of the People at 9 a.m. Thursday."

Too much spam on your mobile phone? You're not the only one being hit or getting angry. 30 NPC delegates are thinking of enacting a PRC Information Security Protection Law, which would provide a heavy deterrent to spammers. more ›

Sohu, that bastion of hard-hitting news on the Chinese internet, serves up a video of pretty female reporters at the NPC [h/t CDT]: more ›

Xinhua: Foreign reporters enjoy greater freedom covering China's "two sessions":

Andrew Kirillov, Beijing bureau chief of the Itar-Tass News Agency in Russia, appeared joyous when registering to cover China's upcoming "two sessions", not only because he was to witness the important political event again, but he would find it much easier to locate interviewees. more ›