Immigrating to and ageing in Australia: Chinese experiences

Chinese communities, large or small, exist in almost every country in the world. The huge Chinese diaspora has played a big role in the global economy. Those in Australia are no exception. The first significant Chinese immigration to Australia came in the 1850s during the gold rush era. Since then Chinese immigration to Australia has gone through up and down periods. However, only after the diplomatic relationship between Australia and China was established in 1972, did mainland Chinese begin to come to Australia directly from China. Since 1978 when China opened its door to the world and started its economic reform, more and more Chinese students have come to Australia. In particular, after the Tiananmen Square Incident in 1989, a significant number of Chinese became Australian permanent residents and contributed to the fast growth of the established Chinese community in Australia. This thesis analyses immigration and ageing issues relating to the Australian Chinese community, which is now not only one of the oldest in Australia, but also one of the biggest, and economically, one of the most dynamic communities. It draws a historical and contemporary picture of overseas Chinese in Australia, including the Chinese migrants who remained in this country after the Tiananmen Square Incident. This study developed a model to investigate a wide range of factors that drive population movement between Australia and China. The determining factors include a wide range of push and pull forces that change constantly with the overall political, economic and environmental developments. The research findings claim that the pull, push and enabling factors interact with each other to influence Chinese people's decision to migrate from China to Australia. It becomes apparent that there are certain determinants which can help explain, understand and project this complex process in the future. This study further proves that Chinese migrants in Australia have made the smooth, but challenging transition between their native and adopted countries. Being involved into the Australian mainstream society, Chinese Australians have achieved economic adaptation and enjoy living in their new country. In addition, Chinese citizens who are studying as international students in Australia are potential skilled migrants and they are likely to apply for migration status after completing their studies. It is believed that Australia continues to be one of the most desired Western migration destinations for Chinese nationals and the magnitude of the Chinese ethnic community in Australia will continue to grow. In the future, the number of elderly Chinese in Australia is likely to increase as the majority of current economically active Chinese intend to retire in Australia and more older Chinese are expected to migrate to Australia for family reunion. As part of the general issues of Australian ageing population, this study attempts to raise the awareness of the challenging life-style of the Chinese elderly in Australia now and future. This study offers convincing evidence that Chinese immigrants play a vital bridging role in promoting business and trade between Australia and China. Due to China's economic growth, their movement between these two countries will be more frequent. Overall, this study provides important considerations for policy makers and will benefit the broad communities, migrants and policy planners in understanding the model of Chinese immigration into Australia. The insights gained from this study should have important policy implications for a more sustainable way of living not only in Australia, but also in China and other countries with Chinese immigrants

Recovery from tragedies: Sustaining China’s marine fisheries resources

China used to be relatively rich in marine fisheries resources but overfishing during the last three and a half decades has depleted China’s coastal fish stocks. Fish farming has become an option to satisfy the ever-growing demand by Chinese consumers. This paper develops an exploratory model to understand the reasons causing fish stock depletion, including natural and human-made factors. It analyses China’s marine fisheries resource management regimes and explores the trends in seafood demand and supply. The findings suggest that domestic marine fish farming, rather than import from overseas, will continue to be the major source of China’s seafood supply. However, the safety of seafood from coastal fish farms associated with high levels of pollution remains a serious public concern and constrains this industry’s development. In order to sustain and allow China’s depleted marine resources to recover, better management methods, including traditional marine fisheries approaches, need to be introduced into the industry. The paper also develops a national sustainability strategy model for the restoration of the fisheries industry in China

China’s Shifting Policies towards Sustainability: A Low-carbon Economy and Environmental Protection

China is currently not only the most populous country on earth, but also the world's largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter. As China's population growth continues contributing to the overall global population increase, the country remains a significant player in the global problems related to climate change. The Chinese government, however, has recognized that a low-carbon economy is in the country's long-term economic and social interests and this is now a key part of its national development strategy. This paper examines the evolution of policies for sustainability in China and explores their compositions, functions and operational mechanisms. Some emerging features and trends in China's development model are examined, arguing that they represent a clear shift towards sustainability. Further problems and challenges associated with this change and how they impact on China's policies and strategies are also discussed

China’s Transformation towards a Global Green System of Innovation

Purpose – This paper aims to examine recent trends and China’s role in the emerging global green system of innovation (GGSI) and present the major achievement in China’s R&D sectors and major challenges faced by the country. The authors use China’s role in the clean development mechanism (CDM) as a case to demonstrate the country’s willingness to adopt new technology and green innovation. Design/methodology/approach – In order to understand China’s transformation towards the GGSI, the approach used in this study is a review of innovation systems literature combined with analysis of statistical data from various sources. The authors also build an innovation model for the emerging global green system of innovation to demonstrate the building blocks which allow for transformational system failures to be avoided. The clean development mechanism (CDM) is used as a case example as to how GGSI works. Findings – This paper puts into perspective some recent developments in innovation and argues that there is enough evidence to claim that the world is re-orienting towards a global green system of innovation in which China is already one of the most significant players. Originality/value – Through building a new innovation model, this study demonstrates the complexity and the development of innovation in the context of China’s transformation towards the GGSI

A Comparative Study of the Prosecution Qualification of Public Interest Litigation

In the middle of the 20th century, with the constant emergence of various public interest damage cases such as environmental pollution, infringement of consumer rights and interests, etc., every country in the world was exploring to establish a mode of litigation that would be different from the traditional private interest litigation, public interest litigation thus emerged as the times required. In the 21st century today, no matter in the countries of the common law system or the continental law system, they are all perfecting the corresponding public interest litigation system combining their own country’s actual situation. In comparison, our country’s regulation for the prosecution qualification of public interest litigation is still imperfect. This article thus tries to propose some suggestions for this situation from three aspects, i.e., enlarging the subject range for the prosecution of infringement of consumer rights and interests, exerting the main force of procuratorate, and increasing public participation

Urban Transportation in Chinese Cities: An Efficiency Assessment

We use 2008 data for 34 Chinese cities to compare urban transportation systems. The results show stronger eastern and central cities focusing more on high capacity and less on sustainable modes of transportation, while western cities do the opposite. Chinese cities with more sustainable transportation are also more likely to have lower gross domestic product per capita, be smaller, are less urbanized and have higher bus usage. This model needs to change to align with China’s new policy priorities

Risk analysis of GM crop technology in China: modeling and governance

This paper aims at analyzing risks management of genetically modified (GM) crop technology in China, including risk classification, risk generating mechanisms and its governance. Firstly, we seek to create a three-dimensional model capable of assessing the risks of GM crop technologies. Based on this model, the risks of GM crop technologies can be divided into eight types, depending on the high or low risks levels associated with social hazard, technology uncertainty and economic harm. China’s GM technology is currently located in the high risk zone of thismodel, particularly in themarket of GMsoybean. In order to tackle this risk, the article introduces the Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as a useful tool to explore its risk assessment and governance. Lastly, we suggest the Chinese government needs to construct an efficient governancemechanismwhich should be able to balance actors’ interests and reduce or avoid risks induced by GM crop technologies

Street recovery in the age of COVID-19: Simultaneous design for mobility, customer traffic and physical distancing

This paper explores the relationship between urban traffic, retail location and disease control during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and tries to find a way to simultaneously address these issues for the purpose of street recovery. Drawing on the concept of the 15 min city, the study also aims at seeking COVID-19 exit paths and next-normal operating models to support long-term business prosperity using a case study of Royal Street, East Perth in Western Australia. Nearly half of the shops became vacant or closed at the end of 2020 along the east section of Royal Street, demonstrating the fragility of small business in a car-oriented street milieu that is inadequately supported by proper physical, digital and social infrastructure. A key finding from the analysis is the formulation of the concept of the Minute City. This describes a truly proximity-centred and socially driven hyper-local city, where residents and retailers work together on the local street as a walkable public open space (other than movement space), and benefit from ameliorated traffic flow, improved business location and a safer, connected community

Solving Traffic Congestion through Street Renaissance: A Perspective from Dense Asian Cities

Traffic congestion is one of the most vexing city problems and involves numerous factors which cannot be addressed without a holistic approach. Congestion cannot be narrowly tackled at the cost of a city&rsquo s quality of life. Focusing on transport and land use planning, this paper examines transport policies and practices on both the supply and demand sides and finds that indirect travel demand management might be the most desirable solution to this chronic traffic ailment. The concept of absorption of traffic demand through the renaissance of streets as a way for traffic relief is introduced from two perspectives, with some examples from dense Asian urban contexts to demonstrate this. Firstly, jobs&ndash housing balance suggests the return of production activities to residential areas and sufficient provision of diverse space/housing options to deal with work-related traffic. The second approach is to promote the street as a multi-activity destination rather than a thoroughfare to access dispersed daily needs, and to advocate more street life to diminish non-commuting traffic. Based on this, suggestions for better transport planning policies are put forward. Document type: Articl

Clean development mechanism in China: Regional distribution and prospects

Late in 2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol came to an end, it was further extended to December 2020. This was based on the strong realisation that the clean development mechanism (CDM) projects have been playing an important role globally, particularly in promoting clean development in China. Based on a review of international and domestic sources, the paper analyses the progress in the development of CDM projects both globally and in China.China has attracted the lion share of CDM investment in terms of projects located in this country and the global annual certified emission reductions under this mechanism. Due to the relative easiness of implementation, the main area of investment is new and renewable energy. China's fast economic development, open door investment policy, political stability, high educational and technological standards and reliable infrastructure are all encouraging the interest of foreign investors seeking to reduce their domestic carbon footprint. In order to facilitate the location of CDM projects, the Chinese government formulated a series of policies and regulations as well as established national coordinating groups for climate change, CDM Designated National Authorities and projects auditing boards, which are responsible for projects application, auditing and management.There are however large differences in the regional distribution of Chinese CDM projects. Provinces, such as Yunnan, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, Hunan and Gansu (located in central and western China) are attracting more projects because of their rich hydro and wind resources while there are very few projects in the eastern already developed parts of the country. This trend is consistent with the CDM's main goal to assist less developed regions to achieve a more sustainable development