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Xinhua Cites Criticisms on US Annual Human Rights Report

On April 13, 2011, Xinhua published an article reporting criticism from government officials or scholars in Russia, Venezuela, and the Ukraine, rebutting the recently released State Department’s “2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.” The article pointed out, “Such criticism suggests that the U.S. has no right to interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs.” 

The sources it quoted include an official statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia; remarks from Ana Elisa Osorio Granado, Vice Chairman of the Latin American Parliament; and comments from Mikhail Levski, a scholar from the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research.

Source: Xinhua, April 13, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-04/13/c_121298898.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Beijing’s Communist Youth League Cancelled Debate Due to its Sensitivity

The Beijing Communist Party Youth League recently cancelled a debate forum that was to be given in memory of the 100th anniversary of the “1911 Revolution,” even though students from 16 universities in Beijing and Tianjin were expected to participate. Experts suggest that the cancellation was due to the sensitivity of the topic because it touched the subject of “revolution” and also used the words “college students” and “rally.” Communist Party officials have always considered these to be unstable factors.

Hu Xingdou, a professor of economics at the Beijing Institute of Technology, said he was surprised by the cancellation of the debate but could understand the reason. “The memory of the 1911 Revolution could indeed awaken people’s awareness of revolution. College students have historically been the driving force behind China’s revolutions, including the ‘June 4th’ student movement. The government is on a high alert for them, just as it is for the Jasmine Revolution."

According to Wikipedia, the “1911 Revolution” (or Xinhai Revolution) began on October 10, 1911, with the Wuchang uprising, and ended on February 12, 1912, with the abdication of Emperor Puyi. It resulted in the fall of the Qing Dynasty and marked Sun Yat-sen as the Founding Father of the Republic of China .

Sources:
Radio Free Asia, April 13, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/tew-04132011111818.htm                                                        
Wikipedia, "The Xinhai Revolution"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1911_revolution

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

First Military Biochip Research Center Established

On April 13, 2011, the very first military biochip research center was established at the No. 211 PLA Military Hospital. Accordingly to Jia Danbin, director of the hospital, the National Development and Reform Commission through the National Engineering Research Center for Beijing Biochip Technology (NERCBBT) approved the center. It will provide patients with tests on hereditary hearing loss, anti-depressants, glyco-chains of immunoglobulin and autoimmunity, and the hepatitis B virus. It will also provide individualized molecular targeted cancer therapy plans and other research functions.

Source: Xinhua, April 13, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-04/13/c_13827451.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

China Asks the U.S. to Stop Being a Self-styled Human Rights Preacher

Following the U.S. State Department’s April 8 release of the 2010 Annual Human Rights Report, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei responded in a press briefing, “The U.S. should reflect more on its own human rights issues, stop acting like a ‘Human Rights Preacher,’ and stop using its Human Rights Report to interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries.” Hong also touted the Chinese government’s protection of human rights.

Source: China News Service, April 9, 2011
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2011/04-09/2961757.shtml

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Huanqiu: Who Is Seriously Breaching the Spirit of the Law?

Huanqiu recently published a provoking  article in response to Western countries’ criticism of China’s arrest of artist Ai Weiwei. The article said that Western media are “using their own logic to interpret (the facts) and try to influence China.” “It is precisely their (the West’s) approach that breaches the basic spirit of the law in a serious confrontation, and that tries to portray (Ai as) a legally ‘sacred and inviolable’ ‘democracy fighter.’”
“Since the ‘Middle East revolution,’ the U.S. and European countries haven’t been able to put a brake on pointing fingers and interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.” “The interference in Ai Weiwei’s case is a total negation of China’s law. It is no different from a group of Westerners assembling to burn down China’s supreme court building.” “Chinese law is the skeleton of this country; the Western attempt to influence the trial of Ai Weiwei is like installing a remote control for the skeleton. With the control in their hands, they are making China a large and obedient puppet.”

[Ed: Ai Weiwei，a well known Chinese artist, designed the Olympic’s Bird’s Nest stadium and has also focused on government corruption, especially in the construction of schools that collapsed during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The police recently arrested him and charged him with "economic crimes."]

Source: Huanqiu, April 8, 2011
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2011-04/1615335.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

State-owned AVIC buys US-based Nexteer

China’s State-owned parts manufacturer, AVIC Automobile Industry Holding Co. Ltd. recently became the majority stockholder in Nexteer Automotive, the Michigan-based maker of steering and drive-line systems. The merger is said to be the largest acquisition that the China’s auto parts industry has made. 
Last November, Pacific Century Motors (PCM) bought Nexteer from General Motors. PCM is a joint venture; the Beijing E-Town International Investment & Development Co Ltd, the financial and investment arm of the Beijing municipal government, owned the majority of PCM. In March, AVIC Automobile then acquired a 51 percent stake in PCM, becoming the controlling stockholder in Nexteer. Beijing E-Town and its partners own the remaining 49 percent.
Based in Saginaw, Michigan, Nexteer is the world’s third-largest company in sales of drive-shaft components and the fourth-largest for steering systems. It had more than $2 billion in revenue last year.

Source:
Xinhua, April 8, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-04/08/c_121283512.htm
http://www.nexteer.com

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Cultural Performances Draw in Overseas Chinese

Since 2009, the State Council’s Office of Overseas Chinese Affairs, a government agency that seeks to engage overseas Chinese, has organized an annual New Year’s performance, “Cultures of China, Festival of Spring” in 49 cities on six continents, with an overseas audience of 1.75 million. Programs have included patriotic songs, ethnic dances, and acrobatics. 
The President of the New York based U.S.-China Cultural Exchange Association, Luo Man, said after watching the performance, “I have been immersed in the diverse culture of the U.S. for a long time, but my feelings always belong to the land where I was born and raised. This emotion is cast in blood and cannot be changed.”

The programs are designed to boost China’s global image, while winning the hearts of overseas Chinese. “As China’s economic and overall national power rises, so do the prejudices, misunderstandings, and mistrust of international society. When facing a complicated external environment, we must actively react to guide international society to form an objective and comprehensive ‘image of China.’” 

Source: Qiushi, April 1, 2011
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2011/201107/201103/t20110329_74424.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

PLA’s Military Training to Focus on Information Technology

Guo Boxiong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, spoke recently at the PLA’s Military Training Program Reform meeting and asked for “conscientious implementation of Chairman Hu Jintao’s decisions and instructions on military training, … innovations in the training model, and development of the training system, given the conditions of information technology, … and continuous creation of great improvements in military training.” This is one of several recent high level instructions given on military training with a focus on information technology.

Source: Xinhua, March 30, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-03/30/c_121249897.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military