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Xinhua: Bo Xilai Denies Bribery Charges

On August 22, 2013, Xinhua reported that the first day of Bo Xilai’s trial on charges of accepting bribes, embezzlement, and abuse of power began in the Shangdong Jinan Intermediate People’s Court. 

“Bo Xilai appeared in court to be tried. Relevant witnesses provided testimony in court. The defendant’s family members, members of the People’s Congress, members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, media reporters, and about one hundred people from all walks of life attended the trial.”
“Under the auspices of the presiding judge, defendant Bo made statements about the allegations of bribery set forth in the indictment. He denied the allegations. … Both the prosecution and the defense had a full opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses. The court consented to all of Bo ‘s requests to speak. The defendant and his counsel fully expressed their views.” 
“During the trial, defendant Bo Xilai was emotionally stable and his physical condition was normal. The courtroom and audience maintained good order.” 
Source: Xinhua, August 22, 2013 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2013-08/22/c_117057062.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Online Poll Shows People Want Checks and Balances and the Right to Criticize the Government

Since 2012, Professor Ma Deyong of Nan Kai University in Tianjin has been conducting a poll on the Internet. The results showed that 6.2 percent of Chinese netizens are leftists, 38.7 percent are rightists and 55.1 percent occupy the middle ground. The poll also showed that the Internet has become a major force in leading public opinion and is a platform where people can express their own thoughts. 

The total of Chinese netizens polled who believed that “whoever is in power, there must be checks and balances” was at 97.5 percent. Both leftists and rightists were on the same page on this issue. Those who agreed that “currently there is severe inequality in Chinese society” was at 97.2 percent. Ninety percent of leftists, rightists, and those in the middle, respectively, support “everyone has the right to criticize the government.” 
Ma initiated the online poll back in 2012 and continued into 2013. It used the Q & A at sina weibo, Tianya, and other websites where political issues are frequently discussed. The results of the poll were published on these websites. A total of 2,241 participated in the poll. 
Source: Nanfang Dushibao (Southern Metropolitan Daily), August 18, 2013 http://epaper.oeeee.com/A/html/2013-08/18/content_1917235.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Huanqiu: Extreme Political Resistance Has No Future in China

On August 14, 2013, Huanqiu published a commentary on overseas dissidents entitled, “The Overseas Democracy Movement Must Swallow the Bitter Pill of Marginalization.” The commentary stated, “Recently, a number of overseas democracy activists have been connecting with one another on the Internet, bragging about returning home one day next year to make trouble, or about congregating outside of and ‘besieging’ the Chinese government’s overseas establishments around the world. Names forgotten by or unknown to the Chinese people flash like a meteor across the media.” 

Huanqiu said that only about 200 people make up the overseas democracy movement. Engaging in political activities has become their means of survival. The commentary stated repeatedly that democracy activists have been marginalized. “They need to ‘make something happen’ and, at the minimum, generate some noise in the field of public opinion.” “Their experience shows extreme political resistance has no future in China.” 
Source: Huanqiu, August 14, 2013 
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_world/2013-08/4239302.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Antitrust Investigation Expands to Petroleum, Telecommunications, Automobiles, and Banks

Xu Kunlin, an official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s antitrust enforcement agency, indicated that the next target of antitrust investigations will be closely related to consumers and that petroleum, telecommunications, automobiles, and banks are all in the scope of investigation. In particular, in respect to banks, Xu stated that banks that fix rates will be investigated after the reform of market interest rates. 

Since the beginning of the year, NDRC has conducted antitrust investigations and issued fines to companies producing liquid crystal panels, liquor, milk powder, and gold jewelry. The investigation of automobiles has covered domestically produced vehicles as well as foreign imports. 

Source: Xinhua, August 16, 2013                                                                                             http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-08/16/c_125179650.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Chinese Netizens Must Adhere to Seven Essential Guidelines

Xinhua published a commentary suggesting that Internet users should comply with certain standards. On August 10, People’s Daily had reported that a group of well-known Internet bloggers proposed that, when they blog online, they should adhere to seven essential guidelines. 

The Xinhua commentary stated that in addition to the group referred to in the article, all Internet users should follow suit. The first guideline is the law and regulations, the second is the socialist system, third is the national interest, forth is citizen’s legitimate interests, the fifth is the social order, the sixth is morality, and lastly, the accuracy of information. The commentary recommended that the authorities should make rules based on these seven essential guidelines. 
Source: Xinhua, August 14, 2013 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-08/14/c_116945101.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Government Official: China Has Many Ghost Towns

Qiao Runling, Deputy Director of the Cities and Small Towns Reform and Development Center, which is under the National Development and Reform Commission, confirmed that “ghost towns” exist in many places in China.  

Qiao observed that many cities in China do not have businesses, markets, or residents. He stated that it is not just Ordos. “Many ‘ghost towns’ exist throughout China." There are even ghost towns between Beijing and Tianjin.
"According to our survey, vacancy rates in real estate development projects in some cities range between 40 and 60 percent. For the central and western regions the vacancy rates run as high as 70 to 80 percent." 
Source: Shanghai Securities News reprinted by Xinhua, August 7, 2013 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-08/07/c_125127835.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Qiushi: The Fundamental Crisis in China is One of Values and Faith

Qiushi published an article entitled, “What is China’s Fundamental Crisis?” The author believes that the ultimate crisis that China faces is not an economic crisis or a political crisis caused by corruption. Rather, China’s “fundamental crisis is the crisis caused by the conflict between ideology and reality. It is a crisis of values, a crisis of faith.” 

According to the author, there are two major problems in China. One is that the conflict between the Communist ideology of public ownership and that of private ownership in market capitalism has led the people to question the legitimacy of State ownership. The other is that severe splits have occurred within the socialist ideology. These two problems have resulted in confusion in both policies and decision making. “This is the lynchpin of all major problems in China today.” 
Source: Qiushi, August 7, 2013 
 http://www.qstheory.cn/zz/wwtj/201308/t20130807_257099.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s Research Study: H7N9 May Have Passed Between People

Chinese medical personnel conducted a research study on H7N9. The British Medical Journal then published the results, which were also reported in BBC Chinese and reprinted on Netease.com. The study outlined the cases of a 60-year-old man and his 32-year-old daughter who contracted bird flu and died in March 2013.

According to the article, “Chinese medical researchers reported the first case of H7N9 avian influenza virus being transmitted between humans.” The research study said that the 60-year-old man was hospitalized a week after he visited a local poultry market. The daughter took care of the father in the hospital and fell ill six days after her last contact with her father. Both died of failure of multiple organs. 
“Tests showed that the viruses that the two carried were almost identical, which supports the conclusion that the daughter got the infection directly from her father.” “The researchers noted that, although there is no conclusive evidence that the virus has the ability to be transmitted from human to human, this is the first indication that the virus ‘may have the ability to transmit from human to human.’” 
Source: Netease.com, August 7, 2013 
http://world.163.com/13/0807/17/95MKN9G000014OQQ.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability