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Briefings - 1164. page

Scholar: China Entered an Energy Shortage State of Emergency in 2007

In a recent annual academic conference held in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, Lu Yongxiang, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences warned that China has entered into an energy state of emergency where it had to rely on overseas sources to supply 50 percent of its oil demand in 2007. Lu said that the energy shortage will slow down the economic growth.

According to  statistics released by the National Energy Administration, China became the second largest energy producer as well as the second largest energy consumer in the world in 2007. Due to its large population, China’s energy consumption per capita level was only at 62 percent of the world’s average. China’s energy elasticity index was 0.7 in 2007 which was seven times higher than Japan who has the same compatible scale of  production volume as China.

Source: Xinhua, August 20, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-08/20/content_9531330.htm
China National Energy Administration, August 20, 2008
http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2008-08/20/content_1075206.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Olympics: the Battlefield of Party Factions

As the Beijing Olympics has become the Olympics of the Party, factions within the Party are marking out their own territory, observes the Hong Kong-based Trend Magazine. President Hu Jintao is re-enforcing his position in the military. The deployment of the “Red Flag 7” Short-range surface-to-air missile outside the Olympics main site is one example. Former President Jiang Zemin’s Shanghai gang flexes its muscles through control of propaganda and foreign affairs. Internal documents on propaganda mandate that no media shall follow the tune of the western reports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a special mission, according to internal documents: (1) help overseas Chinese understand the need to politicize the Olympics; (2) offer business opportunities and lobby pro-China media in the West to spread that the Beijing Olympics is the pre-requisite of further reform; and (3) persuade pro-China media and commentators in Hong Kong and Taiwan to support the Olympics.

Source: The Trend Magazine
http://www.chengmingmag.com/t276/select/276sel02.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

The 100th Day of Sichuan Earthquake Is a Non-Event in China’s State Media

On the 100th day following the 5.12 Sichuan earthquake, no news appeared in China’s state media regarding the memorial service by  survivors for their deceased family members or the progress of reconstruction in the earthquake-stricken areas. Such news had disappeared from the media landscape long before the Olympics. Radio Free Asia reports that the authorities continue to suppress petitioning activities by those who lost their family members in the earthquake. Emergency rescue programs have also stopped.

Source: Radio Free Asia, August 19, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/dizhen-08182008123523.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Olympics: Cheer Squads Deployed to Cover up Empty Seats

On August 12, 2008, Wang Wei, vice-president of the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee (BOCOG) revealed they were volunteers shipped in to “create a good atmosphere” by cheering for both sides at team events, reported Times Online. “If people turn up they will let them take their seats,” Mr Wang said. On August 11 at a press conference, Wang was questioned on why seats in many games were empty. Wang stated that a lot of seats were reserved for sponsors, media and VIP and they did not come. For example they went to games they like and did not go to others. Wang urged that all should respect the rights of these audience to choose the games they want to see.

Source:
Times Online, August 12, 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4512306.ece
Xinhua, August 11, 2008
http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/2008-08/11/content_14084140.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Party Leaders Worry about Chinese Economy

The State People’s Daily published editorials three days in a row from August 13 to 15 discussing how to ensure the speedy and healthy development of the economy this year. Analysts observe that this is unusual particularly during the Olympics, the most important political campaign since 1949. The move highlights Communist leaders’ worries of the grave economic situation.

Source:
People’s Daily, August 13, 2008
http://opinion.people.com.cn/GB/40604/7656125.html
People’s Daily, August 14, 2008
http://opinion.people.com.cn/GB/7662939.html
People’s Daily, August 15, 2008
http://opinion.people.com.cn/GB/40604/7669043.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Study Times: Olympics Has Little Bearing on China’s Economy

Study Times, a publication of the Party School of The Communist Party of China, commented on the ramifications of the Beijing Olympics on the economy on August 11. According to Study Times, the Chinese economy started a cyclical adjustment in 2008. The preparation and holding of the Beijing Olympics will not likely make any major direct contribution to economic growth. Neither will the end of the Olympics impact negatively the fundamentals of the economic development and the growth potentials of the economy.

Source: Study Times, August 11, 2008
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=2056&nid=7371&bid=4&page=1

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Study Times: Fundamental Changes Have Occurred in U.S. Policy Towards China

On August 11, Study Times, a publication of the Party School of the Communist Party of China, issued an article commenting on Bush’s trip to the Beijing Olympics. It stated that fundamental changes have taken place in the U.S. policy towards China during the 8 years of the Bush Administration. The changes are strategic and long term, in the following 5 categories: 1. Summit communications have produced remarkable results. 2. Cooperation platforms such as strategic economic dialogue have been institutionalized. 3. Military exchanges have been completely resumed. 4. There has been closer and more effective cooperation on major international issues such as North Korea nuclear crisis. 5. The two countries have joined hands in stabilizing the Taiwan Strait.

Source: Study Times, August 11, 2008
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=2054&nid=7368&bid=2&page=1

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Olympics: Websites on Lip Syncing and National Interest Withdrawn from Internet

At the Olympics opening ceremony on August 8, the 9-year-old Lin Miaoke took center-stage and sang an ode to the motherland, but the voice heard around the world belonged to 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, said Chen Qigang, the ceremony’s music director, in an interview with the State media on August 11. According to Chen, Yang was yanked at the last minute because her looks were deemed not suitable by a senior Communist Potliburo member. "It was for the national interest," said Chen.  

A google search shows websites inside China that had previously reported on the lip-syncing now return errors stating the web page is no longer available.

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology