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Government/Politics - 186. page

Xinhua: The Report on the Work of the Government Included Local Deficit Information

Xinhua published an article stating that, for the first time, when Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council, delivered the “Report on the Work of the Government,” the information included the financial deficits of local governments. The article said that, in the past, local deficits were consolidated and published at the central government level. According to the article, from the 2014 financial reports that a number of local governments released, the growth rate of the fiscal revenue in Beijing, Zhejiang, and Inner-Mongolia has dropped below 10 percent. Meanwhile, for the first time, the new budget act launched on January 1, 2015, has allowed the local governments to issue their own municipal bonds. According to the article, “The new budget act provided legal protection for local government debt management. … It will help to ensure the flow of the funding chain while easing the pressure of local debts.” 

Source: Xinhua, March 8, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015lh/2015-03/08/c_1114561978.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi: The Need to Maintain Information Sovereignty

Quishi published a commentary on the U.S. response to China’s proposed anti-terrorism law. The article stated that the law is to meet the needs of anti-terrorism work in China and was drafted based on the legislature and on the practice of other countries. It is a major step towards the rule of law. “However, some foreigners do not seem to understand China’s development of its anti-terrorism law. They particularly disagree with the part related to information security.”

“In order to maintain their own information security and related businesses, [the U.S.] asks its companies” to comply with the requirements of its national laws, but the U.S. expects that its companies not respect China’s information security within China. The United States is probably still using last century’s calendar. As we comprehensively promote the rule of law at the beginning of the year, we need to maintain China’s information sovereignty.” 
Source: Qiushi, March 5, 2015 
http://www.qstheory.cn/freely/2015-03/05/c_1114527416.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Study Times: How Overseas Think Tanks Study China

Study Times published an article on how Western think tanks study China issues and what China should do about it. 

The article stated that first, those in the U.S. lead the Western think tanks in studying the China topics that they select. These topics are very focused, pragmatic, and forward-looking. For example, the U.S. think thanks study China’s rise, the return of the U.S. to Asia, China’s energy strategy, the North Korean nuclear issue, the impact of the U.S.-Iran relationship on China, and the China-India relationship. Second, Western think tanks have high quality researchers and research products due to the revolving door where researchers move among government, think tanks, and academia. Third, Western think tanks tend to be very influential in many ways. 
The article recommended that China should attach great importance to timely tracking and analyzing the progress of the overseas think tanks’ studies of China; proactively participate in the China study programs of these think tanks, and actively promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese think tanks and international think tanks. 
Source: Study Times, March 2, 2015 
http://www.studytimes.cn/shtml/xxsb/20150302/9526.shtml
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China’s First Round of Anticorruption Inspections Starts with SOEs

According to a republished report on Xinhua, "The first round of the anticorruption inspections in 2015 will target 26 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs)." 

"On [March 1], the Central inspection teams arrived at 20 SOEs." These SOEs included China National Petroleum Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China Power Investment Corporation, China Telecom Corporation, China Mobile Communications Corporation, and Baosteel Group, among others.

The inspection team will stay at the SOEs for two months (from February 28 to April 29). Its main task is to collect and review public reports on "issues about top leaders, their subordinates, and managers in key positions."

Source: Xinhua, March 2, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2015-03/02/c_127531616.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Red Flag Manuscript: Convert Development Advantage to Benefit Theoretical Work and Discourse Power

Red Flag Manuscript published an article stating that, in current theoretical work, (we) "must pay high attention to the development of our discourse system" and "truly convert the [economic] development advantage of the Socialist Path with Chinese Characteristics to an advantage in theoretical work and discourse power."

The article said that there are four main discourse systems in China: political discourse, academic discourse, public discourse, and Internet discourse. The Communist Party should extend its control over all four systems. During that process, "The core discourse about Marxism and the Socialist Path with Chinese Characteristics cannot be lost or blurred. (We) should apply the core concepts of the ‘China dream,’ to these systems, while ‘comprehensively deepening reform,’ ‘Socialist core values,’ and ‘the rule by law on the Socialist Path with Chinese Characteristics.’"

Source: Qiushi Online, February 25 2015
http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/hqwg/2015-02/25/c_1114432795.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi: Chinese Overseas Culture Centers Face Challenges

According to Qiushi, since 1988, China has established 16 Chinese Culture Centers overseas which organize culture activities, provide training on Chinese language and culture, and distribute information about socialist achievements and the socialist value system. They now face some challenges. 

First, the lack of funding is a bottleneck. Government funding is limited. An effective channel to attract private funds has yet to be established. Second, these centers are not adequately staffed. It is common for each staff member to wear multiple hats. Infrastructure such as libraries leaves a lot of room for improvement. Third, the centers do not function effectively due to a lack of understanding on the part of the host country. When organizing culture activities, the centers tend to follow the Mainland way of thinking under the Communist Party and can hardly satisfy the needs of the local people. Fourth, the centers are not ideally located. Currently most of the centers are establishments in developing countries. 
Source: Qiushi, February 25, 2015 
http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/hqwg/2015-02/25/c_1114432853.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xi Jinping’s Strategic Blueprint for the Four Comprehensives

On February 24, 2015, People’s Daily published a front-page editorial discussing Xi Jinping’s new political theory in great detail. It is a "strategic blueprint for China" represented by four slogans known as the "four comprehensives."  

These are: “Comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society; comprehensively deepen reform; comprehensively rule the nation according to the law; and comprehensively use the strict governance of the Party.”
“The ‘four comprehensives’ have both goals and initiatives; they have both focus and an overall picture; every ‘comprehensive’ carries great strategic significance. Development is the theme of the times and the common pursuit of countries in the world; reform is the driving force and the trend of social progress; the rule of law is an important protection of national governance systems and governance modernization; and governing the Party strictly is a necessary requirement for the ruling party to strengthen itself. The four do not simply have a parallel relationship; they are connected organically, in a top-level design. Building a moderately prosperous society, full of the spirit of reform, strengthening the rule of law, and implementing the tightening of Party discipline – the main theme of ‘the four comprehensives’ – draws the blueprint for the future of socialism in China."
Source: People’s Daily reprinted by Xinhua, February 24, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-02/24/c_1114423235.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Supreme People’s Court: Judicial Independence Not Allowed in China

China News reported that the Party leadership of China’s Supreme Court held a meeting on February 25 at which it stated that, in China, there shall be no Western style “judicial independence” or “separation of powers.” At the meeting the Party leadership called for confidence in the path, theory, and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. “Firmly uphold the judicial system with Chinese characteristics; draw a clear line; stay away from Western style ‘judicial independence’ or ‘separation of powers’; resolutely resist the influence of erroneous Western thoughts and views; and, on major issues, make sure to be very clear minded, standing firm and with very clear banner to identify your stance.” 

Source: China News, February 25, 2015 
http://www.chinanews.com/fz/2015/02-25/7079142.shtml
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics