Capital punishment awaits Beijing’s heir

Rumors have recently surfaced about relocating the Chinese capital away from Beijing because of the city's crippling water shortage, hazardous air quality, worsening desertification, gridlock traffic and skyrocketing population.

Uprooting the capital certainly isn't a new concept. Advocates for such change get on their soapboxes every time a news story draws public attention to the inhabitable elements of Beijing.

It's not unrealistic to consider making another city China's capital. After all, our great emperors of the past relocated their nests many a time over different dynasties for various reasons, including taking advantage of better natural resources, being more secure from encroaching enemies and fleeing the outbreak of war - not to mention achieving better feng shui.

Many countries have changed their capitals in the modern era, too. In the 1960s, Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to inland Brasilia, both for strategic reasons and to boost the development of its western interior. Nigeria moved its capital from Lagos to Abuja because of the former's environmental, traffic and population woes.

Pakistan, Myanmar and Kazakhstan have also chosen different capitals, with many observers hailing such moves as successful.

But should China, which in the modern era has only had Beijing its capital since 1949, consider changing its political center? Certainly, there are plenty of reasons to do so.

More than 20 million people breathe "crazy bad" air that is partly made toxic by over 5 million cars crawling on gridlocked roads. Beijing is often likened to a vampire sucking the blood out of neighboring cities, which have sacrificed water, electricity and food to sustain the capital.

We can all agree that Beijing isn't the most desirable city to live in, yet millions of us nonlocals choose to make it our home, attracting ire in the process from locals upset at competing for resources such as education and healthcare.

However, it's precisely these resources and employment opportunities the capital offers that draw us here, even if it means we have to sleep in a basement and sacrifice any notion of personal space on public transport.

So, by all means, move the capital. Let some other city enjoy the precious resources and job opportunities that lure millions of migrant workers. But it begs one question: which city should be the future capital?

Xinyang, a city in Central China's Henan Province, has been touted to become the next capital as soon as 2016, according to the Sina Weibo rumor mill. But like many Chinese cities, it has problems with pollution and finite natural resources.

If a city is deemed fit to become the capital, won't it be ruined once it becomes the political, economic and cultural center of the country? What is there to ensure that damage done to Beijing won't happen to the new capital?

Despite heated debate, decision-makers have yet to show their stance on the issue. I doubt it's high on the central government's agenda.

It's a daunting task that requires extensive informed public discussion and careful designing.

It's also going to be difficult to persuade the powers that be because the rich and powerful will be opposed seeing the value of their properties vaporize overnight.