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Briefings - 1127. page

China Launched its Largest-ever Military Exercise

China’s military launched its largest ever tactical military exercise, involving 50,000 heavily-armored troops in a long-distance deployment spanning thousands of kilometers, Xinhua said. The live-fire exercise, named “Stride-2009,” involves an army division each from the Shenyang, Lanzhou, Jinan and Guangzhou regional military commands and will last from August through September. The army divisions and their air units will be deployed by civilian rail and air transport to unfamiliar areas. The exercise will be recorded and rated using an “Army Exercise Assessment System.” Also participating in the exercise are special operation forces, Army’s air fighters, electronic countermeasure companies, photo-reconnaissance units, UAV Groups, short-wave interference stations, all armed with new equipment.

Source: Xinhua, August 10, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-08/10/content_11858323.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

More Expenditure to Build-up the Party’s Grass Roots Foundation

The authorities in Wuling City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, are spending 5 million RMB on the construction of facilities for local Party activities, reported People’s Daily website. 19 new facilities will be built and over 20 renovated this year. The move will “effectively increase the cohesion and vitality of  grass roots Party organizations." The People’s Daily website published several articles about similar efforts to beef up local Party organizations.

Source: People’s Daily, August 10, 2009
http://dangjian.people.com.cn/GB/9821944.html
http://dangjian.people.com.cn/GB/117103/9824715.html
http://dangjian.people.com.cn/GB/9822492.html
http://dangjian.people.com.cn/GB/9817354.html
http://dangjian.people.com.cn/GB/9817405.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Opens Internet Management and Law Center

Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications announced on August 10 the establishment of an Internet Management and Law Research Center, Xinhua reported. It is China’s first professional academic institution that focuses on systematic and theoretical research of Internet management and laws related to the information society, said Xinhua. On the same day, the center held its first forum and presented papers on proposed Internet legislation, Internet intellectual property, information law, e-commerce law and other Internet related legislation. Present at the forum were representatives from the Supreme People’s Court, the information office of the State Council, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Justice, among others.

Source: Xinhua, August 10, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-08/10/content_11858318.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Chinese Official: Properly Managing Relationship with Overseas Chinese

Qiushi Journal, a publication of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China organs, published an article “Properly Handling Several Relationships with Overseas Chinese,” by Li Haifeng, director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council. This article discusses the relationship between China’s external propaganda machine for overseas Chinese (the CCP’s media that publishes Communist Party propaganda targeting overseas Chinese) and the overseas Chinese media. Li states the common objective of these two groups is to lead the overseas Chinese to follow the right direction (set by the CCP) (The CCP has been heavily invested in and has thus taken control of many overseas Chinese media – Ed.). The two should join forces to strengthen their broadcasting power and boost their media coverage. “China’s’ external propaganda media for overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese media can work together through sharing information, providing content, exchanging experiences, organizing (joint) interviews, and having (joint) forums, so as to make the propaganda more focused, more lively, more attractive, more communicable and more persuasive.” While cooperating, both sides will improve their mutual understanding of each other.

Source: Qiushi Journal, August 1, 2009
http://www.qsjournal.com.cn/zxdk/2009/200915/200907/t20090728_8102.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Li Yuanchao on Establishing Party Organizations in Colleges

Li Yuanchao, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and the Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, hosted a conference for Party Secretaries and Presidents of universities and colleges in China on August 8, Xinhua reported. “(We) must use our revolutionary and innovative spirits to strengthen the establishment of party organizations and party member teams in universities and colleges, and transform the Party’s political and organizational strength into the college’s scientific development strength. (We) must adhere to the Presidential Responsibility System under the Leadership of the Party Committees; smooth the work system and operational mechanism of the party organizations at the school and department level.  (We) should strengthen the establishment of root-level party organizations, especially the branches that draw professors for their membership, and actively recruit young professors and college students that are deserving into the Party,” Li announced.

Source: Xinhua, August 9, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-08/09/content_11852569.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Guangming Daily: China To Develop its Own Software for National Security Concerns

Guangming Daily reported on a possible security risk for China. It pointed to the increasing popularity of desktop software applications, which could be used as weapons to control the network should a network war break out. The paper quoted Luo Jiangchun, CEO of Funshion.com, a popular Chinese website that distributes online movies. Luo argued that from a national security point of view, China should pay special attention to the particular issue (given that China’s desktop software market is dominated by foreign companies). “This presents a security risk not only for the individual’s propriety information, but also to China’s network.” The only way out of this dilemma is for China to bring its local software companies up to par, so that they will dominate the market and eliminate the need to rely on bringing foreign software into China.

Source: Guangming Daily, August 9, 2009
http://www.gmw.cn/content/2009-08/09/content_960543.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Boxun: High Ranking US State Department Official Talks about Kim Jong-Il

A high ranking US State Department official, who wishes to remain anonymous, suggested on Thursday that Kim Jong-Il was willing to change his policies towards a pro-American direction. Kim intends to have direct dialogues with the US. His move on quitting the Six Party Talks was to break away from Beijing instead of Moscow. Kim’s deputy “leaked” some information to former US president Clinton on nuclear weapons: the warheads won’t reach the US, but can reach “the west side” (countries west of Korea, such as China). The ball is now with Washington.

Source: Boxun, August 8, 2009.
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/intl/2009/08/200908081340.shtml

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

The Chinese Communist Party Penetrates the Legal Profession

China Economy Net reported on August 6 that, among 14,000 law firms, 3,895 firms have established independent Party branches, while 2,692 firms have joint Party branches. The Party sent guidance officers to all of the 2,741 law firms without Party members. Thus the entire legal profession is completely covered by the Communist Party.

The same news network reported that the Minister of Justice, Wu Aiying, commented on “sensitive legal cases” and “Mass disturbances.” Wu said that, in the first half of this year, there were more than 270,000 legal support cases nationwide. Wu emphasized strengthening Party development among lawyers and covering the entire legal profession.

Source: China Economy Net, August 6, 2009.
http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/200908/06/t20090806_19725121.shtml
http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/200908/06/t20090806_19727699.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics