BBC Learning English Words in the News

Austerity for Chinese New Year

8 February 2013

China has banned TV and radio adverts which encourage extravagant gift-giving ahead of Chinese New Year, which begins this weekend. Expensive watches, gold coins and alcohol are among the items that are affected, according to the state media. Martin Patience reports for the BBC: During Chinese New Year it's common to give gifts to bosses and officials as a way of gaining favour. But now the authorities have announced a ban on advertisements that have been encouraging people to give luxury items. In a statement, the authorities said these radio and TV ads were spreading "incorrect values" and creating a "bad social ethos". According to reports, the ban relates to promotions which suggest products are "must-have items for superiors". It's the latest move by China's leader, Xi Jinping, to try and cut down on government extravagance and corruption. At many official occasions, banquets have been banned or scaled back, red carpets are out, and the floral arrangements are no longer there. China's new generation of leaders are keen to display a more frugal administration in the face of growing public anger over official corruption. Senior officials have repeatedly warned that corruption poses the greatest threat to the rule of the Communist party.

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Vocabulary and definitions

gaining favour luxury ethos superiors

getting acceptance expensive and desirable values or belief senior or higher ranking members of the communist party

corruption scaled back frugal in the face of

dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power reduced in size more economical (in relation to money) as a reaction to a threat from

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/02/130208_witn_china_gifts.shtml

Related News story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-21349722

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