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All posts by TGS - 111. page

Scholar: Government Is a Black Hole That Sucks Up Wealth

Sun Liping, a sociology professor at Tsinghua University, stated that there is an enormous black hole in Chinese society that sucks up wealth. According to Sun, “The crux of the problem is that an enormous black hole has formed in society, and it is sucking up wealth. The black hole absorbs a considerable part of the achievements in social development, leaving a very limited share for the people. Within this limited share, improving one part will hurt another part. There is limited space." How big is the black hole? According to Professor Sun, in 2009 the government raked in, using various means, fiscal revenue of 11,500 bn yuan, about one-third of the GDP.

Source: China Securities Journal reprinted at Soho.com, November 1, 2010
http://business.sohu.com/20101101/n276881426.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Liang Guanglie: Wars Are Unlikely, but Military Friction Can’t Be Excluded

On December 29, 2010, People’s Daily published a December interview of Liang Guanglie, China’s Defense Minister. Li stated in the interview, “Looking at the current world situation, a full-scale war is unlikely, but we cannot exclude the possibility that, in some local areas, unexpected events may occur, or military friction may take place due to a ‘misfire.’” He indicated that, of all the military forces, the navy, air force, and second artillery corps make up a large and growing percentage, while the army is on the decline; that 80% of the officers now have college degrees; and that a modern weaponry system dominated by second generation equipment, with third generation equipment as the backbone has preliminarily been established.

Source: People’s Daily, December 29, 2010
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2010-12/29/content_711023.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Study Times: Overseas Expansion of the Party

Study Times published an article by the Party Committee of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) about its practice of maintaining Party control over China’s overseas businesses. The operation of expanding the Party overseas involves following these businesses. “Where there are people, there are Party organizations and Party activities.” “These overseas Party organizations are under the CCECC Party Committee, while accepting the leadership and administration of the Party Committees at our embassies and consulates. … Currently, the overseas offices of the CCECC have formed, horizontally and vertically, a complete Party organization system with 100% coverage.”

Source: Study Times, December 27, 2010
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2010/12/27/08/08_13.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Senior Party Leaders Attended the Confucius Institutes’ Annual Conference

On December 10, Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, attended the opening of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Confucius Institutes. Liu Yandong, a Politburo member and Council Chair of the Confucius Institute headquarters, delivered the opening remarks. Awards were given to individuals and groups from Confucius Institutes around the world. Fourteen hundred presidents and representatives of Confucius Institutes from 96 countries and regions participated in the two-day conference. The first annual conference was held in 2006.

Source: Xinhua, December 10, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-12/11/c_12868644.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua Signed Cooperation Agreement with Alcatel-Lucent

On December 22, 2010, Xinhua signed a framework agreement for strategic cooperation with Alcatel-Lucent. According to the agreement, Xinhua will provide information services, organize industry market surveys, and conduct research on domestic and international macro-economic developments. Alcatel-Lucent in Shanghai will provide Xinhua with consulting services on building a financial information platform; participate in the overall project design of “Xinhua 08;” provide technical support for project planning, construction, implementation and services; and cooperate across the board in Xinhua’s strategic transformation.

Source: Xinhua, December 22, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-12/22/c_12908502.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Li Changcun: China to Develop Media Personnel for International Expansion

On December 17, 2010, Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, spoke at the Communication University of China in Beijing. Li stressed the need to adapt to the media’s new features in the information age and “… to create an army of outward oriented, talented media workers who have a firm political stance, proficiency in media work, an in-depth understanding of domestic conditions, good language skills, and familiarity with international rules, so as to improve the effectiveness of international communication and provide solid personnel support for a good international public opinion environment that is conducive to open reform and socialist modernization.”

Source: Xinhua, December 17, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-12/17/c_12892866.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

China Daily Expands in Asia

On December 10, 2010, China Daily, the state’s English-language daily, launched its Asian edition in Hong Kong. With circulation in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Japan, the publication seeks “primarily to serve Asian political leaders, experts and scholars, business leaders and other high-end readers. … In addition to information about China, the publication will also provide China’s perspectives, analyses, and editorials on issues concerning Asia, and will interpret the interactions between China and other Asian countries.”

Source: Xinhua, December 10, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-12/10/c_12868405.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: New Regulation System for Auditing Senior Officials to be Expanded

The General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued a new regulation that expands the current audit system. Provincial level officials, ministers, and leaders of public institutions and State-owned enterprises will be subject to audit. During the audit of provincial governors and ministers, how they implement economic policies, and their handling of income and expenses, funding, and program management will all be examined. The outcome of the audit will be kept in the official’s file to allow for personnel actions such as performance assessments, promotions, or removal. Officials from the Party’s local disciplinary commissions and other departments will carry out the audits.

Source: Xinhua, December 8, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-12/08/c_12860568_5.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics