A Canadian tourist visiting the Great Wall of China has accidentally killed an elderly Chinese women after bumping into her at the world-famous tourist attraction.

Cui Hongfang, 70, hit her head on a brick wall as a result from the collision. Cui died from her injuries at the scene.

It happened yesterday morning around 11 at the Mutianyu portion of the Great Wall. Cui was with her family when a “foreign woman” suddenly rushed down a set of stairs, bumping into Cui. Mr Song, a member of Cui’s family, described what happened:

The foreign woman’s speed coming down the stairs was very quick. At the time, (Cui) was not holding onto the handrail, and was suddenly knocked down.

No details about the Canadian woman except her nationality have been revealed by police. The Huairou PSB that investigated the incident say this is not a criminal case, and suggest the matter be settled under civil law.

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Secret celebrity romances are usually things that are uncovered by unscrupulous paparazzi photographers, violating the privacy of the rich and famous. However, the reveal of China’s hottest celebrity romance comes straight from the source itself – which, in this day and age, is a personal Weibo account.

Weibo users were first clued in to the romance between 50 year-old Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson and 31 year-old Chinese-Canadian singer Qu Wanting at beginning of January, but they made it official with a post sent by Robertson on Valentine’s Day:

Once again, this isn’t a private message, but a post sent to all of Robertson’s followers. While it may be a strange way to make it official, it makes sense for Robertson to announce his relationship to Qu on the Weibo micro-blogging service because he’s been mentioning Qu on his Weibo account for years.

The two were photographed together after a performance in February 2014, and another post has Robertson in full support of Qu becoming the tourism ambassador for Vancouver in November 2013 when he explained “Because SHE ROCKS!!!”

Robertson is having quite a year so far. He separated from his wife of 30 years last July, won himself a third term as the mayor of Vancouver, Canada back in November, and now has a new love in his life.

His public announcement of his relationship with Qu has resulted in a flurry of responses online. The most common is that he looks far younger than his 50 years:

佳爺万万岁：

There doesn’t seem to be an age difference of 19 years between [Robertson and Qu]… maintaining your health is very important.

STRONGKBB:

This old geezer is 50?!?! What a shock！

Sashaxu：

He doesn’t seem like he’s 50 years-old.

tearfulrobby：

Well maintained!

The coming together of East and West can have many implications, but the apparent one for netizens when it comes to cross-cultural relationships is the difference of beauty standards:

freshairr：

Her (meal)ticket doesn’t seem at all to be 50 years old, while she seems to be at least 40, oh my garters.

gemma凖：

Indeed, (her) face is suitable for a laowai (implying that Qu is not beautiful by Chinese standards).

Zippo227：

Foreigners like ugly women.

小婷婷luck：

Qu Wanting is (more) suitable for a foreigner because which Chinese would be able to put up with her?

尔本o：

Westerners aren’t willing to directly face the Chinese beauty standard.

A happy couple in love turns out to be the appropriate time to criticize their appearance.

罗滴嘎嘎：

Canadians are the most disgusting people. (I) pity that beautiful woman.

樱桃子2013：

At first I thought the woman had the worst end of the deal. The man is already 50 years old and is so much older than her. But then, after opening the photo, I felt that the man had the worst end of the deal…

But then some people were all too happy to wish the couple well:

男精零101：

I’m envious. 

徐威gg：

The very much have the appearance of a husband and wife.

Some netizens have come to certain conclusions about Vancouver and China’s northeast:

FrancisMartinCA：

After this, there will be more Chinese people going to Vancouver.

孫雪甛：

Speechless! 30 years of marriage is being substituted by a 31 year-old woman! I am fully in awe of China’s Dongbei (northeast)

While others see this relationship as having certain political overtones to it:

梦境_先知：

How are US mayors in any way more powerful than Chinese mayors, or any richer? That’s crazy!

肥皂是赵智君：

Why do I get the feeling that this is just propaganda material, and the mayor is just a fan?

jiatian琪：

Is this one technique with which China can conquer the world?

We’ll just have to see what comes next on Robertson’s Weibo account.

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“China and Canada have just reached an agreement issuing visas to each other’s citizens with the validity period of up to 10 years,” said Wang Yi at a press conference at the National People’s Congress, currently being held in Beijing. No further details were made.

The announcement comes on the heels of similar visa agreements China has made with the USA and Australia last year.

Canada had recently cancelled an immigration investment program that was bitterly opposed by Canadians, but has angered Chinese applicants who have announced their intention to sue the Canadian government for rescinding its offer.

Canada and China also seem to have warming ties, as the police forces in both countries are teaming up to fight money laundering and corruption.

The post Canadians Can Now Get 10 Year Visas to China appeared first on The Nanfang.

Vancouver city officials and police have declined to comment on “Operation Fox Hunt”, which was originally described by Xinhua as a Chinese crackdown on officials suspected of corruption who have fled overseas. Canada is apparently the top choice for corrupt officials, followed by the USA and Australia. While none have extradition treaties with China, Canada signed a deal last year to share assets and information related to corruption.

The presence of Chinese police officers in Canada comes as details emerge of an enormous amount of money that has been invested into real estate by wayward officials. The Province, a newspaper in Vancouver, said millions of dollars have been siphoned out of China and invested into Vancouver real estate. Local addresses in the city have also been linked to a variety of shell companies associated with mainland China connections.

Canadian real estate agents are also keeping their lips sealed. One person quoted by The Province said, “There is huge money laundering coming into Vancouver, but I don’t know who would tell you on the record, because that would be slitting their own throats.”

David Mulroney, ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012 and a former senior adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, argues that Canada should be doing more to combat the problems posed by corrupt officials taking shelter in Canada. “The U.S. and Canada are key targets for (Operation Fox Hunt) investigators. Both places are popular with corrupt officials because both are highly desirable locations in which to house family members and educate children, and neither has an extradition treaty with China,” he has written.

Kirk Kuester, executive managing director of Colliers International Vancouver, said the amount invested into real estate by corrupt officials is “staggering.”

“Some of these groups want to buy the biggest sites in the city and do developments that are comparable to projects in China, but would be on the upper end of anything ever done here,” he said.

Colliers’ Spark Report says the global outflow of Chinese capital hit a record of $18 billion in 2014, and the amount flowing to Canada – specifically Vancouver – is rising.

Previous cases of high-profile fugitives caught and returned to China from Canada include Lai Changxing, an alleged smuggling kingpin who was brought back to China in 2011, and Li Dongzhe, who surrendered himself in 2012 after hiding out in North Vancouver for six years.

The post Chinese Police On the Ground in Canada Looking for Corrupt Officials appeared first on The Nanfang.

Executives with the team’s owner, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), will join Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chinese officials in talks aimed at improving the state of Chinese amateur hockey in exchange for being able to promote the Toronto Maple Leaf brand to Chinese consumers. Chinese officials are even hopeful the Leafs could play a game in China as early as next year.

China isn’t known for its ice hockey prowess, but that could change with Beijing bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics. China’s team is currently ranked 38th in the world. Truth be told, the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t much better, having failed to win the Stanley Cup since 1967 and perennially missing the playoffs for many years since then.

Despite this record, MLSE is betting the losers will be lovable ones for Chinese sports fans. “This is the most storied and established brand in the game,” said MLSE chief commercial officer Dave Hopkinson. “We were told that if they were going to partner in the NFL, it would be with the Dallas Cowboys. If they were doing a baseball deal, it would be with the New York Yankees. And if there’s a partnership in the NHL, it’s going to be with the Maple Leafs.”

MLSE’s executive in charge of Chinese business Bo Hu compared the Maple Leafs to Manchester United, the most popular soccer team in China. “We want to keep holding camps for kids, building grass roots interest, and eventually take our Maple Leafs players there. This is the Manchester United model,” he said.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are most valuable franchise in the NHL, worth $1.15 billion last year. The previous arena that housed the team, Maple Leaf Gardens, sold out every game from 1946 until 1999. During the 2007-2008 season, the Maple Leafs earned an average of $1.9 million per game thanks to the highest average ticket prices in the NHL. The Maple Leafs were even featured in the Mike Myers comedy, The Love Guru.

The introduction of hockey to China must compete with other sports hoping to develop their markets there. The NFL has announced several plans to promote itself in China, as has the NBA. At the same time, the development of soccer has been mandated by government officials to supplement the numerous soccer schools aimed at developing China’s next soccer star.

There are other obstacles for the NHL. Ice rinks are hard to find, and hockey equipment remains expensive to purchase, even for the Chinese middle-class.

Meanwhile, other sports like basketball have had a long tradition in China that eclipses hockey, even before Yao Ming was crowned an ambassador to the sport. Chinese fans have long looked up to Chinese basketball stars like Mu Tiezhu, a famous player from the 70s and 80s who helped the Chinese national team win several Asian basketball championships.

[h/t @jimmybats22]

Related:

• No Official Games Yet, But the NFL is Coming to China
• Is China Ready for NFL-style Football? New League To Start Next Year
• NBA Teams Up with China in Landmark Deal to Promote Sports… But Will it Work?
• NBA Star LeBron James Swings By Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Beijing
• China Makes Football Mandatory In Schools As It Dreams of Championships
• China Faces a Rocky Path to Football Superiority
• Nanfang TV: Guangdong’s “football factory” an attempt to make China a football power

Photo: Windsor Star, 680 News

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With so many corrupt officials taking off with China’s wealth, it’s difficult to know just how widespread the problem is. The government’s only comment on the issue was in October 2013, when prosecutor Zao Jianming acknowledged that there were 6,694 corrupt officials caught between 2008 and 2013.

Between 1992 and 2014, only 51 cases were made public: 21 were officials, 19 worked in state-owned enterprises, and 11 were in banking or related fields. The majority were accused of accepting bribes, misusing public funds, exploiting their position, laundering money, and other related white-collar crimes.

Although authorities insist that they are getting tougher on these fugitives, the central bank suggests increased monitoring in sensitive sectors, such as finance, or in any other field that includes a monopoly.

Photo: QQ News

The post 18,000 Corrupt Officials Have Fled to Canada, Australia and the United States appeared first on The Nanfang.

An affidavit filed with the US federal court on Tuesday revealed a Canadian resident of Windsor, Ontario was arrested for smuggling 51 turtles hidden under his sweatpants while attempting to cross the Canada-USA border at the Detroit-Windsor crossing, reports the Toronto Star.

READ: Shark Fin Washed In Hydrogen Peroxide Sold To Unwitting Consumers

Kai Xu has been charged with smuggling and illegally exporting fish or wildlife by a US court, and may be sentenced up to 10 years in a federal prison.

Xu was found to have 41 live turtles taped to his legs, and another ten turtles “hidden between his legs.”

READ: Foreigner Caught Smuggling Live Birds
in His Jeans at Guangzhou Airport

This collection of “family jewels” included Eastern box turtles, Red-eared sliders, and Diamondback terrapins and are estimated to be worth between $1,300 to $1,500.

Xu was apparently planning to board a flight to Shanghai, but the final destination for the leg-strapped turtles was likely on a dinner plate.

Ed Grace, deputy chief law enforcement officer with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, noted that there is demand for the turtles in Asian food and collector markets. “Not just with turtles, I see it with ginseng, I see it with how wildlife in the United States can be, you know, coveted by collectors or for food markets,” he said.

Guangdong Province is often the final destination for a huge number of smuggled animals, many of which are intended for consumption. Previous cases include chinchillas, pangolins, another incident involving turtles, and another case of trying to stuff animals down one’s pants, this time involving birds.

Related:

• Fujian Fishermen Catch Endangered 2 Ton Whale Shark
• Yulin Draws Foreigners Who Dine on Dog Meat
• Bear torture company targeted by animal rights activists in Shenzhen
• Phew: Images of disemboweled tiger in Guangzhou were fake

Photo: the Star

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The Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) was signed two years ago, but only recently ratified. The investment treaty allows China to challenge Canadian laws it finds detrimental to Chinese assets. The lawsuit is not required to be made known to the public until a settlement is awarded by a tribunal.

