China's Target for Tobacco Control Not Met

Nearly five years after China's accession to the WTO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, China is set to breach its commitment to ban smoking in all enclosed public places.

Five years ago, China promised to enforce a complete ban on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces by January 9, 2011.

A report by the Beijing Times says as of today, China has failed to make any state-level legislation on a smoke ban and the smoke rate of its citizens has not yet declined. Meantime, the number of victims by second-hand smoking has increased 200 million within three years.

The report says tobacco-related advertisements and delicate cigarette cases are among the factors to be blamed for the country's high smoking rate.