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Geo-Strategic Trend - 231. page

China Economic Weekly: Why Have Europeans always controlled the IMF?

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

Xinhua Comments on U.S. Shadow Internet Endeavor

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 article called the U.S. a powerful country with, hacking technology. “Although always advocating ‘Internet freedom,’ the U.S. controls all of the 13 root servers of the world Internet. Various countries in the world have repeatedly requested that the U.S. move control over the root servers to the U.N. or other international organizations, so as to effectively ensure the freedom and security of the Internet. The U.S. has always ignored them. People cannot help asking: is it Internet freedom or the freedom to infiltrate, sabotage, and attack other countries that interests the U.S.?

Source: Xinhua, June 15, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-06/15/c_121535850.htm

PLA Daily Warns Countries to Stay Out of the South China Sea Dispute

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.

http://chn.chinamil.com.cn/xwpdxw/2011-06/14/content_4451828.htm

Shanghai Cooperation Organization is Not an Eastern NATO

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

China’s Oil Drilling in Cuba

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

China Rejects Accusation of Violating the Philippines’ Jurisdiction in the South China Sea

On June 7, 2011, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei refuted the Philippines’ accusation that Chinese vessels were increasing their activities in the South China Sea and violating the Philippines’ sovereignty. Hong said, “For Chinese vessels to cruise and carry out scientific studies in waters under China’s jurisdiction was proper and legal. China does not accept the Philippines’ groundless accusations.” “China urges that the Philippines stop unilateral actions that harm China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, broadening and complicating the South China Sea disputes, and that the Philippines no longer make irresponsible remarks that do not tally with the facts.”

Source: Xinhua, June 7, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-06/07/c_121505087.htm

China’s Land Purchases in Brazil

The cheap land in Brazil has attracted massive investment from foreign individuals and companies, including Chinese. By October 2010, China’s state-run Chongqing Grain Group Co., Ltd. had developed 800,000 mu (131,790 acres) of soybean plantation farmland in Brazil. It plans to reclaim one million mu (164,736 acres) more farmland, for a total investment of over 5 billion Chinese yuan (US$771 million), making Brazil China’s largest overseas soybean oil production base. In addition, Zhejiang Province’s Fudi Agricultural Co., Ltd. has invested 200 million yuan (US$31 million) in the purchase of 16,800 hectare of Brazilian land for a soybean plantation. Meanwhile, China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), China’s largest state-owned food giant, has also shown interest. 

Ye Anping, an official from China’s Ministry of Agriculture, denied that the purchase is a land grab. “Local business enterprises’ land purchases overseas have nothing to do with the policies of the Ministry of Agriculture,” said Ye. At the same time, the Brazilian Embassy in China stated, “We welcome Chinese investment in Brazil.”

Source: China Review News, June 6, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/crn-webapp/doc/docDetailCreate.jsp?coluid=10&kindid=255&docid=101722385&mdate=0606122946

PLA and Indonesia Joint Anti-Terrorist Drill

According to Xinhua, on June 6, 2011, in Bandung, Indonesia, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) joined Indonesia’s National Armed Forces (TNI) to conduct a joint special forces drill “Sharp Blade 2011.” The event, the first one in history between the PLA and TNI, is expected to “further consolidate the friendship between the PLA and TNI, improve bilateral mutual understanding and trust, promote pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the two armies, and enhance the capacity for anti-terrorism.” Sixty-nine commanders and soldiers from the PLA will join all three phases of the training: exchange and exhibition, the composite formation training, and the comprehensive exercise. They will join their counterpart in TNI in an exercise where the background is an assumption that a terrorist organization causes panic by seizing hostages. Zhao Zongqi, Chief of staff of the Jinan Military Region, and Lodewijk F. Paulus, Indonesian TNI special force commander, attended the opening ceremony.

Source: Xinhua, June 6, 2011 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-06/06/c_121500365.htm