The Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress passed a brand new Food Safety Law on February 28, 2009, and the law is set to become effective on June 1, 2009.  Without having a chance to read it carefully, I have some preliminary commen…

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy:
The mayor of a small Southern California city says he will resign after being criticized for sharing an e-mail picture depicting the White House lawn planted with watermelons under the title "No Easter egg hunt this year."
Los Alamitos Mayor Dean Grose issued a statement Thursday saying he is sorry [...]

One of the perennial issues that gets thrown around in the U.S. foreign policy community regards ambassadorial posts and the value of "career" State Department folks. I have to admit that I'm on the side of the career guys, particularly after the debacle that was the Bush foreign policy and its complete disregard/respect for actual [...]

Not a new concept. I believe that the poor job market in the early 90s spurred me on to law school, in fact.
Lots of unemployed kids here in China. The government knows this is a problem, understands that this is a very vocal group of people, and seems to be aware of the need for [...]

I've posted very lightly on this subject because frankly the whole thing disturbs me. I wasn't quite sure why it bothered me so much, although anything involving mob mentality, including fervent nationalism, always makes me nervous.
Thanks to Rebecca McKinnon, I can stop trying to collect my thoughts on this. I can sincerely send you to [...]

From Liu Mingkang/CBRC:
China Banking Regulatory Commission chairman Liu Mingkang highlighted the importance of watching out for financial risks in the real estate market. Liu said at a press conference that the will to repay mortgages depends on whether one is investing, speculating, or buying for personal use.

No news here, but the fact [...]

Applications for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card can now be made online, the Immigration Department says.

The loan limit under the Pawnbrokers Ordinance will rise from $50,000 to $100,000 when the Pawnbrokers Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules) Order 2009 takes effect on February 25.

I take personal umbrage when China FDI lawyers get smacked around. Here's a heads-up from Bloomberg:
Gary Locke, President Barack Obama's pick to be commerce secretary, persuaded Chinese President Hu Jintao in 2006 to visit Seattle, where he was feted at the mansion of Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates.
Both sides benefited from the trip, arranged by [...]

This is way off topic. Way, way off topic.
As an expat, you get used to two things about politics: first, the politics of all other expats are very similar (liberal socially, moderate fiscally, free trader), and second, all the weird stories from home about political extremists seem to be about other folks. Everyone you talk [...]