Skip to content

All posts by RWZ - 249. page

Zhou Yongkang Reemphasizes the Party’s Control over Judicial System

In a speech recently delivered by Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and head of the CCP’s Committee of Political And Legislative Affairs, Zhou repeated the importance of Hu Jintao’s speech given at the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party and emphasized that the Party must maintain “absolute control” over the judicial systems, which includes the police, the armed police, the procurator system, and the court system. Zhou called for “political firmness, purity and strong fighting strength.”

Source: Xinhua, July 2, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-07/02/c_121614063.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Guangming: Japan’s Cost for Supporting U.S. Bases Higher Than Its Military Budget

On July 3, 2011, Guangming Daily published an article on what it costs Japan to support U.S. military bases in Japan. The article reported that the United States has had military bases in Japan since the end of World War II. Currently there are 41,000 American troops stationed there. According to the treaties Japan has with the U.S., the U.S. is responsible for defending Japan and Japan is responsible for providing land and facilities at no charge. The article further described the items that Japan pays for: (1) handling the issues in areas surrounding the U.S. bases; (2) the rental cost of public and private land; (3) the cost of moving facilities and equipment; and (4) other costs such as compensating fishermen for the inconvenience caused by the military exercises. After 1978, Japan started paying the Japanese citizens who worked on the bases, as well as some repair and maintenance costs. The article calculated the total amount the Japanese government spent on the U.S. bases in 2009 and concluded that it was higher than the U.S. share and higher than Japan’s own military budget.

Source: Guangming Daily, July 3, 2011
http://mil.gmw.cn/2011-07/03/content_2169921.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: A Regrettable Ruling

Xinhua recently reported that a WTO group of experts issued a “rule violation” conclusion after investigating China’s imposition of restrictions on the export of several raw materials. Xinhua called it a “regrettable ruling,” citing the need for China to protect the environment. In the year 2009, the U.S., the European Union, and Mexico jointly filed the WTO complaint for China’s taking “unfair advantage.” The materials in question are bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon metal, silicon carbide, phosphorus, and zinc. China tried to explain the “export restrictions” as “administrative means.” The report suggested the current mining process used in China results in significant pollution. The new “enhanced management” is designed to improve the sustainability of providing the resources to the world market.

Source: Xinhua, July 6, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-07/06/c_121632341.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

International Finance News: China Is Losing Its Leading World Factory Position

International Finance News, a daily newspaper under Chinese state media People’s Daily, recently published a comprehensive report on the fact that manufacturing work is moving out of China. The report referred to Nike’s data as an example. Since the year 2010, Vietnam, instead of China, has been the biggest shoe manufacturer for Nike. China is losing competitiveness due to the increase in labor costs, the RMB exchange rate, and the rate of inflation. The report suggested that China is experiencing “industrial transformation.” Cheap labor centers are being replaced by research centers. However, experts believe that small manufacturing businesses will face a new wave of bankruptcies. Small businesses represent 80% of the job market and 50% of the nation’s tax income.

Source: International Finance News, June 30, 2011
http://paper.people.com.cn/gjjrb/html/2011-06/30/content_858900.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

CRN: Expert Said Chinese Aircraft Carrier was Delayed for Two Years

China Review News (CRN) recently reported on an interview with a Chinese naval military expert regarding the hot topic of China’s first aircraft carrier. The report revealed that the first Chinese aircraft carrier, which is just a refit of the long-retired Ukrainian aircraft carrier “Varyag,” arrived in China in 2002. However the Chinese top leadership did not make up their minds on China’s aircraft carrier strategy until 2004. There was a two year delay due to the decision making process. There were reports suggesting the “Varyag” is just a training carrier, but the expert disagreed, “The first aircraft carrier is indeed a combat warship, although it is not very capable.” The expert expressed the wish that China would have at least three aircraft carriers. The report also covered various technical topics regarding an aircraft carrier. The Chinese expert used U.S. aircraft carriers to make all of his comparisons. Chen Bingde, head of Chinese Army’s General Staff Department (the PLA’s Joint Chiefs of Staff) suggested that Chinese aircraft carrier technology is 20 years behind the U.S.

Source: China Review News, June 25, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/crn-webapp/doc/docDetailCreate.jsp?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=101744878&mdate=0625105159

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

PLA Daily: General Staff Department Optimizes Reorganization

PLA Daily (People’s Liberation Army Daily) recently reported that the Chinese Army’s General Staff Department made an important organizational change. Authorized by Chairman Hu Jintao and the Central Military Commission, the Communications Unit of the General Staff Department (GSD) has now become the Information Technology Unit. The establishment of the new unit is seen as a symbol of enhancing centralized information technology improvements. Chen Bingde, head of the GSD, (equivalent to the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff), attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Chen suggested that the new unit is not a simple name change; it is a strategic move with global, fundamental, and comprehensive impact.

Source: PLA Daily, June 30, 2011
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/jfjbmap/content/2011-07/01/content_61382.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

SCO Denounced the U.S. National Missile Defense System

Voice of America (VOA) recently reported that leaders who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan denounced the U.S. National Missile Defense (NMD) system. They pointed out that a single-sided missile defense system will damage global strategic stability and security. The U.S. had suggested that a European missile defense system can safeguard the region against Iranian missiles. However Russia is concerned about the vulnerability of its own nuclear deterrence capabilities if such a European system is built. The President of Iran recently suggested that Central Asian countries should “create a new world order.” However, after the Summit, both the Chinese and Russian presidents called for a “more constructive Iranian attitude.”

Source: Voice of America, June 15, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/international/20110615-SCO-SUMMIT-123960309.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China Backs Zhu for IMF Deputy Director

International Finance News, a daily newspaper under the Chinese state media’s People’s Daily, recently published a commentary on the current process of reshuffling the leadership team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The article focuses on the possibility of China taking a Deputy Managing Director (DMD) seat, assuming there is no chance China can actually win the Managing Director (MD) position. Zhu Min, former deputy managing director of China’s central bank, is currently the IMF’s Special Assistant to the Managing Director. The author of the commentary argued that Zhu has a good chance of becoming the First Deputy Managing Director, given the background of Chinese power and support from the emerging developing countries, such as Brazil. The author believes the leading candidate for the MD position, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, may support this idea in exchange for Chinese support of her MD candidacy.

Source: International Finance News, June 16, 2011
http://paper.people.com.cn/gjjrb/html/2011-06/16/content_847227.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources