Geo-Strategic Trend - 216. page

The BBC reported that China has denied former Norwegian Prime Minister Bondevik’s visa to come to China for the conference of the “World Council of Churches.” The Norwegian Foreign Ministry lodged a diplomatic action with China but to no avail. “This is very unfortunate,” Bondevik said, “I really want to attend the meeting. I can only condemn China. It’s been almost two years since Liu Xioabo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, yet they still cannot get over it.” (Bondevik was to be the moderator for the World Councill of Churches meeting this week in Nanjing.)

Source: BBC, June 12, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/chinese_news/2012/06/120612_norway_china_visa.shtml

On June 7, 2012, President Hu Jintao announced in Beijing that China will offer a loan of $10 billion to members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to promote economic development within the security group. Hu also said that China will help train 1,500 experts from other member countries over the next three years. It will also provide 30,000 government scholarships and invite 10,000 Confucius Institute teachers and students to come to China for research and study over the next decade.

The Beijing-based SCO was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, and currently has six full members — China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia have observer status in the SCO.

Source: Xinhua, June 7, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-06/07/c_112143358.htm

The third China-European Union High-Level Political Party Forum was held in Brussels, Belgium for three days starting on May 29, 2012. Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, led a group of Chinese delegates to participate in the forum. Politicians and experts from China and Europe gathered together to explore new paths to engage both sides in working together to deal with common challenges.

Wang spoke at the forum and expressed China’s wish to openly cooperate with European countries, expand cooperation in international trade and affairs, enhance exchanges in dealing with domestic affairs and challenges, and resolve the current crisis.

Close to 100 people attended the forum, including the delegates from China and the representatives from parties at the major and local levels in Europe.

Source: International Department of Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, May 30, 2012 http://www.idcpc.org.cn/ziliao/cn_eu_party3/dongtai/120530.htm

 On May 26, BBC Chinese reported on news received from major Japanese media on the same day that the Chinese government and the Japanese government plan to reach an agreement in June, which will be implemented soon thereafter, to make the two countries’ currencies directly exchangeable. This will be the first time the Chinese yuan (RMB) will be directly exchangeable with another foreign currency without a “middleman” currency such as the U.S. Dollar. The agreement originated at the leadership summit the two countries had last December. Actual negotiations started this February. The Tokyo and the Shanghai foreign exchange markets are preparing for the operational mechanism, which has a delivery target of this June. This move is widely considered as a symbolic action for the Chinese yuan to “de-link” from the U.S Dollar. Currently Great Britain and Singapore are both in talks with the Chinese government to cut similar deals.

Source: BBC Chinese, May 26, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/business/2012/05/120526_japanese_chinese_yuan.shtml

Xinhua published an article containing many objections to the 2011 Human Rights and Democracy report that the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office released. The article said that the report on China was full of unwarranted accusations. At the same time, it ignored the efforts and improvements that the Chinese government and its people have made. It said that the report was politically and ideologically biased and that China and the Chinese people could not accepted it. It also stated that human rights is an internal matter and that no other country has the right to interfere. Finally, it pointed out that not only will the UK government’s action not help the cooperation between the two countries; it will also not benefit China’s human rights advancement.

Source: Xinhua, May 18, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-05/18/c_111978684_2.htm

On the “Strong Nation Forum” (qiangguo luntan 强国论坛) on the People’s Daily website, military expert, Major General Peng Guangqian, answered questions from Chinese netizens. He expressed the view that military force is always an important means to safeguard national sovereignty. When someone asked: “In what situation would China use military force? Is it correct that China would never use military force no matter what happened?" Peng answered: “When China’s national core interests are violated, and when this cannot be stopped without military intervention, we have no choice but to use force to counterattack. In an era in which hegemonism and power politics still exist and are even progressing, military force is always an important means to safeguard national sovereignty and can never be excluded. We are not absolute pacifists. We cannot beg for peace. Rather we can only use force to obtain peace. If we give up the use of force, we can then only surrender and wait while others partition us at will.

Source: People’s Daily, May 17, 2012
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/17917831.html

According to People’s Daily, 14 officials from seven developing countries including Pakistan, Ethiopia, Fiji, and Sudan recently arrived at the China Executive Leadership Academy at Pudong, Shanghai, where they will receive a week long training. The Academy, an agency directly under the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Organization Department, is headed by Department chief Li Yuanchao, who is on the CCP’s 25-member Politburo. Among these students, six are ministerial-level officials. The 14 participants will be lectured about China’s political system, government structure, decision-making process, media, and mass communication. In addition, they will also take field trips to local communities and industrial parks.

Source: People’s Daily, May 17, 2012
http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/164113/17908572.html

After being enmeshed in the Bo Xilai incident and the Chen Guangcheng escape to the U.S. Embassy for a few months, last week, Beijing took a tougher stance against the Philippines on the issue of the sovereignty of Huangyan Island (known as the Scarborough Shoal internationally) in the South China Sea. Both China and the Philippines claim ownership of the area; in the past month, the tension between the two countries has been escalating, including the involvement of navy ships.

On May 7, Fu Ying, China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs called a meeting with Alex Chua, Charge D’affaires of the Philippine Embassy in China. Fu made a serious representation over the current situation at Huangyan Island. She stated that the Chinese side has made all necessary preparations to respond in case the Philippine side caused the situation to escalate.

On May 8, People’s Daily published a commentary titled “When it is intolerable, there is no need for restraint. China does not mind creating a Huangyan Island Model.” It stated, “When others challenge us, especially on matters related to territorial integrity, national dignity, and social stability, we must take action to destroy this ‘unhealthy trend’ and win ourselves a harmonious and stable environment.” “There is a limit to how much generosity we can demonstrate. When it’s intolerable, then there is no need for restraint.” “Facing this opponent, we have enough wisdom and also enough means to make it surrender without a war.” Though the article used the words, "make it surrender without a war," the entire tone of the article hinted at a direct confrontation with the Philippines.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, May 8, 2012
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx/t929748.htm
Peoples’ Daily, May 8, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/17829343.html