May 6, 2014: Dairy import gets tougher, Water crisis Renewable energy surge slow in China and more...

Environmental Pollution and Health

China on the Mekong: trade and tourism, Chinadialogue

A river freighter flying a Laotian flag chugs gently upstream towards China as the morning sky erupts in colour. It’s the start of another day in the “Golden Triangle” at the nexus of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, just south of China on the Mekong River.

Beijing Kebab Vendors Among List of Polluters Hit With Fines

China has engaged in a “war against pollution,” as Prime Minister Li Keqiang has said. And in the trenches on the enemy side are legions of roadside kebab vendors, if one takes Beijing officials at their word.

China’s mega-cities are combining into mega-regions, and they’re doing it all wrong

You may never have heard of the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing, but by some measures it is one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in the world, with an official population of 29 million—about the same as Saudi Arabia—and unofficial population of 32 million or more.

Green funds in Taiwan, China to show upturn, wantchinatimes

As authorities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are becoming more aware of environmental issues, a ream of new policies on the environment and new energy have sprouted up in China and Taiwan,..

China pays heavy price to become 'world's largest economy', wantchinatimes

Amid the sense of achievement over China's potentially imminent arrival at the No.1 economy in the world this year, many economists in the country are questioning whether it was worth the price after analyzing the figures from the angle of purchasing power parity.

Grain, Poultry, Dairy and Food Security

China Focus: China's dairies facing fierce competition, Xinhuanet

China's dairy enterprises, especially infant formula makers, are bracing themselves for intense rivalry with foreign counterparts following the country's new regulation to streamline imported dairy products.

Related:

China tightens controls on imports of baby formula, Asia@Pacific

 China has tightened controls on imports of infant formula in a move an industry official in New Zealand, a major supplier, said might block some products.

Spat Over ‘Stolen’ GMO Seeds Touches Nerves in China， WSJ

A war of words in China has reignited public debate over just how far genetically modified food — still mostly illegal here — has already infiltrated the country.

Related:

Oversight of GM crop samples to be boosted, chinadaily

Genetically modified food research groups in China will strengthen supervision of GM samples following an alleged case of theft at a research base in Hainan province on April 11.

Water Crisis

China’s Environmental Crisis in a Small Bottle of Black River Water, theepochtimes

Mrs. Chen, a resident of Huaian City, was distinctly out of place on the “Government Hotline” television program broadcast from Jiangsu Province late last month. 

China fights for safe rural drinking water, xinhuanet

China must work harder to ensure safe drinking water in rural areas, where about 110 million people still lack clean drinking water, the Ministry of Water Resources said Tuesday.

Energy Problems and management

Renewable-energy surge slow to wean China off coal, seattletimes

China now leads the world in development of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. It’s still unclear whether that will pay off in serious cuts in coal use and a reduction in China’s surging carbon emissions.