Geo-Strategic Trend - 216. page

According to a Chongqing Daily report republished by Xinhua, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, while attending a forum in Chongqing, expressed a strong interest in the activities of “sing-read-speak-spread,” a musical campaign to mark this year’s 90th anniversary of the Communist Party’s birth. Schröder told the reporter that he would very much like to listen to Chongqing’s “red” song [Note: the revolutionary song of the Chinese Communist Party] if he gets a chance next time. The report said, “Schröder believes that ‘sing-read-speak-spread’ is a very creative idea. It allows people to understand history and tradition more clearly. … Schröder expressed that there are many civilian chorus and art groups in Germany’s many cities. [He said] ‘I hope the German art groups will communicate with Chongqing’s Red Song Group to promote cultural prosperity together.”

Source: Xinhua, June 20, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-06/20/c_121555597_2.htm

An official Chinese media article commented on the statement of Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the U.S. military will hunt down and kill the new Al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al Zawahiri. “Although bin Laden is dead, the terrorist organizations remain. Information shows that bin Laden’s death has provoked terrorists’ retaliatory emotions. Some of the retaliatory verbiage and actions leave the U.S. no respite. It has no alternative but to deal with the anti-terrorism situation in the ‘post-Laden era.’” “After decades of development, the al-Qaeda organization has a solid foundation and a rich network. The U.S. counter-terrorism operations may intensify terrorists’ retaliations. The recent terrorist attacks demonstrate that the U.S. is already involved in a stalemate with al-Qaeda in cycles of ‘anti-terrorism – retaliation – more anti-terrorism – more retaliation.’”

Source: Science and Technology Daily, June 21, 2011
http://digitalpaper.stdaily.com:81/kjrb/html/2011-06/21/content_108367.htm?div=-1

Voice of America (VOA) recently reported that leaders who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan denounced the U.S. National Missile Defense (NMD) system. They pointed out that a single-sided missile defense system will damage global strategic stability and security. The U.S. had suggested that a European missile defense system can safeguard the region against Iranian missiles. However Russia is concerned about the vulnerability of its own nuclear deterrence capabilities if such a European system is built. The President of Iran recently suggested that Central Asian countries should “create a new world order.” However, after the Summit, both the Chinese and Russian presidents called for a “more constructive Iranian attitude.”

Source: Voice of America, June 15, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/international/20110615-SCO-SUMMIT-123960309.html

China Economic Weekly carried a commentary questioning why Europeans has always controlled the IMF and whether it is a “world organization” or a “European organization.” It suggested that having members from developing countries on the management team of the IMF would be consistent with its legitimacy. The article refers to a statement made by IMF Executive Directors representing BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in May demanding “adequate representation of emerging market and developing members in the Fund’s management.”

As to the successor to the head of the IMF, the article points to the U.S., who is the biggest stockholder of the IMF, and said that the US has been controlling IMF operations behind the scenes but with no intention to fight for the title. However, “the US is unlikely to support any candidates outside of the European countries because it does not want to go against the European countries." The article quoted a number of people, including Amado Boudou, Minister of the Economy of Argentina, and Angel Gurría of OECO, who stated that it is time to break tradition and have someone other than a European hold the position.

Source: China Economic Weekly, June 13, 2011
http://www.ceweekly.cn/html/Article/20110613397335060.html

A Xinhua article commented on the New York Times report that the U.S. plans to invest US$70 million to develop a "shadow" Internet system and a “communication network of mobile phones” to help the opposition in Iran, Syria, and Libya avoid Internet censorship. The article said, “The U.S. spares no effort to develop such techniques. Its purpose is nothing but to have American values infiltrate other countries. … In the past decades, the U.S. spread its values mainly through broadcasters such as ‘Voice of America,’ ‘Radio Free Europe,’ and ‘Radio Free Asia.’ With the Internet boom, the U.S. has obviously moved the main battlefield of ideology to cyberspace.” 

The People’s Liberation Army Daily stated on June 14, that the live-fire military exercises that Vietnam planned for the South China Sea will intensify the conflicts in the region. "China resolutely opposes any country unrelated to the South China Sea issue meddling in the dispute. China opposes the internationalization and broadening of the South China Sea issue," said the military newspaper. “The countries concerned should stop the unilateral actions that broaden and complicate the South China Sea dispute and should no longer make untrue and irresponsible remarks.”

Source: PLA Daily, June 14, 2011.

The People’s Daily (overseas edition) rejected the commentaries of the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor which suggested the possible role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a military alliance. Titled “SCO is not an Eastern NATO,” the article states, “Some countries are on guard as their attention turns to the SCO. …The remarks [of the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor] reflect the mindset of those who are not willing to accept the fact that their ‘world police’ status is being challenged. … The SCO is not and will not develop into a military alliance, but the maintenance of regional security has been its important mission.” “The SCO military exercises target regional terrorism, and are different in nature from the recent military exercises that have been held frequently in various world regions with a color of military alliance.” “The killing of bin Laden is merely a symbolic achievement in one phase of global anti-terrorism, in addition to temporarily uplifting U.S. President Obama’s approval rating.”

Source: People’s Daily, June 15, 2011
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/14902479.html

On June 6, 2011, during his visit to Cuba, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited an oil drilling field where Great Wall Drilling Co. (GWDC), a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), is arranging to provide drilling services to Cuba. Upon completion, the oil well will be the largest land drilling well in South America with a depth of 7,000 meters, and 6,200 meters of horizontal displacement. Since August 2005, GWDC has drilled 63 wells along the coast from Havana to Varadero, Cuba. The total output of petroleum and natural gas from these wells has reached 13 million barrels.

Source: Xinhua, June 9, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-06/09/c_121509938.htm