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Briefings - 771. page

China’s State Media Highly Tout the China Dream

Recently, the “China Dream” has become a very hot phrase in China’s media. A Xinhua article goes so far as to say that "the China dream should also be the world dream.” 

The article claims that the "China Dream" is becoming the biggest feature of today’s China and it may become one of the most popular political terminologies over the next decade. The author stated, “For the world, the implications of the China dream are three-fold: 1) The dream of the Chinese people will enrich the connotations of human rights. From now on, happiness, values, and the rights of the people will mark the distinct imprint of China rather than reflect the universal Western values; 2) China’s development model and path will enrich the meaning of a big country’s development. Modernization and globalization will be marked by the distinctive imprint of China, rather than by the Western monopoly on discourse; 3) China’s international responsibility and its contribution will enrich the connotations of international relations. The international system and international norms will be marked by the distinct imprint of China instead of being an extension of Western regulations.” 
“China is the only non-religious country … and it is the only country that will not only revive China’s civilization, but will also revive Western countries alternative ideology of socialist thought. … The rise of China is our unshirkable historical mission.” 
“Therefore, while the China dream is blowing the horn of reviving Chinese civilization, it is also opening a whole new era of world dreams.” 
Source: Xinhua, March 6, 2013 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-03/06/c_124423313.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

87 People Arrested Since March 1 for Violating HK Baby Formula Limits

A new amendment to Hong Kong’s export and import law took effect on March 1, 2013, which allows persons who are 16 years old or above to carry only two cans, or 1.8 kg, of baby formula with them when they leave Hong Kong. Violators face fines of up to HK$500,000 (US$64,500) and two years in prison. In the past two years, the shortage of baby formula in Hong Kong has been acute because the milk that is widely distributed in Mainland China is often tainted. Mainland Chinese parents no long trust the quality of mainland-produced infant formula, so they come to Hong Kong to purchase baby formula because of its high quality and inexpensive price.

In the past several days, 87 people have been arrested in Hong Kong for violating the new limit on the amount of infant formula that can be taken to the mainland.

Source: Xinhua, March 5, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/gangao/2013-03/05/c_124419631.htm  
http://www.hkcna.hk/content/2013/0305/181785.shtml
http://www.hkcna.hk/content/2013/0304/181666.shtml
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/hk-sets-baby-formula-limits-033002438.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China Review News: China to Establish More Aircraft Carrier Harbors for More Combat Tasks

On March 1, 2013, China Review News published an article titled, “Expert: China to Establish More Aircraft Carrier Harbors for More Combat Tasks in the Future.” On February 27, 2013, China’s first aircraft carrier the "Liaoning," docked for the first time at a military port in Qingdao after having left its former home port in Dalian on February 26, 2013. According to the article, China will build more aircraft carriers for combat tasks and will establish a harbor system with several harbors where aircraft carriers can dock.

Source: China Review News, March 1, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/5/4/3/102454307.html?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=102454307&mdate=0301114856

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Xinhua: With Rapid Urbanization, Who Will Grow Grain in China?

By the end of 2011, the number of Chinese in urban areas reached 51.3 percent of the population; more than 250 million migrant workers from the countryside reside in cities. “To solve the problem of ‘who will grow grain’ tomorrow is an urgent priority.”

“On the one hand, rapid urbanization has resulted in the loss of high quality arable land, a mass departure of rural young adults, a continuous increase in labor costs, and a lack of successors for food production. On the other hand, with rapid economic growth and rising incomes, the structure of the Chinese diet has been changing rapidly. The amount that many families spend on meat exceeds their spending on staple foods, which has caused a surge in the demand for feed grain.”

Source: Xinhua, March 3, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-03/03/c_114869161.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China News: General Staff Headquarters Announced Military Is Ready for War

China News recently reported that the General Staff Headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) declared that the Chinese military is ready for war. The Army has planned over forty exercises this year across different regions as well as different branches of the military. Representatives from the General Staff Headquarters suggested that the military is focusing on strengthening its capabilities of guarding China’s core national security interests; the army is now on high alert with a high readiness for war. The key focus of the planned exercises is the joint combat capabilities among the army, the navy, the air force, as well as the China’s missile and nuclear forces. The anti-missile troops and the military police forces are also part of the grand exercise plan to be ready for war.
Source: China News, February 26, 2013
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/02-26/4598033.shtml
http://mili.cn.yahoo.com/ypen/20130228/1629788_1.html
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

HSBC February PMI Number Reached a Four-Month Low

Economic Information, a daily newspaper under Xinhua, recently reported on the February HSBC PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) number for the Chinese manufacturing industry. The February number was 50.4, which was the lowest in four months. Experts expressed the belief that the primary cause of the decline in the PMI was the high pressure on the export side, especially as the demand from the United States suffered a decline. Some also thought the slowness caused by the Chinese New Year celebration was another factor affecting the low PMI number. Many small and mid-sized manufacturers in the Chinese coastal area are experiencing difficulties in their operations. PMI is an indicator of financial activity reflecting the purchase managers’ acquisition of goods and services. A PMI number below 50 typically reflects a decline.
Source: Economic Information, February 26, 2013
http://dz.jjckb.cn/www/pages/webpage2009/html/2013-02/26/content_71548.htm?div=-1
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

CRN: China Is Tightening Its Currency Policy

China Review News (CRN) recently reported that the Chinese central bank has started withdrawing RMB 910 billion yuan from the open market. Experts expressed the belief that this is a sign that the Chinese government is tightening up its currency policy. There are three forces behind this move: (1) Since the last quarter of 2012, capital inflow has significantly increased; (2) The interest rate before the Chinese New Year has remained stable, which indicates an ample currency supply; (3) There is an expectation of increased inflation and real estate prices are high. It seems the central bank is attempting to limit the currency supply in order to control the level of money lending activities. However, since the economic recovery is still weak, it may be too early to predict an interest rate hike. 
Source: China Review News, March 2, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/5/5/1/102455150.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102455150&mdate=0302082735
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Sanctioned Chinese Firm Profits from Transactions with Iran

Li Fangwei, also known as Karl Lee, the person-in-charge of the operation of the Dalian Metallurgy & Minerals Co., a firm sanctioned by the U.S. for exporting missile parts to Iran, is still making millions in profit from the company’s transactions. Several officials responsible for overseeing the Western countries and the United Nations sanctions said that, since 2009, when he was sued by the New York District Attorney, Li Fangwei has received at least US$10 million in profit from illegally trading with Iran.

Trade sanctions are the major means for the international community to stop Iran from developing its nuclear weapons program. Li has been accused of continuing his company’s illegal provision of materials to Iran. This may be related to Iran, which is very clever at evading the international sanctions and may also be related to China’s export restrictions policy. Although it is difficult to quantify the support that foreign companies and individuals have provided to Iran’s nuclear and missile program, analysts believe that Iran cannot independently manufacture some important components.

Li told Reuters that Iran continues to propose the commercial requirements to him, but he provides only legitimate goods, such as iron and steel products. Li also denied the charge that he has sold any missiles or nuclear related products since a few years ago, when the United States began the sanctions against Iran. However security officials overseeing the United Nations’ sanctions accused Li of adopting deceptive means to continue these illegal transactions with Iran, including changing the company’s name in order to sell Iran advanced alloys, Chinese or foreign-made uranium enrichment, and missile parts. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that China has always abided by international regulations on trade restrictions.

Source: BBC Chinese, March 1, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/03/130301_china_iran.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military