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Outlook Weekly: Four Groups That Resist Reform

Outlook Weekly published a commentary stating that Xi Jinping views four groups as being resistant to reform.

The first resistance group consists of strong special interests that interfere with or "misread" the top-level design of reform. 
The second resistance group consists of departments and local governments that, in the implementation of the reforms, selectively implement the decisions of the central government that support their own local interests. 
The third group is the grassroots cadres who “grab feathers from a flying goose.” They seize any opportunity for private gain and harbor fear and resentment. This “last mile” often becomes the bottleneck that breeds more “flies.”  
The fourth group of resistance is public opinion. Any major government initiative is a social hot topic that gathers public opinion that supports opposition to it. 
Source: Outlook Weekly reprinted by China Review News, April 2, 2015 
http://hk.crntt.com/crn-webapp/touch/detail.jsp?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=103693340
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua: The Belt and Road Initiatives

On March 28, China unveiled its vision for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road Initiatives (the Belt and Road Initiatives). 

The National Development and Reform Commission along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce released the initiatives jointly. The information released shows that the Belt and Road initiatives route runs through Asia, Europe, and Africa, connecting the East Asia economic circle at one end with the developed European economic region at the other. 
In the past year or so, Chinese leaders visited over 20 countries to build a consensus on the impact of the Belt and Road Initiatives. China has since signed an MOU and other agreements with neighboring countries on cooperation to build the Belt and Road. A few joint projects have been established. 
Domestically, the authorities have adopted policies to raise the financial resources needed to fund the initiatives; they have also promoted banks in funding cross-border settlement and payment transactions. A number of forums, summits, and expos have been held to deepen the understanding of the significance of the Belt and Road Initiatives. 
Source: Xinhua, March 28, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2015-03/28/c_1114793986_2.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Ministry of Finance: The Growth in Fiscal Revenue Slowed Down Sharply

According to a recent article in People’s Daily, China’s Ministry of Finance recently released statistics showing that, in the first two months of 2015, the growth in China’s fiscal revenue slowed down sharply, while expenditures increased. 

In the first two months of 2015, fiscal revenue grew 3.2 percent year on year, reaching 2.57 trillion yuan (approximately US$417.5 billion). Excluding the transfer of government funds, the growth rate was 1.7 percent. Revenue from taxation was 2.24 trillion yuan (US$360 billion), a 0.8 percent increase year on year. This is a historical low, said Bai Jingming, an official from the Ministry of Finance. 
Meanwhile, expenditures rose to 1.89 trillion yuan (US$300 billion), an increase of 10.5 percent year on year, with a 52 percent increase for transportation, an increase of 21.2 percent for housing, 15.6 percent for social security and employment, and 14.5 percent for education. The recent Budget Report of the Ministry of Finance that the third session of the twelve National People’s Congress approved set the target for fiscal revenue to grow at 7.3 percent in 2015. “Based on the current situation, it will be very difficult to achieve the annual revenue growth target," said Bai Jingming. 
Source: People’s Daily, March 17, 2015 
http://cpc.people.com.cn/n/2015/0317/c83083-26704446.html
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Qiushi: The U.S. Is Using Ukraine as a Pawn against Russia

Qiushi reported that Ukraine is nothing but a pawn in the chess game the U.S. is playing against Russia. Recently both the United States and Britain announced plans to send troops to train the Ukraine military. 

“In the Ukraine crisis, it is deceitful for the United States to act as a ‘messenger of justice.’ The truth is that it wants to weaken its target, which is Russia.”
“Although it appears that the United States is increasing its aid to Ukraine, at the critical moment, out of national interest and other factors, the United States will ‘abandon’ its pawn to protect ‘its king.’”
“Thus, even with the ’direct intervention,’ of the U.S., the Ukrainian crisis will not be alleviated or resolved quickly. On the contrary, the so-called Western ‘aid’ will more likely change the crisis into the continuous process of a vicious circle. Ukraine will not escape its destiny which is to be a pawn that the United States uses against Russia.” 
Source: Qiushi, March 24, 2015 
http://www.qstheory.cn/international/2015-03/24/c_1114745021.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Unapproved Political Activities Harm the State

Xinhua reported that analysts at official think tanks have commented on the new terms that the Supreme People’s Court has used in accusing disgraced top cadres Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai, and others of engaging in political activities "not approved" by the Communist Party. These analysts pointed out that, when compared with the common term "unapproved activities,” the objective of "political activities not approved by the Party" is more sinister and serious, and that resolute opposition [to such activities] reflects the Party’s implementation of tighter control. 

