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All posts by RWZ - 223. page

Xinhua: Stay Alert for U.S. Offline Network Attacks

Xinhua recently published an article analyzing strategic changes in U.S. network-based warfare. According to the article, the key focus should be offline attack technologies that can implant data, via wireless signals, into enemy systems that are not connected to the Internet. It was reported that the U.S. Army obtained this strategic technology five years ago. There are three other strategic changes mentioned in the article: (1) New network warfare rules; (2) Distribution of offensive network attack weapons instead of defensive ones; (3) An upgrade of the network warfare command center to the top level in the Army’s ranking system.
Source: Xinhua, January 7, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/globe/2013-01/07/c_132074516.htm
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

RFA: 100 Times More Chinese Middle School Students Head for the US

Radio Free Asia (RFA) recently reported that, compared to the year 2006, 100 times more Chinese students attended U.S. middle schools in 2011. Many of these students studied at costly elite schools. The numbers are based on data released by the U.S. Department of Education. From 2005 to 2006, around sixty Chinese middle school students studied in the U.S. In 2011, the headcount reached seven thousand. The number of Chinese students that came to the United States in 2011 totaled 160,000, which made China number one in the number of international students coming to the U.S. Most of the Chinese middle school students attended private schools with costs higher than the average college. Many Chinese parents interviewed by RFA suggested that the primary reasons for sending their kids to the States were: first, nothing useful can be learned in Chinese schools; and second, the U.S. is safer than China.
 
Source: Radio Free Asia, January 11, 2013
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/xql-01112013161340.html
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

CRN: China’s Central Bank Printed More Currency than the U.S.

China Review News (CRN) recently reported that, based on information officially released by China’s central bank, China’s currency supply (M2, a broad indicator to quantify the amount of money in circulation) reached RMB 97.42 trillion yuan (around US$15.53 trillion) by the end of 2012. This number represents an annual increase of 13.8 percent and is two times the Chinese GDP. Based on the current exchange rate, China’s GDP is one third of the U.S. scale, but the Chinese currency’s circulation level has already surpassed the U.S. Experts warned that the extra printed money may introduce potential systemic risks. Last year’s data for China shows that the government was loosening up the currency policies in order to “stabilize growth.” It is expected that China will maintain the current policies for the first half of 2013 and may tighten up in the second half, which typically faces higher inflation pressure.
Source: China Review News, January 11, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1023/9/7/7/102397732.html?coluid=10&kindid=253&docid=102397732&mdate=0111093828
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: The U.S. is Mass-Selling Weapons to China’s Neighbors

Xinhua recently published an article which reviewed a number of media reports from Russia, Hong Kong, Iran, Taiwan, Japan, and Britain on U.S. arms sales in Asia. The number of fighter jets, missiles, and rockets that the U.S. will sell to China and North Korea’s neighbors is expected to increase significantly in 2013. U.S. Aerospace Industries Association, whose members include Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, and Northrop-Grumman, issued the same forecast. The Asian focus of the Obama administration and the increased Chinese defense budget are considered primary drivers behind this move. Experts suggested that conflicts in the South China Sea and the East Sea are fueling the U.S. arms manufacturers. Four Global Hawk unmanned aircraft worth US$1.2 billion were sold to South Korea right after North Korea’s rocket launch last month. It seems that both U.S. allies and their opposition agree that the re-balancing process in East and Southeast Asia is profiting the U.S. arms industry.
Source: Xinhua, January 5, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-01/05/c_124184314_3.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: PetroChina Investments in Iran Got Stuck

Xinhua recently reported that Iran’s Oil Ministry announced, at the end of 2012, that PetroChina “lacked the willingness” to push forward on the investments in some of its projects in Iran. The two sides have been in negotiations for over half a year and PetroChina is not moving forward. Last summer there had already been reports on PetroChina withdrawing from its investment plans. However, PetroChina officially denied any withdrawal. This new Iranian announcement is the latest development under the “shadow of U.S. sanctions.” PetroChina has recently been pulling workers out of some sea-side Iranian cities. PetroChina officials were not available to comment on the latest Iranian government announcement. After the U.S. sanctions started, all Western companies left Iran, which made the Chinese companies the primary investors in Iran’s energy industry. Restrictions and policy constraints present other barriers to PetroChina’s project schedules. PetroChina currently has four investment projects in Iran totaling over US$10 billion. 
Source: Xinhua, January 5, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-01/05/c_124186289.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

People’s Daily: Ministry of Commerce Concerned about the U.S. Control of Its Exports

People’s Daily recently reported that President Obama just signed the Fiscal 2013 National Defence Authorization Act, which maintained control of satellite exports to China. The spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce commented that the Act bans exports, re-exports, and the launch of U.S. satellites in China, while restrictions on other countries were loosen up. He expressed deep concern regarding this issue and pointed out that the United States previously agreed to lift the ban on high-tech exports to China if they were for civilian use. The spokesperson called on the U.S. to delivery on its previously promised reform of U.S. export control policies and asked the U.S. to drop its discrimination against China. He expressed the belief that a balanced trade will benefit both countries.
Source: People’s Daily, January 5, 2013
http://finance.people.com.cn/n/2013/0105/c1004-20099348.html
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua: Quick Risk Management Required after U.S. QE4

Xinhua recently published an article about the new QE4 policy that the U.S. Federal Reserve announced on December 13. The article called for early risk management reactions to remedy the damage. The U.S. Fed’s QE3 and QE4 operations will inject a combined $85 billion in monthly currency. The article expressed the belief that the U.S. move was much faster than the international community expected. The Fed announced its QE3 plan only three months ago. Since China has the world’s largest foreign exchange reserve, mostly in U.S. Dollars, the QE4 execution will have the heaviest impact on China. It can also cause rapid appreciation of the Chinese currency. The immediate result will be a slowdown in Chinese exports. The article suggested that China should take similar actions to increase the supply of the Chinese currency so that the appreciation expectation can be stopped. The author called the U.S. “selfish” and concluded that the Fed is introducing an unnecessary “depreciation war.”
Source: Xinhua, December 14, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/comments/2012-12/14/c_114022883.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Nanjing Discontinued the Government’s Paid Health Care Benefits

Xinhua recently reported that, starting January 1, 2013, the City of Nanjing will no longer provide Government Paid Health Care Benefits for all people, including government officials and those working in government sponsored organizations. For decades, health care has been one of the primary benefits given to government workers. Nanjing is the capital city of Jiangsu Province, which is one of the wealthiest provinces in China. It is estimated that the move will impact over 200,000 people, who will all have to join publicly available insurance plans. Before this new move was announced, Jiangsu’s other twelve cities that the provincial government directly manages had already implemented the new policy. Many Nanjing residents could not believe that government officials would be losing this privilege. However, the new policy has two “catches” that are raising doubts. One is that government officials whose rank is above “Deputy Bureau Director” are exempt. Second, for a period of “transition” time, the government will cover the increased cost that government officials must pay because they must switch to a regular insurance plan. 
Source: Xinhua, December 15, 2012
http://www.xinhuanet.com/comments/20121215jrht/
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics