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Global Times: S&ED Should Pave the Way for Xi Jinping’s Visit to the U.S.

Prior to this month’s China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), Global Times, which is affiliated with People’s Daily, published an editorial outlining Beijing’s goals in the current round of dialogue. 

To begin with, the S&ED should pave the way for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US in September. As a major event concerning Sino-US relations and the last chance for talks during a state visit within Obama’s tenure, the visit will set the tone and lay a foundation for bilateral relations in the post-Obama era. 
Second, both China and the US need to cool the heated issues between the two through this high-level comprehensive dialogue. At the top of the agenda should be the South China Sea issue and cyber security. 
In addition, the S&ED should be used to abate strategic mutual distrust. 
Last, both countries should strive for a breakthrough in setting rules for economic cooperation. 
This is the first time [from the historic perspective] that China deals with the No. 1 power in the world to manage the relations of two powers. We cannot be that certain whether how much the potential harm would be to China based on the other side’s preventative measures and "containment." Nor are we too clear whether the mistruct between China and the US is something that can be solved, or it is something that is bound to exist between major powers, and thus has to be accepted and managed. We cannot even be sure whether the US irrational reaction to China’s rise can be resolved with reasoning, or it can only be handled through compitition based on strength. 
Sources: Global Times and Huanqiu.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/928345.shtml 
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2015-06/6743089.html
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Global Times: S&ED Should Pave the Way for Xi Jinping’s Visit to the U.S.

Prior to this month’s China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), Global Times, which is affiliated with People’s Daily, published an editorial outlining Beijing’s goals in the current round of dialogue. 

To begin with, the S&ED should pave the way for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S. in September. As a major event concerning Sino-US relations and the last chance for talks during a state visit within Obama’s tenure, the visit will set the tone and lay the foundation for bilateral relations in the post-Obama era. 
Second, both China and the U.S. need to cool the heated issues between the two through this high-level comprehensive dialogue. At the top of the agenda should be the South China Sea issue and cyber security. 
In addition, the S&ED should be used to abate strategic mutual distrust. 
Last, both countries should strive for a breakthrough in setting rules for economic cooperation. 
This is the first time [from a historic perspective] that China will deal with the No. 1 power in the world to manage the relations between two powers. We cannot be certain how much the potential harm will be to China based on the other side’s preventive measures and its "containment." Nor are we too clear whether the mistrust between China and the U.S. is something that can be solved or whether it is something that is bound to exist between major powers, and thus has to be accepted and managed. We cannot even be sure whether the U.S.’s irrational reaction to China’s rise can be resolved with reasoning or can only be handled through competition based on strength. 
Sources: Global Times and Huanqiu, June 23, 2015
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/928345.shtml 
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2015-06/6743089.html
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Caixin: Fukuyama Gives Priority to the Rule of Law

In its June 1 issue, Caixin, a media group that features financial and business news in China, published an interview of Francis Fukuyama, author of the well-known book, The End of History and the Last Man (1992). In his book, Fukuyama claimed that liberal democracy was the last stop on history’s long road. On June 15, Caixin also published the interview on its English website.


In recent years and with the rise of economic powerhouses linked to political systems such as China’s that do not rely on the one-man-one vote model, memories of what many called democracy’s Cold War victory have dimmed. In Caixin’s recent interview in Beijing, Fukuyama said he remains committed to the premise that the modernizing human family is marching toward political systems that balance the rule of law, "state capacity," and democracy. 

Fukuyama stated that it is possible for a strong state to succeed economically without democracy, but that democracy builds stability and legitimacy, which, in turn, supports growth and helps governments survive economic crises. "I think that, in the long run, transitioning to democracy makes the whole system stable and legitimate and therefore is good for growth." Fukuyama continued, "I think that’s why most rich countries in the world today are actually liberal democracies." 

In answering the question on the relative importance of state capacity, the rule of law, and accountability in today’s China, Fukuyama gave priority to strengthening the rule of law. Discussing his interest in China, besides its size, and that it has never been integrated into the world system, Fukuyama observed, "There is so much in Chinese history about being a civilization that people aren’t aware of." It was the richness of that tradition that he found really fascinating.

Fukuyama also questioned the sustainability of China’s growth model, as well as the lower productivity of its state-owned enterprises compared to its private sector. 

Source: Caixin Online; Caixin Weekly
http://english.caixin.com/2015-06-15/100819331.html 
http://weekly.caixin.com/2015-05-29/100814472.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Caixin: Fukuyama Gives Priority to the Rule of Law

In its June 1 issue, Caixin, a media group that features financial and business news in China, published an interview of Francis Fukuyama, author of the well-known book, The End of History and the Last Man (1992). In his book, Fukuyama claimed that liberal democracy was the last stop on history’s long road. On June 15, Caixin also published the interview on its English website.


In recent years and with the rise of economic powerhouses linked to political systems such as China’s that do not rely on the one-man-one vote model, memories of what many called democracy’s Cold War victory have dimmed. In Caixin’s recent interview in Beijing, Fukuyama said he remains committed to the premise that the modernizing human family is marching toward political systems that balance the rule of law, "state capacity," and democracy. 

Fukuyama stated that it is possible for a strong state to succeed economically without democracy, but that democracy builds stability and legitimacy, which, in turn, supports growth and helps governments survive economic crises. "I think that, in the long run, transitioning to democracy makes the whole system stable and legitimate and therefore is good for growth." Fukuyama continued, "I think that’s why most rich countries in the world today are actually liberal democracies." 

In answering the question on the relative importance of state capacity, the rule of law, and accountability in today’s China, Fukuyama gave priority to strengthening the rule of law. Discussing his interest in China, besides its size, and that it has never been integrated into the world system, Fukuyama observed, "There is so much in Chinese history about being a civilization that people aren’t aware of." It was the richness of that tradition that he found really fascinating.

Fukuyama also questioned the sustainability of China’s growth model, as well as the lower productivity of its state-owned enterprises compared to its private sector. 

Sources:
Caixin Online, June 15, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-06-15/100819331.html 
Caixin Weekly, May 29, 2015
http://weekly.caixin.com/2015-05-29/100814472.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi: Control the Internet û Stop Criticism of the Government and Better Lead Public Opinion

Qiushi published an article stating that it has become a common phenomenon on the Internet to criticize the government and the Communist Party. "Negative viewpoints spread quickly over the Internet. People even make fun of those who love China and love the Party. Some have even become the pawns of the Western hostile forces to demonize China."

The article suggested the following measures to control Internet: 

1. View the Internet as a national strategic resource. Move State-owned Enterprises into the Internet media industry and invest in new Internet technologies such as digital news and big data. This will enable better control of the Internet market and thus better lead public opinion. 
2. Eradicate the worship of Western values and establish confidence in China. First, rationally expose how false Western democracy and freedom really are; second, show people how China has progressed; and third, guide the key people who have substantial influence over the Internet toward the right direction. 
3. Use technology to establish a better Internet environment so that the positive opinions can become more widespread. 
4. Hold the Internet media companies liable. Punish those who put page hits and economic gain above the nation’s political security. Severely punish those sites that openly violate the law, promote Western ideology, or spread political rumors. 
5. Guide the youth netizens. First, teach students the Internet ideology struggle as part of their school’s political education; second, throughout society, develop the number of education programs that teach netizens to identify and avoid poisonous materials.
Source: Qiushi, April 23, 2015
http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/hqwg/2015-04/23/c_1115069690.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the “One Belt, One Road” Strategy

China Review News republished an article that Chinese economist Xian Langping wrote discussing China’s rise. Xian stated that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and China’s "One Belt, One Road" strategy are tightly integrated to support China’s continued economic growth and its international influence.

Xian explained that, on October 24, 2014, China and 20 other countries, including India and Singapore, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the AIIB. These 20 countries share some commonalities: first, they are China’s neighbors; second, they are in the "One Belt, One Road" zone; and third, they are cooperating or have the intention to cooperate with China to build high-speed railways.

China’s "One Belt, One Road" strategy is to build roads and railways to connect the countries in the zone. It will create economic growth opportunities (e.g. the export of high-speed railway system and construction materials) for China and will also expand international trade (so that China can export more goods to these countries).

Even though the contributions of the AIIB member countries are based on their GDPs and in theory, the U.S. can have the loudest voice if it joins, Xian believes that the U.S. will not join. To him, the bank was created to serve infrastructure development; more specifically, high-speed rail construction. China has a big advantage in this field. If the U.S. were to make any contribution, it would only benefit China.

Source: China Review News, April 26, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1037/2/6/7/103726773.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=103726773&mdate=0426080715

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources