Geo-Strategic Trend - 233. page

According to a report from the Shanghai Evening Post, the Pakistani officials claim that they are interested in studying the remains of the U.S. military helicopter that was damaged in the raid on the bin Laden compound, although the U.S. wants it back. Pakistan may invite China to participate in the study. Based on the pictures, aeronautics and military experts believe it is a modified stealth helicopter.

Source: Guangming Daily website, May 11, 2011
http://mil.gmw.cn/2011-05/11/content_1947650.htm

China News Service carried an article reporting on Song Zhuying, the PLA singer from the Naval Song and Dance Troupe, who recently visited Taiwan. Song is the second PLA singer allowed to perform in Taiwan. The first was Chen Sisi who visited Taiwan in 2009, when politicians in Taiwan expressed resistance and placed numerous restrictions on Chen’s visit. However Song’s visit encountered a dramatic change. Other than the pro-green Liberty Times, fewer media outlets mentioned Song’s connection with the PLA. 

On May 6, 2011, in Kashi, Xinjiang Province, China, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) launched a joint anti-terrorist exercise, “Tian Shan No. 2,” with the participation of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. This is the second of its kind following “Tian Shan No.1” back in 2006, in which China and Kazakhstan participated. The exercise included the following three areas: decision making, a hostage rescue force, and a fixed-point raid action. Law enforce officials from SCO member states observed the exercise, along with states with observer status.

Source: Ministry of Public Security, May 7, 2011
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803715/2773496.html

According to a recent report issued by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), a regional commission under the United Nations, in 2010, China became the third largest investor in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its direct investments of US$15 billion represented 9% of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the region. The U.S. remains the top investor bringing in 17% of FDI, followed by the Netherlands with 13% of the total.

Source: Xinhua, May 8, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/08/c_121390711.htm

On May 7, 2011, China Review News published an article titled, “The More Anti-terrorism, the More Terror: ‘the Post-bin Laden Era’ Tests U.S. Strategy.” Citing comments from overseas and mainland Chinese media, the article portrays a dark picture for the future of anti-terrorism around the world and predicts that China will be the next target of U.S. anti-terrorism. 

Recently, at a Confucius Institute in Norway, Tang Guoqiang, China’s Ambassador to the Nordic country, demanded that the Norwegian government apologize to Beijing for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to political dissident Liu Xiaobo. “Bilateral trade is not impossible, but as (the Norwegian government) has not apologized for the Nobel Peace Prize, it is more difficult than before,” said Tang. After the Nobel Committee honored Liu Xiaobo with the Prize in November 2010, China indefinitely suspended bilateral trade negotiations. Norway is the world’s fifth largest oil exporter.

Source: BBC Chinese, May 4, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2011/05/110503_china_norway_nobel.shtml

At a recent forum at Beijing Normal University (BNU), Ma Jianfei, Deputy Director of the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Hanban), elaborated on China’s efforts to promote its literature around the world. Since 2006, BNU, jointly with the U.S. magazine World Literature Today and the Confucius Institute at the University of Oklahoma, has compiled a special issue of Chinese Literature Today, launched the Chinese version of World Literature Today, and held international forums on “World Literature Today and China.” In January 2010, the Center for Promoting Chinese Literature Overseas was newly established at the School of Chinese Language and Literature at BNU. 

At the second Sino-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strategic dialogue in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on May 2, China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE, the current rotating GCC president; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Madani of Saudi Arabia, the next rotating GCC president; and GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Mohammad Sabah Al-Salim Al Sabah and Foreign Minister of Bahrain Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa also attended the meeting.