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China Criticizes Vatican for Excommunicating Bishops

After the Vatican rejected the ordination of Chinese Bishops Rev. Lei Shiyin and Rev. Huang Bingzhang as illegitimate and excommunicated them, China’s State Administration of Religious Affairs issued a statement. It said, “The Vatican’s threats of ‘excommunication’ of the two bishops who were ordained without papal approval was unreasonable and rude; it has severely hurt the feelings of Chinese Catholics and made the members feel sad. We are greatly concerned about the matter.” 

“In the 1950’s, Chinese Catholics suffered from the Vatican’s threats of ‘excommunication,’ which was a great historic trauma for the members.” “History has proven that the Chinese Catholic Church will not be at a standstill because of threats from the Vatican," the statement said. “The majority of priests and believers will more resolutely choose the path of independently selecting and ordaining its bishops. We will also give support and encouragement as always.”
Source: Xinhua, July 25, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-07/25/c_121718324.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

CNC World Launched in U.K. and Ireland

CNC World, the English channel of CNC, or China’s official Xinhua News Network Corporation, a 24 hour global English-language news channel, was launched on July 1, 2010. 

On December 16, 2010, CNC World agreed to a deal with Eutelsat for coverage on Eurobird 1, Eutelsat W7, and Hot Bird 8 starting on January 1, 2011. CNC World was launched on the Sky satellite television platform (channel 516) in the United Kingdom and Ireland on July 21, 2011, from Eurobird 1. 
According to Xinhua, CNC World now covers all world regions except South America, and is received in the U.K., U.S., Canada, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Latvia via satellite, cable, terrestrial digital television, and IPTV.
Source: Xinhua, July 22, 2011 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-07/22/c_121709141.htm.
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

International Herald Leader: China Should Compete with the U.S. for Friends

[Editor’s Note: On May 21, the Pacific Research Institute of the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) held a forum on “The Strategy of China’s Rise – Theory and History.” Issues discussed included foreign diplomatic strategy, cooperation among countries in the region, and internationalization of the Renminbi. The International Herald Leader reported on several representative points of view. Excerpts from the article related to diplomatic and cooperative strategies are translated below.] [1]

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Reports | | |   Report

China Review News Editorial: We Would Rather Not Have Democracy that Leads to a Country’s Decline

[Editor’s Note: An editorial from China Review News, a Hong Kong based government news agency, criticizes the U.S. efforts to promote democracy in third world countries. “The risks and costs when the third world countries rush to democratize are far greater than its potential benefits.” According to the editorial, before a country really solves the livelihood problem of its people, the priority is to develop its economy and to emphasize collective discipline and hard work. Democracy relates to individuality and promotes freedom, “which means the dispersion of political authority and deviation from the major task of economic development.” The editorial cites Iraq as an example. “[That country] is in urgent need of development, iron rule, and centralization, but the current administration is trapped in religious conflicts and unable to make any decision on major issues.” The editorial concludes, “If the price of democracy is the decay of our country, we would rather not have it.” The entire article is translated below.] [1]

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Reports | | |   Report

China’s High-Speed Rail Suffers from Low Attendance

Although the railway authorities have not released the operation statistics, it is not a secret that China’s high-speed rail loses money and has a low load factor, a measure of the percentage of seats that are filled. China now operates five high-speed routs: Beijing-Tianjin, Wuhan-Guangzhou, Zhengzhou-Xi’an, Shanghai-Nanjing, and Shanghai-Hangzhou. 

Getting people to ride the rail is the problem. Although China is the most populated country, not many people ride the high-speed rail. Sun Zhang, a professor at Tongji University, pointed out, “Although the speed of China’s high-speed rail is already number one in the world, our per capita GDP ranks below 100 in the world.” Many people still feel it is expensive. In 2009, the nation’s railway system transported 1.525 billion passengers. On average, every Chinese rides the train a little over once a year. This is a low number compared to 80 rides for the average Japanese in one year. 
Source: Xinmin Evening News, June 25, 2011. 
http://xmwb.xinmin.cn/xmwb/html/2011-06/25/content_721911.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Human Factor Is the Top Killer in Coal Mine Accidents

China Economic Weekly, a magazine under People’s Daily interviewed Chen Hong, a professor at China’s University of Mining and Technology. In the interview, Chen said, "In fact, of all the direct causes of coal mine accidents, human factors account for up to 97.67%. That figure is from an analysis of 1,203 accidents between 1980 and 2000 that involved human death." Chen added, “A study of a large number of coal mine accidents that took place between 2001 and 2010 confirmed the above conclusion. The workers’ illegal operations, management giving directions against regulations, and other unsafe behavior in the coal mines are still the main causes for China’s coal mine accidents." 

Chen also stated, “Despite the declining trend of China’s annual death rate from coal mine accidents, the latest statistics show that the number accounts for 70% of the world’s coal mine death toll." Chen added that in 2010, 79,552 people died in various work related accidents, at a rate 218 every day. 
Source: China Economic Weekly, June 27.
2011.http://www.ceweekly.cn/html/Article/20110627672147140970.html
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Hanban’s Deputy Director on Confucius Institutes

A two-day joint conference of the Confucius Institutes concluded in Buenos Aires on June 23, 2011. Wang Yongli, the deputy director of Hanban, the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, told Xinhua that the Confucius Institute is a non-profit educational institution, and that the Chinese government has actively supported the launch and development of Confucius Institutes around the world. In the course of operation, Hanban has seen enormous intangible benefits. 

By the end of 2010, Hanban had launched 323 Confucius Institutes and 369 Confucius Classrooms, with over 300,000 registered students. Hanban has also sent more than 3,000 teachers abroad. 

Source: Xinhua, June 25, 2011.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-06/25/c_121583277.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend