China morning round-up: Marine pollution

 

 

 The Chinese government says most of the coastline has a fragile ecosystem

No one story dominates Tuesday's newspapers, but two of the national papers look at an annual marine life report released by the government.

The report, released by the State Oceanic Administration of China, said the growing discharge of pollutants and booming offshore activity were worsening China's fragile marine environment, report the People's Daily Overseas Edition and China Daily.
The administration also said the risk of pollution caused by oil spills from offshore oil rigs was increasing.
It said that nearly 83% of China's coastline had a fragile ecosystem, while coastal areas contributed to 70% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
Meanwhile, papers such as Beijing Times and Guangzhou's Southern Metropolis Daily say Beijing's foreign ministry denied reports from Manila that China has pulled out its vessels from the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
The comment was first made by Philippines Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, but China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said although the situation was easing, China had maintained its governance of the area.
Hong Kong's Ming Pao Daily News says the southern province of Hainan has set up four "cultural heritage conservation zones" in the Paracel Islands to protect centuries-old Chinese shipwrecks.
Some newspapers also mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Citing figures from the Ministry of Public Security, China Daily says China's narcotics control effort is facing more challenges amid a bumper poppy harvest in Burma and a rise in drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
Yunnan, Guangxi and Xinjiang are still badly challenged by drug-related crime, says the Beijing Times.
In southern Fujian province, three drug traffickers from Taiwan were executed on Monday, Southern Metropolis Daily reports.
Shanghai Daily and Beijing News carry a Xinhua News Agency report which says Huang Sheng, deputy governor of Shandong, has been dismissed from his post and expelled from the Communist Party for corruption.
China Daily and People's Daily follow Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Argentina, as he met President Cristina Fernandez on Monday.
Shanghai Morning Post says Mr Wen discussed agricultural co-operation with Argentina, including possible joint strategic grain reserves.
Police in Guangzhou have confirmed the identity of the Nigerian trader who died last week in police custody, reports the Beijing Times, and the Nigerian embassy in China has been formally notified to contact his family.
His death sparked a rare protest by African nationals in the city. A commentary in Beijing News says Chinese authorities can learn from this incident how better to handle foreigner-related cases.
China Daily and Ming Pao Daily News also report a protest on board a Shanghai Metro train by two ladies after an official microblog message posted by a train operator sparked discontent.
The message, asking female passengers to "behave themselves" in terms of how they dress, came with a picture of a woman wearing a semi-transparent dress. "It would be a miracle if you dress like this in the subway without being harassed," it said.
Critics say the metro operator is making excuses for molesters by posting such a message.