Author: fielda17

Terse relations between China and Japan are by no means a recent development, however recent territorial disputes have increased the strain between the two APEC countries.  Present-day controversies center on a small island chain positioned in the East China Sea.  Japan currently controls the islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China and the Senkaku… Continue reading Friends at Last? China and Japan Resume Talks with APEC Approaching →

On Friday, a coal mine collapse just outside the Xinjiang regional capital of Urumqi killed 16 miners and injured 11.  The accident, the cause of which is still under investigation, is indicative of a larger problem in China.  The Associated Press calls China’s coal mines some of the most dangerous in the world, with over 1,000… Continue reading Coal Mining →

China’s capital city, Beijing, is set to host the 2014 APEC conference next month.  During this conference, China will host heads of state from 21 different countries, including Barack Obama.  However, this month’s pollution level in Beijing has been extraordinarily high, raising concerns for the health of officials in attendance. China’s pollution level in major… Continue reading Beijing’s Concerns about APEC, Smog →

In the first couple weeks of class we’ve discussed Chinese transportation frequently, focusing closely on the roads and rail lines within the country. Interestingly, the Beijing Railway Administration has enacted a new program to combine the two. This week, China is celebrating its National Day and during the festivities the China Tourism Academy estimates that… Continue reading Update on China’s Roads and Railways →