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Geo-Strategic Trend - 209. page

Xinhua: China’s Global Strategy

Xinhua recently published an article discussing the strategic adjustments that are required based on the current global political environment. The article suggested that many countries in the world (such as the U.S. and Japan) are adjusting their global strategies and China needs to do the same in order to keep pace with them. The article discussed four areas for the new strategic adjustments. On the east side, China should stabilize the Asia-Pacific region as an answer to the U.S. shift of its strategic focus to the East. This stabilization effort should especially emphasize the relationship with Japan and the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations). On the north side, China should enhance its relationship with Russia, focusing on nuclear technology, space technology, and trade. On the west side, China should strengthen its ties with the Mid-Asian and West Asian countries, especially with nations that are rich in energy resources and who may be suffering from the U.S. strategy of “reducing its energy dependency.” On the south side, China should pay extra attention to the traditional “Southern” developing countries that include the African countries and the Latin American countries. Direct investments from China to these countries are growing very rapidly. 
Source: Xinhua, December 16, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-12/16/c_124095365.htm
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Jinghua Times: Some Countries Don’t Welcome the New Chinese Passport

Jinghua Times recently reported that the new version of the Chinese smart passport (which has an implanted chip) has triggered complaints from neighboring countries. The new passport includes pages with pictures and a map of China that includes disputed regions in Tibet and the South China Sea. So far, Vietnam, The Philippines, and India have complained. These countries are instead issuing the visa on a separate piece of paper instead of the visa page of the passport. Normal entry into these countries is still granted, even if the new passport is used. The United States suggested that it still considers the new passport to be a valid document and U.S. officials will still use the new passport for visa and stamps. However that does not mean the United States agrees with the borders drawn on the map. A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that neighboring countries should not overreact to the map part of the passport.

Source: Jinghua Times, November 30, 2012
http://epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2012-11/30/content_1908282.htm

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2012 EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue Concluded

The EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue concluded in Beijing on October 30, 2012. The opening ceremony of the 2012 Dialogue was held in Brussels in February 2012. Since then, close to 300 collaborative projects were completed in areas such as literature, art, philosophy, and language. A total of 22 municipal and provincial regions in China and 27 EU countries participated. A joint statement issued by both parties said that the two regions wished to continue further collaboration in the future.

Source: Xinhua, November 30, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-11/30/c_124031139.htm

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Former Chinese Diplomat Comments on U.S. Middle East Strategy

Liu Baolai, former Vice President of The Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs and former ambassador to the Middle East, published a commentary in Xinhua on the U.S. strategy in the Middle East titled, “The U.S Is Eating the Bitter Fruit of Its Middle East Strategy.” Liu said that in 2012, the U.S. Middle East strategy suffered one loss after another. He summarized them in five areas: 

1) The U.S. declined in soft power and lost the regional support of the people. (Liu’s article cited a poll that showed that 78 percent of Arabs hate Americans). 2) As the Islamic forces rise, they only use "American democracy" to attain power but they actually oppose "American democracy." They are against the U.S.-led international policies; they want to be independent. 3) Iran is growing in power. Over the past year, in the face of the U.S. threat, Iran has built up its military power, developed military enterprises, greatly strengthened its national defense, and also held a number of military exercises. 4) The four transformed Arabian countries distanced themselves from the United States. The new regimes of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen learned lessons and have adjusted their foreign policies. They changed their previous pro-American policy to one that is relatively independent and balanced. 5) The Iraq "example" effect has disappeared. Since the U.S. troops left Iraq at the end of 2011, the American model has become an empty shell. 
In the end, Liu remarked that "the Universal values" of the United States are not working. The U.S. can only eat the bitter fruits of its own acts. 
Source: Xinhua, November 28, 2012 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-11/28/c_124012685.htm
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Huanqiu: China Has to Get Used to the U.S. Diplomatic Activities in Southeast Asia

On November 20, 2012, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an article commenting on U.S. President Obama’s 6-hour visit to Burma. The article said that the Chinese Foreign Ministry is fully confident that China-Burma relations will deepen. “For the greater national interest, Burma is opening to the West. Even an elementary school pupil can see the foolishness of replacing China with the West. The IQ of the Burma leaders will not be so low, whether it is the current leader or ‘the democracy icon’ Aung San Suu Kyi, who is widely supported to be the future leader.”

The article concluded, “The United States has been engaged in big diplomatic activities in Southeast Asia. China has to get used to it. If we think too much, we are looking for trouble.”

Source: Huanqiu, November 20, 2012
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2012-11/3292142.html

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Xinhua: North Korea Reported Result of the U.S. Election for the First Time

Xinhua recently reported that the official newspaper of the North Korean Communist Party delivered the news that U.S. President Barack Obama was re-elected. Although the news appeared on the last page of the newspaper and it had only a few lines, this was the first time in history that North Korean media officially reported the U.S. election result. At the same time, the North Korean Citizens Union in Japan published a commentary calling on President Obama for a change in the U.S. attitude toward North Korea. The commentary also suggested that Mr. Obama should “review the entire history of U.S.-North Korea dialog.” Xinhua commented on the news by expressing the belief that North Korea will intensify its lobbying effort for the Obama administration to reach a peace agreement to replace the current truce agreement.
Source: Xinhua, November 12, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-11/12/c_123940582.htm
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China Radio International Launches Cairo Studio

On November 7, 2012, China Radio International (CRI), the PRC’s external propaganda broadcaster, held an inauguration ceremony for its Cairo studio in the Egyptian capital. The studio was set up in early October of 2012. It produces 16.5 hours of programming each week, broadcast by FM stations in Mauritania for the Arab countries. Its ten programs in the Arabic language consist mostly of interviews and discussions about cultural topics.

According to the director of CRI’s Middle East branch, all of the staff members at the studio are recruited locally. “By using the language style and means of communication that the audience in Arab countries can easily accept, they are introducing China’s history, culture, achievements, and ideologies to the Arab audience.”

As part of the task of producing programs tailored to local tastes, CRI has thus far commissioned the establishment of nearly 20 overseas program studios in major cities overseas.

Source: Xinhua, November 7, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-11/07/c_123927002.htm

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Xinhua: Canada Extended Review Schedule for CNOOC Acquisition of Nexen

Xinhua recently reported that Paradis, the Canadian Minister of Industry, announced on October 10, 2012, that the federal schedule for review of China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s (CNOOC’s) acquisition of the Canadian energy company Nexen will be extended for 30 more days. Under the Investment Canada Act, the transaction is subject to the approval of the Federal Government of Canada. The Act was designed to regulate transactions over CAN$330 million to ensure that Canada will enjoy a “net profit.” If the US$15.1 billion acquisition is successful, it will become China’s largest acquisition of an overseas company. Paradis’ announcement suggested that the case is under “complete, careful, and strict” review. Nexen is a global independent energy company listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. The company focuses on the development of Western Canada’s oil sands and shale gas, as well as conventional oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, offshore West Africa, and the deep-water Gulf of Mexico.
Source: Xinhua, October 12, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2012-10/12/c_123812747.htm
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