Government/Politics - 239. page

On November 11, 2012, People’s Daily published an article on Hu Jintao’s speech supporting the Parity’s continuous tight grip on China. Hu Jintao, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) top leader, said at the opening of the Party’s 18th National Congress on November 8, 2012, “We must not take the old path that is closed and rigid, nor must we take the evil road of changing flags and banners.”

The People’s Daily article suggested that any reform of the political system could endanger the survival of the CCP.

Source: People’s Daily, November 11, 2012
http://bbs1.people.com.cn/post/1/1/2/124357067.html

Xinhua published an article about the 18th National Congress, quoting comments that a number of the delegates to the Congress made on the issues and challenges that the Party faces.

Shu Bing, CEO of www.rednet.cn, stated that the most serious threat to the ruling Party is the Party’s detachment from the people. He wished that the Party would use the Internet to listen to people’s voices. Dai Yanqun, the deputy head of the Party School stated that, if the Party is not able to work with the people, it will eventually cause problems. Er Yuehe, a writer, believed that one of the biggest threats to the Party is the problem of maintaining the Party’s authority. One delegate noted that whether the Party can control corruption and fulfill the mission of serving the people is a test. Some delegates highlighted the issue of the widening gap between the income of residents of urban areas and residents of the countryside. Some expressed concerned about the quality of economic growth, as so much more attention has been paid to the rate and scale of China’s economic growth.

Source: Xinhua, November 10, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/18cpcnc/2012-11/10/c_113656697.htm

November 8, 2012, was the opening day of the 18th CCP Congress. On November 7, Beijing implemented the highest level of security to guard the event. Boxun, a Chinese news website based in North America, posted a group of pictures and videos showing the level of security in Beijing before the opening of the 18th Congress: A security guard with a professional red armband (wearing a professional inspection work permit) was placed on patrol in every cabin of every subway train; buses passing Tiananmen Square had their windows taped shut; there were more security personnel of all kinds than tourists and pedestrians in Tiananmen Square; A Boxun volunteer shot a video of a woman who looked like a petitioner being seized by two Tiananmen Square policemen and dragged into a police car; armed police and special police with weapons usually patrolled outside, in the open, but instead stayed inside their cars checking on people; selling scissors was forbidden in Beijing.

Source: Boxun, November 7, 2012
http://boxun.com/news/gb/china/2012/11/201211080248.shtml#.UJtBJsVWq2o

In his opening remarks at the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, Hu Jintao acknowledged that corruption presents a serious challenge to the Communist Party. He stated, “If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the Party and even lead to the collapse of the Party and the fall of the State.” He added that those who break the law will be brought to justice, "whoever they are and whatever power or official positions they have."

Hu emphasised, "[We] should ensure that the Party always remains a strong core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Source: Xinhua, November 8, 2012
http://china.huanqiu.com/politics/2012-11/3257281.html

Cai Mingzhao, the spokesman for the 18th National Communist Party Congress, said that the Chinese Communist Party has learned a “very profound lesson” from the Bo Xilai scandal. “What happened with regard to Bo Xilai, Liu Zhijun, and others involves serious cases of corruption among senior Party leaders. The lesson is very profound. … The Party Central Committee and the State Council attaches great importance to honest government and anti-corruption work. They have consistently stressed the point that, regardless of who the offenders are and how high their rank, as long as they engage in corruption, [they will] resolutely investigate and pull no punches. The handling of the Bo Xilai and Liu Zhijun investigations has fully demonstrated the strong determination and attitude of our Party with respect to building a clean government and combating corruption.”

[Editor’s Note: On October 26, China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced that Bo was placed under investigation for suspected crimes. Under Chinese law, China’s Supreme People’s Court will be the court that tries Bo Xilai, meaning there will be no appeal.]

Source: The Communist Party of China website, November 7, 2012
http://cpc.people.com.cn/18/n/2012/1107/c350840-19522246.html

On October 20, 2012, People’s Daily published an article titled, “The Political Attraction of China’s Rise.” According to the article, “China’s ultimate goal is to rise as a world power, leading human civilization into a new realm. To reach this goal, however, the accumulation of economic power and military force is not enough. China must increase its political power.” The political power here refers to “democracy with Chinese characteristics,” which “has absorbed both Marxism and liberal democratic values.”

Source: People’s Daily, October 20, 2012
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmlt/html/2012-10/20/content_1131718.htm?div=-1

On November 1, 2012, Oriental Daily published an article titled, “(Beijing) Mobilizes 1.4 Million Volunteers to Maintain Stability for the 18th Party Congress.” According to the article, 1.4 million volunteers have been placed in charge of checking IDs, Internet control, and other stability maintenance work. Police officers patrol Tiananmen Square and thoroughly examining people’s ID cards. Last Monday, the Beijing Armed Police Corps that is responsible for the 18th Party Congress had a swearing-in ceremony. It had armored vehicles and other heavy equipment on display.

Kitchen knives are being sold only to those who are willing to register with their real names. Some supermarkets even refuse to sell kitchen knives. The window handles of Beijing taxi vehicles have been removed to prevent passengers from opening the windows to distribute protest flyers. All travelers who take high-speed rail trains, regular trains, or long-distance buses must open their luggage for examination. The name on the ticket must be same as the name on the ticket holders’ ID.

Source: Oriental Daily, November 1, 2012
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/china_world/20121101/00178_001.html

On November 1, 2012, the People’s Liberation Army Daily issued an editorial in support of Hu Jintao. The editorial stressed the Communist Party’s absolute control over the military. It stated that the military is the main support for the Party and the country; it is responsible for the Party’s political dominance, implying that the role of the military in the rifts among the Party leaders is critical. The editorial warned, “The hostile forces in and outside China are ready to make trouble. … (We) must keep a clear mind and take a firm stand on major issues. … (The military) must consciously be highly consistent with the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission ideologically, politically, and in action and resolutely follow the commands of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Chairman Hu.

[Editor’s note: The PLA editorial on November 1, 2012, has been interpreted as showing support for Premiere Wen Jiabao after the New York Times published an article on October 26, titled “Billions in Hidden Riches for Family of Chinese Leader,” referring to Wen Jiabao. Wen, who is close to Hu Jintao, is known for his stance against the faction of former President Jiang Zemin and his cohorts such as the demoted Bo Xilai who, according to reports, was instrumental in the forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China.]

Source: People’s Liberation Army Daily reprinted on the Chinese Communist Party website, November 1, 2012
http://theory.people.com.cn/n/2012/1101/c49151-19459961.html