Topics

China Policy Barometer – 2016 Wave

Policy Debates:

Policy Consult Debate Liberal Position Conservative Position
Domestic Violence Y What should be covered under the new anti-domestic violence law? Any harmful behavior, physical or verbal, between all members of the household. Physical violence perpetrated by husband against wife or child.
Foreign NGOs Y What rules should foreign NGOs in China have to follow? Foreign NGO’s should comply with the same rules that govern domestic NGO’s. Foreign NGO’s should comply with the same rules that govern domestic NGO’s and be subject to additional supervision by Chinese public security authorities.
Online Privacy Y How should do government go about ensuring cybersecurity? The government should prevent online crime but not by encroaching on the privacy of web users. The government should do whatever is necessary to maximize security, even if it means sacrificing the privacy of web users.
Budget Oversight Y What role should the Chinese People’s Congresses (PCs) have in overseeing government budgets? The PCs should have the power to approve, audit, or modify budget, even at the price of administrative efficiency. The PCs could have the power to approve or reject budget, but should not interfere with the details of the budget.
Environment Litigation Y What role does litigation have in environmental law and protection? Any individual or group should have the right to initiate environmental litigation, regardless of whether they are directly harmed by pollution. Only those individuals or groups who are directly harmed by the pollution should have the right to initiate an environmental litigation against the polluters.
Wildlife Protection Y What should the new Wildlife Protection Law focus on? Protect all wildlife and prohibit all exploitation of wildlife including traditional such as cultural and medicinal. Protect only near-extinct species and respect traditional uses of wildlife, such as cultural and medicinal.
Counter Terrorism Y People recognize the danger of terrorism but who should be treated as terrorists? Only those individuals or groups who are known to have participated in terrorist activities should be treated as terrorists. Those who conduct terrorist activities and those who sympathize with their ideas should be treated the same.
Minority Languages Y How should the government deal with minority languages? Minority languages should be treated as equal to Mandarin in Minority regions. Mandarin should be promoted as the standard national language in all parts of China.
South China Sea – How should China manage territorial disagreements in the South China Sea? Employ negotiation through international institutions to promote mutual understanding and avoid conflict. Ignore international law and promote naval capacity to deter other countries from interfering with the South China Sea.
Informal Lending – How should the government respond to the dangers of informal lending. Deregulate the financial sector and allow the private sector to replace informal lending. Strengthen regulations and punish those who take advantage of informal lending to extract excessive interest rates.
Stock Market Control – How should the government respond to stock market volatility? The government should stay out of the stock market and let it self-adjust. The government should take more action to reduce volatility and prevent downturns.
Media Supervision – Should the government supervise the media, or the other way around? The government should not interfere with the media, otherwise the media cannot help supervise the government. The media should be supervised by the government to ensure professionalism.
Urban-Planning – How should the government manage private and public interests in urban development? Protecting private property should be the priority in city planning, the government has no right to force open closed residential zones. Overall efficiency should be the priority of city planning, the government has the right to open closed residential zones and redirect the city traffic.

China Policy Barometer – 2017 Wave

Policy Debates:

Policy Consult Debate Liberal Position Conservative Position
Nuclear Energy Y Who should oversee the safety and management of nuclear power plants? The safety and management of nuclear power plants is a matter of local concern and should, therefore, be overseen by local authorities and the local public. The safety and management of nuclear power plants is national matter and, should be overseen by central authorities and safety agencies.
Ride Sharing Y Mobile ride-sharing services are changing China’s transportation industry, but how should they be regulated? Mobile ride-sharing services and their drivers are regulated by the market, treating them under the same rules as the traditional taxi industry is unnecessary.  Mobile ride-sharing services and their drivers should follow the same regulations as the traditional taxi industry.  
Public Security Y Video surveillance is an important part of public security, but how should it be used and regulated? Public security agencies should demonstrate a public security need before installing surveillance cameras in public areas. Public security agencies should have full discretion to install surveillance cameras in public areas.
Chinese Medicine Y The government recently promoted traditional Chinese medicine, for anything from physical therapy to treating deadly diseases like HIV. I do not support this decision. I support this decision.
Domestic Passports – Hukou influences education options, access to social services, as well as the right to buy property. The hukou system is inappropriate, China is already very unequal and hukou reinforces the unfairness. The hukou system is appropriate, China’s population is too large and hukou helps to ration limited resources.
Affirmative Action – Should universities and colleges have special quotas for marginalized students? Quotas are necessary, without them marginalized students will be left out of higher education. Quotas are unfair, every student should be subjected to the same selection procedure.
South China Sea – Tensions in the South China Sea are growing, how should China deal with this issue? Act according to international law and use diplomacy to promote mutual interests and understanding. Act according to China’s naval capability and use force to promote China’s national interest.
Foreign Aid – Should China devote funds to aid and investment abroad? It is wise, foreign aid and investment help China find new friends and opportunities abroad. It is not wise, many parts of China need aid and investment, why are we sending that money abroad?
Exchange Rate – A stronger RMB will improve China’s relations with the West. A weaker RMB will help China’s exports. China should let the RMB appreciate. China should let the RMB depreciate.
Capital Controls – Capital controls hurt international trade and limit China’s economy but help insulate China from outside instability? China should loosedn capital controls. China should strengthen capital controls.