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Xinhua: Out of Control Explosions û Investigation into Ruihai International Logistics

On August 19, 2015, Xinhua published an investigative article on Tianjin Dongjiang Port Ruihai International Logistics, which is where the huge chemical explosions occurred on August 12, 2015. According to Xinhua, the real owners of the company are the board chairperson Yu Xuewei, who is a former executive of Sinochem Tianjin Co., Ltd., and the associate board chairperson Dong Shexuan, who is son of the former director of the Public Security Bureau of Tianjin Port. The Ruihai Company obtained a hazardous chemicals business license and used personal connections to pass all evaluations including fire and environment safety evaluations.

According to Ruihai’s environmental report, Ruihai distributed 130 survey questionnaires to the residents in the neighborhood and 128 residents replied “yes” to the hazardous chemical warehouse. However, [it was later determined that] residents living nearby had never seen the questionnaires and nobody was aware that there was a hazardous chemical warehouse in the neighborhood. Yu Xuewei, the Ruihai board chairperson, said that he had not participated in the environmental survey. None of the other safety assessment reports on Ruihai have yet been disclosed to the public.

Source: Xinhua, August 19, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2015-08/19/c_1116305131.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

3,000 Tons of Toxic Chemicals Stored at Warehouse in Tianjin before Explosions

According to Caixin, a total of 3,000 tons of hazardous chemicals were stored in the warehouse in Tianjin where two deadly explosions occurred on August 12, 2015. Niu Yueguang, deputy director of the fire department of the Ministry of Public Security, said on China Central Television on August 17, 2015, that the chemicals included 700 tons of sodium cyanide, 800 tons of ammonium nitrate, and 500 tons of potassium nitrate.

Source: Caixin, August 17, 2015
http://china.caixin.com/2015-08-17/100840756.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Chinese Government to “Safeguard the Air Quality” for WWII Commemoration

China’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II will take place on September 3. Two weeks before the event, high attention is being paid to the air quality around the Beijing area.
On August 17, a meeting involving Communist officials in Northern China was held to arrange the tasks of "safeguarding the air quality." The head of the Chinese Communist Party of Beijing City, Guo Jinlong; the Minister of Environmental Protection, Chen Jining; the Beijing Mayor, Wang Anshun; the Governor of Hebei Province, Zhang Qingwei, as well as the personnel-in-charge from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, and Henan all attended the meeting.
At the meeting, Guo said that "safeguarding air quality for the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II is an important political task entrusted by the Party and the State Council." Chen said that "good air quality directly matters for the success of the activities; it also matters for the honor of the Capital."
Source: China Youth, August 18, 2015
http://news.youth.cn/gn/201508/t20150818_7017361.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Huanqiu: Hong Kong is Less Appealing to Mainlanders

Huanqiu reported that Hong Kong has become less appealing to mainlanders as the number of immigrants from the mainland has been decreasing. The article said that Hong Kong has a quota of 50,000 for mainlanders to immigrate there each year. In the past, the quota has always been used up. However, this year, over 10,000 of the quota has not been used. This is an indication that Hong Kong is less appealing to mainlanders. Some experts are concerned that, due to the limitation of space in Hong Kong, it will be more difficult for Hong Kong to attract talent from other areas; this may impact its future development.

Source: Huanqiu, August 15, 2015
http://oversea.huanqiu.com/article/2015-08/7278880.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

50 Websites Punished for Spreading Rumors about the Tianjin Explosion

People’s Daily reported that, according to the Office of National Internet Information, 50 websites were under investigation for “spreading rumors” about the explosion in Tianjin. The article said that those websites published web articles with contents such as that “a minimum of 1,000 people died,” “no lives were found within 1 kilometer of the site of the explosion,” “Tianjin is in chaos; stores were being robbed,” and “the top leadership in Tianjin was being restructured.” The article claimed that some of them allow their users to upload “rumors from microblogs and WeChat” and have become the “harbor of the rumors.” “It has had a negative social impact.” The article said that 18 of those websites were ordered to be shut down permanently while the other 32 sites were to remain closed for one month.

Source: People’s Daily, August 15, 2015
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2015/0815/c1001-27467538.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

People’s Daily Summarizes Xi Jinping’s Diplomatic Concepts with 10 Key Ideas

On August 1, People’s Daily published a list of Xi Jinping’s core diplomatic concepts, which he presented as 10 key ideas.

1. The China Dream (中国梦) 

2. An [Asian] community of shared destinies (命运共同体) 
3. A New Type of International Relations (新型国际关系). Ruan Zongze, the Vice President of the China Research Institute of International Affairs expressed that the world is unequal right now. "The Western countries still occupy the high point of the international system. They dominate the international system. They have greater power over public opinion (the discourse right) than we do. Therefore, developing countries should be united to strengthen themselves and obtain a powerful voice through more practical cooperation." 
4. The “One-Belt, One Road” [economic initiative] (“一带一路”): The Silk Road Economic Belt; the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road 
5. [Strengthening] Connectivity [Partnership] (互联互通) 
6. Correct ideas of righteousness and benefit (正确义利观): Achieving a balance between righteousness and interests 
7. A New Security Concept (新安全观) 
8. Chinese wisdom (中国智慧) 
9. A Nation of maritime power (海洋强国) 
10. Amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness (亲诚惠容): the principle for developing relations with neighboring countries 
Source: People’s Daily, August 11, 2015 
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2015/0811/c1001-27443651.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

People’s Daily Criticizes a Retired Leader Who Still Interferes in the Present Leaders’ Work

On August 10, 2015, People’s Daily published an article titled, “Dialectically View the Phenomenon of ‘Tea Turns Cold When People Are Away.’”

The article commented, “People come and go; the present day replaces old times.” “Over the years, many of our Party cadres have correctly treated their status changes after having stepped down from their leadership positions. They consciously have not intervened in the work of the new leadership team, which demonstrates the open-mindedness and noble sentiments of a senior Party member and veteran cadre. They have thus won everyone’s respect. 

However, a highly positioned cadre, when he was in power, arranged for his trusted aides to be in the top positions for the purpose of being able to manipulate power in the future. After years of retirement, he is still reluctant to let go of the power from his original work place and from being in charge of major issues. When something does not please him, even in the slightest way, he will sigh, ‘Tea Turns Cold When People Are Away.’ He blames others for slobbering. This phenomenon causes a dilemma for the new leader and puts him in an inconvenient position; this hinders the new leader from doing his job freely and courageously. (The retired cadre’s interference) undermines the Party’s cohesion and combat power and results in rampant vulgar practices. Examples are, organizing many cliques; no one can focus on his own work; it is hard to implement regular work activities.” 
“When not in the leadership position, the retired cadre should not utilize the power of leadership. Such ‘cold tea’ is the norm. Once retired from the position, the former leading cadre will no longer be in charge of that job. Naturally, he will not have the power or responsibility.” “We should properly handle the relationship between emotion and principle. Never reheat the cold tea and bring it back to the table.”

Source: People’s Daily, August 10, 2015
http://opinion.people.com.cn/GB/n/2015/0810/c1003-27434178.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

DW: People’s Daily Implies that Jiang Zemin Is Clinging to Power

On August 10, 2015, DW.com published an article saying that the People’s Daily article titled “Dialectically View the Phenomenon of ‘Tea Turns Cold When People Are Away’” was actually delivering a political message. Since Xi Jinping launched the anti-corruption campaign, there has been speculation that the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection might be targeting Jiang Zemin in an internal investigation.

According to People’s Daily, “When not in the leadership position, the retired cadre should not utilize the power of leadership. Such ‘cold tea’ is the norm.” The People’s Daily article referred to a retired cadre as “cold tea”. Using such a metaphor attracted a lot of online comments. Someone wrote, “If ginger tea insists on being as hot as before, what should we do? In such a case, we should pour it (the ginger tea) out!”

Source: DW.com, August 10, 2015
http://www.dw.com/zh/人民日报一评论文疑影射江泽民/a-18637712

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics