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After Ling Jihua, Who Else Will Fall?

On December 22, 2014, after the announcement was made that Ling Jihua was under investigation, Mr. Ho Pin, CEO of the Mirror Media Group, told VOA that the next downfall of a big tiger (corrupt high official) could be Guo Boxiong, the former vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (a Jiang Zemin supporter). Mr. Ho Pin did not release the name, but he said that another big tiger will be exposed after Guo Boxiong. 

In an interview with Epoch Times on December 23, 2014, Dr. Li Tianxiao, a political critic of China issues, predicted that (Xi Jinping’s) next step to combat corruption will focus on the forces of Jiang Zemin’s fraction (Jiang Zemin was the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from 1989 to 2002 and President of the People’s Republic of China from 1993 to 2003). He stated, “The ultimate goal of Xi Jinping’s movement to combat tigers (the anti-corruption movement) is to target Jiang Zemin himself.”

Source: Voice of America, December 22, 2014 and Epoch Times, December 23, 2014
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voaweishi-1222-voaio-1/2568973.html
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/14/12/23/n4324397.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Huanqiu: Corruption Is Very Serious in the Army

On December 23, 2014, the military section of Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an article titled, “Corruption Is Very Serious in the Army; Some Corrupt Officials Still Have Not Stopped Being Corrupt.” Corruption includes using the ability to trade in power, money, and sex. Some cases have involved huge amounts of money.

“Some stubborn, deeply hidden corrupt officials have attempted to muddle along.” They have not been discovered. Some even turn a deaf ear to the anti-corruption movement. They have not concluded their corrupt acts; nor do they stop their bribery. The problems are very shocking. “(We) must punish them. Let the corrupt officials really pay a heavy price.”

Source: Huanqiu, December 23, 2014
http://mil.huanqiu.com/china/2014-12/5278619.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Reporters Without Borders: China Has the Largest Number of Jailed Reporters

BBC Chinese recently reported that the Reporters Without Borders Organization, headquartered in Paris, just released its 2014 summary of global statistics on reporters subjected to violence. According to this latest summary, in 2014, 178 professional reporters were jailed worldwide. Among these reporters, Mainland China jailed 29, which represents a 17 percent share. That is the worst in the world. Also, out of all “citizen journalists” (non-professionals) jailed globally, the Mainland China government jailed 78. Combining the professional and non-professional jailed reporters, Mainland China has a share of around 30 percent, the highest among all nations. The Reporters Without Borders summary especially mentioned well-known Chinese reporter Gao Yu, who is facing a possible 15-year term, which is on top of the seven years she has already served. The summary also mentioned that 1,864 reporters have been attacked or threatened globally. Mainland China attacked or threatened 84 of those, thus ranking it number five (Ukraine, Venezuela and Turkey are the top three nations). 
Source: BBC Chinese, December 16, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/world/2014/12/141216_journalists_prisoned
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

In 2014, over 150 Senior Executives at State-owned Enterprises Faced Corruption Charges

According to Legal Daily, from January 1 to December 15, 2014, a total of over 150 senior executives from State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) have been investigated for or charged with conducting criminal activities. This represents a sharp increase compared to less than 100 in previous years. 

January and February of 2014 each saw two fallen executives, the lowest number for the year. The numbers in June, August, and September hit the peak at 22, 39, and 22 respectively. The hardest hit were those SOEs that the central government owns, such as China Resources Group and Sinopec. The energy and financial sectors each had a total of 11 senior executives under investigation, including Postal Savings Bank of China, Beijing Rural Commercial Bank, the Bank of Inner Mongolia, and China Guangfa Bank. According to a state survey, 90 percent of the officials who fled overseas are from State-owned companies or financial companies. 
Source: Legal Daily reprinted by Xinhua, December 20, 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-12/20/c_1113717267.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xi Jinping: Will not change one country, two systems for Hong Kong and Macau

Xi Jinping spoke at the ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of Macau’s return to China. He told the audience that China’s confidence and resolve to continue the practice of “one country, two systems” will not waiver. 

Xi said that “one country, two systems” is China’s fundamental State policy. “We must adhere to the one-China principle and we must respect the differences between the two systems. … At no time should we focus only on one side to the neglect of the other. … This is the only way that leads to sound and steady progress." He added that any other way would be "a misguided approach from the beginning." It would be like "putting one’s left foot into the right shoe." 
"No matter what difficulties or challenges we may encounter, our confidence and resolve to uphold the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ will not waiver. Our confidence and resolve to advance the practice of ‘one country, two systems’ will not waiver!” 

Source: Xinhua, December 20. 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-12/20/c_1113717267.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

PLA Daily: Anti-corruption Is a Life and Death Battle That We Cannot Afford to Lose

On December 17, the Chinese military flagship newspaper People’s Liberation Army Daily (PLA Daily) carried a high profile opinion article titled, "Anti-corruption Is a Life and Death Battle That We Cannot Afford to Lose." Some of the wording was strong and direct. 
"About corruption, there are two camps of arguments that are worthy of attention. One is whether the continual strikes on corruption will actually cost the support of the public; the other is whether the anti-corruption campaign can really continue."
"These concerns, to some extent, exemplify the ‘stalemate between the corruption and anti-corruption forces." If misconceptions are not clarified in a timely manner, if people’s thinking is not further unified, and if their faith is not strengthened, it is bound to be difficult to completely eliminate the pernicious influence of Xu Caihou (former Vice Chair of the Central Military Commission, put under investigation and expelled from the Communist Party in June 2014) and carry out the fight against corruption to the end."
"There is no special area for corruption and no taboo against anti-corruption. As ‘big tigers’ like Zhou Yongkang (Zhou is a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee; on December 5, 2014, state media announced Zhou’s arrest to face criminal charges, as well as his expulsion from the Communist Party of China.) and Xu Caihou are removed, who else can remain as an exception? The central leadership of the Party and Chairman Xi will not tolerate any corruption; they will surely investigate and punish violations of law and discipline."
"The military is holding the barrel of the gun. It is a strong pillar of the ruling party. If the military engages a corrupt army, the barrel of the gun will turn to rust and the pillar will collapse. Then what would be there to guarantee the stability of the country and the people’s happiness and peace? History has repeatedly proven that as long as the military is absolutely loyal, absolutely pure, and absolutely reliable, the country will not fall into big trouble. There must not be any hiding place for the corrupt. This is the Party’s special political requirement for the army."
Source: PLA Daily, December 17, 2014
http://www.81.cn/jmywyl/2014-12/17/content_6272590.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xi Jinping: Strictly Governing the Party in All Areas

On December 16, 2014, Xinhua published an article on the new policies that Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party General Sectary, has proposed: Building a moderately prosperous society in all areas; deepening reforms in all areas; promoting the rule of law in all areas; and strictly governing the Party in all areas. Among the four “in all areas,” the last one “strictly governing the Party in all areas” is the new policy.

The article explained the different sub-areas of “in all areas” in terms of “strictly governing the Party.” “These include the Party’s ideological development, organizational development, mode of work development, anti-corruption development, and institutional development. All levels of the Party’s organizations must follow the requirement of strict governance of the Party and management of team members, and must normalize and institutionalize “strictly governing the Party.”

Source: Xinhua, December 16, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-12/16/c_1113661816.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Red Flag Manuscript: Urgent Need to Maintain Weibo Ideology Security

Red Flag Manuscript, a journal under Qiushi, published an article in its 2014 Issue No. 23 on the security of ideology on weibo (microblogging), titled, “Several Trends Must Be Corrected to Maintain Microblogging Ideological Security.”  

The article stated that in the open forum of weibo, various ideological views are in competition with one another. “Views that discredit China and deny the Party’s leadership and the socialist system have gone viral on weibo. Not only do they create a variety of discourses which include violence and rumors, but they also have had a serious impact on the mainstream socialist ideology. It has become urgent to maintain weibo’s ideology security and, in particular, to be vigilant and correct the following trends.” 
“1. To prevent being deceived by Western ideology cloaked as ‘universal values.’ 
2. To prevent being a ‘nice guy’ on major issues that are spread on weibo. 
3. To prevent hostile forces from using social emergencies to manipulate public opinion on the weibo platform. 
4. To prevent the ideological development work from being disconnected from weibo users.  
5. To prevent the privatization and marketization of weibo and other new media."   
Source: Qiushi, December 12, 2014 
http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/hqwg/2014-12/12/m_1113624984.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics