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Briefings - 1082. page

Xinhua: Antimissile is China’s Required Course

Xinhua recently published an article detailing some of the aspects of the Chinese land based antimissile experiment successfully conducted on January 11. The experiment was a “mid-stage” interception, which refers to an exoatmospheric interception that happens in, roughly, outer space. The report described the basic flight lifecycle of an intercontinental missile. The “mid-stage” is the stage after the first level engine and the warhead separate. The report indicated that the United States immediately responded upon the completion of the experiment. The US response was believed to be a “side confirmation” of the success of the mission.

The report compared the experiment with the US GMD system, which is considered a strategic missile defense system instead of a tactical system represented by the Patriot antimissile system. Components of the GMD system such as EKV, GBI and the X-Band Radar were covered by the report. The article also briefly introduced India’s PAD system, which was based on Israeli technology.

Source: Xinhua, February 3, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-02/03/content_12924301.htm

Ten Steps to Strengthen the Chinese Movie Industry

The State Council recently developed a strategy to strengthen development of the movie industry: (1) Improve the quality while keeping the growth of quantity; (2) transform the state movie producing companies into shareholding enterprises; (3) grow cross-regional theater lines; (4) establishing more digital theaters; (5) increase financial support for movie industry; (6) push technological innovations; (7) implement digitalization in the countryside; (8) enhance international influence with the “go out” strategy; (9) improve the governing laws and policies; (10) enhance the work of building a talent pool.

Source: Xinhua, January 25, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-01/25/content_12872402.htm

More Work Needed to Change China’s Economy from “Large” to “Strong”

Xinhua recently published an article reviewing the Chinese economy in 2009. The article started with mentioning a strong GDP increase of 8.7% which translates into RMB 33.5 trillion. “Almost the beacon that shines and leads the world economy,” the author claimed. He believed China’s accomplishments symbolized the fact that China is now a major economy in the world. This may get “some old capitalist countries” really worried.

However, the article also reminded that the Chinese per capita GDP is still below US$3,000, which is far behind the countries with tens of thousands of dollars for the same number. Therefore, any attempt that overstates China’s actual economic strength to increase Chinese responsibilities is unfair. As a rising world power, China needs to turn the economy from a “large” one to a “strong” one.

Source: Xinhua, January 25, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/comments/2010-01/25/content_12864765.htm

Military Commentator: China Should Further Enhance Capabilities to Protect its Core Interests

On February 1, 2010, www.huanqiu.com (Global Times) published an article on the interview of Song Xiaojun, a CCTV contracted military commentator, regarding the recent U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.

Song said that the United States sold the arms to Taiwan based on a domestic law, namely the “Taiwan Relations Act” and for its own domestic political interests, which continuously hurt China’s core interests. As for the characteristics of the weapons, Song explained that they were just the same as what the Bush administration had arranged.

“Mr. Song Xiaojun particularly pointed out that the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan should remind us that China must strengthen its power to maintain its dignity and the determination to use the power. We should further enhance our capabilities so as to protect our core interests.”

Source: www.huanqiu.com, February 1, 2010
http://mil.huanqiu.com/Taiwan/2010-01/705245.html

Golden 4-Hour Window: Officials Want Media Response to “Lead Public Opinion”

On February 2, 2010, People’s Daily published an article on a current media rule, the “Golden 4-Hour,” for reporting an unexpected incident in China. “Golden 4-Hour” requires Chinese journalists to release an authoritative news report on a sudden incident within four hours so as to lead public opinion and quell the incident.

As for how to report an emergency, a considerable number of local leaders, such as Tianjin Mayor Huang Xingguo and Shanghai Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng, have reached a consensus to “release a news report immediately but be wary about any causes or reasons” with follow-up reports on the government’s effort in terms of what has been done, what is being done, and what will be done. 

Source: People’s Daily, February 2, 2010
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/10905674.html

Guangzhou Daily: Deeply Hidden Motive to Harm China in the West’s “G-2” Ploy

On January 24, 2010, Guangzhou Daily published an article on the “China Model” and “G2-Chimerica.” The key points are listed below:

“As China’s economy is thriving in the financial crisis, the so-called “China Model” is again heatedly discussed in the international community. China is believed to be able to ‘save the world’ with such a model…. At the same time, Western media are promoting the idea of the ‘G2’ model, viewing the world as the ‘Chimerica’ era. In accordance with the West’s logic, China should take more of the world’s ‘responsibility’ since China has an equal status with the United States.”

“However, Westerners’ deeply hidden motivation behind the hot topic of the ‘China Model’ is to request China to assume responsibilities beyond China’s own capacity. Frankly speaking, this is to ‘kill China with flattery’.”

News Source: Guangzhou Daily, January 24, 2010
http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/html/2010-01/24/content_846117.htm

Scholar: China to Protest U.S. with Reduced Cooperation

Jin Chanrong, Vice Dean of the School of International Relations of the People’s University of China, told Global Times, “An unusually tough attitude from China will send the U.S. a clear message of the bottom line. The powers of China and the U.S. are close to a balance. Different from the past, it’s no longer viable for the United States to use the old ways to deal with China.” Jin added, “It’s possible that China may reduce cooperation on certain international issues as a protest.”

“The West blames the current gridlock in the Sino-U.S. relationship on China’s over-confidence. However, it’s impossible for China to give in on the Taiwan arms sale and the U.S. President’s meeting with the Dalai Lama, issues that matter for its sovereignty, and core interests. If our leaders were to meet with a U.S. separatist and sell arms to a U.S. state that claims independence, the U.S. would have an even stronger reaction.”

Source: Global Times, February 4, 2010
http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-02/709404.html

Qiao Liang: The U.S. is “Containing China by Agents”

Xinhua recently published a series of discussions by China scholars, the armed forces, and think tanks on international issues. Qiao Liang, an Admiral, a professor at the Air Force Command College, and Vice Secretary General of the government think tank National Security Policy Reseach Commission, reportedly talked about the U.S. containment of China.

“As the U.S. is declining and its power is weakening, power vacuums have emgerged in the international arena. The U.S. wants us to fill some of the vacuums, but not all. In places where the Americans do not want us to fill the power vacuum, they will create some powers to fill it. I call it ‘containment by agent’. … In issues like the South China Sea and the Sino-Indian border, the Americans roped in India and the Southeast Asian countries to produce a possibility of ‘containment by agent.’ As Americans have engaged in proxy wars in the past, I expect that the U.S. will use agents to contain China.

Source: Xinhua, February 2, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2010-02/02/content_12920311.htm