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All posts by TGS - 23. page

China Urges North Korea to Return to the Negotiating Table

Xinhua recently published an article in which it made an express commentary on North Korea’s test of the hydrogen bomb, stating that Beijing authorities strongly oppose the North Korean test. The article commented, “The North Korean bomb test runs counter to the goal of denuclearization.”   

The commentary further stated, “[N]o one will benefit from chaos in the peninsula. Any thoughts or actions that disrupt the peace and stability of northeast Asia are neither appropriate nor wise.” It urged that “interested parties should abandon this confrontation mentality and return to resolving the dispute through dialogue.” 
Caixin, which is pro-Xi Jinping, expressed in its commentary that “[T]he six-party talks to resolve the nuclear issue continue to be shelved. North Korea’s nuclear test is reckless. Condemnation and sanctions are not good medicine for the North Korean nuclear issue. When will North Korea stop this practice of never listening to others?” 

Sources: 
Xinhua, January 6, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2016-01/06/c_1117686698.htm 
Caixin.com, January 6, 2016 
http://international.caixin.com/2016-01-06/100896794.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xi Jinping Speaks on Party Corruption and Discipline

Xinhua reported that the Communist Party Politburo held a special meeting on December 28 and 29, 2015. The discussion at the meeting centered on the “profound lessons [to be learned] from the abuse of power cases of former senior Party officials Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai, Xu Caihou, Guo Boxiong, Ling Jihua and others.” Those who attended participated in “criticism and self-criticism” that centered on the Party’s disciplinary regulations and policies. The participants were asked to watch their families closely. 

Xi Jinping presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. Xi urged adherence to the "three stricts and three earnests." The phrase referred to being strict about morals, power, and discipline, as well as being earnest about decisions, business, and behavior. 
The meeting emphasized that what Zhou, Bo, Xu, Guo, and Ling did illustrates that the seniority of a Party official does not necessarily mean the Party official has a high Party spirit. In fact, without constant self-improvement, the official may totally lose his Party spirit. Xi emphasized that, “By conducting investigations and severe disciplinary actions against them, [we] are being responsible to the Party, to our country, and to the people, as well as to history.” 
 Source: Xinhua, December 29, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-12/29/c_1117617951.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Activist Compensated for Being Detained by Police

Liang Zhuqiang, a 57 year old entrepreneur in Guangzhou who was arrested for “inciting subversion of State power” only to be released due to insufficient evidence, filed a claim against local authorities and was awarded compensation of 41,087.64 yuan (US$6,324.53). 

“At 15:30 on December 10, 2014, police found that, on December 4, 2014, the suspect had published online remarks inciting subversion of State power, which caused serious harm to national security.” It was believed that Liang posted remarks supporting Hong Kong students and residents in their protests against the Beijing supported Hong Kong government. 
On December 11, 2014, Liang was detained for “provocative and disturbing behavior.” He was formally arrested on December 25, upon approval of the Guangzhou Liwan District Procuratorate office. 
Liang’s case was then transferred to the Guangzhou City People’s Procuratorate Office. On June 5, 2015, the Guangzhou City People’s Procuratorate Office decided not to bring charges due to insufficient evidence. 
After his release, Liang filed a claim against the Guangzhou Liwan District Procuratorate Office for State compensation asking for a written apology, restoration of his reputation and compensation for the 187 days he was held in detention. On December 15, 2015, the Guangzhou Liwan District Prosecutor’s Office issued a written decision to compensate him in the amount of 41,087.64 yuan. 
Source: Weiquanwang, December 20, 2015 
http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2015/12/4.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s Anti-Terrorism Act to Be Effective January 1, 2016

On December 27, 2015, Xinhua reported that, effective January 1, 2016, the "People’s Republic of China Anti-Terrorism Act," which the National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed on December 27, 2015, will become the law. The Anti-Terrorism Act has 10 chapters and 97 articles covering identification of terrorist organizations and personnel, security, intelligence information, investigations, response, international cooperation, safeguard measures, and legal responsibilities. 

The Deputy Director of the National Counterterrorism Office and the Ministry of Public Security Anti-Terrorism Bureau Chief, An Weixing, said that the promulgation of anti-terrorism law is to meet the needs of the ongoing campaign against terrorism and to meet our international responsibility. Terrorism is defined as “ideas and behavior that, through violence, destruction, intimidation, and other means, create social panic, endanger public safety, violate persons and property, or coerce State organs and international organizations, in order to achieve their political and ideological purposes." 
Source: Xinhua, December 27, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-12/27/c_1117591851.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Study Times: Approaches to Handling Social Conflicts

Study Times published an article proposing several approaches that would help reduce social conflicts as China faces “the grim situation of public security” and as “social conflicts and social unrest remain high.”  In order to handle social unrest or public safety emergencies, these approaches focus on the following: establishing mechanisms to arbitrate conflicts within the local communities and within trades, recruiting retired Party members and officials to work with those released from prison, encouraging trade associations to exercise self-monitoring and self-disciplinary functions with their members, incentivizing security firms to provide public security services, utilizing trade unions to ensure production safety, and establishing professional response teams, both privately and government funded. 

Source: Study Times, December 24, 2016 
http://www.studytimes.cn/zydx/SHFZ/ZENGCYGL/2015-12-24/4065.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: Obama’s Legacy of Hegemony

On December 20, 2016, Xinhua published a commentary in which it rejected the U.S. explanation that its two B-52 bombers didn’t intend to fly over China’s artificial island in the South China Sea. Xinhua questioned “a series of dangerous actions” that the U.S. had carried out in “its recent show of force” in the South China Sea. Xinhua also rebutted the U.S. explanation by citing the recent U.S. arms sale to Taiwan. It said this act “flagrantly violated international law and the norms governing international relations, severely violated the three Sino-US joint communiques, … and caused severe damage to China’s sovereignty and security interests as well as cross-strait relations [with Taiwan].” Xinhua further complained that the U.S. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) excluded China. “People will ask what Washington is truly up to. What does Obama, who will bid farewell to the White House next year, want to leave behind as his diplomatic legacy? [The core of his legacy] is his thinking about ‘hegemony.’  

Source: Xinhua, December 20, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2015-12/20/c_128549461.htm
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China to Tighten Supervision of Law Enforcement

On December 16, 2015, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPC) issued a directive to fully implement and standardize inspection and supervision of law enforcement involving criminal sentences. 

According to the directive, the police as well as law enforcement personnel in courts, prisons, detention centers, community corrective institutions, and other places involved in criminal sentences will be criminally pursued for violating of the rules. Also included are those who obtain confessions through torture; conduct illegal searches; accept bribes when conducting investigations; illegally deprive or limit the personal freedom of individuals joining the litigation; illegally seize or freeze assets; meet privately with litigious parties, their relatives, and interested parties; fabricate legal documents; bully convicts and their relatives, refuse their legal rights, or accepting money and gifts from them; ignore or cover up misconduct in sentence implementation or who abuse their power to influence commutation outcomes. 
Source: China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate Website, December 16, 2015
http://www.spp.gov.cn/gjybs/201512/t20151217_109493.shtml
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Who Will the Chinese Yuan Depreciation Hit the Hardest?

Caijing.com published an article on the ramifications of the recent depreciation in the Chinese yuan. The article discussed six groups of people who may be the hardest hit. The first group includes those who invested in the housing market and will see their real estate shrink in value. The second group is those who study overseas and will see less of the foreign currency when they are exchanging the yuan. The third group is those who buy at overseas online stores. They will have to pay more. The fourth group includes those who travel overseas. They too will have to pay more. The fifth group is the Chinese companies that have borrowed large amounts of yuan in anticipation of its appreciation. The sixth group is the currency speculators who, in recent years, have bought and held the yuan. 

Source: Caijing.com reprinted by powerapple.com, December 15, 2015 
https://www.powerapple.com/news/chan-jing-ke-ji/2015/12/15/2536910.html
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources