Briefings – Page 1218

Chinese Hack Computers in U.S. Capitol, Korea and India

On Wednesday June 11, U.S. Congressman Wolf said the FBI had found that four of the computers in his office had been hacked by people working from inside China, beginning in 2006. Congressman Chris Smith said two of his computers had been attacked, in December 2006 and March 2007. Both Congressmen said the compromised computers contained information about political dissidents from around the world.

China accounted for 54 percent of the cyberattacks in Korea, according to the Korea Institute of Information Society & Cryptology in late May. In early May, Indian officials stated that over the past one and a half years, China had mounted almost daily attacks on Indian official computer networks, including an attack on the NIC (National Infomatics Centre), which was aimed at the National Security Council.

Source:
Washington Times, June 11, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061101208.html?nav=rss_email/components
Yonhap News, May 20, 2008 http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/techscience/2008/05/20/0601000000AEN20080520004100315.HTML
The Times of India, May 5, 2008
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3010288,prtpage-1.cms
Chinesescope, The Red Hackers, May 16, 2005
http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/456/148/

Briefings | | June 12, 2008 | US-China Relations

Earthquake Stricken Military R&D Base Resumes Operations

A military research and development base in Sichuan under the General Armament Department (GAD) of the People’s Liberation Army has resumed normal operations for all of its major R&D programs, Xinhua reported on June 10. The base is responsible for several major national R&D programs. At the time of the May 12 earthquake, some equipment was going through testing and part of a power building on the base collapsed causing a power shortage.

Source: Xinhua, June 10, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2008-06/10/content_8337590.htm

Briefings | | June 12, 2008 | Defense/Military

Communist Youth League Seeks New Image

The Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) opened its 16th National Congress in Beijing on Tuesday June 10. Hong Kong Takungpao published a commentary article titled: “Inciting Preaches Only Yields the Opposite Effect; Youth League Seeks to Change its Image”. The article said that as the major source for future Party leaders, the youth league members have been portrayed as purely political figures, while lacking abilities in economic and public affairs management. The recent appointment of Lu Hao as the new head of the Communist Youth League is an indication of change and an effort towards diversification. Moreover, the youth league is trying to focus more on humanitarian support and provide consultation to the younger generation realizing that preaching ideology no longer serves its purposes.

Source: Takingpao, Hongkong, June 10, 2008
http://www.takungpao.com/news/08/06/10/BJ-917350.htm

Briefings | | June 11, 2008 | Government/Politics

Chinese Media Call for Boycott of London Metropolitan Univ for Supporting Tibet

Chinese internet users have formed large scale protests on the internet against London Metropolitan University and called boycotting the university, the Global Times reported. On May 21, London Metropolitan University presented the Dalai Lama with an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy.

“It is disappointing to see that the London Metropolitan University is actively recruiting college students from China while it openly supports Tibetan independence and disregards the Chinese people’s feelings” said the article, “Boycotting the London Metropolitan University is a reflection of Chinese people’s general consensus.”

The statistics published by England Higher Education Statistic Bureau show that there were a total of 49,595 Chinese students studying in England in 2006/2007, the highest among all overseas students.

Source: Global Times, June 10, 2008
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/14549/7359660.html

Briefings | | June 11, 2008 | Government/Politics

Korea Military States It’s Impossible to Give Up Nuclear Deterrence Strategy

Xinhua reports: A spokesperson of the Korea People’s Army at Panmunjomong said on June 9 that it’s impossible for the Korean military to give up nuclear deterrence under the current situation when the U.S. and South Korea are actively preparing for war against (North) Korea. The statement is responding to the recent talk between the defense secretaries of the United States and South Korea.

Source: Xinhua, June 8, 2008
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/1029/42354/7357028.html

Briefings | | June 9, 2008 | Defense/Military

China Hosts Its Annual College Entrance Exam

China held its annual college entrance exam on June 7 and 8 in most regions. It is the largest government-organized exam in the world. This year, the number of participating high school students reached 10.5 million, the highest in history. They are competing for 5.9 million college student spots which is a 5 percent increase from last year. There were a total of 2500 test regions, 8700 centers, 360,000 test sites, and 1 million supervision staff nationwide participated.

Source: People’s Daily, June 7, 2008
http://edu.people.com.cn/GB/7352235.html

Briefings | | June 8, 2008 | Information/Technology

Losing Low Cost Advantages – China’s Auto Parts Industry to Lose Trillions in Orders

The latest research results released by AlixPartners, an international consulting firm, suggest that as the value of the yuan and the price of raw materials have increased, the cost of China’s auto parts have gone up 16 percent. Foreign buyers are thus losing interest in China’s auto parts market because of the rise in cost and are gradually reducing their orders. It was estimated that China will lose US$16 trillion in auto parts orders by 2010.

Source: China Stock Daily, June 6, 2008 http://www.cnstock.com/paper_new/html/2008-06/06/content_61922543.htm

Briefings | | June 8, 2008 | Economy/Resources

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