Government/Politics - 205. page

The Party Construction Research Center, which is part of the Organization Department, recently published a research report showing the results of a survey that was conducted in 2013. It was based on 3,045 questionnaires collected from 16 provinces and districts. The topic was improving the credibility of the process for selecting candidates for Party cadres. Those surveyed expressed the following concerns regarding the selection process: the leader has the final say; the election process is simply a formality; illegitimate practices are often serious; and the evaluation criteria lack accuracy.

Source: People’s Daily, July 6, 2014
http://opinion.people.com.cn/n/2014/0706/c1003-25243492.html

PLA Daily published a front page article reporting that the officials and soldiers from all four key PLA departments: the general staff, the general political department, general logistics, and general armaments; as well as all seven military regions, expressed absolute allegiance to Chairman Xi [Jinping] and pledged firm support of the decision to dismiss retired general Xu Caihou from the Party. The article was also published on the People’s Daily website. 

China Economic Weekly, which is under the State’s People’s Daily, published an article on the fiscal transparency of China’s municipal governments titled, “Where Do Municipal Governments Spend Their Money?” 

Fang Ning, Dean of the Institute of Political Science of the Chinese Academy of Social Science, wrote an article for Qiushi on the three major conflicts that the Chinese people currently face. One is the conflict between the rich and poor; the second is between employees and employers; and the third is between the general public and government officials. Of these, the greatest concentration is on the conflict between the general public and government officials. The article suggested that the possibility of conflicts evolving into confrontation has been increasing.

Source: Qiushi Theory Online, June 22, 2014
http://www.qstheory.cn/freely/2014-06/22/c_1111254367.htm

People’s Daily published a commentary on the current situation in Hong Kong. The commentary claimed, "From the formation of the idea of ‘one country two systems’ to its implementation, there has been a clear line and standard for ‘Hongkongese to rule Hong Kong.’ That is that the majority of the Hongkongese who rule Hong Kong must be patriots [of China]."

The commentary further stated that "[China’s] re-iterating that patriots are to be the main body of the Hongkongese who rule Hong Kong does not interfere with Hong Kong’s autonomy. Rather, it clarifies the rights and responsibilities, as defined by Hong Kong’s Basic Law, for those who rule Hong Kong. … It is to let all of Hong Kong’s people have a measurement standard in their mind. Only those Hongkongese who are elected [based on this requirement] can accept the supervision by the Central government [of China] and Hong Kong society. … This is in the fundamental interest of the nation [of China] and it is in the fundamental interest of Hong Kong."

Source: People’s Daily, July 2, 2014
http://opinion.people.com.cn/n/2014/0702/c1003-25226140.html

Xinhua reported that on June 29, Liu Yunshan, Director of the Propaganda Department, visited People’s Daily and held discussions with the editorial, Micro-blog, and mobile departments. Liu praised the work that People’s Daily had accomplished and told them that the media should have a deeper understanding of the recent talks that Xi Jingping gave, do a better job in publicizing the Party’s view and the people’s voice, while grasping the correct way to guide public opinion.

Source: Xinhua, June 29, 2014

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-06/29/c_1111369170.htm 

Study Times published an article written by two members of the Chinese Communist Party Guangxi Committee. The article stated that the Internet presents new challenges for the media to be able to guide public opinion when facing public emergencies. In a number of incidents, the media failed to guide the public correctly, which had a negative impact on economic and social development, as well as on the government’s credibility. The article emphasized that, following an incident, the municipal departments should pay attention to gaining control of the discourse right quickly in order to gain the public’s trust. They should work with credible media to ensure that the public can receive the “official news release” before foreign media and the rumor mill can catch up. The article also mentioned that the municipal departments at all levels should develop a contingency plan in dealing with emergencies and that managers from public relations or related departments should take training classes.

Source: Study Times, June 23, 2014
http://www.studytimes.cn/shtml/xxsb/20140623/5369.shtml

On June 25, 2014, China’s National Audit Office announced the findings of the central government’s audit of 38 departments regarding the implementation of Fiscal Year 2013 budgets and related expenditures. The National Audit Office found that, due to improper management, the State’s National Social Security Fund incurred losses of 17.5 billion yuan (approximately US$2.84 billion). The central bank, the People’s Bank, spent 210 million yuan (approximately US$34.13 million) in unauthorized awards to its employees. The audit also uncovered that from 2009 to 2012, without authorization, the National Statistics Bureau “over hired” 8,081 employees and incurred unauthorized expenditures of 239.4 million yuan (approximately US$38.91 million).