China's rangelands are being degraded at an alarming rate. The National Rangeland Law, that provides the broad legal framework for the regulation of rangeland use in China, is currently under revision. Existing regulatory and 'natural' constraints to non-sustainable development of the rangelands, that occurs principally as a result of excessive and increasing livestock stocking rates, have proved ineffective. There is scope for tightening land use regulations within the framework of the Rangeland Law. However, the implementation of more sustainable rangeland use at the 'grass roots' also requires that local policies are in place and appropriate economic incentives exist to encourage rather than inhibit compliance with the National Rangeland Law. The paper examines the impact of the rapid expansion (especially during the 1990s) of China's cattle and beef industry on sustainable development in pastoral areas. The emergence of this dynamic new rural industry has created a fresh set of challenges and opportunities in relation to rangeland management in China's pastoral region, especially for the semi-pastoral parts of this region. In particular, opportunities now exist for herders to increase their turn-off of cattle without necessarily increasing grazing pressure on the fragile rangelands at critical times of the year. The potential of this approach to contribute to the sustainable development of the rangelands is understood by a significant number of technical and administrative personnel in the pastoral region. Nevertheless, it is not reflected in a systematic set of local policies. This paper suggests a range of measures that could form the core of such a systematic micro-level policy package within the framework of a revised National Rangeland Law. However, the paper concludes that the new Law needs to integrate provision for such micro policies with genuine macro policy reform. Only such a comprehensive approach would enable it to make a meaningful contribution to the future sustainable development of the pastoral areas.

This article analyses the international specialization of food industry among East Asian countries by using international input-output table and the linkages with foreign direct investment in the region. The following conclusions are drawn. First, international specialization of food industry among East Asian countries has changed since the 1980s due to the increase in foreign direct investment in these countries by the Japanese food processing industry. Secondly, not only the food processing industry but also the distribution industry has joined in scramble for foreign direct investment, causing competition between the two industries. Thirdly, the increase in the import of processed food has damaged the small-scale, domestic food manufacturing firms in Japan. Finally, along with the rise in the standard of living in East Asia, stiff competition among multinational corporations has arisen.

This paper is intended to clarify the characteristics and the limitations of strategies related to direct investment in the developing Chinese food market performed by Japanese food-processing firms.
　　The major findings the analyses are as follows:
　　(1) The analyses of corporation lists it has clarified that the motivations of Japanese firms for advancing into the Chinese market have been shifting from a resource-seeking stage, which is focused on securing raw materials and labor force, to an efficiency-seeking stage, which involves the reorganization of international production networks.
　　(2) The market internalization of Japanese firms formerly focused on the processing of raw materials. It has been revealed through analysis of case studies that, in their direct investment in China, Japanese food-processing firms are faced with price fluctuation risks in relation with the raw-material procurement process due to immature local food market systems. These risks can be overcome by the advantages derived from corporate ownership and the accumulation of specific management resources.