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High Administrative Cost and China’s Political System

The root cause of high administration expenditure lies in the Chinese system and a deep-down system reform is the only way to resolve the problem, said the People’s Daily website. Major administrative and functional coordination is implemented by government or quasi-government entities that extend their control throughout the country via various layers of government entities. Centralized system brings weak local governments that are derivative of the central government. Too many layers of government also contribute to the high administrative cost of the government.

Source: People’s Daily website, September 10, 2008
http://theory.people.com.cn/GB/49150/49152/7911327.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua: New Round of Conflicts between U.S. and Russia

The recent conflict between Russia and Georgia was in fact a forceful rebuttal launched by Russia against the United States’ expansion in Russia’s neighborhood, but not likely leading to major confrontation, said Xinhua.  The article listed Russia’s embargo on Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, support of the Palestine’s Hamas, arms sales to Venezuela, Syria and Iran; and cooperation with Iran on civil application of nuclear technology, all as proactive responses to the United States. “From the long-term perspective, if Russia exercises adequate self-control, the situation would not deteriorate and the relationship between Russia and the West would not suffer major setbacks.”

Source: Xinhua, September 10, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-09/10/content_9898193.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Study Times: Warning of Mounting Social Unrest

The social unrest in Weng’an is not an isolated incident, said Study Times, the publication of the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party.  The article cited official statistics on the increase of social unrests, 8,700 in 1993, 87,000 in 2003 and over 90,000 in 2006.  “The upward trend of numbers continues.”  The article held that the Weng’an incident is representative of major social unrest in recent years in terms of the number of participants, duration, intensity of conflicts, and their ramifications.”  

On June 28, over ten thousand local residents gathered in front of government buildings in Weng’an County, Guizhou Province, over the investigation of the death of a female high school student.  Angry crowds torched the police station, county government building, and Civil Affairs Bureau building. 1500 anti-riot police arrived on Sunday morning and used tear gas and high voltage batons at the scene. It was reported that at least three people died, 200 people were arrested including 30 middle school students, and 150 injured.

Source: Xinhua, September 8, 2008
http://news/xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-09/08/content_9847136.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

State Media Silent on Anniversary of Mao’s Death

September 9 marked the 32nd anniversary of the death of Mao Zedong, the former Chairman and idol of China. Chinese state media had little coverage and remained low key on the anniversary of Mao’s death. Mao’s name has apparently been one of the sensitive names about which the government discourages the open discussion. One posting on the issue was found on house.focus.cn titled: “Chinese people will never forget Mao Zedong”. But when the posting was opened, a message jumped out: “this posting has been deleted after inspection.”

Source: Voice of America, September 9, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2008-09-09-voa47.cfm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua Defending Increases in China’s Defense Budget

Xinhua published a series of articles in the past few days defending the increases in China’s defense budget and further elaborating on how China feels about the speculation from the West over the lack of transparency in the defense budget.

One of the articles cited: “There is an unwritten rule that exists among US intelligent agencies that China’s publicized defense budget only accounts for half or one third of the actual spending. Therefore, the more information we share, more speculation it would bring. … Apparently, China’s defense budget has become their targeted topic.”

On September 5, Japan issued the 2008 Defense White Paper, in which, it named China for lack of transparency in its military spending.

Source: Xinhua, September 9, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-09/09/content_9872294.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Phoenix TV Commentator Recommends Using Lawsuits to Attack Foreign Media Defaming China

Hong Kong Phoenix TV commentator He Liangliang published an article in Xinhua’s newspaper International Herald Tribune under the title “Using Lawsuits to Attack the Foreign Media Making Fake News, Threaten the Media Defaming China.” He believes no matter whether (China) wins or loses the lawsuit, it will be sufficient to threaten and shock the Western media who think they will pay no price to defaming China. He says that China should organize a specialized talent team, prepare fully, and that China now already has such a capability. He believes such action can make the target media lose their reputation, audience, and advertisement market.

Source: Xinhua, September 9, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-09/09/content_9866940.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua Reports Iranian President’s Comment: American Imperialism Has Come to the End

Xinhua posted a news article first reported by China News Agency about Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s comments on U.S. policy and its challenge to other country’s interests and national integrity. The report quoted Ahmadinejad who said the U.S. is facing a deadlock and continuous failure in every aspects, “American imperialism has come to a dead end, American philosophy, culture, and morale are no longer appealing to other people.” “No country likes American imperialism, its interference in all issues including international issues not only is of no help to solve the problems, it makes the problems more complicated.”

Source: Xinhua, September 8, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-09/08/content_9846850.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Jane’s Information Group Criticized for Hyping “China Threat” Theory

An article from Global Times criticized Jane’s Information Group for hyping the “China Threat” theory in its recently published report.  The report has predicted that China was to grow to be the largest weapons exporting country in the world. The article claimed that the military expense quoted by Jane’s Information Group was overstated without any support. It said that some western countries have never trusted the 2007 White Paper that China submitted. The article also said that the US needs to take the blame for over-hyping the “China Threat” theory. In the mean time, China will continue to grow its military power regardless of the speculations, cited the article.

Source:
Xinhua, September 7, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-09/07/content_9820428.htm
Jane’s Industry Quarterly – China, India and Russia In The Changing Global Defence Market, September 3, 2008
http://www.janes.com/media/releases/pc080903_1.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military