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New Regulation to Protect and Reward Informants

Recently, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued a regulation concerning the protection and rewards for informants in the further efforts to curb corruption. 

The regulation requires that the identity of the informants and the information they provide must be kept strictly confidential. 
The regulation includes three measures to protect and reward informants. First, special actions (including restraining orders) may be taken to protect the safety and property of the informants and their families. Second, recommendations for remedial action should be made to redress any retaliation launched against the informants and their families. Third, efforts can be coordinated to provide subsidies to informants and their families for any serious personal injury or significant property damage they suffer as result of retaliation. 
As for rewards, the regulation provides that the normal reward to informants should not exceed 200,000 yuan per case. If the contribution from an informant is significant, approval may be given for up to 500,000 yuan. The amount of the reward will not be subject to the above limits in cases that involve a particularly significant contribution from the informant and upon proper approval. 
Source: Xinhua, April 8, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-04/08/c_1118567300.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

CCDI: Do Not Relax Our Strength in Building Clean Government and Combating Corruption

Xinhua published an article that was originally posted on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). The article stated that “the current situation for building a clean and honest government and for combating corruption is still serious. … The mission of CCDI remains unchanged and we must stay clear headed. At the same time, we cannot lose our strength.” The article reported that over the last three years, cadres in 31 provinces and regions were subject to disciplinary action. The article claimed that there is no pure land anywhere to be found and that matter shows the degree and the seriousness of the corruption. The article reminded everyone that all levels of the Party organization should have a clear position and strictly follow the directives of the central administration.

Source: Xinhua, April 11, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-04/11/c_128881274.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Super Media: Five Traps for Xi Jinping and China

Super Media International Group in Hong Kong published a commentary in its April issue of its Super Media publication, elaborating on several issues related to Xi Jinping. The commentary stated that Xi faces five traps and that his governance path is first to establish his authority, then the rules, and finally the legislation. 

The first trap is the middle income trap where, when a country attains a certain income (due to given advantages) it will get stuck at that level. On November 10, 2016, Xi spoke about efforts to overcome the middle income trap. 
The second is the Tacitus Trap. On March 18, 2014, Xi explained that Tacitus, a historian of the Roman Empire said that when a government loses credibility, no matter what it says or does, it will be considered a lie or a bad deed. 
The third trap is the Thucydides trap. Xi said in an interview on January 22, 2014, that China should avoid the Thucydides trap. However, Thucydides’ theory that a rising power will inevitably seek hegemony does not apply to China, and, further, that China does not have the genes to implement such action. 
The fourth trap is Westernization and separation. On February 17, 2014, Xi spoke about this trap at a forum for provincial leaders. “The so-called ‘Westernization’ means to give up the leadership of the Communist Party and the socialist system and to implement the multi-party system and private ownership just as in the West, which is controlled by monopoly capital. The so-called ‘separation’ is to split China in an attempt to divide and rule. They intended to win a ‘war of no smoke,’ in order to achieve their purpose of disintegrating China’s socialist system.” 
Lastly, the fifth trap is the personality cult trap. On some occasions, the lyrics of “The Sun Rises from the East” that praises Mao Zedong were changed to praise Xi. State media have also promoted such a personality cult. Many are digging a huge trap for Xi. They praise Xi only to set him up for his downfall later. Observers recognize that, to get around these traps, Xi’s approach to governance has been first to establish authority, then rules and finally legislation. 
Source: Super Media, April 5, 2016 
http://www.supermedia.hk/?p=870
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

CCDI Criticized the Communist Youth League

China Youth Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Youth League, reported on April 1 that the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Chinese Communist Party provided feedback after it conducted an inspection of the Communist Youth League. 

The CCDI inspection team criticized the Communist Youth League for its four tendencies. The Communist Youth League is out of touch with young people. Instead, it focuses on what the superiors are doing. It relies on an administrative mechanism from the top down; it rules by orders and demands obedience. It caters to the interest of elites and ignores working young people. It conducts too many entertainment activities that do not have educational content. 
“The Communist Youth League serves the Communist Party by working with the masses. … It mustn’t continue the four tendencies and mustn’t be out of touch with the masses. Otherwise, it will fail to fulfill the fundamental value for which the organization [the Communist Youth League] exists.” 
Source: China Youth Daily, April 1, 2016 
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2016-04/01/nw.D110000zgqnb_20160401_6-01.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Amended Regulations Will Hold Police Accountable for Abuse of Power

China has amended its Provisions on the Accountability of the People’s Policemen with Public Security Organs. The amended provisions took effect on March 1, 2016, superseding the original regulations of July 11, 1999. Notably, changes in the amended regulations include Articles 19 and 27. 

Article 19 provides that law enforcement personnel who commit wrongful acts such as corruption, torture, falsifying evidence, tipping people off, retaliation, or framing people will be severely prosecuted. 
Under Article 27, if law enforcement personnel intentionally or through gross negligence are responsible for cases being handled incorrectly, that law enforcement officer will be subject to lifetime accountability, regardless of any changes in his work unit, position, rank, or retirement status. 
Sources: 
Jinghua Times reprinted by People’s Daily, March 3, 3016 
http://opinion.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0303/c1003-28167802.html 
Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council of China, February 22, 2016 http://www.chinalaw.gov.cn/article/fgkd/xfg/gwybmgz/201602/20160200480251.shtml
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Mingjing: The People behind the Open Letter Attack on Xi Jinping

On March 4, 2016, The media Watching in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region published an open letter, “A Request for Comrade Xi Jinping to Resign from Leadership Positions in the Party and the State.” The article blamed Xi Jinping for many negative events in China in the past few years and called for him to step down. The article was later removed.

It is rare to see a media in China challenge its leader.

Watching claimed that article was posted by a hacker, but there were questions whether that was the case. Alibaba, the hosting service for Watching, is considered the “safest” hosting service in China. The state Cyberspace Administration didn’t find any sign of a hacker intrusion either.

Some media suspected that Watching published the article on its own to attack Xi. Watching’s website was shut down for several days. The authorities took a few employees to investigate the case.

Watching was a joint venture of the SEEC Media Group Limited (the parent company of Caijing magazine), the Xinjiang Government, and the Alibaba Group.

Mingjing You Bao (Mingjing Post) published an article revealing the officials behind the Watching media article:

Jiang Jianguo (蒋建国), the Deputy Director of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Propaganda Department: Watching‘s CEO Ouyang Hongliang is a confidant of Jiang Jianguo. Jiang approved the establishment of Watching. Jiang and Ling Jihua may be connected since both of them got their part-time Master’s degree from Hunan University.

Zhang Chunxian (张春贤), is the Xinjiang Party Secretary. Zhou Yongkang promoted Zhang to that position: Zhang also had a good relationship with Zhou Benshun as both of them were from Hunan. Zhou Benshun was Zhou Yongkang’s loyalist. He once served as the Secretary-General of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee where Zhou Yongkang was the head.

Wang Boming (王波明), the Chairman of the SEEC Media Group Limited: Wang has a brother, Wang Dongming, who is the former Chairman of CITIC Securities.  Wang Dongming was forced to resign after many high ranking officers at CITIC Securities were taken down for their involvement in the stock disaster in 2015.

Liu Lefei (刘乐飞), Vice Chairman of CITIC Securities: Liu is the son of Liu Yunshan who is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and in charge of the propaganda work for the CCP.

Sources:
1. Mingjing, March 20, 2016
http://www.mingjingnews.com/MIB/Blog/blog_contents.aspx?ID=0000803700000603
2. Wengewang.org, March 4, 2016
http://www.wengewang.org/read.php?tid=51309
3. Epoch Times, March 10, 2016
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/16/3/10/n4658686.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

The Government’s Budget Includes the Budget of Communist Party Departments

The Chinese central government budget, which the Chinese national legislature is reviewing, includes, within its scope, the budgets of Communist Party departments. 

On March 11, 2016, the Fourth Session of China’s 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) held a press conference. The reporters present asked whether the government budget, which the NPC is reviewing, includes the budget of Communist Party departments and when the Party departments’ budgets may be made public. 
In response, Liu Xiuwen, Vice Chairman of the Budgetary Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, stated that the government’s budget that the NPC is reviewing does include the budgets of the Party’s departments such as the Organization Department, the Propaganda Department, the Office of the Committee on Organizational Structure, the Party School of the Central Committee (the Party School), and the Work Committee of Central Government Departments. 
Liu said that, last year, the Party School, the Office of the Committee on Organizational Structure, and the Work Committee of Central Government Departments released their budgets to the public and also released the budgets of some local Party departments. 
Source: People’s Daily, March 11, 2016 
http://lianghui.people.com.cn/2016npc/n1/2016/0311/c403040-28192881.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Li Keqiang: China Will Not Have a Hard Landing

On March 16, 2016, Li Keqiang stated at a press conference that China’s economy will not have a hard landing and that Government officials will be held accountable if they do not do their jobs. 

"We are fully confident in the long term prospects for the Chinese economy. This confidence is not without basis. We firmly believe that, as long as we continue to reform and open up, China’s economy will not suffer a hard landing." 
Li expressed that last year, due to multiple factors, the mainland’s stock market went through abnormal fluctuations and the authorities took comprehensive measures to stabilize the market only to prevent systemic financial risks. As the situation has changed, there is now a need for reform and a need to improve the financial regulatory system. Efforts should be made to achieve full coverage without leaving any regulatory gaps. At the same time there must be coordination among the authorities, as well as accountability. 
Li stressed that reform and improving the financial regulatory system is a process and all cognizant departments and local governments should continue to do their jobs in accordance with the existing descriptions of their responsibilities. “Otherwise, you will be held responsible for the slackness.” The press conference lasted two hours and ten minutes with close to 1,200 foreign and domestic reporters in attendance. 
Source: People’s Daily, March 17, 2016 
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0317/c1024-28204946.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics