Government/Politics - 206. page

China Review News recently published a commentary on China’s ocean strategy. It recommended that, "China’s ocean strategy should be based on two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean; however, currently, it should focus on the Indian Ocean."

The commentary’s analysis pointed out that Indian Ocean has become the heaviest maritime transportation route. However, the neighboring countries are usually small and have not formed a unified political entity. Thus it is likely that external forces can control them. India, the largest country there, is not able to control the Indian Ocean by itself. This means that China has a chance to execute a huge influence there.

The Indian Ocean is important not only to China’s maritime shipping with European and Asian countries, but it also breaks the U.S. and Japan’s blockade of China over the island chains in the Pacific Ocean. China’s strategy of working in the Indian Ocean includes: taking Pakistan as a strategic base support; targeting Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Burma as strategic entry points; developing land routes over Pakistan and Burma so that China can get to the Indian Ocean; and taking Iran as a new support and developing a comprehensive relationship with Iran – this will enable China to be involved in Middle East affairs and block Russia from accessing the Indian Ocean via Iran.

Source: China Review News, June 20, 2014
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1032/2/6/1/103226148.html

Zheng Yongnian, a professor at National University of Singapore offered some advice on China’s rise toward becoming an economic and investment super power through the use of the Silk Road Economic Belt. (For a description of the project, see The Diplomat at http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/chinas-new-silk-road-vision-revealed/).

Zheng advised China to learn from The Marshall Plan. "China … should not only study its successful experiences, but also go beyond its narrow geopolitical vision. During the process of reviving the European economy, the Marshall Plan made ​​a great contribution, and also made the U.S. the leader of the European nations."

He suggested, "China can set up a very large ‘New Silk Road Development Fund’ or ‘New Silk Road Development Bank’ through massive financial mobilization to build a solid financial foundation for the project. … The New Silk Road Development Fund can integrate China’s policies in Asia, Africa, and even Latin America … to form a grand international development program."

"China’s New Silk Road actually offers an opportunity to set up an international development agency at the central government level to coordinate all overseas economic and trade activities. Under the current system, the power of international aid and development is scattered among different government agencies, such as the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local governments, and state-owned enterprises. … Other countries, before rising to the status of a great power, would set up similar organizations to make an effective contribution to the rise of its international image. It’s time for China to do so."

Zheng wrote, "From a strategic point of view, a more open Silk Road will help alleviate other countries’ geopolitical concerns. … China does not want to compete with other countries’ geopolitical interests, but wishes to promote economic development along the new Silk Road. This not only contributes to the sustainable economic development of China; it also contributes to the economic development of other countries and would not be perceived as a strategic threat."

"The openness should also be reflected in the implementation; that is, the development of the new Silk Road should be participatory. … First is the participation of local society, so that the community and the people can share the fruits of development. In earlier years, some of China’s practices in Africa and Latin America caused dissatisfaction and even protests. Examples include hiring Chinese workers rather than locals and paying little attention to environmental considerations. Second, the development should be open to other countries. China’s domination of the new Silk Road construction does not mean that China should have a monopoly on all of the projects. As a world power, China should carry a more open attitude, so that foreign companies can participate in this great program."

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, reprinted on Huanqiu, June 24, 2014                                                     http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_world/2014-06/5032527.html

People’s Daily reported that the Ministry of Finance, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, People’s Bank, the Ministry of Taxation, and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television jointly outlined several measures designed to establish financial support for the development of China’s domestic film industry. The measures include but are not limited to the following: allocating 100 million yuan (US$16 million) annually to support 5 to 10 key films; developing greater use of high-tech in film production; assisting domestic films to achieve a more substantial appearance in overseas markets; subsidizing theatre construction in the mid-west regions; providing favorable tax incentives from 2014 to 2018 to allow tax exemptions for certain incomes, including copyright transfers and box office revenue from the countryside.

Source: People’s Daily, June 20, 2014                                                                                        http://culture.people.com.cn/n/2014/0620/c87423-25175418.html 

On June 18, the Defense Policy Research Center of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, a Chinese military think tank, issued its "Strategic Assessment 2013." The report consisted of six parts: the preface; the global strategic situation; maritime competition and cooperation in the Asian Pacific; new trends in cyberspace security; development and cooperation in the Arctic region; international competition in space; and trends in missile defense development. 

On June 13, 2014, an official from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China criticized China’s Academy of Social Science (CASS) because it had been infiltrated by foreign forces. 

On June 14, the People’s Daily website reported that Su Rong, the Vice Chairman of the Twelfth National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is alleged to have committed serious violations of the law and is currently undergoing a disciplinary investigation. The report was based on a news report that the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection released. Su Rong’s resume was listed on the report. Su was Vice President of the Central Party School between 2006 and 2007. Thereafter and until March of 2013, he served as the Party Secretary of Jiangxi Province. [Editor’s note: At the time that Su Rong was the Vice President, Zeng Qinghong was the President of the Party School.]