Government/Politics - 198. page

On September 18, 2014, China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) asked all Internet video companies to remove video applications from their offerings so that they will no longer be available for mobile phone users to download them. 

On Chinese media, Xi Jinping and Shanghai officials had an open fight on the issue of whether to include Ancient Chinese poems in elementary school textbooks. People’s Daily, Xinhua, and Jiefang Daily were all involved.

On September 9, People’s Daily published a commentary by an author whose name was "Commentator of the Party’s Newspaper," stating that Xi made a statement that "he is very much against removing classic ancient poems and articles from students’ textbooks." "To see this form of ‘de-Sinicization’ (removing Chinese factors and culture) is very sad. We should put these classics into student’s heads to form the genes of Chinese culture." The commentary further pointed out that Xi’s criticism was targeting Shanghai, which recently conducted text book reform and removed all ancient poems from the elementary school’s first grade textbooks.

The Beijing local government responded that they will increase the number of ancient poems in the first grade textbooks from 8 to 22 and that, during the years of elementary school, students will learn over 100 ancient poems.

However, Jiefang Daily, the Shanghai government’s official media, provided a different response on an official microblog: "What benefit does it bring to tradition to add a dozen poems over a night? Anyone who understands a little bit of ‘tradition’ knows what ‘揠苗助长’ (trying to help shoots grow by pulling them up – also spoils things by pushing) means and also what ‘过犹不及’ (going too far is as bad as not going far enough) means. Tradition does not need a coarse tribute, nor can education ignore the natural law. Progress gradually; be gentle and honest. If you have extra energy then start to learn more literature and don’t forget: this is the tradition." The blog stayed on the site for a day before it was removed.

Xi fought back from the sky. According to Xinhua, on his trip to Tajikistan on September 11, Xi spoke from his plane while flying at 10,000-meters high, "Classic ancient poems and articles are part of the Chinese nation’s blood and our genes. … Chinese classes [in school] should teach classic ancient poems and pass on the Chinese tradition."

On September 14, Xinhua reported that during Xi Jinping’s visit to the Maldives, Xi published an article in his name in the local newspaper, Today’s Evening, and on the website for Sun Online. The article, titled "True Friend, Partner in Development" quoted two Chinese ancient poems.

[Editor’s note: As Xi and Wang Qishan have continued their anti-corruption campaign, a Central Commission for Discipline Inspection team has been sent to Shanghai to gather public reports on Shanghai official’s corruption cases. The team has been stationed in Shanghai for about two months.]

Sources:
[1] People’s Daily Online BBS, September 10, 2014
http://bbs1.people.com.cn/post/2/0/0/141813132.html
[2] DWNews Online, September 11, 2014
http://blog.dwnews.com/post-805684.html
[3] Xinhua, September 11, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-09/11/c_1112446258.htm
[4] Xinhua, September 14, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-09/14/c_1112472554.htm

According to Xinhua, on September 14, Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department, formally known as the Propaganda Department, attended and spoke at a national conference on international communication work. Liu pointed out that the international communication work conveys China’s “global strategic” mission. The key points of Liu’s talk included the following guidelines. The international communication work should follow Xi Jinping’s directions. It should “create a good image of the country and safeguard the fundamental interests of the country, spread Chinese culture, serve the Party and the country’s international strategy, present good information about China and spread China’s voice, provide a good interpretation of Chinese characteristics, and create an international public opinion environment that is favorable to China.”

Source: Xinhua, September 14, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-09/14/c_1112473487.htm

Xinhua carried an article that Beijing Times had originally published on the wave of Party cadres who have withdrawn from enrollment in executive MBA programs. This phenomenon was due to the fact that, on July 31, the Ministry of Organization issued a notice that prevents Party cadres from participating in high cost training programs, including the EMBA (Executive MBA), without the approval of the human resources department. The notice also required that the participants should be responsible for all training expenses themselves and can’t accept any form of scholarship from any organization. According to the article, the tuition expense for EMBA programs varies. Some can cost as much as US$100,000 a year. Previously, not only could the cadres enrolled in the program have the government cover their expenses; they could also take the opportunity to promote themselves and build their personal network with other participants. The article said that the notice is part of a series of anti-corruption measures that have recently been introduced.

Source: Xinhua, September 15, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-09/15/c_126984460.htm

Xinhua published a commentary expressing concern about an increase in the level of "negative social mentality" among the Chinese people. The commentary stated that the Chinese have become a group of people who seek material gain without any spiritual pursuit. It observed that, if the Chinese people do not pay attention to spiritual transformation, the ongoing social changes and the transformation going on in China will only contribute to GDP growth with no values added to mankind’s spiritual enrichment. The article listed the negative mentalities that Chinese people have. These include being impulsive and loud, deceiving others, speculating, showing off their wealth, feigning poverty, committing violent acts, and being apathetic.

[Editor’s note: In 2012, Chinascope published its series, Moral Crisis in China. See Part I; Part II; and Part III for a more complete description of this crisis.]  

Source: Xinhua, September 14, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-09/14/c_1112473487.htm

State media, Huanqiu, published a commentary titled “In China, Patriotism and Love for the Party Are the Same Thing.” 

Study Times published a commentary on the strategy behind China’s peaceful rise. The framework of its rise includes the following components: 

Xinhua reported that Xi Jinping made an important speech at the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on September 5, 2014. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee and the Standing Committee of the NPC organized the event. All seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee were in attendance.

According to Xinhua, "Xi stressed that the People’s Congress system is a key component of the Socialist system with Chinese characteristics." "In China, to develop the socialist democratic system, …, the key is to adhere to the unity of the Party’s leadership, to the people being in charge, and to the rule of law."

"Xi stated that to adhere and improve the People’s Congress system, [China] should strengthen and improve legislative work to ensure that national development and major reform have a legal basis."

"Xi stated that to develop a socialist democracy, the key is to increase and expand, but not weaken or contract, [China’s] strengths and characteristics. [China] should adhere to the CCP’s leadership to set the overall direction and to coordinate all sources."

Source: Xinhua, September 5, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-09/05/c_1112384336.htm