yangshuo coverage by Shanghaiist

Cracks in China's Great Politburo Wall [Asia Sentinel] "Vice-President Xi Jinping drops strong hint at big rift with President Hu Jintao Now we know what Vice-President Xi Jinping must have felt when he failed to make it to the Chinese Communist Party's Central Military Commission at a plenary session of the Central Committee last month. The supposed front-runner to succeed Party Chief and President Hu Jintao apparently blamed the supremo for not inducting him into the policy-setting military commission, which has been headed by Hu since 2004. "
Tourists killed in hot-air balloon accident in China [Times Online] "A hot-air balloon has exploded and crashed in one of the most popular tourist spots in China, killing four Dutch tourists and injuring three people. The group of five Dutch tourists and two balloon pilots had taken earlier today to float for about an hour over the dramatic karst hills that rise up like verdant steep-sided sugar-loaf mountains around the town of Yangshuo. A local tourist official told The Times that the balloon ran out of control and exploded, but gave no more details of what caused the crash."
China Consolidates Its Lead in Global Trade [NY Times] "China’s exports this year have already vaulted it past Germany to become the world’s biggest exporter. Now, those market share gains are threatening to increase trade frictions with the United States and Europe. The European Commission proposed on Tuesday to extend antidumping duties on Chinese, as well as Vietnamese, shoe imports. China is winning a larger piece of a shrinking pie. Although world trade declined this year because of the recession, consumers are demanding lower-priced goods and Beijing, determined to keep its export machine humming, is finding a way to deliver."

Continue reading "Today's Links: Unharmonized politburo, hot-air balloon crashes, and global trade"