2008 in China explained
Events in the year 2008 in China.
Incumbents
Governors
Events
January
February
March
April
May
June
- June 4–8 – 2008 Jiangsu Snooker Classic
- June 10 – The 270 ton sport fishing vessel Lien Ho of Taiwan suffered a collision with a Japanese patrol vessel, Koshiki, and subsequently sank, while in the disputed territorial waters around the Diaoyutai Islands that have been claimed by Japan and Taiwan (ROC). The Taiwanese crew who were aboard the vessel claims that the larger Japanese frigate deliberately crashed into them; their assertions are backed up by recently released video footage.[4]
- June 13 – Gas leak kills six and injures 28 at Chinese fertiliser factory (Wikinews)
- June 14–22 – 2008 Shanghai International Film Festival
- June 20 – Colonel Wang Hui-hsien, a former Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) analyst, is arrested in Taiwan on charges of selling state secrets to Mainland China.[5]
- June 22 – Controversial journalist Lu Keng passes away at age 89.
- June 28 – The 2008 Guizhou riot takes place following the alleged cover-up by authorities over the death of a teenage girl.
- Meetings between the PRC and ROC take place, improving Cross-strait relations.
- Summer 2008 South China floods
- The Chinese government buys Mount Toromocho Copper Mine in Peru for US$3 billion, with potentially two billion tonnes of copper ore. The deal was brokered by Chinalco, a PRC-government owned company.[6]
- The Republic of China (Taiwan) reasserts claim to the Diaoyutai Islands.[7] [8]
- China's national soccer team is victorious over the Australian Socceroos team during the FIFA World Cup qualifier at Sydney Olympic Stadium for the first time in history. The resulting 1–0 defeat for the Socceroos was their first home defeat in a World Cup qualifier in 27 years.[9]
July
August
September
- September 2 – Further flooding occurs in coastal China.[19]
- September 5 – Investigation and trial of former ROC President Chen Shui-Bian over corruption charges.[20] [21]
- September 7 – 2008 Hong Kong legislative election
- September 8 – 2008 Shanxi mudslide
- The 2008 Chinese milk scandal, a food safety incident involving milk and infant formula which had been adulterated with melamine, broke on 9 September.[22]
- September 10 – Chinese video sharing website Tudou receives its SARFT license.[23]
- September 15–21 – 2008 Guangzhou International Women's Open
- September 18 – An open beta of the high-definition channel of the Chinese video sharing website Tudou, also known as Heidou, is released for public use.
- September 20 – Fuhua Mining Co. Ltd., coal mine accident (3:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. GMT Friday) in Hegang city, Heilongjiang province, where initially 5 miners were killed, and 27 trapped. On September 27, a total of 31 miners died.[24]
- September 21 – 2008 Shenzhen club fire
- September 25 – The third human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program, Shenzhou 7, is launched.
- September 26 – First public release of Anti-Japan War Online, a locally developed patriotic MMORPG game, released in China.
- September 27 – Shenzhou 7 Zhai Zhigang first Chinese person to spacewalk
- September 28 – 13th Computer Olympiad held in Beijing. (to 5 October)
- September 29 – Shanghai Masters 2008 (to 5 October)
- September 30 – Rendition of Zhou Yongjun by Hong Kong to the PRC
October
November
December
- December 3 – Internet cafes in Nanchang, are required to install the Chinese Linux distribution Red Flag Linux as a replacement for unlicensed versions of the popular Microsoft Windows operating system, or switch to legitimate copies of Microsoft Windows.
- December 10 – Charter 08
- December 13 – The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea meet in Fukuoka, Japan for a trilateral meeting promoting political ties.[36]
- December 17 – The MV Zhenhua 4, a Chinese fishing boat owned by China Communications Construction, was hijacked by Somali pirates on the way back to Shanghai, but deterred as crews radioed for help. The 30 crew members fought for four hours after nine pirates armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine guns boarded the ship. A Malaysian warship, Sri Indera Sakti and Malaysian military helicopter arrived and fired on the pirates, who fled the scene. No crew members were injured.[37] [38] The crew used water cannons, molotov cocktails and beer bottles to defend against the pirates, whom were fully armed.[39]
- December 18 – Chinese warships depart for the Gulf of Aden in response to the growing threat of Somali pirates.[40] [41] [42] This is the first time China has sent ships on a mission that could involve fighting so far beyond its territorial waters.
Sports
Births
Deaths
- January 16 – Chen Xilu, 80, Roman Catholic Bishop of Hengshui, organ failure.[43]
- January 26 – Zhang Hanzhi, 72, diplomat and linguist, English tutor for Mao, Nixon interpreter for 1972 visit, lung-related illness.[44]
- February 21 – Tian Bao, 92, government official, one of the first ethnic Tibetans to join Mao Zedong's army and embrace Communism.[45]
- February 25 – Charles Chan, 93, father of actor Jackie Chan, prostate cancer.[46]
- April 4 – Wu Xueqian, 87, politician, foreign minister (1982–1988).[47]
- April 5 – Wang Donglei, 23, footballer, car accident.[48] (Chinese)
- June 24 – Shao Hua, 69, photographer, PLA major general, daughter-in-law of Mao Zedong.[49]
- August 20 – Hua Guofeng, 87, premier (1976–1980), chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (1976–1981).[50]
- August 24 – Wei Wei, 88, poet and writer, liver cancer.[51]
- September 14 – Mu Tiezhu, 59, basketball player, heart attack.[52]
- October 5 – Kim Chan, 93/94?, Chinese-born American actor.[53]
- October 18 – Xie Jin, 84, film director.[54]
- October 24 – Xiao Ke, 101, general in the People's Liberation Army, illness.[55]
- October 28 – Kung Te-cheng, 88, Chinese-born Taiwanese 77th generation descendant of Confucius, heart and respiratory failure.[56]
- November 1 – Tan Jiazhen, 100, geneticist[57]
- November 10 – Li Ximing, 82, Beijing Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary.[58]
- November 26 – Yang Jia, 28, mass murderer, executed.[59]
- November 28 – Wo Weihan, 59, biochemist, executed.[60]
See also
Tropical Typhoons of 2008
Notes and References
- Web site: Bloomberg.com: Worldwide . . 2017-03-04 . 2009-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090626152725/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYjkVz76Icsk&refer=home . live .
- http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5652453.html UN: Asia faces sharp food price inflation
- News: 'Dozens die' in China train crash . BBC News . April 28, 2008 . 5 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110511224553/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7370375.stm . 11 May 2011 . live . dmy-all .
- http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/06/18/2003415043 Officials drop plan to visit Diaoyutais
- http://www.c4isrjournal.com/story.php?F=3592374 Taiwan arrests analyst on espionage charges
- News: Peru's 'copper mountain' in Chinese hands . BBC News . June 17, 2008 . John . Simpson . 13 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080924010832/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7460364.stm . 24 September 2008 . live . dmy-all .
- Web site: Rational, firm stand urged on Diaoyutai - The China Post . 2008-07-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080617221038/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign%20affairs/2008/06/15/161056/Rational%2Dfirm.htm . 2008-06-17 . live .
- Web site: Taiwan recalls its Japan envoy over Diaoyutai Islands clash - The China Post . 2008-07-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080618152225/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign%20affairs/2008/06/15/161051/Taiwan-recalls.htm . 2008-06-18 . live .
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- http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ifaEDXmXcN8Kr6IvLs830cI_1BWwD91TP3S02 The Associated Press: Hundreds of migrant workers riot in eastern China
- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2303618.htm?tab=latest Migrant workers riot in east China
- Web site: 今年上半年我国GDP为130619亿元 同比增长10.4%_财经_凤凰网 . 2008-07-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080723061642/http://finance.ifeng.com/news/hgjj/200807/0717_2201_658743.shtml . 2008-07-23 . live .
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/2310641/Olympic-terror-fears-as-China-bus-bomb-kills-two.html Telegraph UK
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- Web site: M6.0 - Sichuan-Gansu border region, China. USGS. United States Geological Survey. 2017-08-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20160404094157/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000gdw4#general_summary. 2016-04-04. live.
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- http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jr_zVrNr-wBw0MkM5HtrHGQELsqA afp.google.com, Five killed in China mine accident, more trapped: report
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- Web site: Msnbc.com Assault by pro-independence demonstrators comes amid warming relations . . 21 October 2008 . 2008-10-24 . 2016-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160123075903/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27290422/ . live .
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- Web site: Chinatechnews.com Evermore office . 29 October 2008 . 2008-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090503084514/http://www.chinatechnews.com/2008/10/30/7871-evermore-office-downloaded-53-million-times-after-microsofts-action-begin/ . 2009-05-03 . live .
- News: China's Evermore Office suite takes off . https://web.archive.org/web/20081102124210/http://www.itnews.com.au/News/87921%2Cchinas-evermore-office-suite-takes-off.aspx . 2008-11-02 . dead .
- News: Private guards ward off Somali pirate attack . David Osler . November 14, 2008 . November 17, 2008 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20081201104114/http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/private-guards-ward-off-somali-pirate-attack/20017590589.htm . December 1, 2008. dead.
- News: Chinese fishing boat reported hijacked off Kenya . Associated Press . November 14, 2008 . November 17, 2008 . The International Herald Tribune . https://web.archive.org/web/20090213163148/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/14/news/Piracy.php . February 13, 2009 . live . mdy-all .
- News: Workers riot at Chinese toy factory . Toronto . The Star . William . Foreman . November 26, 2008 . 1 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121012091252/http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/543500 . 12 October 2012 . live . dmy-all .
- Web site: Chinese, Japanese PMs meet for boosting bilateral ties . 2008-12-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023081412/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/13/content_10499574.htm . 2012-10-23 . dead .
- Web site: Somali Pirates Seize Four Ships on Day UN Passes Plan. Bloomberg. Omar, Hamsa. December 16, 2008. December 17, 2008. March 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240310204308/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics?pid=20601116&refer=africa&sid=abw5Nrj6SIvU. live.
- Web site: EU troops to help combat piracy . Scotsman. Anita Chang. December 20, 2008. December 20, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081223152931/http://news.scotsman.com/world/EU-troops-to-help-combat.4811005.jp. 23 December 2008 . live.
- News: Chinese crew used beer bottles to fight off pirates . London . The Times . Anne . Barrowclough . December 20, 2008 . 5 January 2009 . 10 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240310204135/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ . live .
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- Web site: INDIAN CATHOLIC - Comatose elderly bishop of Hengshui dies - . www.theindiancatholic.com . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080311074506/http://www.theindiancatholic.com/report.asp?nid=10198 . 11 March 2008 . dead.
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- http://www.batgwa.com/story.php?id=655 batgwa.com: The Best Search Links on the Net
- Web site: Former Chinese vice-premier Wu Xueqian dies at 87 . 2010-09-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110825203104/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-04/04/content_6592857.htm . 2011-08-25 . live .
- http://www.lifanfc.com/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardID=12&ID=4414&page=1
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- News: 20 August 2008 . Mao's successor Hua Guofeng dies . . live . 2010-09-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120408181038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7572298.stm . 2012-04-08.
- Web site: 'Who Is the Most Lovable' author Wei Wei dies - china.org.cn . 2010-09-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604154300/http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2008-08/26/content_16333266.htm . 2011-06-04 . live .
- Web site: Former Chinese basketball star Mu Tiezhu dies at 59_English_Xinhua . 2010-09-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081024231628/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/14/content_9995065.htm . 2008-10-24 . dead .
- News: Kim Chan, Who Had Roles in TV and 'King of Comedy,' Is Dead - NYTimes.com . The New York Times . 9 October 2008 . 2017-02-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170205115747/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/arts/television/10chan.html?ref=obituaries . 2017-02-05 . live . Grimes . William .
- Web site: Renowned Chinese film director Xie Jin dies - Entertainment News - SINA English . 2010-09-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110527033037/http://english.sina.com/entertainment/2008/1017/192508.html . 2011-05-27 . live .
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- Web site: Geneticist TAN Jiazhen, 100, passes away----Chinese Academy of Sciences . 2024-03-10 . english.cas.cn . 2024-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240310210631/https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/archive/china_archive/cn2008/200909/t20090923_43079.shtml . live .
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- https://archive.today/20130103114249/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iL-PTQOchWqJB4O3dibDO0Mzvxbw
- https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a6s9And6TNmo&refer=asia U.S. Condemns China’s Reported Execution of Scientist Wo Weihan - Bloomberg