As opposition grows, China defends plans for petrochemical plants

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has launched an intense media campaign to defend the safety of producing a chemical used to make polyester fibre, as public opposition to new petrochemical plants threatens to disrupt expansion plans by state energy giants such as Sinopec Corp.

Choking smog and environmental degradation in many parts of China is angering an increasingly educated and affluent urban class and after a series of health scares and accidents there is deepening public scepticism of the safety of industries ranging from food to energy.