Beijing, Tianjin adjustment in house-purchase policies takes effect in May

Starting from May 1, Beijing and its neighbor Tianjin will make adjustment in their respective house-purchase policies aimed at easing home-buying restrictions and optimizing real-estate regulation according to two separate notices issued by the cities' municipal housing and urban-rural development commissions on Tuesday. Beijing on Tuesday eased home-purchase limits in areas outside the fifth ring road to address the housing demands of its residents.

Local families with the Beijing hukou (residence permit) can buy one additional commercial house outside the fifth ring road even if they already own two apartments in Beijing, the notice said.

Single adults with the Beijing hukou and those non-Beijing residents who have a record of paying social insurance or income tax for at least five consecutive years are allowed to purchase one more property outside the fifth ring road even if they already own one apartment in the city, said the notice.

On the same day, the municipal commission of housing and urban-rural development of Tianjin issued a notice aimed at further optimizing the city's real estate regulation.

The notice said that residents with the hukou of Beijing or Hebei Province and those who are working in the two regions can enjoy the same house-purchase policies as those with Tianjin hukou.

Additional policy adjustments were also made based on the situation of the real-estate market in Tianjin and the property-purchase needs of local residents.

The limit on residents with Tianjin hukou to buy new commodity housing of over 120 square meters was removed, and the number of houses owned by home buyers will be calculated on district basis in an effort to meet the demand for cross-district home purchase, said the notice.

The newly released notice also said that districts in Tianjin are encouraged to relieve residents' home-purchase burden through home-purchase subsidies and corporate group purchase discounts so as to meet their essential need for a home to live in and their different demands for better housing.

Beijing, Tianjin adjustment in house-purchase policies takes effect in May

Several news commentators and scholars have expressed concerns over U.S. involvement in the election in China's Taiwan region, highlighting implications for the island's democracy and stability.

Sworn in as the new leader of China's Taiwan region, Lai Ching-te delivered his "pro-independence" message with unprecedented candor on Monday. His dangerous pursuit of "Taiwan succession" in collusion with the U.S. is pushing the region to the brink of armed conflicts.

"We can't talk about actually having a democracy when you have the meddling of a foreign power," said Benjamin Norton, editor-in-chief of Geopolitical Economy Report.

Historical Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) documents from 1949 suggest Taiwan's strategic importance in the U.S. defense chain, identifying it as a crucial link in maintaining American influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Experts believe this historical context continues to shape current U.S. policies, which view Taiwan as a valuable geopolitical asset.

"The U.S. understands very well that a Taiwan region not reunited with the mainland is an invaluable asset. A fitting analogy is that Taiwan acts as a 'watchdog' for the U.S., even bringing its own food," said Huang Chih-hsien, a veteran TV commentator in Taiwan.

"The U.S. only cares about whether Taiwan is controllable. If they want you to shout 'Taiwan succession,' you shout. If they want you to be silent, you stay silent. In this way, Taiwan becomes a convenient card for the U.S.," added Lai Yueh-tchienn, a Taiwan-based political scholar.

Experts criticize U.S. meddling in Taiwan region's election, democracy