The treaty does not limit the size of damages, and will go into effect on October 1, China’s National Day. It will remain in effect until 2045.

Critics of the treaty include Gus Van Harten, Associate Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, who wrote the following:

The treaty’s main role is to protect Chinese-owned assets from Canadian legislatures, governments, and courts, and vice versa (i.e corporate empowerment), though it is largely non-reciprocal since China’s interests/capital will be (and currently are) far greater than Canada’s current or anticipated investments in China.

The treaty has also drawn the criticism of Canada’s First Nations groups who see it as a threat to the government’s obligations to them. Brenda Sayers of the Hupacasath First Nation said last year:

This is really a court case for all citizens of Canada because it’s going to affect everyone negatively for a lot of different reasons, whether it’s to do with environmental, whether it’s to do with jobs, all kind of different areas. We’re all in this together.

Photo: straight.com

The post China Can Now Sue Canada For Laws That Interfere With Chinese Interests appeared first on The Nanfang.

Chinese reporter Li Xuejiang gets forcibly removed by the RCMP at a press conference on August 23, 2013.

The Canadian government has banned certain Chinese reporters representing specific news organizations from participating in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s upcoming trip to the country’s north.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Jason MacDonald, told QMI Agency that “certain news outlets were no longer welcome” to travel with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, reports the Winnipeg Sun. A source in the government said reporters from the People’s Daily and Xinhua news agency will not be able to attend the trip this year.

The decision follows an incident that took place last year during Harper’s previous visit to the Canadian north.

Chinese reporter Li Xuejiang argues with Julie Vaux on August 23, 2013.

On August 23, 2013, a Chinese reporter named Li Xuejiang got into a heated exchange with a member of the Prime Minister’s office, and had to be forcibly restrained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

During a press conference at Raglan Mine, Li was upset that his opportunity to ask the Prime Minister a question was revoked and tried to grab a microphone, after which a physical altercation took place.

As reported by the CBC, press conferences run by Prime Minister Harper are tightly scripted events in which questions from reporters are first verified, and then scheduled. Li was going to ask about investments made by foreign entities into Canada’s natural resources. “I wanted to clarify the federal government’s policy and the regulations toward foreign state-owned company investment,” he said.

Li was unrepentant. “Why should I apologize? They should apologize to me for depriving me of my right to ask a question. The Prime Minister’s Office shouldn’t deprive my right. It’s not democratic.” 

However, Li eventually did apologize, saying that he was “sorry for what happened”. All the same, Li continued to complain of unfair treatment. He showed off bruises he claimed he suffered from the altercation, and then wrote on September 8 that Chinese reporters stationed in Canada are discriminated against. Li said that police followed him everywhere, even to the bathroom.

Prime Minister Harper will be making his annual trip to northern Canada from August 20 to 26 and will be accompanied by staff and members of the Press Gallery, an organization of journalists who cover national politics on Parliament Hill.

Despite being identified by the Canadian Press as the Ottawa-based bureau chief for the People’s Daily, Li has also been identified by Xinhuanet as a correspondent working for the Global Times and the People’s Daily Online.

[h/t @spilledtea]

Photos: CBC, China.com

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Kevin Garratt, 53, and his wife Julia Dawn are originally from Vancouver. They first came to China in 1984 when they taught English in the country’s south before opening a coffee shop called Peter’s Coffee House in Dandong, Liaoning Province in 2008. As Dandong is near the North Korean border, the pair helped arrange tours for people traveling along the Yalu River.

According to Canada’s national newspaper, the Garratts are now missing, and all attempts to contact them at their coffee shop have failed.

The arrests come at a critical time when accusations of spying are flying between the two countries. Just last week, the Canadian Treasury Board said the Canadian National Research Council’s computer infrastructure was hacked into by a “Chinese state-sponsored actor”.

Related:

• Canadian Living in Shenzhen Jailed, Accused of Espionage
• Guangdong Man Jailed Ten Years for Spying Via Internet Browser

Photo: The Globe and Mail

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