Briefings – Page 834

China Launched a Second Satellite for Venezuela

On September 29, 2012, China News reported that China just successfully launched a second satellite for Venezuela, named VRSS-1. The satellite was delivered by the Long March II-4 rocket. The VRSS-1 is a remote sensing satellite with a design based on the Chinese CAST2000 satellite platform developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The satellite was actually manufactured by China Great Wall Industry Group Co., Ltd. In the year 2008, China successfully launched a communications satellite for Venezuela as well. This new launch is the 168th mission for the Long March rocket program.

Source: China News, September 29, 2012

http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/09-29/4223249.shtml

Briefings | | October 2, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

CRN: China May Suffer Low Quality Growth

China Review News (CRN) recently published a commentary on the decline in the quality of China’s economic growth. In the year 1980, an investment of RMB 1 yuan could result in RMB 4.1 yuan worth of return in GDP. However in year 2011, an RMB 1 yuan investment brought only RMB 1.8 yuan worth of GDP return. China’s model of high government investment in economic growth results in a weakness in the promotion of quality domestic consumption. The lowered quality is reflected in the inability to match supply with the decreased international demand. Meanwhile, China’s government run financial market suffers from very low efficiency in capital utilization. The private sector has much higher productivity but cannot access sufficient credit to obtain loans. The situation is made even worse when higher inflation and asset bubbles are added to the mix. The commentator called for tax cuts, breaking up monopolies, and improving financial support to the private sector.

Source: China Review News, September 25, 2012

http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1022/4/6/3/102246367.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102246367&mdate=0925065247

Briefings | | October 2, 2012 | Economy/Resources

People’s Daily: 55,500 Airline Tickets between China and Japan Cancelled

People’s Daily carried an article that the Japanese newspaper, Yomiuri Shimbun, had originally published, saying that the tension between China and Japan was affecting airline travel. The two major Japanese airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines Corporation, reported that, by the close of the day on September 25, 2012, 55,500 ticket reservations for the period of September to November for flights between China and Japan had been cancelled. The head of All Nippon Airways told the reporter that the airline was using smaller airplanes to deal with the cancellations and had not reduced the total number of flights. He admitted that the cancellations would have a huge impact on the airline’s business but hoped that the volume would pick up once the Japanese companies reopened their businesses in China.

Source: People’s Daily, September 27, 2012
http://japan.people.com.cn/35463/7962771.html

Briefings | | October 1, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

BBC: The Chief Medical Examiner Questioned the Evidence in Gu Kailai’s Murder Case

Wang Xuemei, the Chief Medical examiner with the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, published an article on a microblog in which she openly questioned the conclusion that Neil Haywood, the British businessman, died of cyanide poisoning. Wang wrote that she was deeply disappointed in the conclusion as to the cause of Neil Haywood’s death. She stated that the conclusion was seriously lacking in facts and scientific proof. Her article also implied that there were others who benefited from such a conclusion in this murder case.

Wang is the deputy director with the Technical and Information Research Center of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Chief Medical Examiner, and Vice Chairman of Chinese Medical Examiner’s Association.

Source: BBC Chinese, September 27, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/chinese_news/2012/09/120927_wang_xuemei_gu_kailai.shtml

Briefings | | October 1, 2012 | Government/Politics

China Issues Three White Books Regarding the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands

On September 25, 2012, while the tension between China and Japan over the sovereignty dispute on the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands continues to escalate, Beijing’s State Council Information Office issued three White Books. They include:

The Diaoyu Islands Are China’s Permanent Territory [1]

The United States and Japan’s Private Deal over the Diaoyu Islands Is Illegal and Invalid [2]

China Will Resolutely Fight to Safeguard the Sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands [3]

Sources: Xinhua, September 25, 2012

[1] http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-09/25/c_113202983.htm

[2] http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-09/25/c_113203118.htm

[3] http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-09/25/c_113203773.htm

Briefings | | September 28, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Ten New Warnings to Officialdom Widely Circulated on the Internet

Qiushi Theory, which is the CCP’s official publication to interpret the CCP’s major policies and theories, published an article discussing how the Internet era has placed new pressure on Party officials. Many Party officials have thus become alert and are fearful of the Internet. To illustrate its point, the article quoted some new information that has been circulating widely on the Internet: “Ten New Warnings to Officialdom.”

The 10 warnings are: 1) do not talk nonsense during an interview; 2) do not smoke famous brand name cigarettes while attending a meeting; 3) do not wear expensive watches while conducting business activities; 4) do not drive a famous car when performing public service activities; 5) do not hold an umbrella during grassroots inspections; 6) do not copy famous articles when submitting something for publication; 7) do not use twitter when you are dating someone; 8) do not keep a diary about your former married life; 9) do not smile when a natural disaster occurs; 10) do not be the spokesman during emergent events.

Sources: Qiushi Theory, September 25, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/hqwg/2012/201218/201209/t20120925_183511.htm http://bbs.chinacourt.org/index.php?showtopic=453322

Briefings | | September 28, 2012 | Government/Politics

China’s Influence in Africa Continues

To date, China has launched 31 Confucius Institutes and five Confucius Classrooms in 26 African countries. Some have incorporated the Chinese language into a system in which students receive an academic degree or college credits.

In the past two years, China has provided 5,710 government scholarships to African countries. It plans to implement the “African Talent Project.” Over the next three years, China will train 30,000 professionals in different fields and provide 18,000 government scholarships, as well as offer job training and support.

In recent years, China has been advancing into Africa by means of the economy and culture and continues to increase its influence in the continent. Through 2011, China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for the third consecutive year. The trade volume between the two countries has reached a record $166.3 billion. As many as 2000 Chinese companies have made direct investments in Africa, totaling $14.7 billion.

Source: BBC Chinese, September 26, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/chinese_news/2012/09/120926_china_africa.shtml

Briefings | | September 27, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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