Deputy General Manager of the Russian Natural Gas and Oil Industrial Company said the company is planning to export 1.2 million tons of oil to China while he was interviewed by Siberia Oil magazine. He said that the company will increase oil exports to China in the future through Kazakhstan, and the Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline.
Source: people.com.cn, November 25, 2008
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/57507/8402100.html
Arms production and sales have been solely controlled by the military system in China. But the situation is about to change now. Over 100 private enterprises entered the production and sale of military arms, according to a report by PLA Daily. Wang Baohe, from Shaanxi, is probably the first such private “arms dealer.” Wang developed a light wheeled tank which became a key piece of equipment for the Chinese engineer battalion of the U.N. peace-keeping missions it has joined. It also exported the tanks to eight countries through financial aid programs. Wang could start the business because the “Directives of PLA Arms Purchase” issued in October 2002 proposed to establish a coordinated army and civil arm production system.
Source: PLA Daily, November 20, 2008 http://www.chinamil.com.cn/site1/xwpdxw/2008-11/20/content_1555026.htm
Chinese Academy of Social Science and People.com’s international channel jointly initiated a survey of “Chinese people’s international views,” on the purpose of understanding how Chinese view some of the international issues and their opinions on Russia, U.S., E.U., and Japan. The survey started on October 1. Up to November 17, there are over 25,000 internet users participated the survey. The result of the survey shows that 50 percent Chinese believe Japan will become a militarist country again in the 21st century.
Source: People.com.cn, November 17, 2008
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/57507/8348885.html
In the newly issued “Chinese Communist Party School Working Directions,” county Party secretary is included in the plan to take training course in central Party school. The first course started on November 10, 500 county level Party secretaries took the training. The training course lasted seven days, with an emphasis on how to implement policies of central government with heart, with brain, and with strength. In the fifth day, it was about handling the social stability and sudden events (riots) in the county. How to maintain social stability is one of main topic in the training course.
Source: People.com.cn, November 15, 2008
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/8345885.html
Xinhua published an analytical article speculating the policy changes when Obama swears to the office. The article includes three sections: 1) U.S. defense budget will continue to increase; 2) Withdraw from Iraq and increase military in Afghanistan; 3) Military strategy of moving toward East will not Change. In the third section, the article says, “During Bush administration, U.S. emphasizes to move the military Eastwards, adjust military presence in Korea and Japan, enhance military force in the Territory of Guam, actively working on the military base in Central Asian countries. American’s such strategy has the deep meaning of “working on” China. The article continues: “From Obama’s public statements during election, he does not have strong words on China. But he also said that China is neither enemy nor friend, but a competing opponent. This reflected his view on China.” The article concludes, “In reality, the ‘China Threat’ in U.S. has deep political background, the situation will not change as the national leaders change. It can be predicted that once Obama takes the office, he will possibly make no changes in the aspect of militarily encircling China. U.S. military will continue to have actions in Asian pacific area.”
Source: Xinhua, November 12, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-11/12/content_10344578.htm
Vitaly Davydov, deputy director of Russian Aerospace Institute, says that Russia will expand the collaboration with China in the peaceful development of space, but will not transfer technology. He made the comment while he was attending The 2008 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai,Guangdong Province. Davydov says: “Chinese colleagues are interested in developing space stations in the near-earth space. We are discussing the possibility of collaboration in this area.” Davydov says that Russia will not develop the station together with China, but will provide help by providing certain equipments.
Source: people.com.cn, November 11, 2008
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/42962/8316594.html
Xinhua magazine China Comment published an article calling the end of American style of free capitalism. The article says that U.S. government’s massive involvement in the market signals the end of the free capitalism of America. The author argues that the sudden collapse of the free capitalism is the result of the shortcomings of free capitalism. The article listed several deficiencies of the capitalism that resulted in the crisis. In the end, the author concludes: “…The financial crisis and the U.S.’s “nationalizing” market rescue shows that the American flag of freedom has already descended from the flagpole. For so many years, the United States has been offending other countries’ sovereignty and will to promote the free capitalist model, now many problems have come.
Source: Xinhua, November 11, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-11/11/content_10339611.htm
In reporting the current financial crisis spread in Western countries, China’s state media utilized the opportunity to tout the greatness of Marxism and the advantage of socialist (communist system). Following are a few examples:
Jie Fang Daily: Financial Crisis Made Marx’s “The Capital”a Hot-Sale Book in Germany http://www.jfdaily.com/news/xwgj/200810/t20081016_412008.htm
Wen Hui: “The Capital” Comes Back to the Class of German Universities http://wenhui.news365.com.cn/hqsc/200811/t20081104_2082270.htm
Xinhua: The Lasting Attraction of “The Capital” http://www.hq.xinhua.org/comments/2008-10/22/content_14712203.htm
Xinhua (originally from People’s Daily): The Forever Marx http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-10/28/content_10263109_1.htm
CN West News: “The Capital” Becomes the “Straw” and “Prescription” for the Self-Realization and Rescue of the Dying Capitalism
http://opinion.cnwest.com/content/2008-10/20/content_1484562.htm
[Translator’s note: in phone conversations with family members and friends from mainland China, many asked that U.S. is also following the path of socialism.]