Beijing police detain an environmental offender
Society & Culture
Top society and culture news for March 17, 2017. Part of the daily The China Project news roundup "Credit ratings with teeth."
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Beijing’s new ‘smog police’ detain man for causing air pollution for first time / SCMP
In one of the most prominent implementations of a tougher Environmental Protection Law enacted in 2015 so far, Beijing’s air pollution police have detained a staff member of a heating supply company found to be in violation of sulfur dioxide emissions limits. No details were given on the name of the company or the employee, nor the length of the detention. The 2015 law gives the police authority to detain offenders for up to 15 days and impose fines and suspend factory operations. -
Missile row drives Korean culture underground in China / Reuters
Millions of Korean culture fans in China are being forced to turn to peer-to-peer networks to share and view their favorite TV shows and other cultural products, as a recent chill in Seoul-Beijing relations has limited mainstream options. Popular video streaming sites are reportedly no longer updating content such as K-dramas and variety shows. The source of the chill is Beijing’s displeasure with the THAAD anti-missile system which deployed in South Korea earlier this month.
- Chinese firms offer pollution solutions with bottled air, hat filters, smog socks / Reuters
- Tai chi encourages calm. So why are its Chinese fans stressing out? / NYT (paywall)
- Jia Zhangke launches Pingyao ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ international film festival / China Film Insider
- Chinese artist Ai Weiwei unveils huge ‘refugee boat’ in Prague / Asian Correspondent
- Helping China rethink its approach to conservation / Yale Environment 360
