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Briefings - 1028. page

Credibility Crisis in China Deeps

Zhou Dongfei, a senior columnist published in the State’s International Herald Leader that the current Chinese society not only lacks credibility, but also that the very mechanism to maintain trust is losing credibility. In China people don’t trust milk powder because of the frequent reports of melamine problems; they do not trust vaccines due to adulterations in the production process; they would rather deliver water to those in draught areas and clothes to those in disasters than donate cash. “However, after a large number of incidents of dishonesty occurred and were not corrected as society expected, the mechanism to maintain trust has lost credibility. In the current Chinese society, people have lost trust because fundamentally the mechanism safeguarding that trust has broken down and suffers from a loss of public trust. If this situation continues to deteriorate, the result can only be the loss of public confidence.”

Source: International Herald Leader, May 4, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-05/04/content_13466170.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China To Promote Military-Civilian Integration But Keep Core Military Capabilities

Jiang Luming, a Chinese military expert, states that China must promote military and civilian integration in the light of the economic globalization and information warfare, but it should blaze its own path. “It is totally unrealistic,” said Jiang, to follow the recommendations of western military economists that China should acquire its military capabilities from the international arms market, instead of building its own. According to Jiang, China should study certain major national and military constraints, such as the fact that China has no military allies to rely on, has been under a long term high tech embargo, and is still relatively weak in technological foundation. Jiang serves as a professor at the Economic Research Center of the National Defense University.

Source: Xinhua, May 5, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-05/05/content_13468672.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

State Council Pushing for Real Name User Registration on Internet

According to China Review News, the Information Office of the State Council has admitted that key news websites and major commercial websites have effectively eliminated the function that allowed anonymous blogging following news threads. This is the first time that it publicly confirmed that it is actively exploring and promoting a real name user registration system for online blogging, BBS, and other interactive services. Regarding the State control of the Internet, currently Ministry of Information Industry is responsible for development and administration of the Internet, Ministry of Public Security is in charge of monitoring and enforcement, and propaganda department is leading other information dissemination departments to exercise control over content.

Source: China Review News, May 4, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1013/1/1/1/101311149.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=101311149&mdate=0504121253

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Australia Chinese Newspaper Group: China’s Broadcasting Mouthpiece in the U.S.

The radio station KGBC near Houston, Texas has become China’s official mouthpiece. Sina.com republished an article by the Australia Chinese Newspaper Group on April 29, reporting that the radio station has become the home base in the U.S. of China Radio International (CRI). KGBC, at AM1540, is based in Galveston, 50 miles from Houston. It has 67 years of history and had financial difficulties for years. Recently, a U.S. company made a very attractive offer and bought it. It then started broadcasting CRI’s programs around the clock. The previous owner was not aware of the purchasing company’s deal with CRI. KGBC’s loyal listeners found that they were listening to “Asian music and political forums,” instead of the traditional and hot music and talk shows that they enjoyed in the past.

Source: Sina.com, April 29, 2010
http://dailynews.sina.com/bg/chn/chnnews/ausdaily/20100429/00211400610.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Central Comprehensive Management Office: Advancing Conflict Investigation and Mediation Work

The Central Comprehensive Management Office recently published the “Opinion on Implementing the Big Conflict Investigation and Mediation Work.” The opinion stressed that, to maintain social stability, it is important to further improve conflict and dispute investigation and mediation efforts throughout the country. Officials should work at the origin of the conflict and try to put it down at its earliest stage. The whole effort should be under the Party’s leadership. It should follow the principle of “whoever is in charge is responsible (for the issue).” It will be  implemented primarily at the county and town level for rural areas and district and street level for urban areas.

Source: Xinhua, April 26, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2010-04/26/c_1257307.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

36,000 College Graduates to Serve as Village Officials in 2010

On Aprl 29, the Central Propaganda Department issued the “Notice on Quotas of College Graduates for Village Official Positions for 2010.” The notice increased the target number of college graduates who will serve as village officials to 200,000 for the period from 2008 to 2012, with 36,000 in 2010. So far there are 159,000 college graduates working in villages, with 24% holding party or village official titles. The order also asks local authorities to keep these college graduates there after their term is over.

[Ed: In 2008, to solve the unemployment problem for college graduates and strengthen control in rural areas, the Central Propaganda Department started sending college graduates to serve as village officials. Their salaries are subsidized by the central government and their terms at the village are two or three years.]

Source: Xinhua, April 29, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-04/29/c_1264253.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xiong Guangkai: Chinese Military Should Have ‘Grand Security Vision’

China News Agency recently reported that Xiong Guangkai, former General and Army Deputy Chief of the General Staff, commented on China’s security situation. Xiong believes the overall positive security status remains unchanged, but the nation still faces many risks that require the army to remain alert. The “Grand Security Vision” is needed.

Xiong summarized three areas of “traditional risks”: (1) regional wars happen frequently; (2) international military competition intensifies around a core of new age military reforms; (3) nuclear proliferation and control are very much alive. However the Grand Security Vision includes six non-traditional risks: (1) the international financial crisis changes the development model; (2) anti-terrorism needs more attention; (3) information security stands out as a crucial risk; (4) energy safety is becoming a challenge; (5) food supply reliability is increasingly problematic; (6) climate change and public health issues are on the rise.

Source: China News Agency, April 29, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2010/04-29/2253225.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Xinhua Authorized to Announce the State Secrets Law

On April 29, The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Guarding State Secrets. This law has six articles and fifty three clauses. State secrets are divided into three classes of Top Secret, Secret, and Confidential, with an expiration time of no more than thirty years, twenty years, and ten years, respectively. The law will take effect starting October 1, 2010.

(Chinascope Notes: Many believe there is a high probability that government officials will use this law to restrict human rights.)

Source: Xinhua, April 29, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-04/29/c_1264598.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics