Report low noise on China roads

I was quite amused by this; "The Australian" media posting something positive about China! The Australian is part of News Corp, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, and well known for extreme right-wing viewpoint. This is the post:

"How China crushed Beijing’s crazy traffic noise"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXA8r9SZatc

The surprise in comments, how come they aren't slagging off on China as usual, actually posting something positive?

Well, yes and no, I think; the journalist does have to be careful. For a start, the guy mentions one million complaints about noise levels. What he doesn't say is how those complaints came about. Obviously, there has to be some mechanism for citizens to contribute opinions to the government. Asking Google AI "How does democracy work in China":

Democracy in China operates under a model termed "whole-process people's democracy," which integrates electoral, consultative, and management processes under the strict, singular leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Unlike Western, multi-party systems, it prioritizes consensus-building, policy implementation, and socioeconomic outcomes over competitive, pluralistic elections.
Key aspects of how this system works include:
Whole-Process People's Democracy: Described as a blend of electoral and consultative democracy, this model claims to ensure public participation in all stages of governance, including legislation and decision-making.
Structure of Governance: The National People's Congress (NPC) is the highest organ of state power, with members indirectly elected by lower-level congresses. Local people's congresses at the township and county levels are directly elected, but all candidates are subject to CPC oversight.
Consultative Approach: The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) works alongside the NPC to provide policy advice and facilitate dialogue, involving representatives from different sectors of society.
Party Leadership: The CPC maintains a monopoly on political power, with all political opposition illegal. All elections are held under the guidance of the party.
Focus on Performance: This model claims to be effective by focusing on practical, long-term improvements in people's lives and social stability.
The system is designed to avoid the competition seen in Western models, aiming instead for efficiency and representation through "consultation" before, during, and after decision-making.

I have read about the mechanism before, whereby ordinary people can contribute. I presume it is the "NPC" that accumulated the 1 million complaints about noise. The YouTube channel "Gerry's Take on China" has more information about that process.

Another comment in the video, that the pollution is exported to the countryside, and the comment about lots of coal-fired power stations being built. Yes, true, but...

China has enormous energy requirements, and coal-fired power stations are still being built; however, it has reached a plateau. The Chinese government is planning for clean power generation, and solar, wind, thermal, nuclear and hydro generation is ramping up faster than coal. With the long term goal that coal generation will drop and eventually die.

The report did not even mention nuclear. Google AI:

As of early 2026, China has around 59 operating nuclear reactors, placing it second only to the United States, with a significant number (around 28-38) also under construction and many more planned, making it the world's fastest-growing nuclear power market. The country is rapidly expanding its fleet, aiming to significantly boost its nuclear capacity in the coming years to meet rising energy demands, and is a leader in building new reactors and developing advanced technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

...massive expansion. Also there is a thorium nuclear reactor, and there are likely to be many of these in the future -- these are very safe reactors, with radioactive byproducts that decay quickly.

Whatever you might think of the Chinese government, one advantage is that they can plan long-term.   

Tags: ethos