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Chinese Government: Stay Out of Liu Xiaobo’s Case

Chinese writer and scholar Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison on December 25, 2009. He was charged with "inciting subversion of state power" for his role as the primary author of Charter 08, a call for increased democratic reforms and greater freedom in China. When Charter 08 was released in 2008, more than 300 scholars and writers signed it; since then, 10,000 Chinese citizens have done so.

Liu Xiaobo has been detained since the eve of the release of Charter 08. The international community and foreign governments have repeatedly asked China to release him. Prior to his trial, the Chinese government warned the European Union and the U.S. not to interfere in Liu’s case. On December 29, the spokeswoman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Liu’s trial completely followed China’s law and legal proceedings. She requested foreign organizations and countries not to interfere in China’s internal affairs.

Sources:
1. VOA, December 15, 2009
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/CHINA-DISSIDENT-20091215-79292177.html
2. China Website, December 29, 2009
http://lianghui.china.com.cn/news/txt/2009-12/29/content_19152414.htm
3. LA Times, December 28, 2009
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/12/liu-xiaobo.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Is Worried about High Real Estate Prices

Xinhua reported that Wen Jiabao presided over a December 14 State Council Executive Meeting in which China’s communist controlled government acknowledged that the country is facing real estate problems. Since the time China stimulated its economy, the already high-priced housing market experienced another upsurge, making it unaffordable for the average Chinese to attain decent housing. Many Chinese people live in sheds. The meeting attendees demanded that the government exert pressure, curb rising housing prices and increase the supply of non-luxury residential properties, such as low to mid-level priced and small to mid-level sized housing and public rental housing. 

Source: Xinhua, December 14, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2009-12/14/content_12645976.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China’s National Defense Mobilization Law — 2nd Reading

A draft law that allows the Chinese government to mobilize most of its adult population for defense duties was up for a second reading at the People’s National Congress Standing Committee session on December 22. The draft law emphasized that the State Council and the CCP Central Military Commission hold joint responsibility for national defense mobilization. It included that the National Defense Implementation Plan should be in sync with the Emergency Response Plan, which calls for Emergency activities that include command, the application of force, information, and supply.

The draft law also defined the reserve system. Reservists are to be part of the active-duty forces, reserve forces, or militia. It also included a section calling for the medical and health aid system to be active in peace and war situations. When national defense mobilization occurs, medical staff, medicine, and medical equipment will also be mobilized for wartime use.

Source: Xinhua, December 22, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-12/22/content_12689759.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Zhou Yongkang: Three Priorities for Maintaining Social Stability

Xinhua reported that Zhou Yongkang, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Party Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee, offerred his opinion during the video-conference meeting on December 18, discussing national political and legal work. Zhou stressed three priorities concerning political and legal activities. The three priorities are: the resolution of social conflicts, the innovation of social management, and fair and un-corrupted law enforcement.

Zhou pointed out that China is at a period of economic development and high social conflicts. Thus the task to maintain social stability is very challenging.  

Source: Xinhua, December 18, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-12/18/content_12667754.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Jon Huntsman Met with Five Chinese Human Rights Activists

U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman met with five Chinese human rights lawyers and activists on December 9, 2009, according to the Voice of America. The two-hour meeting took place in the U.S. Embassy. with Jiang Tianyong, Li Fangping, Zhang Kai, Dai Jinbo, and Wang Guangze present at the meeting.

These advocates implied that this meeting was not just a formality. Ambassador Huntsman listened carefully to their portrayal of religion and human rights issues in China. He said that such meetings are not a single occurrence and that he would discuss with the Chinese government religious freedom issues and lawful rights for family churches.

Jiang Tianyong suggested that the meeting with Ambassador Huntsman would have a deep and significant impact on China.

President Obama also wanted to meet with China’s rights activists during his visit to China in November, but other issues took priority.

Source: VOA, December 13, 2009
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/china/20091213-Jon-Huntsman-Human-Rights-79161512.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Editor-In-Chief of Nanfang Weekend Demoted for Interviewing President Obama

Xiang Xi, the former editor-in-chief of Nanfang Weekend was demoted to executive editor for his handling of Nanfang Weekend’s interview with U.S. President Obama.

President Obama granted Xiang Xi, representing Nanfang Weekend, a relatively liberal state-owned newspaper, an exclusive interview during his visit to China.

Nanfang Weekend later published a censored interview report and blanked part of the front and second pages to protest the censorship by the Communist Party’s Propaganda Department.

Source:
1. Radio Free Asia, December 13, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/nan-12132009164722.html
2. Chinascope
http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/2115/103/

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China Marxism Forum 2009 Held in Beijing

The “China Marxism Forum 2009” was held in the Central Committee’s Party School in Beijing from December 8 to 9. Xi Jinping, Hu Jintao’s successor, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and President of the Central Committee’s Party School sent a congratulatory letter to the forum.

This forum was sponsored by the China Marxism Study Foundation, the only foundation in China that awards and organizes theoretical study of Marxism and the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and the National Development Bank.

Going forward, the China Marxism Study Foundation will sponsor the Marxism Forum annually, with the first meeting held this year.

Source: Study Times, December 14, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=3120&nid=11328&bid=1&page=1

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Daily: Harper Gave up Hugh Rights for Economic Development

China Daily commented on Harper’s visit to China, saying that after years of being firm concerning human rights issues, Harper finally saw the light, became realistic and traded it for economic cooperation with China.

The commentary said that Canada’s support for Falun Gong, the Taiwan question, and the Tibet issue has greatly hurt the Sino-Canada relationship. On the contrary, the U.S. was quite pragmatic. Bush raised Sino-US ties to their best period in history, and Obama downplayed ideology and declared to respect other countries’ choices concerning internal matters. Finally, the economic pressure drew Harper to mend his China policy.

The commentary said “… if Canada respects China over issues concerning China’s core interests, bilateral ties could realize sound development.”

The Chinese version listed meeting the Dalai Lama in 2007 and refusing to attend the Beijing Olympic Games as Harper’s transgressions, which were not mentioned in the English version.

Source: People’s Daily, December 2, 2009
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/10494985.html
China Daily, December 2, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2009-12/02/content_9098381.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend