- FRANCE 24

07/02/2012 - PLANET HOPE

China's river of death

Decades of unbridled economic expansion and disregard for legislation have devastated China’s environment. Today, 70% of China’s waterways are polluted - endangering the health of millions. One example is the 1,000-kilometre-long river Huai, in eastern China, where cancer rates are at a record high. But some locals are fighting back, trying to breathe life back into their beloved stream.

02/12/2011 - CHINA

A wave of support for Ai Weiwei

Artist and dissident Ai Weiwei is in hot water with Chinese authorities again. Having just appealed against a fine of 2.4 million dollars for tax evasion, he is now facing charges of pornography for a picture published two years ago. Ai is an outspoken critic of what many see as a general crackdown on dissent by Beijing in response to the Arab Spring. Our reporters Joris Zylberman and Henry Morton went to find out more.

01/07/2011 - CHINA

'Happy Birthday, dear Communist Party...'

China's Communist Party turned 90 on July 1st, and the government is expected to spare no expense in celebrating the fact. Growing social inequality and rampant corruption have seen the Party falling out of favour with many over the last few years, and so the government has launched a red campaign in an attempt to win over the waverers.

15/04/2011 - CHINA

An end to the show of luxury

The Chinese government has a new target in sight: luxury advertising. As of April 15th, no outdoor advertisements in Beijing will be allowed to portray either extravagant or opulent lifestyles, and companies breaking the law will have to pay a fine of €3,000. The government seems concerned that luxury advertising highlights the increasing gap between rich and poor.

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07/04/2011 - CHINA - NORTH KOREA

How does China really view North Korea?

North Korea's Parliament is set to convene on April 7th, and experts believe it will nominate Kim Jong-il's son, Kim Jong-un, as Vice-president of the Nation Defence Commission, the country's top political body. China is following proceedings closely, and is hoping for a seamless transition; any problems with its northern neighbour could have major economic and humanitarian consequences for Beijing.

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10/02/2011 - CHINA

Help the aged - or else

Beijing is considering introducing a law that makes it compulsory for people to visit their elderly relatives, with people being given the chance to sue their family members if they feel they have been abandoned. Talk of the new law goes right to the heart of a major problem currently facing China. Its population is rapidly aging - 400 million Chinese will be over 60 by 2040, with no social safety net to look after them.

10/12/2010 - CHINA

Empty chairs in Oslo as Liu Xiaobo is awarded Nobel Peace Prize

In prison for "inciting subversion", Chinese pro-reform campaigner Liu Xiaobo is to miss the Nobel Prize ceremony on Friday. He was awarded the 2010 Peace Prize for drafting a document calling for democratic reform in the country. China has been infuriated that the award has been given to a dissident and called on other countries to boycott the event in protest.

22/06/2010 - CHINA

China: the Rise of People Power

Strikes by workers in China are becoming increasingly frequent with high profile stoppages across the country in the last few weeks, making headlines across the World. China's labour force is developing, and with that development comes increasing calls for better wages and working conditions.

18/05/2010 - CHINA

The school attacks that outrage China

Seventeen people have been killed in China, fifteen of them children, in a series of attacks on schools that have swept the country since March. Another 80 people have been injured. The government has promised to crack down on violence and improve security at establishments, but there are still fears there could be more copycat attacks to come.

11/05/2010 - Shanghai World Expo

France: making it in China

When you think of France, visions of cheese, wine and romance will probably spring to mind. It sounds like a cliché, but for many it's just what they want. And at the Shanghai World Expo, French businesses are making the most of the stereotype: it's a way of promoting French products in the massive Chinese market.