Government/Politics - 107. page

According to a local government newspaper, Jiangxi Daily, on October 11, when an inspection team from the Guangchang County Party Committee was meeting with the county’s Party History Office and the Housing Management Bureau, the speech delivered by the Party chief of the Party History Office sounded almost exactly the same as that of the Party chief of the Housing Management Bureau. Both officials’ speeches were stopped on the spot.

A comparison of the wording that the two officials submitted showed that they were “perfectly identical,” except for a difference in the titles and the names of the office. As a matter of fact, the two officials’ speeches were copied from the Internet and were not original works by themselves. Unexpectedly, these two almost identical speeches “clashed” at the same meeting.

This was not an isolated case. Three officials’ speeches from another area, Zixi County in Jiangxi Province were also exposed as having been copied from the Internet.

Recently, the Zixi County government was conducting a series of interviews with county level Party officials for a performance review and anti-corruption investigation. Every official was required to make statements on their job performance. It was found that many paragraphs in the statements that the lower-level township, County Urban Management Bureau, and the County Traffic Police Brigade gave were both very similar.

Some overseas observers commented that many officials will hire other people to write their reports, and then read them in public. Even the officials do not know how much content is true and how much is fiction.

Source: Jiangxi Daily, October 11, 2018
http://www.jxnews.com.cn/jxrb/system/2018/10/11/017160395.shtml

Phoenix Satellite TV is one of the most influential Chinese-language media based in Hong Kong and the mainland. On September 26, a notice that Phoenix News Media posted on its website revealed that the network must undergo an internal shakeup. The official internet security management department made the request because the media was accused of “spreading illegal information, distorting the original meaning of the news headlines, and illegally reprinting news information.” The notice stated the network’s information channel, technology channel, and financial channels will be suspended temporarily from September 26 to October 10 and there will be no updates during that period. A Radio Free Asia article stated that this is a harsh punishment for a news station and is a reflection of Beijing’s tightened control over the news media. This is also the third time this year that the Phoenix News has been ordered to have an internal shakeup. In February, six online news websites, including Phoenix News Media were criticized for providing “unauthorized Internet audiovisual program service.” In April, the Phoenix News App was disabled and couldn’t be downloaded for two weeks. Meanwhile Phoenix is not the only news station being scrutinized this time. In September, the financial section of 163.com was also ordered to shut down for two weeks from September 11-25.

RFA quoted a comment that said, “After so many years, ifeng.com has long been like the official (communist) media. It has pushed patriotic news all day long. No matter whether it is Phoenix Satellite TV or ifeng.com, they have already changed. There is nothing to look at.” Another comment stated that “(all media) should listen to the party’s words in the future. The next target will be the portal website and Weibo.”

Sources:
1. Ifeng.com, September 26, 2018
https://inews.ifeng.com/index03.shtml
2. Radio Free Asia, October 5, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhuanlan/7f517edc535a5f08/1-10052018150032.html

The Paper reported that the State Council recently issued the official guideline for the Publicly Traded Companies in China. Among the guideline that consists of ten sections and 98 clauses, it specifically called for the requirement of “enhanced party development work” within the companies.”

The content of the guideline covers the basic concepts and principles of corporate governance; the composition and operation of the shareholders’ meetings, the board of directors, the board of supervisors, the rights and obligations of directors, supervisors, and senior management personnel; the incentive mechanism; the behavioral norms of controlling shareholders and their related parties; institutional investment parties and the related institutions that participate in corporate governance; the basic requirements of listed companies in terms of stakeholders, environmental protection and social responsibility; as well as information disclosure and transparency. The official guideline is set to be effective immediately.

Source: The Paper, September 30, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2492368

Voice of America reported that a well-known Swedish television host said in a program that had been broadcast on Friday, September 28, that, although he was sorry for his lack of cultural sensitivity, he would not apologize to the Chinese government, which does not respect freedom of speech. On the show, the host, Ronndahl, showed a revised version of a map of the world. The revised map was covered with the Chinese flags everywhere and the world was red. He satirized China and said, “The whole world is yours.” The Chinese Embassy in Sweden issued a statement on Saturday expressing a strong protest, saying that the TV station “had vicious intentions and was trying to set the Chinese people against the Chinese government.” The statement also criticized the “so-called” apology from the Swedish television host and claimed that the apology “dodged the issue about what racism is.” The statement also said that the Chinese government is a government that has the “heartfelt support” of nearly 1.4 billion Chinese people.

The incident started with an initial report about a Chinese family involved in a hotel dispute in Sweden. The family claimed that, in dealing with the case, the Swedish police were rude and that they had a racial bias against the Chinese people. Later it was exposed on the Internet that the Chinese tourists wanted to stay in the hotel for one free night {saying they arrived the day before their booking}. After their tactic was exposed, the hotel rejected their request. The family members started to argue with the hotel staff and the police ended up removing them from the hotel. Since the event took place, the dispute between the two countries has become more and more fierce.

A Swedish comedic TV host used the hotel incident to remind Chinese tourists to be mindful of the local culture {Editor’s note: The host advised Chinese tourists not to mistake dogs for food or to defecate in public.} The Chinese government strongly protested. China slammed the show for maliciously insulting the Chinese people, accused the program of not including Taiwan and Tibet as part of China on the map they showed on the program, and demanded an apology.

The host said about Friday’s show that Chinese netizens had been bullying him. He also said that he would apologize for a joke that made one billion people uncomfortable and apologize to those who felt hurt. However, he said he would not apologize to the Chinese government because he believed that the Chinese government does not respect freedom of speech.

Source: Voice of America, September 29, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/swedish-talk-shows-offer-chinese-government-humorous-apology-20180929/4592701.html

On September 11, a national conference on management of private enterprises was held in Hangzhou. Qiu Xiaoping, the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Qiu pointed out that, “The party and the state attach high importance to democratic corporate management. The party’s 19th National Congress and the central government have made clear arrangements for strengthening the democratic management of enterprises.” “The human resources and social security authorities at all levels should fully understand the importance and urgency of deepening the democratic management of private enterprises, building harmonious labor relations in the new epoch, . . . and conscientiously implementing the decisions and the arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council.”

Qiu emphasized that, “In order to promote the democratic management of private enterprises, one must persist in strengthening the party’s leadership.” “Only by insisting on the strong leadership of the party organization inside the enterprise can we ensure the correct political direction of the democratic management of enterprises.”

Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. September 13, 2018
http://www.mohrss.gov.cn/SYrlzyhshbzb/zwgk/bld/qxp/ldjh/201809/t20180913_301046.html

On August 26, a newly revised version of the Chinese Communist Party’s Disciplinary Regulations was published.

The Regulations not only draw red-lines for political discipline of party members and cadres, but also impose stricter requirements for party members’ online activities. Serious violators will even be expelled from the party.

Article 44 of the Regulations stipulates that those whose speech or behavior are out of line with the party’s Central Committee on major principles or who cause adverse consequences are subject to a warning or a severe warning. Those with more serious circumstances will have their official positions in the party revoked or be placed on probation. Those with grave circumstances will be expelled from the Party.

Article 45 stipulates that those who, via the Internet, openly publish articles, speeches, or statements that advocate bourgeois liberalization, oppose the four basic principles, and oppose the party’s reform and opening up policy will be expelled from the party.

Article 46 stipulates that those who, via the Internet and other means, publicly publish articles, speeches or statements in violation of the four basic principles, or in a violation or a distortion of the party’s reform and opening up policy, are subject to a warning or a severe warning if the circumstances are minor, or revocation of their official positions in the party or being placed on probation if their circumstances are more serious, and being expelled from the party if the circumstances are grave.

Article 46 also stipulates that those who, via the Internet and other means, improperly discuss the Party Central Committee’s major policies and sabotage the party’s unity should be undermined. If the circumstances are light, warnings or serious warnings should be given. If the circumstances are serious, official positions in the Party will be revoked or the individual will be placed on probation. If the circumstances are grave, the individual will be expelled from the Party.

Punishment is also in order for those who slander heroes, role models, or the party’s or the government’s leaders, distort the party’s history, spread political rumors, or leak information about things that should be kept secret.

Source: Global Times, September 24, 2018
http://china.huanqiu.com/article/2018-09/13099308.html