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All posts by LLD - 148. page

Legal Evening News: Excessive Births Abroad Will Be Fined upon Return

Legal Evening News recently reported that, according to the National Population and Family Planning Commission, if both parents are residents of Mainland China, then giving birth to a second child abroad will result in a fine upon return. The standard for the fine will vary depending on the couple’s residence location. Recently many pregnant women have traveled to Hong Kong to deliver their babies. The Chief of the Family Planning Committee of Guangdong Province issued a warning in this regard and declared that giving birth to a child beyond the first one in Hong Kong was illegal for Mainland parents. If a parent is a Communist Party member and a government official, he or she will lose that Party membership and the government work.

Source: Legal Evening News, February 10, 2012
http://www.fawan.com/Article/gn/sh/2012/02/10/170142145396.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

The Chinese Banking System Profits from Being a Monopoly

A-Finance recently published an article analyzing the fact that the profit that the Chinese banking system makes is greater than that of the tobacco industry or the oil industry. According to CBRC (the China Banking Regulatory Commission), in the first three quarters of the year 2011, the increase in the banking system’s annual profit was 35.4%. Those who work in the banking industry have an average income that is dramatically higher than any other industry in China. An analysis showed that the primary sources of profit are the high interest differential, frequently collected fees, and a massive amount of “wealth management” products. The net interest differential contributes from 75.7% to over 90% of the banking system’s annual income. The differential is the highest in the world and is determined by the government. Meanwhile, 79% of the services that banks provide are fee-based. Today, these fees are ten times higher than they were ten years ago. Chinese banks are considered monopolies both as institutions that take deposits and as lenders.

Source: A-Finance, February 6, 2012
http://www.afinance.cn/bank/yhxw/201202/420475.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Radio Free Asia: China to Set up Party Organizations for Mainland Microblogging Sites

Quoting from the Taiwan based United Daily News, Radio Free Asia reported that, immediately after the Chinese New Year holidays, the Communist Party’s propaganda authorities ordered that Party organizations be established for all microblogging sites. The websites involved, including Sina, Tencent, Sohu, and Netease, have already received the relevant instructions. The report quoted sources as saying that, in the future, the Party organizations will be responsible for major microblogging policy guidlines and decision-making, and will resolutely implement the commands of the CCP’s Central Propaganda Department, the State Council, and the provincial and municipal network management offices. At the same time, starting from March 16, the above mentioned four major microblogging sites will implement real-name registration. Anonymous users can only view contents but will not be able to post or forward articles.

Source: Radio Free Asia, February 7, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ql1-02072012094100.html

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

China Scholar Warns Long Term, Serious Challenges Due to Unfavorable Public Opinion from the West

Li Xiguang, a professor and director of the Tsinghua University International Center for Communication (TICC), published an article in the Chinese Communist Party’s Qiushi journal, warning of “long term and serious challenges” due to public opinion from the West creating an unfavorable environment for China.

Li quotes reports from the U.S. based Rand Corporation that laid out the U.S. strategies on cyberwars and global information infiltration. Li’s article said, “We must see that, after China became the world’s second largest economy with its comprehensive national strength continuously growing, the United States and other Western countries found out that when the growth of their hard power was insufficient, they needed to implement their soft power to make up for the relative weakness of their national power.” “They (western media) often hold a strange fear of a heterogeneous and powerful China. They often jeer at certain unavoidable incidents in China’s development and fault them as being the unavoidable consequences of China’s social system. Western media, with their deep-rooted ideological bias, plus their ‘loud voice’ in international communication, has seriously damaged China’s international image and harms China’s peaceful development.”

Source: Qiushi, February 1, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2012/201203/201201/t20120129_135976.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China Signs Currency Swap Deal with U’

In the latest indication of the growing political and economic links between Beijing and countries in the oil-rich Gulf region, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a multi-billion dollar currency swap deal. The swap, valued at RMB35bn ($5.5bn), is the latest in a string of currency deals China has agreed to with foreign nations. It is effective for three years and will allow the central banks to draw on the local currency facility to ease bilateral trade. The announcement, which came as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited the UAE for the first time as part of a three country tour of Gulf oil states, acts as both a political statement to bolster China’s ties to the UAE, and a pragmatic measure to increase business with the Gulf’s regional trade hub.

Source: People’s Daily, January 18, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/70731/16914473.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Ministry of Commerce: China’s Exports Face Grim Situation

According to Zhong Shan, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce, China’s international trade is facing a “complicated and grim” situation due to a lack of demand and intensified competition in the international market.

Zhong said that, on the one hand, China’s exports face competition from traditional exporting countries. On the other hand, with regard to labor intensive products, there is growing competition from developing countries due to rising labor costs in China. Statistics show that, since the third quarter of last year, the market share of Chinese exports to the United States, the European Union, and Japan decreased by 1.3%, 1% and 0.6%, respectively. Seven categories of labor-intensive exports, including textiles, clothing, footwear, luggage, furniture, toys, and plastic products saw a rapid decline.

Source: Xinhua, January 9, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-01/09/c_111401927.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Qiushi on China’s Morality

Qiushi published an article on on January 1, 2012, on moral issues in China titled, “Correctly Understand China’s Moral Status at the Current Stage of Chinese Society.” The article defended China: “China has achieved great development and progress in its overall social and moral status,” because of China’s economic growth.

However, it did mention the “moral challenges” the country faces. “Ethical issues exist mainly in some areas of the population. Firstly, the moral failure of some officials is prominent in that they seek personal interest and use their public positions, money trading, and corruption. Their behavior has a great negative impact on society. Secondly, the lack of morality in some enterprises and among businessmen is exhibited in their lack of good faith, swindling, and counterfeiting. Thirdly, the moral problem of some cultural celebrities is seen in their seeking fame, plagiarism, and sensationalizing. Lastly, the lack of civic virtue stands out in not abiding by public ethics, not offering to help when others are in danger, and returning evil for good.”

Source: Qiushi, January 1, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2012/201201/201112/t20111228_132528.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Beidou Enables PLA to Get Rid of Dependence on U.S. GPS

According to China News Service, on December 27, China’s second generation of the Beidou satellite navigation system became operational with coverage of China and its neighboring regions. The Beidou system, currently operating as a free trial, offers positioning accuracy to within 25 m (82 ft). Plans include improving accuracy to within 10 m (33ft) next year, at which time six more satellites will be put into orbit and the system will offer services to customers in the Asia-Pacific region. The global system should be finished by 2020 and consist of 35 satellites.

The report said the Beidou system has a very significant military value. With its completion, the PLA will rid itself of its reliance on the U.S. GPS (Global Positioning System). China’s military strength will be greatly enhanced. The report claims that Beidou even outperforms the GPS in certain military functions. For example, Beidou’s short message capability allows the “group call” function that enables accurate commands and coordination. The military commanders can use the Beidou system to control the position of troops at any time and pass relevant orders.

Jin Yinan, a director at China’s National Defense University, said that letting the Beidou system be put into use as early as possible will play a huge role in enhancing national security. It is more significant than manned space flight and the Chang’e lunar exploration program.

Source: China News Service, December 28, 2011
http://www.chinanews.com/hb/2011/12-28/3564478.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military