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All posts by RWZ - 236. page

CPPCC: Two Security Concerns of Chinese Companies Doing Business Overseas

China News recently reported that the spokesman for the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC), Zhao Qizheng, commented in a media briefing on two major security concerns of Chinese companies doing business overseas. Zhao suggested that, though China’s “Go Out” strategy has been very successful, many Chinese companies still face challenges due to a lack of knowledge of the international market. One of the major security concerns is the personal safety of the Chinese company’s staff working overseas. Another major concern is the safety of the investment. On the second point, Zhao added that many failures were directly caused by not using effective public diplomacy, which, if used, would help eliminate the negative voices in the foreign government and the general public. Zhao revealed that, last year, public diplomacy associations were established in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou. These three cities do the most international business.

Source: China News, March 2, 2012
http://finance.chinanews.com/cj/2012/03-02/3715152.shtml

The U.S. Initiated a New Trade Investigation against China

Guangzhou Daily recently reported that the U.S. International Trade Commission started an investigation on February 29, 2012, involving two Chinese companies and one Canadian company that make tattoo equipment as well as permanent cosmetic ink and application equipment. The investigation is taking place "to ensure patent protection." The final ruling date will be determined within 45 days. An investigation typically takes one year to reach a final ruling. This is the latest round of investigations after an earlier round a month ago on laser printer toners, camera phones, tablets, and other handheld image capturing devices, as well as adjustable energy-saving fluorescent lamps. 13 Chinese companies were investigated. In the U.S. fiscal year 2011, over 70 investigations were initiated under the U.S. Tariff Act, Section 337.

Source: Guangzhou Daily, March 2, 2012
http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/html/2012-03/02/content_1628808.htm

Wen Yunsong Elevated to Chairman of China Satcom

China Economy recently reported that Wen Yunsong, the son of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, became chairman of the China Satellite Communications Group (China Satcom). The controlling shareholder China Aerospace Science and Technology Group made the decision. China Satcom was founded in 2011 and was managed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration commission. It is one of six of China’s major telecommunications operators, and its primary business is satellite operations. China Satcom recently announced that the company will own 15 satellites and expects to have an income of RMB 160 billion (around US$24 billion) by the year 2015. By then, it will be the largest satellite operator in Asia.

Source: China Economy, February 21, 2012
http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/201202/22/t20120222_23092543.shtml

CRN: PLA Established Technical Quality Handling Mechanism

China Review News (CRN) recently republished a Xinhua report that the General Armament Department of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced and distributed to all branches of the army the new Technical Quality Issue Handling Rules for Army Equipment and Weaponry in Active Duty. The Rules for the first time clearly defined the governance structure and responsibilities of various army units for quality assurance. Technical support is now a requirement. Issue tracking and response documentation are also standardized. Periodical reporting requirements and levels of problems are defined too. In 2011, pilot programs for the implementation of the Rules were run in the Beijing and Lanzhou Military Regions and improvements were seen, as a result.

Source: China Review News, February 22, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/1/7/8/102017899.html?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=102017899&mdate=0222083351

Xinhua: U.S. The Cost of Starting a War Is Lower

Xinhua recently published a report commenting on cuts in the U.S. defense budget. According to the new budget plan, the defense budget for next year will be reduced by $32 billion. A total of $487 billion will be cut over the next decade. The report expressed the belief that the factors leading to the reduction were the current unstable U.S. economic situation and the political atmosphere of a presidential election year. However, the article pointed out that the budget reduction also reflected some strategic improvements that the U.S. military has made. One is strengthened mobility and delivery capabilities, which make deploying military forces to the front-line much easier and faster. Hence there is no need to keep a large amount of manpower deployed in remote areas. Another improvement is in the technology area where unmanned and space-based attack capabilities are becoming game changers. The report concluded that the budget cuts demonstrated that it will be easier and cheaper for the U.S. to start future wars. The lowered U.S. defense budget may mean more trouble for the world.

Source: Global Times, February 25, 2012
http://mil.huanqiu.com/Observation/2012-02/2470054_2.html

Many Civilian Technologies To Be Used for Military Purposes

China Review News (CRN) recently republished a report originally from People’s Liberation Army Daily (PLA Daily) that a mixed civilian and military weapons research, development, and manufacturing system had been established. As of mid-February, more than one hundred civilian enterprises passed the military qualification screening and became eligible to use civilian technologies for weapons development. One example is a civilian robot model that, after some modifications, is now being used for military purposes (such as nuclear reconnaissance). In the past few years, the army has established a system of regulations for managing civilian procurements. In some cases, the cost savings reached 50% and civilian technologies provided significant help in dealing with today’s diversified military missions.

Source: China Review News, February 19, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/1/5/1/102015109.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=102015109&mdate=0219094107

Study Times: A National Internet Forces Development Strategy is Needed

The Chinese Communist Party’s Central Party School’s magazine, Study Times, published an article on the importance of establishing China’s National Internet Forces. The article called for a strategic level focus on national information security. The author expressed the belief that it is critically important to enhance the research on “information warfare” methodologies as well to maximize the effectiveness of existing “information weaponry.” The article laid out four points to initiate the program: (1) enhancing and empowering the national information security organizations; (2) establishing a national information security monitoring and alerting system; (3) perfecting the information security management and administrative system; (4) strengthening international exchanges and cooperation. The article suggested that in the field of modern information security, the lines between allies and enemies are blurred and dynamic. Therefore, working with countries that use the leading information technology is a must.

Source: Study Times, February 23, 2012
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2012/02/13/07/07_32.htm

CRN: Challenges the RMB Faces in Dominating the Market

China Review News (CRN) recently republished an article by Professor Zhao Xiao from the Beijing University of Science and Technology. The article stated that the total amount of international settlements done with the Chinese currency in 2011 was RMB 2.08 trillion (around US$306 billion). At the same time, the U.S. unemployment rate was above 8.5% and 15% of the U.S. population received government help. Professor Zhao believes that China’s currency is preparing to challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar and the United States is playing defense. Zhao pointed out three major challenges China has to overcome: (1) maintaining the stable growth of both the domestic economy and China’s exports; (2) gaining enough national acceptance by promoting fairness, justice, and democracy; (3) establishing an international alliance against the current currency leader – the United States – by enhancing China’s soft power, or even its “hard” power.

Source: China Review News, February 13, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/0/8/3/102008309.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102008309&mdate=0213081204