kunming log

What's going on with China?

China's been quite a naughty boy! Someone, someones, or something obviously wants China to do (or stop doing) something. Three recent bad press items:

Chinese Tires Are Ordered Recalled
Federal officials have told a small New Jersey importer to recall 450,000 radial tires for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans after the company disclosed that its Chinese manufacturer had stopped including a safety feature that prevented the tires from separating.
Source: New York Times

F.D.A. Curbs Sale of 5 Seafoods Farmed in China
In the latest move against Chinese imports, the Food and Drug Administration yesterday effectively blocked the sale of five types of farm-raised seafood from China because of repeated instances of contamination from unapproved animal drugs and food additives.
Source: New York Times


Tough English test could ground Chinese pilots*
BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Besides flying aircraft, more than 7,000 Chinese pilots are grappling with a tough new problem -- The Test of English for Aviation (TEA).

In 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) decided that all airline pilots who fly overseas must have a minimum level of English and would have to complete the level 4 test, the minimum acceptable level, before March 2008.

China currently has more than 14,000 pilots, of whom 8,600 pilots flying on international air routes must meet the standard, sources with General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua Online

* Article blasting Chinese pilots for their lack of English has been running in American press. Youtube even has video of it.

posted by Aki @ 6:35 PM