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Briefings - 1091. page

Ministry of Public Security to Blacklist Illegal Websites

On December 31, 2009, the website of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced a plan to set up a mechanism for reporting and handling Internet illegalities and directing communications authorities to blacklist the illegal sites. 

The MPS released the “Network Security Protection Agency under the Ministry of Public Security Report on the Work of Cracking Down on Internet Pornography” which listed a number of statistics on recent strikes against pornographic and illegal websites, including the detailed monetary rewards to individuals who reported the “harmful information.” Pledging to up the punishment on the Internet crimes, MPS is to coordinate with propaganda, broadcasting, and publication authorities on “vulgar and bad information” and to work with industrial, communications, and banking authorities against illegal service providers and Internet advertisers. 
Source: China News Service, December 31, 2009 
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/12-31/2049822.shtml
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Jia Qinglin: Performing United Front Work in the Domestic and External Environments

Jia Qinglin, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), addressed the subject of National United Front Work in Beijing at a national conference held on December 22, 2009.
 
Jia emphasized that the domestic and international environments have changed significantly in recent times. He stressed that the United Front Work should be carried out in these two environments and be a factor in national development. He continued that the United Front Work should assist and support non state-owned enterprises, given that the Chinese nation is putting into operation major industry adjustments and “employing a broad” strategy.

Jia also urged that race and religious issues be brought under Party control. 

Note: United Front Work is the Communists Party’s effort to bring non-communists under its control and convert them into communist subjects.

Source: Xinhua, December 22, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-12/22/content_12688657.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China’s Overcapacity in the Coal Industry

In a meeting on December 31, 2009, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced a halt to approvals of new coke, carbide, methanol, and other traditional coal chemical projects. 

China has seen an acute overcapacity in the coal industry in recent years. At the end of 2009, the newly added production capacity in the coal industry on top of 2008 is estimated at around 300 million tons. Thirty-one carbide and 25 methanol national projects are currently under construction. The overcapacity will be further intensified after they are put into operation. Coal-rich regions, one after another, have been planning coal chemical projects in recent years. The capacity of total submitted coal-to-oil conversion projects exceeds 40 million tons, coal-to-olefins is at 20 million tons, and coal-to-natural gas is 25 billion cubic meters — the equivalent of a one trillion yuan investment.
Source: People’s Daily, December 31, 2009 

http://finance.people.com.cn/GB/10685015.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

CASS Ranked China’s Economic and International Standing

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) evaluated, ranked, and published in its yellow book of eleven countries on economic and international standing, ranking China a "7."  

CASS published its report on December 24, 2009. The U.S., still considered a super power, was clearly ranked number "1," followed by Japan in second place and Germany in 3rd place.  

The evaluation criteria was based on five main and four secondary factors: 1) territory and natural resources, population, economy, military, and science; and 2) social development, sustainability, security and domestic politics, and international contribution.

China is ranked 2nd concerning military power. Its population is a contributor to its overall ranking.

Source: China Internet Press Center, December 24, 2009
http://www.china.com.cn/news/2009-12/24/content_19123633.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Founding of the China Network Television (CNTV)

The state-owned Chinese Central Television (CCTV) is officially entering the Internet video market. CCTV formed an online TV platform under the name of CNTV.cn.  

The platform focuses on interactive audio/video services with global, multilingual, and multi-terminal support. CCTV is currently improving global mirroring. Major Chinese private video service providers intend to avoid direct competition against CNTV, citing its ownership by the Communist regime.  

It is well known that the primary business obstacle in the Chinese online video market is the violation of copyrights. 

Source: CBN, December 24, 2009
http://www.china-cbn.com/s/n/000004/20091224/000000142409.shtml

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

VOA: How to Interpret China’s Rising?

Voice of America (VOA) published some experts’ opinions concerning China’s rising.  

Some highlights are:
1. The more Western countries ask China for help, the more China ignores Western countries. In the past, before a U.S. President came on a State visit to China, China released several political prisoners as a goodwill gesture. But now, China no longer feels such a gesture is necessary.

2. According to World Bank’s poverty standards, there are 800 million Chinese living below the poverty line. Besides, China’s small to mid- sized enterprises are struggling to survive. Additionally, there are complicated social problems and a suffocating political system. So China is not really rising.

3. China’s economic performance was a fake prosperity. China’s government plunged six trillion yuan into the economy, but the money was absorbed by the real estate industry. Now China’s real estate market is a bubble ready to burst. In 2010, the crisis will truly damage China.

Source: VOA, December 20, 2009
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/china/China_emerging_20091220-79754647.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Chinese Government: Stay Out of Liu Xiaobo’s Case

Chinese writer and scholar Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison on December 25, 2009. He was charged with "inciting subversion of state power" for his role as the primary author of Charter 08, a call for increased democratic reforms and greater freedom in China. When Charter 08 was released in 2008, more than 300 scholars and writers signed it; since then, 10,000 Chinese citizens have done so.

Liu Xiaobo has been detained since the eve of the release of Charter 08. The international community and foreign governments have repeatedly asked China to release him. Prior to his trial, the Chinese government warned the European Union and the U.S. not to interfere in Liu’s case. On December 29, the spokeswoman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Liu’s trial completely followed China’s law and legal proceedings. She requested foreign organizations and countries not to interfere in China’s internal affairs.

Sources:
1. VOA, December 15, 2009
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/CHINA-DISSIDENT-20091215-79292177.html
2. China Website, December 29, 2009
http://lianghui.china.com.cn/news/txt/2009-12/29/content_19152414.htm
3. LA Times, December 28, 2009
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/12/liu-xiaobo.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

British Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Death despite UK Government Pressure

British citizen Akmal Shaikh was executed on December 29, 2009 in China. Shikh was found carrying four kilograms of heroin into China in 2007. According to Chinese law, the death sentence is given to people smuggling 50 grams or more heroin.

The British government, the media and other international human rights organizations appealed repeatedly to the Chinese government to reduce his sentence, citing psychological sanity concerns. The Chinese government stated that Shikh didn’t show signs of mental disorder, and that the trial was carried out following Chinese law and judicial process. Chinese media and judiciary experts consider the effort to save Shikh an attempt by the British government to exert undue influence on the Chinese judicial system.

Source: Xinhua, December 24, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-12/24/content_12699516.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics