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All posts by TGS - 22. page

Xinhua: Xi’s Amnesty in 2015 Shows Confidence

On January 25, 2016, Xinhua reported that, on August 29, 2015, before a national commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, President Xi Jinping signed an authorization of amnesty after whcih a total of 31,527 prisoners have been released.Xinhua reported that most of those released were juveniles when they committed their crimes.

Xinhua followed the report with a special commentary on the amnesty stating the move is “a successful example of how the Party rules.” It emphasized that this is the first time amnesty has been granted since the enactment of the current Constitution 33 years ago and that this “demonstrates one more time how governing and institutional confidence follow the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” 
Sources: 
Xinhua, January 25, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2016-01/25/c_1117889751.htm
Xinhua, January 25, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2016-01/25/c_1117889800.htm 
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua: Putin Denounced Lenin

Chinese media reported that, within the past five days, Putin criticized Lenin twice at public gatherings. Xinhua’s report mentioned that the Russian Communist Party rebutted Putin, but Chinese media made no comments.

On January 25, Putin stated, “There is a time bomb buried under our country. Lenin supported the concept that the establishment of the State and the Soviet Union was based on the full equality of each member and each has the right to withdraw from the Soviet Union. This is a time bomb that lies beneath our country.” 
On January 21, the 92nd anniversary of Lenin’s death, Putin said at a presidential science and education council conference, "We did not need a world revolution." He also said, "Thought control moved in the right direction, but it needs to bring the right results, which should not be what Vladimir Lenin brought about. Lenin’s ideas eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was like a nuclear bomb placed underneath the ‘Russian’ structure. Later the bomb exploded. " 
Sources:  
Xinhua, January 27, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2016-01/27/c_128675195.htm 
Sina, January 26, 2016 
http://news.sina.com.cn/w/zg/2016-01-26/doc-ifxnuvxc2009382.shtml#SI_FormList2
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xi Jinping: There Should Be Limits to the Party’s Power

On January 21, 2016, the Central Commission on Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party (CCDI) published additional excerpts from Xi Jinping’s speeches on issues related to Party disciplinary issues. 

In a speech dated May 9, 2014, Xi made the follow remarks: “We should improve the exercise of the Party’s power and its oversight mechanisms. The scope of that power should correspond to (our) responsibility.  We resolutely oppose privileges and should prevent the abuse of power. The ruling Party has enormous power over the use of resources. There should be a power list, showing what power can be exercised and what cannot, what is the official scope of power and what is its personal scope. These must be separate. One cannot conduct official business to further private gain.” 
On January 13, 2015, Xi said, “The system has been tightened up again and again. The supervision mechanism that monitors cadres’ work and lives has basically been established. The next step is to enforce the mechanism strictly.” Xi also stated, “We should deepen the reform of the discipline inspection system and strengthen supervision within the Party. A major cause of the corruption problem is that a number of institutional mechanisms are flawed. We must promote our work through reform and enhance the innovation of our system.” 
Source: The Central Commission on Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party website, January 21, 2016 
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/yw/201601/t20160121_73245.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Scholar of Confucianism Lectures Politburo Members

Xi Jinping invited Professor Chen Lai to give a lecture, on December 30, 2015, to a Politburo study group.  Chen received the “2015 Confucius Culture Award,” and is a professor of philosophy at Tsinghua University. He serves as Dean of the Academy of Chinese Learning at the university. 

Chen’s lecture to the Politburo study group had three parts: the origin, formation and development of Chinese patriotism; the content and characteristics of Chinese patriotism; and advice and suggestions. He pointed out that the tone of Chinese patriotism is peaceful and open. 
According to Chen, the invitation was extended to him in June 2015. His scripts were about 14,000 Chinese characters. He spoke for about an hour followed by a 20 minute question and answer session. 
In closing, Xi Jinping said that Chen “explained the topic very well.” Xi commented on the points that Chen made and stated that, to promote patriotism, Chinese history and culture must be respected and carried on. According to Chen, Xi unequivocally stated that "Chinese traditional culture is the spiritual lifeline of the Chinese." 
Source: People’s Daily reprinted by Xinhua, January 15, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-01/15/c_128631705.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

The Inequality between the Chinese People’s Income and Assets Continues to Worsen

According to a recent survey, the inequality of people’s income and assets is getting worse. The top one percent of the population owns one-third of China’s total assets, while the bottom 25 percent of families own one percent of total assets. The survey, “The China Livelihood Development Report,” was based on a study of 14,960 families in 25 provinces and cities. 

In addition to the inequality in income and assets, there are deepening gaps in terms of education between the urban area and the countryside, between the eastern and western regions, and between males and females. In the area of healthcare, the social security programs that the State funds have expanded the inequality instead of narrowing it. The survey showed that the population that has a higher income receives more medical subsidies than people who have a lower income. 

Source: Yicai, January 13, 2016 
http://www.yicai.com/news/2016/01/4738424.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

CCDI: Major Hidden Political Threats Have Been Removed

The sixth plenary session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of Communist Party was held from January 12 to 14, 2016. Xi Jinping spoke at the meeting. Other senior Party leaders including Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, and Zhang Gaoli attended the session. 

The communique released after the conclusion of the session summarized the achievements of China’s anti-corruption efforts in 2015, including intensified supervision and disciplinary inspections at all levels. “The Party Central Committee’s disciplinary investigations of Zhou Yongkang and Ling Jihua removed major hidden political threats in the Party and demonstrated the CPC’s commitment to govern itself strictly.” 
According to analysts, while the term, “hidden political threats,” was used before, the linking of major hidden political threats to identified individuals is very rare.
Source: The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of Communist Party, January 14, 2016 
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/xwtt/201601/t20160114_72851.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xi Jinping: Anti-corruption Campaign Has No Quota or Ceiling

On January 11, 2016, Xinhua published additional highlights from the speeches Xi Jinping has given in recent years on his anti-corruption campaign. On furthering the anti-corruption campaign, it quoted Xi as saying, “There will be no quota or ceiling.”  

Xi said, “Corruption is a social cancer. If corruption is allowed to intensify, the Party and the country will die.” In criticizing senior corrupt officials, he observed, “Some people have become so wanton and reckless!“ 
Xi vowed that, “There will be zero tolerance of corruption.” Once identified, every case will be investigated and handled. “There will be no quota or ceiling. Oppose all forms of corruption and wipe out all evils.” 
Source: Xinhua, January 11, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-01/11/c_127376996.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xi Jinping on Political Discipline

On January 9, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party published the highlights from Xi Jinping’s speeches given in recent years on abiding by the Communist Party’s discipline and rules. It had Xi’s quote as the title, “In Politics there are Some Things One Should Absolutely Never Do; Otherwise, One Must Pay for it.” 

October 23, 2014, at the Second Meeting of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xi made the following remarks: 
 “Corruption is corruption; political problems [opposing Xi’s leadership] are political problems. [We] cannot talk about the problem of corruption without talking about political problems. Party officials who have political problems have caused harm to the Party in the same way that corruption has. In some cases, the harm has been even more damaging than corruption." 
“Similarly, on political issues, no one can cross the red line [bottom-line]. If anyone crosses the red line, they will undergo a serious investigation and be held accountable politically. In politics there are some things one should absolutely never do; otherwise, one must pay for it. No one can take political discipline and political rules as a trifling matter.” 
Source: The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party website reprinted by Xinhua, January 10, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-01/10/c_128612581.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics