Weekly #3 Five China stories you need to read: Precocious puberty; Officials retraining; City Walk

"In his view, even if his daughter doesn't comprehend the concept of precocious puberty now, she will understand one day. "

Capitalizing on the momentum and positive feedback from our first two weekly roundups of ten selected China stories, curated by GRR from China's social media platforms, we're excited to present our third compelling compilation for this week. This piece delves into the following topics::

1) The rising prevalence of precocious puberty in children and the challenges faced by parents

2) The "recall and retrain" system for CPC officials as a final chance for the incompetent

3) When taking a stroll is now exaggeratedly praised as a "city walk" and even requires payment

4) Former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party receives young students from the Chinese mainland

5) Why the routine practice, prohibiting the hiring of relatives within three generations, go viral on social media

It is worth noting that two stories shed light on the appointment and supervision system for Chinese officials, which may offer you a window into the Chinese unique political system and its continued efforts in self-purification and self-renewal.

For the topic of precocious puberty, GRR has always been paying attention to issues concerning minors [check the Story of teens at a transgender clinic published in January], which to some extent reflects the generation gap between parents and children, in the context of China's relatively implicit oriental culture that may also pose some challenges for communication and understanding between two generations.

Your comments and suggestions regarding the content of this column are continuously welcome and appreciated.

1.When my kid is diagnosed with precocious puberty 孩子确诊性早熟之后

Overview: The article discusses the rising prevalence of precocious puberty in children and the challenges faced by parents in dealing with the diagnosis, highlighting the impact of the condition on a child's physical and mental development and the various treatment options available. It also delves into the emotional toll on parents and the conflicts that may arise between them and their children as a result of the diagnosis. The story follows a mother's experience of discovering her daughter's precocious puberty while on vacation and her subsequent struggles to come to terms with it.

This is a report by 人物 [People], a magazine delving into topics that may not be mainstream but carry significance, providing in-depth analysis of individuals through sensitive and thorough interviews.

Highlights:

刘静有一些更幽深的恐惧，性早熟可能让孩子早早就对异性的身体产生探究的欲望。早恋这件事在刘静看来，极其影响家庭关系和学习状态。她对姐姐13岁时恋爱，整天和父母吵架、扰得整个家鸡犬不宁记忆尤深。

Liu Jing has some deeper fears. Precocious puberty may lead children to develop a curious desire for the opposite sex's bodies at an early age. In Liu Jing's view, puppy love is extremely detrimental to family relationships and academic performance. She remembers vividly her sister's love affair at the age of 13, which caused constant quarrels with her parents and disturbed the whole family.

她甚至已经开始设想对策，即便女儿只有7岁。「她如果过早恋爱，我肯定不行的。」在她进一步的幻想中，电视剧里那些女儿哭着赌气离家出走的画面也会在这个家里上演。刘静不寒而栗。

She has even started to imagine countermeasures, even though her daughter is only seven years old. "If she falls in love too early, I definitely won't allow it." In her further fantasy, scenes of daughters crying and running away from home in TV dramas will also be staged in her family. Liu Jing shudders at the thought of this.

一位儿童内分泌科的医生在门诊里观察到，偶尔会有几个谨慎的家长在孩子检查完身体后，总是着急让孩子到门外去回避。她表示理解，「谁都希望自己的下一代是完美的，孩子考不好，家长也会不好意思。」但她随即又说，这实际上反映了人们对于自己的苛刻，「人生来就会有各种缺陷，我们的身体都能接纳这样的缺陷，但意识却将它们排挤在外」。

A pediatric endocrinologist observed in the clinic that occasionally a few cautious parents always hurried their children out of the door after they had finished their physical examination. She understands that "everyone hopes that their next generation is perfect, and if children do not perform well in exams, parents will also feel embarrassed." But she immediately added that this actually reflects people's strictness on themselves. "Everyone is born with various imperfections. Our bodies can accept such defects, but our consciousness excludes them."

张锋坚定地认为自己和孩子都是受害者，「受害者没什么羞耻的。」他大方和女儿谈起什么是性早熟，但看着女儿懵懵的眼神，他知道，女儿肯定没听懂。

Zheng Feng firmly believes that he and his daughter are both victims, "There's no shame in being a victim." He openly talked to his daughter about what precocious puberty is, but seeing his daughter's puzzled expression, he knew she probably didn't understand.

他和妻子从不要求女儿对这件事保持缄默，「说出去也没啥，很多孩子都有的，要破除偏见。」不过，他随即又补充道，「如果说出去，真给女儿带来麻烦的话，我们再想办法解决。」他所说的办法，是指加强女儿的心理建设。

He and his wife never demand their daughter to keep silent about this matter. "It's okay to talk about it; many children go through this and we need to break down the prejudice." However, he added, "If speaking out really brings trouble to my daughter, we will find a way to solve it." By "finding a way," he means strengthening their daughter's emotional resilience.

在他的观念里，即便女儿现在不理解性早熟的概念，但总有一天会明白。如果那个时候的女儿回忆起来，发现父母只教会了她躲闪和沉默，想必会更加自卑。

In his view, even if his daughter doesn't comprehend the concept of precocious puberty now, she will understand one day. If, at that time, she recalls that her parents only taught her to evade the question and stay silent, she will surely feel even more inferior.

Comment: With advances in society and progress in mindset, people are gradually becoming aware of the importance of sex education. The "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors (2020 Revision)" proposed for the first time that "schools and kindergartens should provide age-appropriate sex education to minors." In recent years, some schools and non-governmental organizations have also been promoting the improvement and popularization of sex education.

However, achieving comprehensive, scientific, and age-appropriate sex education still requires joint efforts from all sectors of society, not only government and social institutes, but parents' participation and support matters as well. But as the article presents, parents seem to have intense pressure and anxiety in response to this. "I feel that the anxiety of parents has a greater negative impact on children than precocious puberty." A netizen commented below and won many likes.

But it is a bit comforting to note that modern parents are generally more open-minded towards the topic of sex education compared to the previous generation of parents.

2.Political reckoning: final chance for the incompetent 干部召回，十年18省：不胜任者最后的机会

Overview: The article tracks down the origin, trial run, and promotion of the "recall and retrain" system for CPC officials, especially those on the grassroots levels - counties, towns, and villages. Originating in Guizhou, a southwestern province of China in 2014, it has managed to find a middle ground between rewards and punishments, and serves as an institutional innovation in the evaluation, appointment and management system of CPC officials.

According to the article, incompetent officials, namely, those who did a bad job or nothing at all, would be selected for intensive learning sessions through performance evaluations, democratic appraisals, and covert investigations, etc., before entering a 3-6 month job competency assessment period. If they failed to pass the assessment, they would be dismissed or no longer considered for promotion.

This is a report by Southern Weekly [南方周末], a prestigious newspaper focusing on original content.

Highlights:

那次培训的是某县被召回干部。这个县属省会城市管辖，县城靠海，为传统经济强县。第一天报到，规定是上午8点半到所在市市委党校小礼堂集合，应到24人，只到了17人。

The lectures were arranged for recalled officials from the same county. The coastal county was under the jurisdiction of the provincial capital and a traditional economic powerhouse. On the day of signing in, they were supposed to arrive at the small auditorium of the municipal Party school at 8:30 a.m. While 24 people were on the list, only 17 showed up.

该副主任开始点名，7个没到的一个一个从小礼堂左右两边的侧门进去了。 The deputy director started roll calling, and the seven late-arrivers entered the auditorium one by one through the side doors.

有位戴了一副茶色眼镜的干部引起该副主任的注意：以前就认识他，是个镇长，是全省第一批被召回的不胜任现职干部，召回原因是对县委安排的一项工作推进不力，4个月没有多少进展，“但他从来不戴眼镜的”。 One official with brown spectacles caught the eye of the deputy director. A former township mayor, he was one of the first officials in the province to be recalled due to incompetence. The reason for his recall was a lack of progress in a task arranged by the county committee - there was little progress made after 4 months. "But he never wore glasses before," said the deputy director.

第一天晚上进行小组讨论，戴茶色眼镜的镇长表示，“现在就是又委屈又丢人，马上50岁的人了。”

During the group discussion on the first night, the former township mayor with brown glasses said, "I am embarrassed and ashamed. I'm already an old man - almost 50 years old."

该副主任回忆，那天正式上课前，市委组织部一位领导到场强调了两点：被召回就说明前期工作肯定有问题，但被召回不意味着组织放弃了他们，希望他们能摆正心态，找准定位。

According to the deputy director, before the lectures started, a leading official from the municipal organization department turned up to stress two points: first, being recalled meant there were problems with their previous work; second, being recalled did not mean the Party had given up on them. He hoped they could view the situation in a new light and rectify their behaviour in the proper manner.

组织部这位领导还表示，回炉培训考核是他们的最后一次机会，要放下包袱，不要辜负组织上对他们的期望。

The official also said that the assessment after the lectures was their last chance and that they should give 100 percent and live up to expectations.

为期两周的回炉培训，分为中央领导讲话学习、政治理论学习、党纪学习、法律基础知识学习和到警示教育基地参观，每天学习结束后有半个小时的小组讨论，讨论期间有市纪委和市委组织部的干部到场旁听，每晚十点前每人要上交一份手写的、不低于2500字的心得。

The lectures, which lasted two weeks in total, consisted of studying central leaders' speeches, political theories, Party disciplines, legal basics, and visits to warning education bases. Every day after the lectures were given, there were 30 minutes of group discussion, during which officials from the municipal disciplinary commission and organization department would sit in to listen. Before 10 p.m. each night, everyone had to hand in a handwritten essay of at least 2500 words.

Comment: The "recall and retrain" system is the latest of the continued efforts of the CPC to tease away every bit of inefficiency. Instead of targeting major offenses such as bribery and bad policies, the "recall and retrain" has played an especially effective role in curbing "lazy government" [懒政], a term introduced by the CPC for officials reluctant to take on responsibilities. Although the political system of China has always been censored for being over-centralized, the "recall and retrain" system is proof of its unique advantages - that the Party's supervision is able to seep down to every cell of its organization in self-renovation and self-cleansing.

3."Hilarious! Taking a stroll is now exaggeratedly praised as a "celebrity City Walk," and now they even want to charge money for it." “笑死个人，遛弯被吹成网红City Walk还要收钱了”

Overview: The article mentions that "City Walk" has become a popular trend in Chinese cities. Originally a niche way of exploring cities, it has now evolved into a fashionable lifestyle choice. However, the recent emergence of paid City Walks (a rebranding of city tour service provided by travel agency) has sparked criticism. Many argue that walking on the streets shouldn't require payment and that the trend has been overhyped. Despite the backlash, City Walks still attracts participants seeking a sense of belonging and an escape from daily routines. The appeal lies in the freedom and individuality it offers in exploring cities.

This is a report by Vista看天下 [Vista], a comprehensive digest of news stories in China, mainly political, historical and social (including finance) as the main content.

Highlights:

“在City Walk这么洋气的词儿走红之前，我们都管自己叫街溜子。”有些事明明是一种旧的大众行为，却被掌握了网络话语权的人冠以新的名号；并且在一次次的传播中，强化了用以区分身份、品位等标签的门槛。

"Before the term 'City Walk' became popular, we used to refer to ourselves as street strollers." Certain things, which are clearly old and common behaviors, have been given new names by those who dominate the online discourse. Moreover, with each instance of dissemination, it strengthens the barriers used to distinguish identities, tastes, and other labels.

好像必须要把日常生活装饰成精美有序的样子，它才值得过，值得被展示。City Walk也不比遛弯优越到哪去，爱好者们张口闭口“认真感受生活”，不好意思，我那日行一万步的房东大妈对生活的理解也未必就落入下风。

It seems like everyday life must be adorned with exquisite orderliness for it to be deemed worthwhile and worthy of showcasing. City Walk is not inherently superior to a casual stroll. Its enthusiasts often emphasize the importance of "seriously experiencing life." Well, excuse me, but even my landlady, who takes 10,000 steps a day, may not necessarily fall behind in her understanding of life.

某85后男士这么跟我说：我们那个年代，BBS上一堆探讨北京怎么压马路的，叫上三五好友就在北京四九城流窜一整夜，有什么稀奇。然而2023年，一个北漂青年甚至很难在北京完成一场说走就走的City Walk。因为他可能要先从通州的出租屋出发，至少倒一次车，花费一个半小时、辗转20公里，才能刚刚进入北京二环里特意walk一段。

A gentleman born in the 1980s told me, "In our generation, there were numerous discussions on online forums about how to roam the streets of Beijing. We would gather a few friends and wander around Beijing's Hutongs all night long. It was nothing out of the ordinary."

However, in 2023, even a young migrant in Beijing would find it challenging to embark on a spontaneous City Walk. They might have to start from their rented apartment in Tongzhou, take at least one transfer, spend an hour and a half, and cover a distance of 20 kilometers just to enter the Second Ring Road in Beijing and commence their intentional walk.

大城市里的外来年轻人在想办法获得“归属感”，并抵消掉那越来越昂贵的成本。

Young migrants in big cities are seeking ways to attain a sense of belonging and offset the increasingly high costs.

Comment: The phenomenon of City Walk becoming a trendy and commercialized concept has sparked mixed reactions. While some find it amusing and criticize the hype around what is essentially a leisurely stroll, others see it as a way for young people in big cities to seek a sense of belonging and counterbalance the increasing cost of living. The trend of packaging everyday activities as fashionable concepts and charging for them has drawn both mockery and frustration. It highlights the power of online discourse in shaping perceptions and creating new labels that further differentiate and categorize individuals based on their lifestyles. Ultimately, it reflects the desire for unique experiences and the struggle to navigate the complexities of modern urban life.

4.Ma Ying-jeou receives young students from the Chinese mainland: The best gift for my 73rd birthday 马英九接待大陆青年学子：我73岁生日最好的礼物

Overview: The article reports that the former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party 马英九 Ma Ying-jeou hosted a banquet to welcome a visiting delegation of students from five universities of the Chinese mainland on July 15. Ma expressed that this visit was a significant cross-strait youth exchange activity and the best birthday gift for him.

Ma emphasized the importance of increasing mutual understanding and friendship between the youth of both regions to dispel concerns about war and conflict. He referred to the Franco-Prussian War as an example of how different countries can establish a respected friendship. He also mentioned the growth of students from the Chinese mainland studying in Taiwan during his presidency.

This is a report by 环球网 [Huanqiu.com], a newspaper under People's Daily Online and Global Times, commenting on international issues.

Highlights:

报道称，马英九表示，这次马英九基金会邀陆生来访，也是他三月底、四月初访问大陆时的想法。当时到武汉、湖南、复旦大学交流，陆方师生都反应热烈，两岸学生互动，“浑然天成，欲罢不能”，让他非常感动。“因此决心邀请陆生回访，就是希望延续两岸青年交流的热度。当两岸青年增加更多了解，彼此增加更多情谊，哪里还需要担心会有战争与冲突？”

According to the report, Ma Ying-jeou said that the invitation for students from the Chinese mainland to visit through the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation was an idea he had during his visit to the Chinese mainland at the end of March and the beginning of April this year. During that time, he visited Wuhan, Hunan, and Fudan University for exchanges, where the students and teachers responded enthusiastically. The interactions between students from both sides were natural and seamless, leaving a deep impression on him.

He said, "Therefore, I am determined to invite students from China's mainland to visit the Taiwan region, in the hope of continuing the enthusiasm of youth exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. When young people from both sides increase their understanding and deepen their friendship, why should we worry about the possibility of war and conflict?"

“常举1870年的普法战争为例，两国既不同文，也不同种，却能在百年征战后，建立令全球敬佩的友好关系。两岸既同文，也同种，德国人、法国人做得到，我们炎黄子孙为什么反而做不到？”马英九说。

Ma Ying-jeou mentioned the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 as an example. Despite the differences in language and ethnicity between the two countries, they were able to establish a globally admired friendly relationship after a hundred years of war. If Germany and France, who have different languages and ethnicities, can achieve it, why can't we, descendants of the Fiery Emperor and the Yellow Emperor (Chinese descendants)?

报道还提到，马英九表示，他在2008年当选台湾地区领导人后，开放两岸三通，也开放陆生来台就读台湾的大学。当时已有800余大陆学生在台就读，到他2016年卸任台湾地区领导人时，人数已达到4.2万人，成长约50倍。可惜他卸任后，两岸关系低迷，加上新冠肺炎疫情因素，长达三年多时间两岸交流几乎中断。

The report also mentioned that after Ma Ying-jeou was elected as the leader of the Taiwan region in 2008, he opened up cross-strait transportation and allowed students from the Chinese mainland to study at Taiwanese universities. At that time, there were already over 800 mainland students studying in Taiwan, and by the time he stepped down as the leader of the Taiwan region in 2016, the number had grown to 42,000, an increase of about 50 times. Unfortunately, after he stepped down, cross-strait relations declined, and with the addition of the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-strait exchanges were almost completely interrupted for over three years.

Comments: Ma Ying-jeou's commitment to fostering youth exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan is highly commendable. By extending invitations to students from the Chinese mainland to visit Taiwan and nurturing mutual understanding and friendship, he aims to alleviate concerns and promote peaceful relations. It is now more important than ever to prioritize and sustain youth exchanges, creating platforms for dialogue and collaboration that can bridge the divide and lay the foundation for a brighter future between the two regions.

5.Why did the routine practice of the Tobacco Bureau, which prohibits the hiring of relatives within three generations, go viral on social media? 三代血亲不得应聘，烟草局的常规操作为何上了热搜

Overview: According to reports, the Shandong Tobacco Monopoly Bureau recently released a recruitment announcement for 2023 university graduates, stating that applicants cannot apply for positions where there would be conflicts of interest after being hired. They are also not allowed to apply for positions within units where their spouses, direct blood relatives, collateral blood relatives within three generations, or close in-laws hold leadership positions.

The article mentions the recent uproar over the long-standing rule prohibiting the hiring of relatives within three generations reflects public concerns about nepotism and a desire for a fair and merit-based competitive environment. Behind the public's passionate response lies a genuine demand for fair employment, where skills are valued over connections and where social background and resources do not hinder opportunities for upward mobility. Ultimately, the aim is to achieve equal employment opportunities and eliminate discriminatory practices.

This is a report by 澎湃新闻 [The Paper], a Chinese digital newspaper owned and run by the Shanghai United Media Group, focusing in particular on investigative reporting.

Highlights:

这篇文章同时提到，近亲繁殖的方式也更加隐蔽。例如，根据亲属条件量身定制招聘要求，进行“个人简历式”招聘；再如，与其他单位进行条件互换、交叉安排。想方设法对回避制度进行规避，对这种小心思，监督部门也要及时察觉，提高监督灵敏度，尤其是要发挥大众监督的社会性力量。

This article also says that the methods of "inbreeding" have become more discreet. For example, customized recruitment requirements based on family conditions are used, resembling tailor-made recruitment. Another example is conducting condition exchanges and cross-arrangements with other organizations. They try to find ways to game the system, and supervisory authorities need to be aware of these cunning tactics and improve their supervisory sensitivity, especially by leveraging the social power of public oversight.

值得一提的是，网络上出现了一些对“三代某某人”不满的声音，对于电三代、油三代、烟草三代、银行三代的吐槽声不绝于耳 …… 公众激烈情绪的背后是朴素的公平就业的诉求，希望学会真本事，就能够找到好工作；希望好工作不是小圈子里面的内部循环；希望“背景”“资源”不再成为寒门子弟的上升的障碍。

It is worth mentioning that there have been voices of dissatisfaction on the internet towards the "third generation of certain individuals." [This refers to the generations whose parents or grandparents were employed by state-owned enterprises and who have subsequently followed in their footsteps, securing employment within the same institutions.] Criticisms of the "third generation" related to electricity, oil, tobacco, and the banking industry are rampant ... Behind the intense public sentiment lies the simple demand for fair employment. People hope that by acquiring genuine skills, they can find good jobs. They aspire for good jobs to be accessible beyond the confines of exclusive circles, and they hope that "background" and "resources" will no longer be obstacles to upward mobility for those from humble backgrounds.

Comments: The strong public reaction reflects concerns about nepotism and a demand for a fair and merit-based competitive environment. Similar regulations exist in various sectors, emphasizing the need for fair recruitment practices and oversight to prevent favoritism.

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