Wang Yukai, a professor at the China National School of Administration said that “political activities not approved by the Party ignore the Party’s political discipline and rules and even severely harm the State as well as the Party’s unity." Zhang Xixian from the Central Party School of the Communist Party commented that "unapproved political activities" occur when a high level Party official engages in political activities not approved by the Party, clearly in violation of the principles of the Party organization, political discipline, and political rules." "Resolutely opposing such activities and completely preventing them from happening is very necessary and urgent. It demonstrates the latest round of measures to tighten the Party’s discipline.” 
Source: Xinhua, March 19, 2015 
ttp://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-03/19/c_1114700939.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi: China’s Domestic Use of Soft Power

Qiushi reported that China has been innovative in transforming Western soft power into Chinese cultural soft power to achieve domestic objectives. The United States uses soft power as a means to promote hegemony. China has adopted soft power as an approach to enhance its comprehensive national power and international influence. “Domestically, [the soft power is used] to strengthen the development of socialist core values, to promote Chinese traditional culture, and to cultivate noble morals and enhance the cohesion of the Party, military and the people across the country. Internationally, [soft power is used] to disseminate China’s position and voice, to establish a good international image, to create a favorable international environment, and to promote the development of a peaceful, harmonious, and cooperative world.” 


The use of soft power domestically has more extensive strategic objectives than internationally, to “unify people’s minds and hearts” and to “advocate patriotism.” 

Source: Qiushi, March 16, 2015 
http://www.qstheory.cn/politics/2015-03/16/c_1114648345.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi: New Challenges for the Party’s Public Relations

According to an article in Qiushi, economic development has brought about new challenges for the Party in maintaining its relationship with the public. The following are some of these challenges:

The income disparity has added fuel to the public’s complaints. If not resolved, these complaints will weaken confidence and trust in the Party.

The open market economy has brought with it a laissez-faire and a multicultural ideology. This has weakened and diluted the Party’s education of the public.

The plurality in the social structure makes it difficult to lead and guide the people. For example, some domestic and overseas forces with ulterior motives have used new social organizations to compete with the Party for public support.

Economic globalization and the Internet make it easier for the West to achieve a cultural infiltration of China. News about the disintegration of some regimes and the collapse of long-term ruling parties all have had a disturbing psychological impact on the people of China. Further, some people no longer trust and follow the propaganda of the Party the way they used to.

The corruption of Party officials has also tarnished the Party’s image, breeding public hostility against Party officials.

Source: Qiushi, March 10, 2015
http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/hqwg/2015-03/10/c_1114582921.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Supreme People’s Court: Crime Is on the Rise

On March 12, 2015, at the Third Session of the twelfth National People’s Congress, Zhou Qiang, President of the Supreme People’s Court, provided the Supreme People’s Court Report. 

The report indicated that, in 2014, the Supreme People’s Court accepted 11,210 cases and concluded 9,882 of them, representing an increase of 1.8 percent and 1.7 percent respectively, over the figures for 2013. Local courts at all levels accepted a total of 15.651 million cases and concluded 13.797 million, an increase of 10.1 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively. For serious criminal offenses, the courts concluded 1.023 million cases and sentenced 1.184 million persons, an increase of 7.2 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. For criminal offenses involving terrorism and violence, the courts concluded 558 cases involving incitement to secession and violent terrorist attacks, and sentenced 712 persons, an increase of 14.8 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively. For homicide, robbery, kidnapping, and other serious criminal offenses, the courts concluded 248,000 cases and sentenced 304,000 persons. For drug-related crimes, the courts concluded 107,000 cases and sentenced 110,000 persons.  
Source: Xinhua, March 13, 2013 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015lh/2015-03/13/c_1114622794.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics