Remember those suspiciously young-looking Chinese gymnasts from the Beijing Olympics? Turns out they're not alone. China's sports ministry has x-ray tested 15,000 youth athletes and found that a fifth are lying about their age:

The athletes tested were the top eight in each event at provincial youth competitions in 2008 and all those who had signed up for this year's Provincial Games. The result showed 3,000 were older than they claimed, 2,000 of whom were no longer eligible for any youth sport and 1,000 who should have competed in different age categories. Ye said 16 athletes in one event had faked their ages and the worst offenders were up to seven years older than they were allowed to be.

Harry How/Getty Images

On his China Rises blog, McClatchy's Tim Johnson reports that Chinese authorities have cancelled performances by British band Oasis because of concerns over singer Noel Gallagher's political views. From the band's press release:

"The licensing and immigration process for the two shows had been fully and successfully complied with well before the shows went on sale. The Chinese authorities action in cancelling these shows marks a reversal of their decision regarding the band, which has left both Oasis and the promoters bewildered.

"According to the show's promoters, officials within the Chinese Ministry of Culture only recently discovered that Noel Gallagher appeared at a Free Tibet Benefit Concert on Randall's Island in New York in 1997, and have now deemed that the band are consequently unsuitable to perform to their fans in the Chinese Republic on 3rd and 5th of April, during its 60th anniversary year.

By now, China should've somehow realized that it's gotta lighten up on those artistic censorship laws. Other superpowers' leaders seem perfectly content to just ignore self-righteous outbursts from ageing foreign rock stars.

Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Since yesterday's item on Chas Freeman, more commentators have sallied forth to attack and defend President Obama's controversial pick to run the National Intelligence Council.

In today's Wall Street Journal, Gabriel Schoenfeld of the Witherspoon Institute says that Obama wants to place "a China-coddling Israel basher in charge of drafting the most important analyses prepared by the U.S. government." He argues that Schoenfeld's views on China should worry us as much as his thoughts about Israel and ties to Saudi Arabia:

On the massacre at Tiananmen Square in 1989, Mr. Freeman unabashedly sides with the Chinese government, a remarkable position for an appointee of an administration that has pledged to advance the cause of human rights. Mr. Freeman has been a participant in ChinaSec, a confidential Internet discussion group of China specialists. A copy of one of his postings was provided to me by a former member. "The truly unforgivable mistake of the Chinese authorities," he wrote there in 2006, "was the failure to intervene on a timely basis to nip the demonstrations in the bud." Moreover, "the Politburo's response to the mob scene at 'Tiananmen' stands as a monument to overly cautious behavior on the part of the leadership, not as an example of rash action." Indeed, continued Mr. Freeman, "I do not believe it is acceptable for any country to allow the heart of its national capital to be occupied by dissidents intent on disrupting the normal functions of government, however appealing to foreigners their propaganda may be."

The Daily Beast's Ashley Rindsberg explains another political strike against Freeman, his past business dealings with the bin Laden family:

As chairman of Projects International Inc., a company that develops international business deals, Mr. Freeman asserted in an interview with the Associated Press less than a month after September 11 that he was still “discussing proposals with the Binladen Group—and that won't change.”

In the same interview, Freeman also contested the notion that international companies who had business with the bin Laden family should be “running for public-relations cover,” noting that bin Laden was still “a very honored name in the kingdom [of Saudi Arabia]”, despite its family tie to the Al-Qaeda leader.

The New Republic's Martin Peretz adds his take, calling Freeman "bigoted and out of touch."

The Nation's Robert Dreyfuss defends Freeman here calling the campaign against him "scurrilous":

If the campaign by the neocons, friends of the Israeli far right, and their allies against Freeman succeeds, it will have enormous repercussions. If the White House caves in to their pressure, it will signal that President Obama's even-handedness in the Arab-Israeli dispute can't be trusted. Because if Obama can't defend his own appointee against criticism from a discredited, fringe movement like the neoconservatives, how can the Arabs expect Obama to be able to stand up to Israel's next prime minister, Bibi Netanyahu? 

My co-blogger David Rothkopf also takes up the issue, noting that while he vehemently disagrees with Freeman's views on Israel, Saudi Arabia, and China, his continued willingness to utter uncomfortable truths to power make him the perfect pick for Obama's intelligence briefer:

Part of the reason he is so controversial is that he has zero fear of speaking what he perceives to be truth to power. You can't cow him and you can't find someone with a more relentlessly questioning worldview. His job will be to help present the president and top policymakers with informed analysis by which they can make their choices. His intellectual honesty and his appreciation for what is necessary in a functioning policy process is such that he will not stack the deck for any one position. He wouldn't last five minutes in the job if he did.  (And Denny Blair, the wise and canny Director of National Intelligence wouldn't tolerate it.) Further, the chairman of the NIC does not directly whisper into the president's ear in a void. He helps prepare materials that will become the fodder for active debate among a national security team that is devoid of shrinking violets.  

FP's Laura Rozen is also following the Freeman debate closely. Stay tuned to "The Cable" for more details as they emerge.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged British authorities to take it easy on Martin Jahnke, the German student who threw a shoe at him in Cambridge last Monday:

"Education is best for a young student, and I hope he will have the opportunity to continue his education. The return of a prodigal is worth more than gold. I hope the student recognises his mistake and uses his developing eyesight to recognise the real China."

I have to imagine that Grandpa Wen would not be so lenient if the incident had occured in China. Still it shows a concern for his international image and an understanding that a little leniency can at least partially diffuse an embarassing international incident. Or a better understanding than George W. Bush anyway.

Chinese TV viewers got a truncated version of Barack Obama's inaugural address yesterday thanks to some skittish censors at the country state-run TV network:

The news channel of state broadcaster China Central Television broadcast the speech live early Wednesday local time, but appeared caught off-guard by Obama's reference to how earlier generations of Americans had "faced down fascism and communism."

The audio quickly faded out from Obama's speech and cameras cut back to the studio anchor, who seemed flustered for a second before turning to ask a U.S.-based CCTV reporter what challenges the president faces in turning around the economy.

Here's video of the cutaway from the invaluable Danwei.org:

 

Xinhua's Chinese translation of the speech also ommitted the reference to Communism as well as the section where Obama said that "those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history."

So much for "unclenching your fist."

A table-tennis match on Jan. 7 in Beijing marked the 30-year anniversary of the establishment of normalized diplomatic relations between China and the United States on Jan. 1, 1979. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, center left, and China's Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya, center right, attended.

In April 1971, China invited the U.S. table-tennis team to visit in what Time magazine called "the ping heard round the world." One of the Americans was then 15-year-old Judy Bochenski Hoarfrost, right, who returned today to play veteran Chinese player Qi Baoxiang, left. The 1971 visit launched an era of "Ping-Pong diplomacy," and according to Time, "Probably never before in history has a sport been used so effectively as a tool of international diplomacy." Obviously, with the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it hasn't been the only time China has used sports to try to improve its image.

See also:

• Chinese President Hu Jintao dominates at the Ping-Pong table.
• The FP photo essay, "China's 30 Years of Economic Overdrive," marks the reforms set in motion by Deng Xiaopeng.

Photo: Andy Wong-pool/Getty Images

Swedish prosecutors are investigating whether Nobel Prize jurors who accepted an all-expenses paid trip to China can be charged with accepting bribery. Jurors from the medicine, physics, and chemistry comittees all accepted invitations from the Chinese government to come speak about what it takes to win a Nobel Prize. Chinese authorities covered their plane tickets, hotels, and meals.

One member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences admitted that this doesn't look very good for the prize:

"We should be very careful not to put ourselves in a situation where the Nobel committee's work can be called into question," he said. "I think we should have thought about that here."

On the other hand, if China was trying to influence their decision, they may need to work a little harder. China hasn't won a prize since 1957.

(Hat tip: China Digital Times)

The editors at MaxPlanckForschung, flagship journal of Germany's Max Planck Institute, got a little more than they bargained for with an example of "classical" Chinese calligraphy they used on the cover of their latest issue. The idea was to evoke an image of China, which was the focus of the issue. But instead of arousing interest in cutting-edge science, Chinese readers discovered the calligraphy was titillating in other ways. A translation:

With high salaries, we have cordially invited for an extended series of matinées

KK and Jiamei as directors, who will personally lead jade-like girls in the spring of youth,

Beauties from the north who have a distinguished air of elegance and allure,

Young housewives having figures that will turn you on;

Their enchanting and coquettish performance will begin within the next few days.

Despite having consulted a "German sinologist" about the text, no one seems to have caught the two glaring letter K's - I would think a dead give-away things aren't so "classical," even if you fail to comprehend the other characters. Maybe that's just in hindsight, though.

If only the content in science journals was so exciting.

Top Story

The Chinese government strongly rebuked French President Nicolas Sarkozy for meeting with the Dalai Lama at a conference of Nobel Laureates in Poland over the weekend. Sarkozy's actions “severely undermined China’s core interest, gravely hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and sabotaged the political basis of China-France and China-EU relations,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Yafei in a statement.

 

An editorial in the People's Daily, the Communist Party's mouthpiece publication, accused Sarkozy of drumming up controvery to draw attention away from his political woes at home. Meanwhile, internet users have called for protests of French goods and stores, such as Carrefour markets, recalling similar protests earlier this year after activists disrupted the Olympic torch relay in Paris.

U.K. Prime Minister Gordan Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have also recently met with the Dalai Lama but without much consequence. Given that France currently holds the E.U. presidency, China is probably concerned at the visibility of French actions. Sarkozy will have to be careful where he sticks his neck out.

General News

Officials say upcoming reforms to China's fuel taxation and pricing schemes will lower gasoline prices, which have remained high despite plunging oil prices.

China has banned pork imports from Ireland due to dioxin concerns.

Direct flights between mainland China and Taiwan will begin Monday with a flight from Shanghai operated by China Eastern Airlines.

Politics

In China, arrests marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One well-known dissident, Liu Xiaobo, was detained for his involvement in drafting a public letter that demanded political reform and was signed by over 300 academics, lawyers, artists, and farmers.

Japan lodged a complaint with Beijing on Monday over Chinese ships that sailed near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea.

Business & Economics

Chinese exports fell for the first time in seven years as consumer demand continued to weaken elsewhere in the world.

The government urged domestic airlines to cancel or postpone aircraft orders to keep costs low during a period of weak demand for travel.

Science & Environment

The "taikonauts" from China's recent spacewalk mission are on a tour through Hong Kong and Macao where they are meeting with students, scientists, and the public at large.

Topping the United States for the first time, China published more scientific theses in 2007 than any other country.

China Moment

Perhaps it comes a surprise to no one, but a new report shows that more than 90% of China's richest people are the children of senior officials (Hat tip: WSJ China Journal).

Photo: ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images

China recently released a list of the 15 foreigners who have had the biggest influence on China since its economic reforms 30 years ago. It's no surprise that the government -- led by its arch-technocrats, hydraulic engineer President Hu Jintao and geological engineer Premier Wen Jiabao -- chose to shine the spotlight primarily on Nobel winners, scientists, and bureaucratic heads.

Those honored include Chinese-American physicist Franklin Yang Chen-ning, who helped restore China's research community after the bleak years of the Cultural Revolution; Hein Verbruggen, the International Olympic Committee member who helped bring the Olympics to Beijing; and Seiei Toyama, a Japanese environmental expert who "worked on reforestation projects in regions subject to desertification," according to the Wall Street Journal.

If that list leaves you scratching your head, you aren't alone. It does contain one "big name" though: starchitect I.M. Pei, who was actually born in Guangzhou before he moved to Hong Kong as a child and later the United States.

It's surely right to honor these people for their work, particularly when they otherwise might be overlooked. But the list leaves me wondering: Which other foreigners might make the list? Michael Jordan? Kobe Bryant? After all, basketball is now the most popular sport in China. Bill Gates? Gorbachev? As long as it's not Ronald McDonald.

Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

Top Story

As the global economic environment continues to worsen, the People's Bank of China has cut its key one year interest rate by 1.08 percent to 5.58 percent. It has also lowered the required reserve ratio that banks must maintain. This comes as the World Bank lowers its forecast for China's 2009 GDP growth from 9.2 percent to 7.5 percent. China's cabinet announced that it was studying measures to bolster struggling automotive, steel, petrochemical, and textile businesses.

Analysts have responded positively for the most part to the rate cut. They've applauded Chinese authorities for taking extraordinary measures to ease the slowdown and have looked favorably on China's continued use of interest rate tools to stimulate the economy, instead of depending on investment spending. More rate cuts are probably in store.

General News

A man convicted of killing six Shanghai police officers has been executed. His sentence drew sympathy and protest from many netizens due to reports that he had been previously abused by the police.

More than 500 workers at a toy factory in Southern Guangdong province clashed with police after they were fired. Some had worked at the factory for more than 10 years.

An official says the government has released more than 1,000 rioters involved in the protests in Lhasa, Tibet earlier this year.

Politics

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Greek leaders yesterday, pledging more cooperation on trade, energy, and tourism.

The Ministry of Finance earmarked another 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) for reconstruction efforts in earthquake-hit southwest China next year. This comes on a top of 70 billion yuan already committed for this year.

Business & Economy

Huang Guangyu, one of China's richest men and head of the Chinese retail electronics giant Gome, has been detained by police who are investigating stock manipulation charges.

China Eastern airlines saw its losses on fuel-hedging trades surge to 1.83 billion yuan ($268 million) as the price of fuel plummeted. Other Chinese airlines have seen similar losses.

Science & Environment

A new report says pollution has made a third of the Yellow River, China's second longest waterway, unsuitable for farming, fishing, or factory use, and 85 percent of it unsuitable for drinking.

China Moment

A panda bit a student after he broke into its zoo enclosure, seeking a hug.

Top Story

Chinese President Hu Jintao was in Havana, Cuba yesterday, where he signed more than a dozen economic agreements between China and Cuba. The deals included purchases of Cuban raw materials such as nickel and sugar, a $70 million pledge to help renovate Cuban hospitals, and the postponement of debt payments that Cuba owes China.

Hu also met with former Cuban President Fidel Castro, whom he praised for having struggled "to safeguard state sovereignty" and adhered "to the path of socialism, thus winning respect from people worldwide, including the Chinese people."

Granma, the Cuban Communist Party mouthpiece newspaper, imparted praise on China's economic reforms the day before the visit, but also criticized the income disparities that have arisen. It will be interesting to see which of the reform precedents set by China, arguably the most important of Cuba's communist brethren, President Raul Castro may deem appropriate for the island nation.

General News

Twenty-one people are dead after a subway tunnel under construction collapsed in the eastern city of Hangzhou.

Thousands of protesters clashed with police in northwestern Gansu province over a government plan to resettle residents. This latest in a string of unrest in western and southern China has officials concerned that forthcoming economic hardship could cause isolated incidents to spread into wider discontent.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration opened offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to prescreen Chinese goods bound for the U.S.

Politics

China rejects the possibility of sending troops to Afghanistan.

Despite warming relations between China and India, India has cast suspicion on China's growing presence in the region, especially in The Maldives.

Business & Economics

A long awaited fuel tax will soon come into effect. Proceeds are to replace road tolls as a means to fund highway construction.

China's internet-based economy grew by 52.2 percent in the third quarter, with advertising and games making up 72.7 percent of the total income.

Science & Environment

In a bid to reduce chemical residues in milk, Chinese scientists are using herbs in place of hormones to increase milk production in cows.

A new study finds that 12 percent of Chinese children and adolescents in big cities are overweight and notes a growing rate of diabetes.

China Moment

After catching a Ningbo teenager illegally posting advertisements, officials had the boy cover his body with those advertisements as punishment. Naturally, the pictures wound up online and have sparked debat. (Hat tip: WSJ China Journal.)

ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images

In an interview that appeared on the front page of the Financial Times today, a senior Chinese military official gave some "hints" about China's aircraft carrier program. "Even if one day we have an aircraft carrier, unlike another country, we will not use it to pursue global deployment or global reach," promised Major Gen. Qian Lihua, director of the the Defense Ministry's foreign affairs office.

In last week's FP List, we called for Agent 007 to secretly gather evidence about China's naval capabilities. Far from being reassuring, these vague comments from the Chinese military make James Bond's (hypothetical) task even more urgent. We'd like to know the truth.

In response to the FT article, Richard Fisher, senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, a security think tank, told me today that "China has waged an at times sophisticated and at times facile campaign of disinformation surrounding its aircraft carrier program."  He believes the world will never get a transparent description of China's carrier program.

The irony, though, is that this latest "campaign of disinformation", while growing more sophisticated, clings tightly to its facile notions. On the one hand, the Chinese government has deployed an English-speaking and "avuncular"  military official (as the FT describes Qian) to massage the international press corps, which is quite unprecendented for China's notoriously tight-lipped military. Yet the Chinese government seems to believe that other countries will not question its intentions, that simply averring it has no wide ranging naval ambitions is enough to divert the world's attention elsewhere.

When pressed about its technological capabilities, "the [People's Liberation Army] will seek to couch their missions in defensive terminology," Fisher says. "However, the usual approach ... is to assess the capability of the platform, its electronics and weapons, and then assume they will be used to the maximum envelope of those capabilities for any range of offensive and defensive missions." When China does launch an aircraft carrier, it's possible that the crosshairs will be trained only on the Taiwan Strait. But that certainly can't last forever. Qian will have to find an easier pill for the rest of the world to swallow.

Photo: KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images

On Sunday, China announced a humongous 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) economic stimulus package to bolster its slowing economy, but many are already questioning how effective the plan will be, both for China and for the world.

The package, which includes spending on low-cost housing and infrastructure projects and new tax deductions for companies, comes at a cost equivalent to 15 percent of China's current GDP. (For comparison, the U.S. Treasury Department's $700 billion bailout plan is about 5 percent of U.S. GDP.)

Analysts have since pointed out, however, that not all of the spending is new. For instance, the 4 trillion yuan price tag includes funds already allocated for rebuilding after this year's earthquakes in southwestern China. Moreover, the funds will be disbursed over the next two years. Given the lag time between undertaking new projects and realizing their economic benefits, this may not be swift enough to prevent GDP growth from dipping below 8 percent -- which some analysts says is the minimum growth rate needed to absorb the millions of rural workers entering the work force. Slower growth could cause unrest and undermine the Communist Party's control.

Even if China's stimulus package does manage to lift the Chinese economy, will that benefit the United States? Some machinery manufacturers may be relieved to find new sales in China and oil companies may be pleased to see Chinese demand propping up oil prices, but much of China's spending will probably go toward procuring raw materials from developing countries for projects such as highways and airports. Given that consumer spending accounts for more than two thirds of U.S. economic activity, Chinese infrastructure spending is unlikely to get the American growth machine going again.

The most magnanimous gesture China could make would be to invest a portion of its estimated $1.9 trillion in U.S. currency reserves back into the United States, perhaps to spur its own badly needed round of infrastructure spending. That's one gift it'd be nice to see under the Christmas tree this year, but the chances seem pretty slim. It looks like Americans will have to rely on their own lawmakers for that shot in the arm.

Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images