Hello everyone, welcome to the news program “Five People Talking About News”. Today’s hosts are Tang Hao, Qin Peng, Fu Yao, Qin Yue, and myself, Jin Shi. With five different perspectives colliding, we will take you into the rich world of news. Don’t forget to subscribe and like our independent channel.
Today’s focus:
China’s pension system, a deficit ahead; The Chinese Communist Party delays retirement, with three major deceptions, promoting the “silver-haired revolution”; On the eve of a national uprising, the CCP may ignite a war at this point to try to ease domestic pressure; Why go to college? Even if you don’t go to college, why are you still a hero?
The third plenary session of the CCP has ended, with a verbose twenty-thousand-word decision document that did not offer any concrete reform plans, the only change being the “delayed retirement”. In Article 46 of the “Decision Document”, the CCP proposes to proactively address the aging population, develop the “silver economy,” and create diverse and personalized job opportunities suitable for the elderly. They plan to gradually delay the statutory retirement age according to the principles of voluntariness, flexibility, and orderly progress.
Q1: Qin Peng, Qin Yue, if the delayed retirement is implemented, the impact will undoubtedly be significant. However, based on the CCP’s wording, it seems that this measure will not be a mandatory, one-size-fits-all policy. How do you interpret this? What are the reasons behind the CCP’s push for delayed retirement?
Qin Yue responds: The first reason is the deficit in the pension system. With fewer young people contributing to retirement insurance, the current contribution cannot meet the needs of retirees. The management of the CCP’s retirement system is also out of control. Without delaying retirement, they would face the dilemma of being unable to pay retirement benefits. Of course, according to the CCP’s official rhetoric, delay in retirement is due to the increased life expectancy of the Chinese population.
The second reason is that many Chinese people are not willing to delay retirement, leading to significant opposition. Therefore, the CCP has emphasized voluntariness, flexibility, and gradual progress because many individuals had planned their retirement age earlier based on years of work and insurance payments. Asking them to wait longer for the benefits they were entitled to is unfair, especially considering that many have already retired at a normal age.
Q2: Fu Yao, the current situation in China’s economy shows a surplus of labor but a lack of job positions. With young people already struggling to find jobs, won’t further delaying retirement worsen youth employment conditions?
Q3: Tang Hao, delayed retirement is a sensitive issue. Last year, France’s pension reform, including the proposal to increase the retirement age, triggered widespread discontent and protests, even shaking Macron’s government foundation. If the CCP forcefully implements delayed retirement, could it lead to massive protests in China?
Talking about retirement issues naturally brings up employment concerns. Currently, Chinese college graduates face immense job pressures, with “graduation equals unemployment” becoming the new normal. A recent news story sparked discussions – a student in Hangzhou, Zhejiang scored 602 points in the college entrance exam but chose to attend Zhejiang Electromechanical Technical University, a newly upgraded institution. The reason cited by the student was the university’s reported 98% employment rate.
Q1: Qin Peng, Fu Yao, a student scoring 602 points could easily enter a top-tier university, yet this student chose a technical institution. Was she truly driven by the harsh reality?
Q2: Audience, if you were in her shoes, what would you choose? Should the employment rate be the top criterion when selecting a university?
Qin Yue responds: Personally, I would make the same choice as her. Opting for a program with high employment rates does not signify compromise or weakness but rather a reflection of the distorted state of Chinese society. Surviving in this environment, especially when one needs to bear family responsibilities, often requires pursuing a career where jobs are readily available.
Choosing a profession one enjoys is a source of happiness. Even if you don’t end up working directly in that field, the skills and knowledge acquired can still benefit you in various aspects of life. Acquiring knowledge beyond what is offered in closed-off China can provide more opportunities. Ultimately, competition primarily relies on the ability to seek out information, not solely on attending schools based on their employment rate.
Feel free to subscribe to our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdbvc-yJ4JQjNGTgFiJIZNA
Subscribe to Ganjing World:
https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/l9VpjYwBmw