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Briefings - 1172. page

Sarkozy Said to be Ungrateful for the Favor China Did Him in 2004

French President Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai Lama has drawn attacks by media in China.  One example is an article by China Review News which described Sarkozy as a person who has "changed his face too many times and is ungrateful for the favor that China gave to him in 2004".

In the article, Cai Fangbo, China’s former ambassador to France disclosed that in 2004 when he was ready to run for president, Sarkozy, then the France’s interior minister, requested to have a meeting with Hu Jintao during his trip to visit China. Hu granted the request despite the difference in the political ranking. After Sarkozy was elected, he was said to "have repeatedly expressed his gratitude towards the favor he received".  "But in 2008, Sarkozy has held up the anti-China flag and led the France-China relationship downhill.  China has shown great tolerance to him but he hasn’t returned the favor.  Sarkozy uses tactics to gain political advantage and will eventually loss his credibility” the article wrote.

Source: China Review News, November 30, 2008
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1008/1/4/9/100814946.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=100814946&mdate=1130093321

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Deutsche Welle: Dissatisfaction Deepens During the Economic Crisis

An article on the Deutsche Welle China section listed the number of protests held by various groups and warns of the consequences if no serious action is taken by the government.

As those whose houses were relocated, farmers who lost land, workers fighting for unfair wages, taxi drivers, property owners as well as the depressed stockholders join protests, the dissatisfaction towards the government has spread to the middle class now.

The article quoted an investigative report by Yu Jiarong, a sociologist, disclosing that the ever worsening anxiety over the economy has intensified the conflicts between the police and the protesters. Photos and videos spread through the internet are causing the incident to expand. “The expert has warned that if the government does no take any serious action, China will suffer bigger losses as anger continues to accumulate among the protesters.”

Source: Deutsche Welle, November, 26, 2008
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3822835,00.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: China’s Foreign Relations Entering Golden Stage

As part of the theme to celebrate the achievement of the open door policy adopted 30 years ago, Xinhua has been publishing a series of articles focused on the subject. On December 1, in its international section, Xinhua published a talk given by Wu Jianmin, a commentator for Xinhua, former Chinese ambassador to France and President of the China Foreign Affairs University who summarized the major changes that China’s foreign relations have gone through in the past 30 years ago.

Wu summarized the major changes in the following three areas: worldwide environment, policy adjustment, and the focus. He said that the world has transitioned from war and revolution towards an era of peaceful development. From 1949 to 1978, China’s foreign policy was focused on surviving the embargo from the western countries led by the US which was aimed at eliminating China. But since 1978, as China has adopted an open door policy and the Party has shifted its focus to economic development, there has been a need to maintain a good relationship with other countries. As a result, the guiding principle of foreign policy has changed to seeking the common ground with other countries. The focus of the policy has also shifted from fighting for survival towards building mutual cooperation since China has a need for it.

“Currently China’s foreign relations are entering a golden stage”, Wu said, “we have formed dynamic relationships with 172 countries that are the giants, neighboring countries, developing countries and maintained the multilateral foreign relations with them.”

Source: Xinhua, December 1, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-12/01/content_10436728.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Hubei Taxi Drivers on Strike to Protest New Government Fee

Since November 24, no taxi has been running in Suizhou City of Hubei Province. The city’s 500+ taxis are parked, with some drivers petitioning in front of the city government.

The strike is said to be caused by a city government directive issued on November 15. It asked for an annual 4,000 yuan “operation fee” from each of the 550 taxi cabs running in the city. The fee is levied for a four year term. If the driver does not pay the money by the end of 2008, the city police will confiscate his license.

Burdened by multiple administrative fees and charges, the taxi drivers are left with a meager disposable income off of which to live. The newly added government charge has become the last straw. The strike has been going on for two days. There is no effective dialogue between the city government and taxi drivers.

Source: Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch, November 25, 2008
http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=1608

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Expert: AIDS in China Heading Out of Control

A medical expert in Guangzhou warned on Nov 24 that AIDS in China has entered a stage of being uncontrollable.

An 18-year-old college freshman was recently diagnosed with AIDS in a Guangzhou hospital. According to the doctor, the male student was infected through sexual intercourse.
 
In China, transmission of the deadly disease through sexual activities has dwarfed every other channel of contagion, according to Cai Weiping, an AIDS expert from Guangzhou No. 8 People’s Hospital, in a media interview.

While the liberal attitude toward sex among the younger generation is one of the major reasons for the disease being out of control, migrant workers and the elderly are also vulnerable populations. Although the government has started the AIDS education, the sex workers at the bottom of  society are usually not targeted. Cai said that due to their extremely low income, they cannot afford the cost of condoms.

Source: Nanfang Daily, November 25, 2008
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/nfjx/200811250032.asp

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Phoenix TV CEO Receives International Emmy Directorate Award

On November 24, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Department Elaine Chao handed the Directorate Award from the International Emmy Awards to Hong Kong Phoenix TV’s CEO Liu Changle, as a compliment to his work of bringing Phoenix TV to the TV network of more than 150 countries and areas.

[Chinascope note: Pheonix TV has received the nickname of ‘little CCTV’ in some circles, as it shares similar reporting principles on many topics. Because it is based in Hong Kong, viewers in mainland China may regard it as an overseas TV station that is more independent though it follows the Party line on many topics.]

Source: Xinhua, November 25, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2008-11/26/content_10414412.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

People’s Daily: U.S. New Star Wars Plan Points to China

A blogger of the “Great Nation Forum” from the People’s Daily website published an article discussing the intention of a U.S. plan for developing a space missile defense system. The article says, “U.S. Congress granted five million dollars recently to fund independent research for developing a space missile defense system. The analyst here believes that once the plan is started, it means the "Star Wars Plan” from the 1980s is coming back. This time, the Pentagon’s putative enemies are not only Russia, or Korea and Iran, but also China."

Source: people.com.cn, November 25, 2008
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/42969/58519/8403479.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Russian Natural Gas and Oil Industrial Company Will Ship 1.2 Million Tons of Oil to China

Deputy General Manager of the Russian Natural Gas and Oil Industrial Company said the company is planning to export 1.2 million tons of oil to China while he was interviewed by Siberia Oil magazine. He said that the company will increase oil exports to China in the future through Kazakhstan, and the Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline.

Source: people.com.cn, November 25, 2008
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/57507/8402100.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources