| VOL.6 March 2014 | | Media Watch | | | | 
New War of the Three Kingdoms
China Newsweek
January 20, 2014
China's three IT giants - Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu - have reigned in their own realms separately in the past decade, just like the tale in the Chinese classic: Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Alibaba has focused on Ecommerce, Tencent on social networking and Baidu on its search engine.
However, the setup changed with the emergence of WeChat, a mobile messaging app created by Tencent three years ago. WeChat not only guards its own realm, but also constantly impedes into the territory of the neighboring kingdoms, a situation unacceptable to Alibaba and Baidu.
One important reason for the expansion of this emerging app is that it leverages on the trends of smartphone and mobile Internet use, and it fits into the busy lives of its users.
Taking a lead in the mobile Internet field is a common will for all IT companies nowadays. As the era of China's 4G network approaches, a new battle for market dominance has started.
China's Naval Capability
Oriental Outlook
January 16, 2014
The year 2013 witnessed widespread media coverage of the C hinese Navy's offshore training and drills. Oriental Outlook, in this issue, examines the Navy's growth and rise to prominence.
Given C hina's vast territory and economic development needs, the Navy will undertake more non-war military actions. And, while its military capabilities have been steadily improving, its current combat readiness on the open sea shows there is still a long way to go. Achieving a combat-ready navy requires more than possessing a single warship or plane; it calls for having a robust and comprehensive strategy as well as well-trained soldiers and professionals who can realize this strategy when given adequate resources.
To achieve its future development goals, China will focus on economic development. As part of these goals, military force plays a key role and assures the sound development of the Chinese Dream. T he international community should feel reassured as China pushes forward its development plans. Furthermore, there should be confidence in the country's progress in its open sea and ocean combat ability. 
Internet Finance
Caijing Magazine
January 6, 2014
It has been 10 years since Internet finance came into existence in China; within the past year, it has surged and shaken up the strictly supervised financial industry, opening up new space for the quickly developing Internet industry.
Currently, thanks to the relaxation of the financial industry and the convenience brought on by the 4G era, a battle for Internet finance innovation and market competition, led by emerging Internet giants such as Alibaba and Tencent, is in full swing. This fight will reshape both the Internet and finance industries, leaving the investment markets forever altered.
Income Transparency
Yangtze Evening News
February 10, 2014
Public servants are typically regarded as well-paid. But now, some government officials, particularly those at the township level, have begun to complain that their salaries are lower than common workers. But such complaints do not garner much public support. Most people argue that they enjoy better working conditions and have more invisible income and welfare benefits.
The contradictory opinions about the salary standard of public servants reflect the necessity to make their income transparent to the public. Actually, government employees at the township level are not as well paid as many people think. However, most people are not aware of this fact due to lack of transparency.
The transparency of government workers’ income disclosures is helpful for dispelling widespread misunderstanding and preventing local governments from paying welfare to their employees recklessly. Also, knowing the income of public servants is the public’s right. Transparent information about public servants will help improve the salary system for them, thereby quelling the complaints among the public.
Advertising Forced Marriage
The Beijing News
February 10, 2014
Recently, an advertisement video clip produced by a dating service provider has stirred controversy. In the video clip, a young girl in a wedding dress, with tears in her eyes, tells her gravely ill grandma that she is finally getting married after years of waiting.
Thousands of netizens condemned the video, saying the ad failed to take into account the feelings of unmarried people. It seems to imply those unmarried adults should apologize to their parents. Marriage is a personal choice, but the video clip forges marriage with kinship and family ties. It suggests that being unmarried is not in accordance with filial duties. Thus, the ad attracted a negative public response.
Today, many single people are forced to attend blind dates as parents persuade them to get married as early as possible. In such circumstances, forced marriage is inevitable for some single adults. Although forced marriage reflects parents’ care for their adult sons and daughters, it violates the freedom of personal choice and can even lead to family tragedy.
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