Government/Politics - 200. page

People’s Daily carried an article which was originally published on the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department (CCDI) website. The article said that some high ranking cadres lack a sense of responsibility to the Party. They only care about their administrative title and neglect their duties as Party officials. The article said, “Once they lack a sense of responsibility to the Party, it is guaranteed that the resulting loosely organized Party structure will lack discipline. Therefore the fighting power of the Party is sure to be diminished and it will shake the Party’s foundation.” The article stated that Party officials should have a position within the Party before they assume other responsibilities. It also stated that the Party cadres should abide by the law as well as the Party’s disciplinary rules, but the Party cadres should place the Party’s disciplinary rules above the law. The article posted a reminder that all Party members must bear in mind that the Party official’s title is a "political responsibility" rather than a "political honorary title."

Source: People’s Daily, August 25, 2014                                                                                        http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0825/c1001-25528310.html 

Xinhua published an article that was originally carried by the Chongqing Morning Newspaper reporting on the results of a recent online survey of attitudes toward educational training. Over one thousand people participated in the survey. The results showed that close to 28 percent of the survey participants had unpleasant experiences in dealing with training programs. Some of their unpleasant experiences included that their personal information was leaked; they received false information; they had a hard time withdrawing from the class and receiving a refund; and they felt that the results did not meet their expectations. Meanwhile close to 79 percent stated that the most annoying part about the training classes was that they were overcharged. Sixty-one percent felt that the English training market should be the first one to be regulated.

According to the article, in 2012, the size of China’s market for educational training was 960 billion yuan (USD$156 billion). It included programs such as pre-school, PhD, foreign languages, musical instruments, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and public servant test preparation. English language training accounted for 15 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) of the total market. Over 50,000 agencies in the market provide this service.

Source: Xinhua, August 24, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2014-08/24/c_126909732.htm

Study Times wrote a commentary stating that it is a matter of urgency to ensure the political control of “mixed-ownership enterprises.” These are companies in which different ownership entities have jointly invested. The different forms of ownership may include State-owned, corporate owned, privately owned, and foreign-owned enterprises. 

On August 18, 2014, China Review News reported on the fourth meeting of the Chinese Communist Party Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms, which had been held that same day. Xi Jinping, the paramount political and military leader of China, delivered a speech in which he discussed “pushing the reforms forward with real guns and knives.” Those present at the meeting included the deputy heads of the central reform leading group, Li Keqiang, Liu Yunshan, Zhang Gaoli and a number of others. The participants examined specific issues such as salary system reform targeting top officials of the central-government-owned enterprises; and the benefits and “job-related” expenses regulation that focused on executives of the central-government-owned enterprises. They observed that the current salary structure and management are neither healthy nor reasonable. They also discussed the higher education entrance exam and enrollment reforms and approved a media guide, a 2014-2020 reform implementation plan, and a current on-going reform report.

Source: China Review News, August 18, 2014
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1033/4/4/4/103344462.html?coluid=151&kindid=11510&docid=103344462&mdate=0818181237

China News Service carried an article that Beijing Times had originally published. According to the article, since the 18th National Congress was held in November 2012, over 40 deputy provincial level officials were removed from their posts due to corruption charges. Even though 17 of those positions have since been filled, many still remain vacant. The article said that media reports with announcements about the candidates who filled the positions are also lacking. A scholar told Beijing Times that the central administration is extremely cautious when selecting candidates. The article also suggested that the fact that these positions have not been filled does not appear to have had a major impact on the daily workload as the officials at the next level have picked up some of the work. The article said that the Central Administration would rather leave the positions empty than fill them with someone who is not appropriate. It can thus minimize any additional negative consequences.

Source: China News Service, August 18, 2014
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2014/08-18/6500839.shtml

Guangming Daily published an article written by a scholar from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article stated that the general public is losing trust in the current system and many people may resort to political action or violence when there is conflict. This is having a serious impact on the stability of today’s society. According to the article, some Party officials have become detached and have stepped over to the opposite side of the people; they seek political gain, while depriving the people of the right to speak up and defend their own interests. The article concluded that in order for the government to operate in a healthy manner, it should make a priority of regaining the people’s trust. The article also quoted a survey result which showed that over 40 percent of the public does not trust the work that local governments perform. The top three areas with which people are most dissatisfied include clean government and the anti-corruption effort; the subsidized housing policy for middle to low income groups, and the transparency of government information and work.

Source: Guangming Daily, August 15, 2014
http://theory.gmw.cn/2014-08/15/content_12557030.htm