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Qiushi: There Is No Such Thing as Universal Values

Qiushi published an article proposing that there is no such thing as the "universal values" that the West advocates. 

Qiushi stated that the international community has never reached a common understanding as to a set of values. “There are so many countries in the world with such diverse cultures and value systems. Which of them has values that could be called "universal"? Which of their systems could not become “universal values”? There has to be an acceptable screening procedure that would allow all countries to express their views. If only a few Western countries have the final say on such an important matter, where in this world is there justice and fairness?” 
“Some Western countries prefer to use abstract concepts to bluff, while, behind the scenes, they engage in deliberations over their selfish strategic interests. Today, we ought to transform this abstract concept into something specific. Then we can ask a few whys so we will not be fooled by this Western discourse. The West spreads the concept everywhere that democracy is a ‘universal value.’ We can clearly respond: democracy can be a value most people agree to, but the Western democratic system was not, is not, and never will be a ‘universal value.’” 
Source: Qiushi, October 16, 2013 
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2013/201320/201310/t20131012_278157.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Guangming Daily: The Party Must Use the Magic Weapon of Struggle

On October 21, 2013, the China National Defense University Research Center published a special commentary in Guangming Daily on Xi Jinping’s remarks that “[We] are engaged in a great struggle that has many new historical features; we face unprecedented challenges and difficulties.” 

According to the Report of the 18th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, “The Party is confronting the challenges to a ruling party, the challenges of reform and opening up, the challenges of the market economy, and the challenges from the external environment, all of which are long-term, complicated, and severe. The dangers of slacking off, of a lack of capacity, of being disconnected from masses, and of corruption are expressly placed in front of the whole Party.” 
The commentary stated that these tests and dangers are the test of the century for the Party and that carrying on the struggle is the necessary way to deal with them. “Faced with the danger of the demise of the Party and the country, the Chinese Communist Party can only bring about a bright future by using the magic weapon of struggle.” 

Source: Guangming Daily, October 21, 2013 
http://news.gmw.cn/2013-10/21/content_9229354.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China’s Local Government Debts May Reach 24 Trillion Yuan

Shanghai Securities News reported on October 17 that the national audits of local governments’ debts are coming to an end and that such debts are estimated to be as high as 24 trillion yuan, which amounts to 40 percent of GDP. 

Since July 2013, Chinese authorities have quietly conducted an unprecedented national audit of local government debts. It is anticipated that the audit will be completed soon. While the consensus is that the local government debts will be over 10.7 trillion yuan, the China Chengxin (Asia Pacific) Credit Ratings Co., Ltd. estimated the number will be as high as 16 trillion. Others believe the number could be between 21.9 trillion to 24.4 trillion. That would amount for 38 to 42 percent of China’s GCP. 
Source: Shanghai Securities News reprinted by Sina.com, October 17, 2013 http://finance.sina.com.cn/china/20131017/021817016037.shtml
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Wan Gang: The Shocking Abuse of R&D Funds

On October 14, China Daily reprinted an article first published in Beijing Youth Daily about the abuse of R&D funds. On October 11, China’s State Council of Information Office held a press conference at which Wan Gang, China’s Science and Technology Minister, stated that the “dreadful problems” with research and development funding were shocking. 

The three year audit of the ministries under the State Council and the provinces revealed that out of several hundred audit reports that were done from 2007 to 2012, 39 involved “problem R&D funds.” The 39 audit reports showed that fraudulent practices could pass the approval processes, that programs could be developed without feasibility studies, that funds could be allocated even when there was no possibility of implementation, and that the completion of projects could be accepted without any inspection. 
 For example, the 13 institutions of higher education under the Shandong Province Education Department spent 943 million yuan (US$154.61 million) on R&D when they had no projects. From 2010 to 2012 the Transportation Ministry spent 186 million yuan (US$30.5 million) of 1,556 million (US$255.12 million) in R&D funds on salaries and subsidies to personnel, without complying with personnel regulations and pay standards. 
In recent years, China’s R&D expenditures have grown about 20 percent annually. In 2012, they accounted for 1.9 percent of GDP, reaching 1.024 billion yuan (US$167.89 billion) 

Source: Beijing Youth Daily reprinted by China Daily, October 14, 2013
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqgj/jryw/2013-10-14/content_10314422.html

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Scholars: Chinese Culture Should Be Used to Develop Socialism with Chinese Characteristics

Ye Zicheng and Long Quanli, two scholars at Beijing University, wrote an article that was published in the International Herald Leader recommending that China’s fine traditions should be used to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. 

The two scholars believed that, in addition to political, economic, and social reform, China must re-establish its national ideology and re-build its core values. “The revitalization of a nation involves developing its spirit. The rise of a country involves its ideologies. The current task for China is to, using the Chinese national fine culture, enrich and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and make it more powerful, influential, solidifying and inspiring.” 
Source: International Herald Leader, October 8, 2013 
http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2013/1008/282563.shtml
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Protection of Internet Sovereignty Requires the United Nations

In a recent article in the International Herald Leader, Qing An, Director of China National Innovation and Development Strategy Research Center for Cyberspace Strategic Studies commented on Internet sovereignty. Qing stated that, to protect Internet sovereignty, countries should work with the United Nations to develop Internet rules and end Internet conflicts. 

Qing identified cyberspace as a natural extension of sovereignty. The United States is both the inventor and administrator of the Internet. Therefore, one cannot solve the problem of the U.S. control of the Internet in a short period of time. As a result of the recent scandals of Internet monitoring, the issue of Internet sovereignty has caught the attention of international communities. It is difficult to win a confrontation with the United States. Therefore, long term negotiation is a better approach to finding an acceptable solution. “Finally, [countries should] cooperate across the board and work with the United Nations to develop Internet rules and end Internet conflicts.” 

Source: International Herald Leader, October 8, 2013 
http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2013/1008/282521.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Actual Economic Growth Was Lower Than Forecast

21st Century Business Herald reported that local governments have revised downward the forecasts of their economic growth. One reason is that the targets were set too high. Shanghai was the only one that had the same target rate as the national forecast of 7.5 percent. All other regions had much higher targets. 

Although local governments sped up their investments earlier in the year, the actual growth has been lower than expected due to capacity surplus and weak demand. For example, Sichuan Province and Shanxi Province reported that the target growth rates of 11 percent and 12.5 percent respectively have been revised downward to 10 percent and 11.3 percent. For Beijing and Hebei Province, the original goals were 8 percent and 9 percent. In the first half of the year, the two economies reported growth of 7.7 percent and 8.7 percent. 
Beijing municipal government has requested that the Beijing People’s Congress reduce the growth rate from 8 percent to 7.5 percent. An official of a provincial government stated, “We submitted a report recommending a downward revision of the economic growth rate for this year.” 
Source: 21st Century Business Herald reprinted by i, October 8, 2013 http://finance.sina.com/bg/chinamkt/sinacn/20131008/1641875281.html
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

PLA Official: Military Logistics Must Serve the Objectives of a Strong Military Force

On October 1, 2013, Zhao Keshi, a member on the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party who serves as the head of General Logistics Department of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), wrote an article that was published in Qiushi about Xi Jinping’s remarks on building up the PLA’s logistics. 

Zhao stated that Xi requires that, to build a strong military force, efforts must be made to build up the PLA’s logistics in order to 1) ensure winning in modern warfare; 2) support the modernization of China’s military forces, and 3) transform information technology (the three build-ups). 
Zhao stated that to do so, “logistics must be placed under the absolute leadership of the Communist Party and [the PLA] must resolutely follow and implement the orders of the Party’s command.” He recognized that “the logistics personnel have more direct and open interactions with society, tend to be well educated, and may easily be influenced by social thoughts.” Therefore, he called for enforced political education to “ensure that they follow directions in peacetime, carry out the orders of their commanders during wartime, and remain unswerving at critical moments with no questions asked.” 

Source: Qiushi, October 1, 2013 
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2013/201319/201309/t20130927_275406.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military