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Party Organization Department: Total Membership Reached 74 Million

Total party membership reached 74 million by the end of 2007, according to an announcement by the Organization Department of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee on July 1, the 87th anniversary of the Party. There was an increase of 2.7 million or 5.6% in party membership from the year 2006. The total number of party organizations established at the local level had reached 3.6 million, up by 99,000 from the year earlier. There were 17,600 party committees, 22,200 chief offices, and 3.2 million branch offices. Among the party members, 32.4% hold college or advanced degrees and 52% were aged 36-59. There was 1% increase of members with business managerial and specialized skills, and 0.3% increase of the students.

Source: Xinhua, July 1, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-07/01/content_8471350.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Independent TV Station Loses Signal Over China

On Monday, June 16, weeks before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, New Tang Dynasty Television’s (NTDTV) broadcast into Asia was stopped. Millions of households in China are no longer able to receive the broadcast of the largest independent Chinese-language TV network. The cause of the downed signal, according to Eutelsat Communications, the satellite operator, was due to "an anomaly to the satellite power supply system". The broadcasting of VOA programming using the same satellite, however, has not been affected. Eutelsat has declined NTDTV’s request to provide an estimate on when the signal may be restored. Kerry Hong, spokesperson for NTDTV, suspected that the “termination” was made under pressure from the Chinese government in exchange for lucrative contracts. NTDTV, widely known for being the only uncensored Chinese-language TV program broadcast over China, has been using the Eutelsat satellite service since 2002.

Source: NTDTV, July 1, 2008
http://ntdtv.com/xtr/b5/2008/07/01/a159985.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Tens of Thousands of Civilians Appeal at “Petition Day” in Guangzhou

China News posted an article from the Guangming Daily reporting that tens of thousands of residents went to appeal in the rain when the Guangzhou municipal government held a city-wide public “Petition Day” on June 26, 2008. It was reported that such a large public reception of petitioning residents has never occurred in the whole country before. The problems with regards to which residents appealed were mostly related to housing, social security, and environmental protection. The article commented that the public reception is nevertheless more of a show (by the local government leaders) rather than a practical avenue for solving residents’problems.

Source: China News Agency, June 28, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/06-28/1295767.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua Article Calls Reporters without Border a tool of Western Anti-China Force

Xinhua newspaper Global Times published a commentary article attacking the organization “Reporters without Borders (RSF).” The article, titled “Uncovering ‘Anti-China Too’—‘Reporters without Border’s Inside Story, calls RSF a wandering ghost, anti-China radicals, and the front runner and tool of Western anti-China forces. The article also speculates that the U.S. can hit two birds with one stone by utilizing Menard [RSF’s Secretary General]: giving the Beijing Olympics a “negative” spot in history; and benefitting from [the fight] if Beijing retaliates against France because RSF is a French association.

Source: Xinhua, July 1, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-07/01/content_8467519_1.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Hu’s online visit û a New Channel for Chinese Styled Democracy?

Hu Jintao made a surprising online visit to Qiang Guo Forum on June 20 and chatted live with Chinese cyber fans for 22 minutes. Hu’s visit was viewed as recognition from the government to take internet as a channel for people to express their voice, according to a survey conducted by China Youth Daily after Hu’s visit. Among 2874 surveyed, 71.9 percent agreed that the government has begun to seriously take on the opinions on the internet and the cyber expression has become a new avenue to realize the Chinese styled democracy. While 56.8 percent among surveyed agreed that Hu’s visit was “a historical step”, only one in two agreed that this will help to increase Chinese citizen’s participation in social affairs.

Source: China Youth Daily, June 30, 2008
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2008-06/30/content_2243141.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Girl’s Death Sparked Unrest in Guizhou Province

Over 10,000 people gathered in front of the local police station and government buildings in Weng’an County in southwest Guizhou province Saturday, June 28, to vent anger towards the local government’s cover up of an alleged rape and murder of a female student. Angry crowd 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 baton at the scene. It was reported that at least three people died, 200 people arrested including 30 middle school students, and 150 injured.

The victim, Li Shufen, was a student from Weng’an County No. 3 High School. She was found dead in a river around midnight on June 21. After the reports from the medical examiner concluding the death as “suicide,” Li’s uncle went to the county party committee to appeal but was beaten to death. Three suspects were said to be connected to the local government authority and were released within 8 hours.

Source: The Epoch Times, June 30, 2008
http://news.epochtimes.com/gb/8/6/30/n2173202.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Thousands of Reservoirs Damaged During Sichuan Earthquake

According to the Sichuan Earthquake Relief authorities, the total of reservoirs damaged during the May 12 earthquake has reached 1,996, with an additional 193 reservoirs added June 26.  All of these reservoirs have now operated at much lower water levels. 68 of them have been completely drained out of concerns of imminent dam break and over 900 are under repairs.

Source: Xinhua, June 26, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-06/26/content_8445208.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

The Oath to Join the Party: Never Betray the Party

In an effort to keep members from abandoing the Party, the Chinese Communist Party has issued numerous publications on Party rules and regulations of membership. According to an article at the official website of Chinese Communist Party, when a new member is admitted into the Communist Party, the person must be sworn in at a ceremony where the person takes an oath. The wording of the oath has evolved over time. The first oath was adopted in late 1920. The current oath was adopted in September 1982. In spite of changes in the wording of the oath over decades, two elements remain unchanged: one shall never betray the Party and shall devote the entire life fighting for the cause of Communism.

Since December 2004 when Epoch Times published Nine Commentaries on Chinese Communist Party, over 39 millions have denounced the Chinese Communist Party.

Source: News of the Chinese Communist Party, October 30, 2007
http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64162/64172/85037/85040/6451463.html
Epoch Times, http://ninecommentaries.com/

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics