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Chinese Scholars on the Sino-U.S. Relationship

Chinese Review News hosted a forum at its headquarters in Beijing on, "The Development and Deepening the Sino-U.S. Relationship." Below are some scholars’ comments.

Shi Yinhong of Renmin University of China: Since he took the top leadership position, Xi Jinping has changed the direction of China’s foreign policy. He has expanded military power and promoted China’s ocean sovereignty. This has gained him the people’s support and the consolidation of his power within China. However, it came at quite some cost [with the U.S.].

Lv Dehong of the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies: The U.S.’s biggest problem in its Sino-U.S. policy is that it does not see its own problem. It has long insisted on its own viewpoint, its own logic, and its own policy. It pursues its own interests. It has done many things that hurt others, because its policy does not recognize the interests of other countries.

Yuan Zheng of the China Academy of Social Science: [I would like to make] a few points on the direction of China’s foreign diplomacy. First, China’s nationalism will continue to rise and its foreign policy will take a more hardline approach. Second, as China’s power continues to rise, China will have a greater influence in international affairs. Third, the U.S. thinks that, though China is more active in diplomatic activities, China’s current and future focus is still China. Fourth, the U.S. is worried about China’s recent actions.

Liu Feitao of the China Institute of International Studies: The public in the U.S. is more concerned than the government about the military side of the Sino-U.S. relationship. No matter which party in the U.S. wins the next election, it will take a harderline approach towards China. The U.S. has more strategic worries about China than China has about the U.S.

Source: China Review News, May 21, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1037/6/1/0/103761001.html?coluid=1&kindid=0&docid=103761001&mdate=0521001004

RFA: What Did Wang Qishan Want to Tell People?

Radio Free Asia published a commentary on Wang Qishan’s meeting with three foreign scholars on April 23. The scholars were the renowned political scientist Francis Fukuyama, economist Masahiko Aoki, and former Citic Securities manager Tatsuhito Tokuchi. Wang was talking most of the time. Afterwards, Tatsuhito Tokuchi, Wang’s long-time friend, published Wang’s speech on the Internet. Chinese media did not publish it.

"A key message that Wang passed on in this meeting was that his anticorruption campaign faces severe difficulties." People being targeted as well as a large number of officials are against this "selective" anticorruption and the rapid expansion of Wang’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Now the campaign has reached a stalemate. If Wang stops, the public will be disappointed and the result may be social turmoil. If he proceeds, some cliques will fight back and even fight to the death.

"Another key message in this talk was that Wang promised his opponents that he does not seek a complete systematic reform that will fundamentally prevent corruption."

"It is rare for a politburo standing committee member to have a discussion with visiting foreign scholars. Wang’s high-profile meeting with them and the posting of his talk through an official channel is a big taboo for high-ranking Party officials. This, on the one hand, reflected that he could not easily find friends in the Party. On the other hand, it showed that he does not need to be bound by the rules since Xi Jinping relies on him so heavily."

Source: RFA Online, May 15, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/commentaries/hushaojiang_com-05152015083428.html

Hong Kong Trend Magazine: Retribution for the “Iron Hat King”

The Trend Magazine, which is based in Hong Kong, published a commentary in its May issue to discuss the argot of the "Iron Hat King." "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) likes to play political games by using argot to criticize someone without disclosing his name." The Chinese media have stated that there is no "Iron Hat King" in the anticorruption campaign [a king whose descendants would always enjoy the royal king title], which translates to mean that top officials will always be subject to corruption charges.

The article suggested that Jiang Zemin (the "core" of the CCP’s third generation of leaders, who was installed by Deng Xiaoping after the Tiananmen Square Massacre) is the "Iron Hat King." He has built up his clique, with Zeng Qinghong (the "Qing Prince") to control the Party’s affairs, Bo Xilai as the crown prince, Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou to cover the military, and Zhou Yongkang to oversee the police. However, his (Jiang’s) secret was exposed when Wang Lijun came to the U.S. Consulate in 2012. Now the new leaders’ large-scale anticorruption campaign has trapped him in Shanghai, where he can barely survive.

The article further suggested that the CCP’s first three top leaders all had their "two legacies" [to preserve]. Mao Zedong’s legacies were the taking-over of China from the Kuomintang and the Cultural Revolution. Deng Xiaoping’s were the economic reform and the crackdown on the June 4th movement. Jiang has also worried about two things: The June 4th democratic movement can never be redressed and the suppression of Falun Gong cannot be stopped. "This big tiger is very clear: if the Party stops bearing those criminal actions for him, he will die badly."

Source: Cheng Ming Online
http://www.chengmingmag.com/t357/t357-ed/t357ed.html

Qiushi: Deepening Reform Must Include the Party’s Absolute Leadership

Qiushi published an article promoting deepening the reform and even expanding it from economics to the political arena, to culture, and to the social system. However, the article stated that two parts comprise the overall goal of the reform: "Improving and developing the Socialist Path with Chinese Characteristics, and advancing the national governance systems and governance modernization." The first part sets the fundamental direction.

It includes things such as "One Center and Two Basic Points" (economic development was the central focus; it should occur through 1) centralized political control – i.e., the Four Cardinal Principles [the socialist road, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leading role of the Party, and Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong thought] – and 2) economic reforms and opening up). It also includes the socialist market economy, keeping public ownership for the majority of the economy, the People’s congress system, multi-party cooperation, and the political consultation system under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Marxist leadership, and the CCP’s absolute leadership over the military. Not only can these not be changed, but they should also be enhanced.

"We must improve our political determination and must not make subversive errors on fundamental issues."

Source: Qiushi Online, Mary 15, 2015
http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2015-05/15/c_1115245799.htm

Xinhua: People Should Get Used to Seeing China’s Warships in The Sea

Xinhua reported that China and Russia held joint naval exercises, the "Joint Sea 2015" in the Mediterranean Sea. China sent its primary battle ships, two Type 054A Frigates (NATO code: Jiangkai II Class Frigates), and a supply ship to the exercises. The joint exercises will run from May 11 to May 21.

"This is the first time that [China] has conducted naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a new challenge for the Chinese Navy. It also showed that [China] is expanding its national interests and security interests to waters further away from China. People should get used to seeing China’s warships out in the sea."

Source: Xinhua, May 12, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2015-05/12/c_127791919.htm

China Won Russian High Speed Rail Project

Peoples Daily reported that the China Railway Group Limited’ subsidiary, China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd., has formed a consortium with two Russian companies. This consortium signed a 20 billion ruble ($390 million) agreement with the Russian Railways to design and construct a high-speed railway system from Moscow to Kazan.

The project is 770 kilometers (480 miles) long, with the highest speed being 400 km. per hour. It is the first overseas contract that the China Railway Group has won.

Sources:
1. People’s Daily Online, May 6, 2015
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2015/0513/c1002-26991896.html
2. Peoples Daily Online, May 6, 2015
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2015-05/06/content_20637032.htm

Elementary School Student Extorts Money from Classmates

It is a common practice for officials in China to use their power to extort money. Now even elementary school students have learned to do so.

According to an article that People’s Daily recently republished, a Deputy Class Leader who is a sixth grade student was found to have been extorting money from his classmates since the year he was in the second grade. This student leader was assigned the "power" to check other students’ homework. If a student didn’t give him money, he would tear up that student’s homework and report bad things about that student to teacher. He also forced some students who didn’t give him money to drink urine or eat excrement.

Source: People’s Daily Online, May 8, 2015
http://finance.people.com.cn/n/2015/0508/c66323-26966945.html

China Review News: Pakistan-China Economic Corridor Will Unite Europe and Asia

A recent China Review News commentary addressed the issue of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (PCEC). It stated,"The economic corridor that China and Pakistan plan to build between them offers the first strategic sea port in China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ plan. … China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ plan and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will rekindle the thousand-year old dream of uniting Europe and Asia together." 

The commentary said that the PCEC will connect China’s Kashgar to Pakistan’s Gwadar and will include roads, railways, and energy and commercial trade routes. Pakistan will serve as a bridge to connect China to Central and South Asia, forming an economic zone population of 3 billion people.

"This corridor allows China to connect directly to the Arab Sea, giving China the shortest path to connect to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East." "The shipping of energy and cargo in and out of China will be shortened by 4,000 miles. It will take only 10 days, instead of 45 days [via the Malacca Strait], for China to ship its goods to the Middle East and Africa."

Pakistan also offers the best channel for China to connect to Islamic countries. It is China’s firmest ally. It is also the only Islamic country with a nuclear capability. Its military cooperation with China can stabilize the relationship between the two countries and reduce the risk of the "One Belt, One Road" zone.

Source: China Review News, May 3, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1037/3/6/4/103736425.html