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Global Times: Zhang Dejiang Met with HK Opposition Members

Global Times recently published an editorial discussing the Hong Kong trip of Zhang Dejiang, who is the Standing Committee Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress. Zhang’s itinerary included a meeting with the opposition members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. This was the first time the HK Opposition has had a direct face-to-face meeting with a member of the top Communist leadership from the Mainland. The critical message from the Opposition members was their strong dissatisfaction with the sitting Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying; They asked very clearly that the central government replace him. Another topic was to allow Opposition members to enter the Mainland. The whole meeting was calm and peaceful, which was unusual. The Global Times editorial also, unusually, positioned the HK Opposition as “insiders” of the HK established political system. The editorial further commented that the Opposition in the Legislative Council should be considered a part of the “special establishment camp,” which is more welcome as compared to those who ignore the Hong Kong Basic Law. 
Source: Global Times, May 19, 2016
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2016-05/8948562.html
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Xinhua: The European Parliament Voted against China’s Market Economy Status

Xinhua recently reported that the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution rejecting China’s bid for market economy status. The resolution mentioned that some EU companies and labor unions expressed deep concern about the threat of potential unemployment and even some EU companies’ survival after granting China such status. The resolution emphasized that China has to first meet the five major EU standards for a market economy before this status can be granted. Current rules for anti-dumping and countervailing investigation procedures remain. However, China is now the second largest trade partner of the European Union. The Parliament said it cannot violate the WTO (World Trade Organization) regulations and that the European Commission should work with other trade partners to come up with a unified interpretation of the term “Market Economy.” The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by insisting that its accession agreement to the WTO provides for automatic Market Economy Status after 15 years and that the EU should not continue treating China unfairly.
Source: Xinhua, May 13, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2016-05/13/c_128979160.htm
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The Paper: The U.S. May Lift the Vietnam Arms Export Ban

Well-known new Chinese news site The Paper recently reported that the U.S. Defense Secretory testified at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, expressing the current administration’s intent to lift the arms export ban on Vietnam. No details are yet available; however this statement was made before President Obama’s planned visit to Vietnam. The United States partially lifted the ban in 2014 to help Vietnam patrol the seas. U.S. officials said then that, in the future, the U.S. might consider selling Vietnam weapons that can be mounted on aircraft. Last year when U.S. Defense Secretory Carter visited Vietnam, he made the promise to provide Vietnam with a US$18 million loan. In the meantime, Tom Malinowski, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, explained that multiple things need to be considered before lifting the ban, including human rights conditions. 
Source: The Paper, April 29, 2016
http://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1462671
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Further Criticism of the War Mentality

After Wu Jianmin, China’s former Ambassador to France, criticized the idea of having a war against some countries, Yuan Nansheng, the Party Secretary and Vice President of the Foreign Affairs College [a Beijing university for diplomats] and former Consul General of China’s Consulate in Los Angles, published an article to further support the criticism of China’s "angry youth" (referring to people who are ignorant but impulsive) who can jeopardize China’s diplomacy.

Yuan’s article was published in the magazine Sharing the Same Boat. Phoenix republished the article. In his article, Yuan listed several examples throughout China’s history that showed how certain people, who were ignorant of their country’s real situation, out of narrow or extreme nationalism, promoted war with other nations. In the end, they ruined the possibility of reaching a diplomatic solution and brought disaster to their country.

"On the one hand, [we] should realize that this ‘angry youth’ phenomenon represents a certain public opinion that can be used as a diplomatic card; on the other hand, [we] should prevent it from restricting the space of our diplomatic options and blocking us from reaching a reasonable and necessary [diplomatic] compromise."

Source: Phoenix, April 13, 2016
http://news.ifeng.com/a/20160413/48447703_0.shtml

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Wu Jianmin: Understanding China’s Foreign Policy

On March 30, 2016, Wu Jianmin, China’s former Ambassador to France and former President of the Foreign Affairs College [a Beijing university for diplomats] gave a speech at the Foreign Affairs College. Wu outlined three elements for understanding China’s foreign policies:

First, only through opening up can China fully grasp how the world is changing.

Second, the world’s new trend is "peace and development," which differs from the previous "war and revolution." "However, there are still people who want to have a war. [They think that] if China can’t beat the U.S., at least China can take on the Philippines for a fight. However, these people have absolutely misunderstood the trend."

Third, China’s foreign affairs strategy is: No expansion, no hegemony, and no alliances.

Wu criticized General Luo Yuan for being a military hawk and promoting war. Wu also criticized Global Times for not understanding the main trend in the world and, instead, frequently publishing extreme articles to portray the world as a big mess.

Source: QQ.com, April 2, 2016
http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5NDMzNTk2MA==&mid=412066191&idx=4&sn=3cf0a163591e5ed25e4bd99b025acc0c&scene=1&srcid

=0402Xw5TZ3walLEgAmY5VkH0&from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0
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Global Times’ Rebuttal to Wu Jianmin

After Wu Jianmin, China’s former Ambassador to France, commented that Global Times didn’t understand the main world trend, Global Times Chief Editor Hu Xijin published a rebuttal.

Hu said, "Wu represents the mentality of the old Chinese diplomats; only they know foreign policy. The media’s [different] opinions are intended to create trouble and thus are the evil source to stir up nationalism." "Wu seems like a typical ‘dove’ [to foreign countries] in diplomat circles, but he is very ‘hawkish’ toward ‘nationalism’ when it is discussed in China’s media."

After the rebuttal was published, an article commenting on that rebuttal was published on the Internet. The article argued, "When Global Times talked about freedom of speech, it openly argued that ‘there is a boundary for freedom of speech in the world.’ Then should there be a boundary for articles related to foreign policy? To appeal to the readers and not hurt the ruling authority, the media look for other [safer] topics [to write about]. They set ‘foreign countries’ as their target and create tension in foreign relations. Will this benefit China’s long-term interest and the world’s peaceful development? Or will it limit the room [for China] to define its foreign policies?"

Source
[1] Phoenix, April 7, 2016
http://news.ifeng.com/a/20160407/48382356_0.shtml
[2] 21ccom.net, April 8, 2016
http://www.21ccom.net/html/2016/zlwj_0408/3102.html

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China Times: North Korean Media Criticized Mainland China

The major Taiwanese newspaper, China Times, recently reported that North Korean official media published articles criticizing the Mainland government without directly pointing it out by name. After the United Nations passed the resolution sanctioning North Korea, the primary government-run news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) suggested that a “certain big country surrendered to the United States,” who obviously represents the “evil imperialist forces.” The KCNA further pointed out that the “certain big country” supported the “evil” by “abandoning the shared fruits of victory cemented with blood without hesitation.” The report promised to continue raising the “peaceful nuclear sword” against the United States and its “unfair world order.” Mainland China did implement the sanctions that the recently passed UN resolution required.
Source: China Times, April 6, 2016
http://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20160406000705-260309
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China Imposes Restrictions on Trade with North Korea

On April 5, 2016, the Ministry of Commerce of China announced that, in order to implement relevant Security Council resolutions [prohibiting nuclear weapons development and ballistic missile activity], it was imposing an immediate ban on imports of North Korean coal, iron ore, gold, titanium, vanadium and rare earths. Some imports for civilian use would be allowed so long as they were not connected to nuclear or missile programs or U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013) and 2094 (2013) and 2270 (2016). 

The Ministry of Commerce of China also announced that sales of jet fuel to North Korea were prohibited, but commercial aircraft outside of North Korea would be allowed to refuel for flights to North Korea. 
Source: Ministry of Commerce of China, April 5, 2016 http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/b/e/201604/20160401289770.shtml
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