Skip to content

Briefings - 1174. page

Xinhua: Pressure by Western Countries Can Not Stop China and Congo’s Cooperation

Reporter of Xinhua’s International Herald Tribune reports from Congo’s capital Kinshasa that the road maintenance project co-operated by China Enterprises United Inc. and Congo’s is under way normally. The reporter describes that the warm atmosphere of Chinese engineers and the local workers working together forms a stark contrast with the (Western) reports that the “project is being stopped.” The report says that Western countries regard Congo as their territory of interests because of Congo’s rich natural resource and important geographic location. Western countries tried to interfere since the beginning of the negotiation of cooperation between China and Congo. They pressured Congo government through their controlled World Band and IMF. The report further says that Congo government resisted the pressure from the West and welcomed the China’s help. Now the preparation phase of the projects is progressing on normal track.

Source: Xinhua, February 17, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-02/17/content_10831601.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua Downplays Criminal Charges Against Chinese Woman for Illegal Export

Xinhua comments on the recent criminal charges in the U.S. against a Chinese woman in Maryland. She was charged with exporting miniature controls for small, unmanned aircraft to China. Xinhua article stated that the alleged dual use aircraft has not yet been put to use by military thus it is far fetched to charge her for assisting Chinese military. Further, Xinhua stated that the case might be viewed as racial discrimination since Mr. Hansen, who played a more active role in the export and works at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, has not yet been charged in the case. “In fact, spy cases related to China are common in the U.S., most of which have acquitted defendants,” said Xinhua.

Source: Xinhua, February 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/overseas/2009-02/19/content_10848849.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

State Public Relations: Transition from the Defensive to the Offensive

Starting from the Olympics in 2008 China has moved to the offensive in its public relations, wrote a government think tank, the Institute of Public Communications of the Remin University of China. From SARS in 2003 to Tibetan violent crackdown in March 2008, China was passive in public relations during crises. However, the Olympics in August 2008 served as a turning point when China changed to the offensive. In subsequent crises such as toxic milk powder and current international financial crisis, China was more proactive and quickly controlled the situation. The article recommends three PR weapons available to the State: media, visits and speeches by overseas leaders, and statements by Chinese celebrities such as Yao Min (athlete), Zhang Ziyu (actress), Jackie Chan (actor) and Jet Li (actor).

Source: Xinhua, February 3, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-02/03/content_10755014.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Study Times: China To Internationalize Its Currency

China should take advantage of international financial crisis and push to “internationalize” the Chinese Renminbi, says Study Times, journal of the School of the CCPC February 16, 2009. The article takes note of recent State Counsel decisions on using RMB in settling commercial transactions with Hong Kong. The current international crisis has lowered the net worth in the U.S. dollar and the esteem the international communities has held for the U.S. dollar. The article recommends expanding pilot programs to use RMD as settlement currency.

Source: Study Times, February 16, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=2439&nid=8801&bid=1&page=1

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Largest Petition Campaign in Chinese Legal Community Supporting Rights Lawyer

511 lawyers in Shenzhen signed a petition challenging the sentencing of a fellow lawyer and calling for a fair trial. On December 17, 2008, Lawyer Liu Yao in Shenzhen was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment for providing legal services to farmers who lost their land to a power company. He was charged with “intentional destruction of property.” Liu has filed appeal. The petition is the largest campaign to date by China’s legal community on rights issues.

Source:
Epoch Times, February 1, 2009
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/2/1/n2414246.htm
Xinhua, September 27, 2008
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-09/23/content_10095057.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s Agriculture Hit by International Crisis

2009 will likely be the most difficult year for Chinese agriculture in the 21st century, according to No. 1 Notice of the Chinese Communist Party and State Council on February 1, 2009. “At present, the international financial crisis continues to spread and the world economy is slowing down significantly. The negative impact on our Mainland China’s agriculture and countryside development has constantly emerging, said the document issued through Xinhua.

Source: China Ministry of Finance, February 2, 2009
http://www.ccgp.gov.cn/gysh/qtlb/nysb/815546.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Notable Trend in Key Personnel Changes in the Party

20 of the 31 Secretaries of Communist Party’s Provincial Organization Departments are “monks from outside,” Nanfang Daily reported. 11 of the 20 previously held posts at the Party’s central committee, 9 transferred from other provinces. There are signs that the tendency may accelerate in 2009. Within the past two months, 3 Secretaries of the Party’s Provincial Organization Departments were changed. None of the new officials are from local.

Source: Nanfang Daily, January 19, 2009
http://epaper.nddaily.com/A/html/2009-01/19/content_689692.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Party Leader Rebukes Debate on Freedom of Speech

Jia Qinglin, Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Number 4 Party leader, published a strongly worded article to scold those who call for freedom. In a article published in Party Magazine Qiu Shi (Seeking the Truth) on January 16, 2008, Jia wrote:”(We must) continue to uphold the correct political direction, steadfastly walk along the unique Chinese socialist political road; build a solid defense against Western Two-party or Multi-party system; against the Two-House, Three-Power Center system and various other wrong ideas.”

Jia’s comment was a clear attempt to squelch the recent debate on freedom in Chinese official media.

In January 2009, three articles in Chinese Media stirred up great interest among Chinese people:
Beijing Daily (January 13):“Seeking the Truth Cannot Separate from Freedom of Speech”;
People’s Daily (January 13): “How Could Government Officials Survive Internet Scrutity” ;
Yan Huang Chun Qiu (January, 2009): “Constitution Politics: The Demand for China’s National Revival” .

These articles and the fact they passed the censor, and Jia’s quick rebuttal were seen as a sign of heated debate among Chinese top leaders.

Source: Yazhou Zhoukan, February 2, 2009 
http://www.yzzk.com/cfm/Content_Archive.cfm?Channel=ag&Path=3188660351/05ag3.cfm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics