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All posts by TGS - 122. page

China To Promote Military-Civilian Integration But Keep Core Military Capabilities

Jiang Luming, a Chinese military expert, states that China must promote military and civilian integration in the light of the economic globalization and information warfare, but it should blaze its own path. “It is totally unrealistic,” said Jiang, to follow the recommendations of western military economists that China should acquire its military capabilities from the international arms market, instead of building its own. According to Jiang, China should study certain major national and military constraints, such as the fact that China has no military allies to rely on, has been under a long term high tech embargo, and is still relatively weak in technological foundation. Jiang serves as a professor at the Economic Research Center of the National Defense University.

Source: Xinhua, May 5, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-05/05/content_13468672.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Credibility Crisis in China Deeps

Zhou Dongfei, a senior columnist published in the State’s International Herald Leader that the current Chinese society not only lacks credibility, but also that the very mechanism to maintain trust is losing credibility. In China people don’t trust milk powder because of the frequent reports of melamine problems; they do not trust vaccines due to adulterations in the production process; they would rather deliver water to those in draught areas and clothes to those in disasters than donate cash. “However, after a large number of incidents of dishonesty occurred and were not corrected as society expected, the mechanism to maintain trust has lost credibility. In the current Chinese society, people have lost trust because fundamentally the mechanism safeguarding that trust has broken down and suffers from a loss of public trust. If this situation continues to deteriorate, the result can only be the loss of public confidence.”

Source: International Herald Leader, May 4, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-05/04/content_13466170.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Chinese Netizens Reach 404 Million

The first quarter in 2010 saw an increase of 20 million Internet users in China, with the total reaching 404 million. About 191 million use online social networking services. As of Feb. 25, IPV4 addresses amounted to 235 million, the second largest in the world. There were over 3.22 million websites at the end of 2009, up 12.3% from a year ago.

Source: Xinhua, April 23,
2010 http://news.xinhuanet.com/tech/2010-04/23/content_13408048.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

China to Push for Soft Power Overseas

Cai Wu, the Minister of Culture, discussed preferential policies to encourage and support the export of Chinese culture products and services. These would include marketing, technology and customs services. “China’s culture products and the dissemination of the international competitiveness of power have yet to be further enhanced.” Cai stated that for every show the State sends overseas, China imports 10 shows, and that the annual total income from all shows sent to and performed oversees is less than that of a popular overseas circus. Chinese companies are encouraged to establish an overseas presence by investment or by setting up branches. Minister Cai indicated that the State will support hosting various expos, participation in arts and film festivals, and booking shows.

Source: Huanqiu, April 28, 2010
http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-04/796483.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Domestic Pressure on RMB to Depreciate

The Journal of China’s Academy of Social Science, a government think tank, published an article stating that the external appreciation of the RMB might lead to domestic inflation. The Chinese RMB is facing two challenges: one from the international market to appreciate and the other from domestic market to depreciate. There are three reasons. First is that the settlement system for Chinese exports prohibits the free flow of foreign exchange – all exchange earned by exporters must be sold to the State at the official rate. The State has increased the money in circulation by 15,000 bn RMB for the $2,400 bn foreign exchange reserves. Second is that the relaxed monetary policy has led to staggering loans reaching 9,500 bn RMB. Third is that the various bank deposits represent potential purchasing power.

Source: China Review News, April 22, 2010
http://www.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1012/9/7/0/101297006.html?coluid=7&kindid=0&docid=101297006

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Disparity of Income Distribution: A Long March from Pyramid Pattern to Olive

Yu Jianrong, a professor at the State’s Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, predicts that it will take another 30 years for China to move from the current pyramid pattern of income distribution to one that is olive-shaped. The pyramid pattern of income distribution is used to describe the great disparity of income, intense social conflicts, and the lack of a middle class as a buffer, while an olive-shaped pattern denotes the existence of a large middle class with relatively small groups of rich and poor. Hence it is more conducive to social stability. Yu holds that a middle class has not yet formed in China whatsoever. “For example, the popular ‘hatred of the rich’, ‘hatred of government’ and other social discontent and resentment are both the evidence and ‘combustion’ that has induced large-scale incidents of conflict by social groups to vent their anger.” “People at the bottom are growing in numbers, albeit economic development and improvement of living standard for the bottom society.” “Objectively, the white-collar workers are a little bit more capable of making money, but speaking of their social situation or political status, they are the same [as migrant workers],” says Yu.

Source: International Herald Leader, April 19, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-04/19/content_13383024.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

About the Chinese Model

Xu Chongwen, a senior research fellow at the State’s Chinese Academy of Social Sciences published a criticism of “four misconceptions” of the Chinese model. His article is summarized below.

Misconception 1: The term was first coined by foreigners with the ulterior motive of containing China’s expansion. Not true because Deng Xiaoping used the term back in 1980 when discussing the Russian October Revolution. 
Misconception 2: The term “model” means example or demonstration for others to follow; hence one should be cautious when using the term. Wrong because it contradicts Deng Xxiaoping who held countries should independently seek development paths and models suited to their own situation. 
Misconception 3: The Chinese model is the "Beijing Consensus" for the reference use of other countries. Disagree because Joshua Cooper Ramo’s Beijing Consensus was coined to mean opposition to the Washington Consensus. The Chinese model is to develop China based on its own situation and China has no intent to promote it the same way that the Washington Consensus has been promoted.
Misconception 4: It is too early to talk about a Chinese model. This is without grounds. Hu Jintao has set forth the theory on building a harmonious society. No one should use it to deny that the achievements of the Chinese model have already been well recognized.

Source: The Party School of The Chinese Communist Party, April 13, 2010
http://www.cntheory.com/news/Llltllyt/2010/413/1041393831I6EFADA9CEE5413J46J9.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

State Continues to Dominate Reform of Culture System

An article on reform of China’s culture system was published on the website of the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, addressing bottlenecks and recommendations. The reform moved from pilot programs to full implementation in March 2006. One of the key bottlenecks, according to the article, is “some of the culture enterprises blindly maximize their market profits,” and “have increasingly led to economic benefits diverging from social benefits” and to a greater disparity of income. The recommendation is to uphold the Party’s leadership in the reform, adherence to Marxism and ensuring the dominance of state-owned culture enterprises in the culture market.

Source: The Party School of The Chinese Communist Party, April 14, 2010 http://www.cntheory.com/news/Dshcdssdjt/2010/414/104141520769BBIIKAJ192JK20I11F.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics