China's polluted? Who would have guessed?

Wikileaks Displays China's Dangerous Pollution

   This article from The Guardian depicts a scene with which most are familiar: China is polluted, severely. However, surprising even for such an obviously polluted area, the Chinese state did not even properly measure the levels of several particularly detrimental pollutants so as to not embarrass themselves and frighten the public. The specific pollutant in question, PM2.5, is said to be of great danger to the public due to its nature to enter into the lungs directly. However, "Those lobbying for its inclusion in an index of pollutants conceded that including a pollutant whose current levels would measure so far above acceptable standards would be politically difficult,' the cable said." The Chinese refuse even to measure the pollutant to save the political embarrassment.
   Personally, I wish I was more surprised by this tidbit, for it does seem very grave indeed. Though, China's history of incredible pollution does not give me hope for the future of its polluted cities. The necessity for, at the very least, the accurate measuring of pollutants in the atmosphere is of the greatest public interest, and sacrificing measurement standards in order to prevent very deserved political shame is abhorrent. In order to establish sustainability in Chinese cities and to protect the health of the Chinese public, drastic change in the Chinese attitude toward the subject seems mandatory. It is apparent that global pressure from all outside countries and international organizations is necessary to impact the Chinese attitude toward the pollutants in their cities.