China Macro Policy

MIIT to Formulate Stimulus Plan for the Information Industry (Link)
MOFCOM: Beijing won't have 'Buy China' clause (Link)
China Approves the Stimulus Plan for the ICT Industries (Link)
Twin Conferences Commit to Stimulate Economy (Link)
China's State Council Releases "Electronic Information Industry Restructuring and Rejuvenation Plan" (Link)
Six Ministries Releases "Overall Implementation Measures for National Technology Innovation Projects" (Link)

Trade and Investment

EU Reaps Huge Contracts from Chinese Buying Delegation (Link)
The Open Letter from China's Top Trade Association Calls for Anti-Protectionism (Link)
MOFCOM: China 's investment policy remain unchanged (Link)
MOFCOM: China to Fight Protectionism (Link)
China and U.S. Firms Sign Huge Contracts (Link)
EU-China Dialogue to Reinforce Trade and Fight Protectionism (Link)
Xinhua Commentary: 9-Ministry Ciruclar Is Fair and Justified (Link)
Post S&ED: ICT Issues for the Imminent China-U.S. JCCT (Link)
EUCCC: Chinese Protectionist Measures Stifles Overseas Firms' Business (Link)
China's Top Level Think Tank Takes Shape (Link)
NDRC Chief Encourages Investment from Multinationals in Think Tank Summit (Link)
Summer Davos Forum Opens in Dalian (Link)

Government Procurement

MIIT Issues Government Procurement Administration Measures (Link)
NDRC and MOFCOM Clarify China's Persistent Stance on Fair Competition (Link)
Ministry of Finance Unveils 243 Indigenous Innovation Products Catalogue (Link)
Beijing's 51 Indigenous Innovation Products Catalogue (Link)
USITO Expresses Concerns on Three Chinese Ministries' Indigenous Innovation Product Accreditation Program (Link)
International Business Letter Voicing Concerns on Indigenous Innovation Product Accreditation Policy (Link)

Laws and Regulations

The First Spurned Acquisition Case under Anti-Monopoly Law (Link)
MIIT Updates Regulation for Telecom Services (Link)
Real Name Registration System for Mobile Phones (Link)
China to Relax Restrictions on Wi-Fi Handsets (Link)
The Reproduction Administration Measures to Take Effect (Link)
MIIT to Unify Mobile Phone Earphone Interface Standards (Link)
Top Chinese IC Firms' Outcry for No.18 Circular Extension (Link)
Comments on China's Telecom Law Draft 2009 (Link)
USITO Work Group Meeting on SAC Draft Regulation (Link)

Telecommunications

China Grants 3G Licenses to Three Telecom Carriers (Link)
MIIT Clarifies 3G Frequency to Carriers (Link)
Fifteen measures to support TD-SCDMA (Link)
Countdown of Chinese "Little Smart" Business (Link)
Telecom Carriers to Promote WAPI (Link)
China Telecom Officially Kicks Off 3G Business (Link)
China Mobile Announces 3rd Phase TD-SCDMA Tender (Link)
Carriers Poised to Launch Own Mobile Operating Systems (Link)
iPhone Finally Debuts in China (Link)

Information Security

CNCA Announces Its 2009-2010 Development Plan (Link)
China Refutes the Cyber-Attack Accusation (Link)
USITO Update on China's CCC Information Security (Link)
New Regulations for Compulsory Product Certification Comes Into Effect September 1, 2009 (Link)
MIIT to Release Telecom Network Security Rules (Link)
Report on TCG-USITO Exchange on Trusted Computing (Link)
No.18 Circular of SEMB and GAC (Link)

Industry Watch

First Loongson Store Opens in Beijing (Link)
China-made supercomputer to debut (Link)
China's 16 High-Tech Special Projects (Link)
Rural Computer Sales Campaign (Link)
PC Sales Surge in Rural Area, Foreign Vendors Left Behind (Link)
Pirated Software Distributors Sentenced to Jail (Link)

Internet

Boao Forum 2009 Hosts Internet Panel (Link)
Four Ministries Mandate Installation of "Green Dam" Filtering Software on PCs in Chinese Schools (Link)
MIIT Mandates Pre-installation of GD Software in PCs (Link)
Green Dam Software Pre-installation Requirement Delayed (Link)
2009 China Joy Takes Place in Shanghai (Link)
MIIT Minister: Green Dam Never Compulsory (Link)
Authority Strengthens Investment Control in Internet (Link)
Turf War Escalates Amongst Game Regulatory Bodies (Link)
China Cleans Up Mobile Pornography Content (Link)
Authorities Overhaul Video Websites (Link)

Environment Issues

China WEEE is Signed Into Law (Link)
U.S. and China Forge Clean Energy Ties (Link)
Three-Ministry Directive Supporting Solar Energy (Link)
EPEAT to Be Promoted Globally (Link)
Government Solicits Comments on China RoHS Catalogue (Link)
Comments on Draft Catalogue for China RoHS (Link)
State Council Announces Targets on Emission Cuts (Link)

RegulationsMIIT Regulates Telecom Market Competition

Whereas some local telecom enterprises were found to have damaged communication facilities, intentionally hindered the interconnection & intercommunication and defamed rivals, which seriously affected the smooth operation of telecom networks, disrupted the market order, and damaged the legal rights and interests of large numbers of telecom users, MIIT issued an Circular, requiring the further implementation of previous MIIT regulatory documents aimed to regulate the telecom market order. According to the Circular, provincial communication authorities shall inflict severe punishment over such violations as behaviors of damaging and illegally using the communication facilities and hindering the interconnection. Any such violation shall be handled promptly after evidence is obtained. The telecom enterprises are urged to pay attention to enhancing self-discipline awareness and tighten supervision over subordinate enterprises, and boost their market competitiveness through providing innovative services, improving the management and service quality. Chinese Text

3G & Mobile Communications

China Unicom Extends WCDMA Roaming Service Outreach

China Unicom announced on December 28 that it has completed the field testing in 33 countries and regions including U.S., Canada, Australia, South Africa, Japan and Korea which are main travel destinations, and that the WCDMA international roaming service tests have achieved satisfactory results, marking a possibility for providing quality 3G service for users traveling abroad. Currently, China Unicom has worked with 365 operators in 217 countries and regions to deliver international roaming services, and worked with 126 operators in 64 countries and regions to provide 3G roaming services. To further improve the international roaming service quality, China Unicom plans to send 15 test groups to go abroad for more field tests abroad. Chinese Text

iPhone to Be Embedded with Wi-Fi Module

According to a report in 163.com, China Unicom has started talks with related companies and regulators in a bid to make China-oriented iPhone mobile phones be compatible with the Wi-Fi and homegrown WAPI standards. In October 2009, China Unicom inked agreements with Apple Inc. on the introduction of the sparkling iPhones into the Mainland China. Due to various reasons, the first array of iPhones available in the Chinese market does not support the Wi-Fi function. It is said that Chinese regulators mandate mobile phones must support Chinese homegrown WLAN standard WAPI if they want to carry WLAN module. Chinese Text

Semiconductor

Chinese Enterprise Leads Drafting of International Standard

The IEC/TC110 (Flat Panel Display Technical Committee) annual meeting was held in Japan, and experts from China, Japan, South Korea, U.S. and Netherlands participated in it. It was agreed that the drafting of LED backlight specifications was led by Dr. Liu Weidong from Hisense, and a discussion of term definitions, test methods and other details of relevant standards was conducted. This is the first time that Chinese enterprises are in charge of drafting international standards for a product series, which will raise the overall technical level, standardization level and product quality of the backlight unit industry, and facilitate boosting the market competitiveness of Chinese LED display industry. The backlight unit is an important part of LED display devices, and widely used in mobile phones, laptops and displays. Currently, Hisense owns over 50 foreign and Chinese patents in LED backlight technology, most of which are invention patents. Chinese Text

MIIT to Facilitate Panel Maker Financing

MIIT will soon set up an industry fund to encourage the development of Chinese panel industry, according to Zhou Zixue, General economist of MIIT. Zhou made the remarks at the China Flat Panel TV Market Development Forum held last week. Thus the difficulty in investment & financing by the panel industry is expected to be solved. Zhou pointed out that to push forward the flat panel TV industry, the core work is to improve the industry chain and core technologies so as to get more say in the international market, as in the case of the panel industry. Chinese Text

MIIT Announced Key Technical Inventions in 2009

On December 29, MIIT announced the 2009 key technical inventions in the information industry, and seven projects are selected as the key technical inventions, including some critical technologies for ATCA-based multi-core high performance router developed by Maipu Communication Technology Co., Ltd., CDMA/GSM dual-network/dual standby terminal developed by China Unicom, and TD-SCDMA and enhanced terminals consistency testing technology and platform developed by Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. MIIT Vice Minister Lou Qinjian said in his speech that the electronic information industry is the representative of high tech industries, and a typical industry which grows based on technical innovation; the core industry competitiveness lies largely in the ability to possess and use innovative inventions. Lou emphasized the importance of the selected key technical inventions, which he believed have driven the technical innovation in relevant sectors, enhanced the innovation awareness and capabilities of enterprises and played important roles in promoting the technical progress of the industry. According to Lou, enhanced indigenous innovation capabilities and better application and protection of IP rights can not only promote the scientific development of the electronic information industry, but also serve as an important means of responding to current crisis, enhancing the industry competitiveness and speeding the industrial restructuring and upgrading of the industry. Chinese Text

Software

China Software to Acquire Great Wall Software

China National Software & Service Co., Ltd. announced on December 28 that it will buy 100% stakes of Great Wall Computer Software and System Inc. (Great Wall Software) at a total price of RMB130m, so as to solve the competition issue long existing between them. According to the announcement, China Software will acquire the Great Wall Software stakes held by Great Wall Technology, Great Wall Computer, Great Wall Information and Great Wall Software Vice GM Jiang Bo respectively. Great Wall Technology, Great Wall Computer and Great Wall Information are all subsidiaries controlled directly or indirectly by China Electronics. This deal will make Great Wall Software a subsidiary of China Software, eliminating the competition between them. Chinese Text