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Briefings - 1100. page

China’s Per Capita Income Gap: 55 Times in Difference

Radio Free Asia reported that Chinese scholars had shown that the highest per capita income in mainland China was 55 times the lowest. The difference is much higher than the officially published figures. Scholars believe that corruption is the reason for such a wide gap. It is the result of an ill-conceived system, and of the "gray" income to special groups [that is, income in the form of bribes — Ed.]. The wealth gap causes widespread dissatisfaction among the members of the public and poses the biggest threat to a harmonious society and sustainable economic development.

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 28, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shouru-07282009104520.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China-Russia Military Relationship – Lack of Trust?

In its military forum, Global Times, a state newspaper under People’s Daily, published the translation of a South China Morning Post article calling the Russian-China relationship a marriage of convenience. The July 25 SCMP article quoted Andrei Pinkov, editor-in-chief of Kanwa Defense Review, as saying that the relationship between Russia and China is nothing but a marriage of convenience with no solid foundation, in spite of their common interests. "China and Russia will not form the kind of close alliance that the US enjoys with Japan and Australia because Moscow feels uneasy about the rise of China… Some people in Moscow are worried that China may mass-produce Russian weapons." The SCMP also quoted from a military expert in Shanghai that, for the same reason, "the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will not be another NATO."

Source: Global Times, July 27, 2009
http://mil.huanqiu.com/Observation/2009-07/527747.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China Supreme Court Calls for Emergency Response Mechanism

The Supreme People’s Court of China recently issued a notice titled “Opinion on Further Strengthening and Standardizing Enforcement,” reported Xinhua. In the notice, the Director of the Enforcement states, “For a long time, there have been frequent and sometimes violent incidents of resisting enforcement of the law… Therefore, we need to establish a rapid response mechanism for enforcement to timely deal with emergencies and unexpected events, remove obstructions and interference with the enforcement of the law, maintain orderly enforcement, and safeguard social harmony and stability.”

Source: Xinhua, July 27, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-07/27/content_11777966.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

After Uyghur Crackdown, State Council Will Further Manage Minorities to “Promote National Unity”

In the aftermath of the July 5 crackdown on Uyghur protests in Xinjiang, the State Council issued a notice calling for further development of minority culture in order to “promote national unity” and “common prosperity and development.” It claimed that “the party and the State have always attached great importance and concern to the cause of minority culture.” The notice asks that cognizant laws and regulations be put in place and that the Party’s leadership of minority cultural development be strengthened.

Source: Xinhua, July 23, 2009.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-07/23/content_11762069.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China Deputy Foreign Minister: 75 Event Is a Criminal Act Planned by Overseas Forces

He Yafei, the Deputy Foreign Minister of China, re-stated on July 22, that the “75” (July 5) event in Xinjiang is China’s domestic affair. Fundamentally, it is not a race issue, nor a religion issue, but a severe violent criminal act carefully planned and organized by the overseas “three forces” (a term used by the Chinese government to refer to terrorists, separatists, and religion extremists – Ed).

He stated that Rebiya Kadeer conducts activities outside China, including in the US, to divide China. “The Chinese are fully aware of this. The US should also be fully aware of it. (I) hope the US restricts Rebiya from using US land to conduct separation activities (against China).”

Sources: Xinhua, July 23, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2009-07/23/content_11761729.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

JNOC News: China’s New Diplomacy Direction

China News Agency quoted a report from Japan New Overseas Chinese News (JNOC News), on Hu Jintao’s speech at the 11th Conference of China’s Diplomatic Envoy to Foreign Countries. JNOC News stated that Hu’s speech has given direction for China’s new diplomacy approaches. Diplomacy activities will focus on six areas: economic development, national security, targeted large countries, culture promotion, rights protection (for overseas Chinese), and harmony.

On National Security, Hu stated that diplomacy should firmly safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and interests. The core is the “One China” principle. That’s Chinese diplomacy’s “red line” that can’t be crossed. It is believed that China will be more aggressive against the Dalai Lama and Xinjiang separatists and pressure their international space. As for the South Sea, China will be firm on any area of land or water, but might exercise control to avoid escalating a situation to cause regional instability.

On rights protection, China wants to extend its influence to develop networks and protect the rights and interests of Chinese citizens and overseas Chinese (people with a Chinese origin but of other nationalities). “Our brothers are all over the world.” “(Let them) come to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate when they run into problems.”

Source: China News Agency, July 22, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/hb/news/2009/07-22/1786127.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

10,000 Factory Workers Protest Merger; executive killed

On July 24, over 10,000 workers from the Tonghua Iron and Steel Group (TISG), Jilin Province, protested the government’s decision to allow a private company, the Jianlong Group, to take control of the company. Jianlong’s newly appointed General Manager, Chen Guojun, who threatened to fire all current employees, was beaten by angry workers and died. The Jilin Province government immediately announced that the merger would stop. Workers used firecrackers to celebrate their "victory".

In 2005, Jianlong owned 36% of TISG. But it experienced a huge loss in 2008. In Q1 2009, its loss was 1 billion yuan. Jianlong managed to exit from TISG. TISG immediately became profitable. By June 2009, it had 60 million yuan in profit. In July, Jianlong managed to take back ownership of 60% of TISG. That triggered the event. It’s a failed M&A instance of a private firm trying to acquire a state-owned enterprise. Employees are leery about the government selling the nation’s properties and ignoring the workers’ interests. There is also a question about Jianlong’s ability to easily exit from TISG, and then regain ownership of TISG.

Source:
[1] BBC Chinese, July 28, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_8170000/newsid_8171700/8171701.stm
[2] Epoch times, July 26, 2009
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/9/7/26/n2602653.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Chinese Universities Fake Graduates Employment Rates

Some Chinese universities are forcing graduating students to sign employment status papers before they issue a diploma. Some of the companies mentioned in those papers don’t even exist. According to the Chinese official China Daily, the so called “employed” students don’t truly have jobs. The universities in question often “prepared” the papers for the students who later found themselves considered “employed” without their even knowing.

The Chinese Ministry of Education announced in July that, up untill July 1, Chinese university graduates had an employment rate of 68%. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security believes the rate will be 88% by the end of the year.

Source: Industry and Commerce Daily, July 21, 2009.
http://www.secretchina.com/news/302187.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics