标签： Asia

China has enacted groundbreaking financial safeguards for the rapidly expanding elderly care sector, introducing mandatory third-party custodianship for all advance payments made to private nursing homes. The new regulatory framework, jointly issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Financial Regulatory Administration, establishes comprehensive protections for seniors’ financial resources amid growing concerns about fund mismanagement and fraud.

The cornerstone of the regulations requires all privately operated care facilities to deposit prepaid fees exclusively into designated custodial accounts at commercial banks. These funds are strictly isolated from institutional accounts, with withdrawals permitted only upon formal application demonstrating legitimate purposes supported by documentation. Banking institutions bear responsibility for monitoring transactions, refusing suspicious activities, and alerting regulatory authorities immediately.

Financial institutions must develop integrated systems enabling real-time fund flow monitoring by civil affairs departments and process refund requests within one business day. The regulations explicitly prohibit online banking for these accounts, requiring all transactions to occur through counter services or dedicated platforms that maintain safety margins.

Dang Junwu, former deputy director of the China Research Center on Aging, characterized the system as “installing a dedicated safe for these fees,” emphasizing three fundamental protections: account isolation, quota control, and purpose review. These measures directly address vulnerabilities exposed by China’s aging demographic transition, with projections indicating the population over 60 will reach 400 million by 2035, representing 30% of the total population.

The regulatory intervention responds to substantial market growth that saw 41,700 elderly care institutions operating by end-2025, employing 722,000 personnel—a 12.2% annual increase. Private providers dominate the sector, constituting 52.2% of standalone facilities and 71.9% when including publicly built but privately managed operations.

Despite sector expansion encouraged by national policies welcoming diverse investment, including foreign participation, financial practices have raised concerns. Industry surveys reveal over 90% of institutional care consumers encountered problems, particularly regarding substantial advance payments that sometimes enabled illegal fundraising, financial mismanagement, and refund obstacles.

Legal experts acknowledge the prepaid model as an inevitable market response to demographic pressures but warn of risks when commercial tactics promise unrealistic returns. Liu Ruini, senior partner at Shaanxi Bingrui Law Firm, noted that promotional gimmicks featuring high returns or substantial discounts could lead to civil and criminal liabilities if capital chains fracture.

The case of Shanghai resident Wu illustrates persistent vulnerabilities, experiencing a 500-day wait for refund settlement after her mother’s passing, despite contractual agreements. Such instances highlight the necessity of both regulatory frameworks and consumer diligence, including careful contract scrutiny, institution qualification verification, and documentation preservation.

Industry representatives recognize these safeguards as essential for market development. Li Yong, president of the Shanghai Elderly Care Service and Silver Industry Association, emphasized that enhanced supervision enables older adults to feel more secure about investments, transforming demographic challenges into opportunities for social innovation and industrial upgrading.

In a innovative approach to justice administration, retired judges across China are returning to courtrooms as mediators, leveraging their decades of legal expertise to resolve complex disputes that have eluded conventional resolution. This ‘silver-haired mediation’ program represents a strategic utilization of experienced legal professionals to strengthen grassroots governance and promote the rule of law.

The effectiveness of this initiative was recently demonstrated in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, where 71-year-old retired judge Hou Chunying successfully mediated a 37-year-old heating fee dispute that had persisted since 1987. The case involved 48 households of former radio factory employees facing a collective debt exceeding 1 million yuan ($142,000) in overdue heating fees, plus substantial penalties.

Judge Hou discovered that the conflict stemmed from outdated accounting methods, differing opinions among residents, and the factory’s financial difficulties. Rather than proceeding with litigation that would have placed undue burden on the residents, she identified an existing agreement between the heating provider and the factory that offered a pathway to resolution.

Through separate negotiations with both parties, Hou persuaded the factory to acknowledge its social responsibilities while convincing the heating center to reduce the debt amount considering the factory’s financial constraints. Her mediation resulted in a one-time settlement payment of 700,000 yuan, resolving the nearly four-decade-old dispute to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

The Supreme People’s Court has officially endorsed this growing movement, recognizing retired judges as valuable legal assets whose extensive experience and specialized knowledge make them particularly effective in alternative dispute resolution. These veteran jurists bring not only technical legal expertise but also the wisdom gained from handling thousands of cases throughout their careers.

Beyond resolving specific cases, the program addresses systemic challenges within China’s judicial system by reducing caseloads for active judges, easing court congestion, and providing cost-effective resolution mechanisms for complex historical disputes. For the retired judges themselves, the initiative offers meaningful engagement in their post-retirement years, allowing them to continue contributing to the legal system and society.

As an unusual cold snap blankets even southern Chinese cities in snow, a timeless seasonal tradition has captivated citizens nationwide: the pursuit of wintersweet blossoms. This hardy flower, scientifically known as Chimonanthus praecox, transforms winter landscapes with its vibrant yellow petals and intoxicating fragrance from December through March each year.

In Beijing’s Summer Palace, the golden-glazed roofs dusted with snow create an imperial backdrop for clusters of wintersweet that burst forth against vermilion walls. This striking contrast of imperial red, pure white, and floral gold forms living paintings that embody both elegance and endurance against the harsh winter elements.

Southern classical gardens offer equally exquisite settings for the seasonal spectacle. Jiangsu Province’s Humble Administrator’s Garden features delicate pavilions and winding corridors that artfully frame the blossoms, while Shanghai’s Guyi Garden showcases the flowers against ancient architecture with ornate towers and terraces. The blooms’ subtle beauty reflects China’s deep appreciation for seasonal transitions and natural resilience.

The phenomenon has gained particular attention this year as rare snowfall in southern cities like Wuhan and Shanghai has created extraordinary photographic opportunities. Social media platforms have been flooded with images of snow-dusted wintersweet branches, with many citizens braving the cold to capture the perfect shot of these fragrant blossoms against unusual snowy backdrops.

Rescue operations are underway in southwestern Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture after a sightseeing helicopter carrying three individuals vanished during a tour near the volatile Mount Aso volcano. The aircraft, operated by Takumi Enterprise, departed from Aso City Zoo at 10:52 local time Tuesday for what should have been a routine 10-minute scenic flight but failed to return as scheduled.

According to local authorities, police helicopters scanning the area later identified an object resembling an aircraft within the crater of Nakadake—one of Mount Aso’s five distinct peaks—during afternoon surveillance. Official confirmation regarding whether this object is indeed the missing Robinson R44 helicopter remains pending as investigation continues.

The flight manifest included a 64-year-old veteran pilot with four decades of aviation experience and two Taiwanese tourists. The operator confirmed the aircraft had completed two uneventful tours earlier that day before disappearing on its third scheduled trip. Weather conditions at the time of disappearance were reported as cloudy over the Nakadake region, complicating initial search efforts which were suspended Tuesday evening due to visibility constraints before resuming at dawn Wednesday.

In response to the incident, Takumi Enterprise has temporarily grounded its entire fleet of sightseeing helicopters. The volcanic helicopter tours represent a significant tourism attraction for the region, offering aerial views of one of Japan’s most geologically active landscapes. This incident echoes a previous emergency involving the same company in 2024 when one of their helicopters made an emergency landing at Mount Aso, resulting in injuries to three occupants.

Mount Aso, which last erupted in October 2021 producing substantial volcanic plumes, remains one of the country’s most monitored volcanic zones due to its persistent activity.