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Three Key Technologies of the US Air Force in the Next Two Decades

Xinhua recently republished an article by Chinese Youth, which referred to a report by the US magazine Air Force Times. The article suggested that the US Air Force is focusing on three key technologies: (1) Customizable systems; (2) Mini unmanned aircraft; and (3) “Super” supersonic planes or missiles (the Boeing X-51 Project). Also mentioned in the article were the four primary imaginary enemies: China, Islamic separatists, “loser countries” and Russia. The article stated that China will have the number one GDP by 2030. Hence the order makes sense.

Source: Xinhua, January 24, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-01/24/content_12864142.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

The Wealthiest in China Are Rapidly Accumulating More Wealth

Global Times, under Chinese state daily news Renmin, recently republished an article by Outlook Weekly describing the loss of balance in the distribution of wealth in China. The rapid growth of the Chinese economy in recent years has created a large number of wealthy people. In 2009, the top 40 richest individuals all had over US$7 billion in net worth, while only 24 met the same standard in 2008. Research shows that the primary source of income for the wealthiest is the real estate market. The second primary source is the capital market. 19 out of the 40 richest individuals are in the real estate business. The wealthy in China accumulate wealth exceptionally quickly. This brings their method of obtaining income into question. Corruption, “grey income,” and monopolies are among the issues. The biggest problem, the article pointed out, is that the gap between the wealthiest and the average Chinese is getting larger and larger.

Source: Global Times, February 13, 2010
http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-02/717742_2.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China Business Times: Prevent the Conspiracy of Imposing More Responsibilities on China

On January 20, 2010, Xinhua reprinted an opinion article from China Business Times, which suggested that China economists should prevent the conspiracy of imposing more responsibilities on China while putting a stop to those who denigrate China’s economy. 

Six Chinese economists led by World Bank vice president Lin Yifu presented the “Chinese Economic Forum,” held at the NYSE on January 7, 2010. The author of the article saw the forum as a good opportunity to propagandize China. For example, Lin Yifu said that stopping the purchase of Chinese goods would hurt American consumers. Lin also said that China will not appreciate the yuan in the near future since the appreciation is like a “Pandora’s box”; if the yuan is appreciated by 10%, the outside world will demand more.

Source: Chinese Business Times, February 20, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2010-01/20/content_12840923.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Jia Qinglin: The Buddhist Association of China implements “the Party’s religious work”

According to China News Service, on February 3, 2010, Jia Qinglin, a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Standing Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, held a meeting with the new leadership team members of the Buddhist Association of China at the Great Hall in Beijing.

Jia said: “For more than half a century, the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) has always whole heartedly assisted the Communist Party of China and the government (of the PRC) to implement the principles and policies of the Party’s religious work. Sharing the same boat with the Party through rain and storm, the BAC adheres to the path that accords with socialist society.” Jia hopes that the new BAC will take the responsibility to serve the overall work of the CPC and the country.

Source: China News Service, February 3, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2010/02-03/2108241.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Radio Network: People’s Congress not just a show of applause; CPPCC not just a show of hands

According to China Radio Network on January 20, 2010, every province, municipality or autonomous region is now convening its local conferences of the “People’s Congress” and the “Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference” (CPPCC). The network reports that the “People’s Congress is not just a display of applause and the CPPCC is not just a show of hands.” The “two annual conferences” carry too much of the people’s expectations and concerns regarding housing, education, medical care, employment, the environment, and so on. Yang Yu, Director of the News Center for the China Economic Herald, provided a commentary on the two conferences in a radio interview, saying that “the economic growth drive” is an important problem that must be solved each year, and other issues should be covered in the 11th Five-Year Plan. 

Source: China Radio Network, February 3, 2010
http://www.cnr.cn/allnews/201001/t20100120_505921826.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

2010: US-China Trade Relations not Likely to Improve

International Finance News of the People’s Daily reports that a prominent professor of economics forecasts continued trade conflicts between China and the United States. “In 2010, Sino-US trade conflicts will become more frequent and China’s export environment will be challenging.” “Compared to 2009, the Sino-US trade frictions are not likely to improve. First, in the post-crisis era the U.S. domestic economy is still relatively difficult and needs to look for external factors to balance it. The U.S. Government and Congress will take advantage of the factor of the Sino-US trade imbalance. Second, the recent conflicts between the two countries are also constantly escalating, which will cause the trade environment between the two countries to deteriorate in the near future.”

Source: People’s Daily, February 8, 2010
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/14549/10945162.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua: Did Secretary of State Clinton Use the Wrong Words?

According to Xinhua, a director from the China Human Rights Society, a State run organization, said that the United States is solidifying its Internet hegemony under the pretext of Internet freedom. “Back then, to defend her husband’s reputation, Hillary openly demanded to restrict the Internet’s dissemination of information. Now, in order to offer reciprocation to their own political sponsors, she is publicly calling for other countries to relax control of the Internet. Is freedom of speech and freedom of the press the ‘weapon of mass destruction’ where one can see the head but not the tail?” “What is needed in the area of the Internet is dialogue, rather than blaming each other, and cooperation in technology, rather than attacking each other.”

Source: Xinhua, February 5, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2010-02/05/content_12940308.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua: Western Media Overstate China-US Conflicts

China’s experts on US-China relations believe the western media are exaggerating recent conflicts between China and the United States. “The reported ‘new cold war’ between China and the U.S. is clearly an exaggeration.”

On February 6, the Japanese Sankei Shimbun outlined five key issues for this round of China-US conflicts: China hacking Google, arms sales to Taiwan, Obama meeting the Dalai Lama, RMB appreciation, and Iran’s nuclear development, based on which Sankei Shimbun concluded that the foundation for a booming China-US relationship has been eradicated.

Source: Xinhua, February 8, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-02/08/content_12951078.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations