Government/Politics - 257. page

On March 19, 2012, People’s Liberation Army Daily published an editorial criticizing the idea of nationalizing the military. The editorial firmly rejected the ideas of “non-affiliation between the military and the CCP, depoliticizing the military, and the nationalization of the military.” “[We] must unswervingly uphold the principle of the absolute leadership of the Party over the military and ensure that the military follows the command of the Party and Hu Jintao, the President of our country and the Chairman of the Party’s Military Commission.”

The PLA editorial was published immediately after the abrupt removal of Bo Xilai, the former Party Secretary of Chongqing. His removal appears to have touched off fierce clashes among the Party’s leaders.

Source: People’s Liberation Army Daily reprinted by People’s Daily, March 19, 2012 http://wap.people.com.cn/newsView.php?sid=&cnid=1323815&chid=1_11&coid=1_11_3_1&wv=2&v=l&return=channel&fromid=&uc_param_str=dnup

Xinhua published an editorial that was critical of Western countries’ intervention in countries ruled by authoritarian dictators. The article said that the Western countries’ military strike on Libya to overthrow the Gaddafi regime one year ago set a new “example" for how Western countries intervene in other countries’ internal affairs. The “New Interventionism” has become a cloud hanging over international relations.
 
The article described the “New Interventionism” as being very deceptive. Compared to traditional interventionism which included an explicit armed invasion and a military coup, "the ‘New Interventionism’ is under the guise of being legitimate.” “It is troubling that the West is showing a pattern of spreading the use of ‘New Interventionism.’ Western countries have already chosen Syria as another target following Libya; they aim to overthrow the Bashar government.”

“As a matter of fact, their so-called ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ are only excuses for the West’s ‘New Interventionism.’ There is no fundamental difference between ‘old interventionism’ and ‘New Interventionism.’ They are both authoritarian politics and hegemonism with the same goal of protecting the West’s strategic interests.“ “No matter how the West makes its point, it will not erase the disaster that the ‘New Interventionism’ brings to the affected country.”

The article concluded that "the ‘New interventionism’ is a violation of the principles of the ‘United Nations Charter’ and is an action against the tide of history. [We] should be vigilant against the spread of the ‘New Interventionism.’”

Source: Xinhua, March 18, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-03/18/c_111669360.htm

Tibet Daily published a commentary on the talk that Hu Jintao gave during his visit to the Tibetan delegation at the Two Conferences. Hu encouraged the delegation to further promote the “old Tibetan Spirit.” The commentary stated that, in order for them to further promote the “old Tibetan Spirit,” it would be necessary to be firm on anti-secession and to maintain solidarity with the central administration that Hu heads. The commentary also called for recruiting and training Party leaders who are “politically reliable, capable of safeguarding national unity, firm on anti-secession, and who dare to oppose those loyal to the Dalai Lama.”

Source: Xinhua, March 20, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2012-03/20/c_122855073.htm

On March 15, 2012, the city of Chongqing held a leadership conference and announced the removal of Bo Xilai as the Party chief of Chongqing and the appointment of Zhang Dejiang as his replacement. Zhang Dejiang, the Deputy-Head of the Central Organization Department, made the announcement.

Li Yuanchao, head of the Central Organization Department, spoke at the meeting. Li stated that Wang Lijun’s decision to enter the U.S. Consulate was a serious matter and that the central administration is paying close attention to the investigation. The change in the leadership post in Chongqing was the direct result of Wang’s case. Li requested that the entire Chongqing city leadership unify behind the central administration’s decision and cooperate with the transition in order to guarantee the stability of the political and social environment in Chongqing.

Zhang Dejiang also spoke at the meeting. He expressed his solidarity with the Party’s leadership with Hu Jintao as the head; he also declared his decision to persevere on the path of scientific development and the open and reform policy, and to  fight corruption and promote clean governance.

Following the city leadership meeting, the Chongqing High Court and the People’s Procuratorate immediately held a meeting and repeated the key messages from the city leadership meeting. Both judiciary branches declared their solidarity with the decision that the central administration made. They said they would "maintain a high degree of unity with the central administration and firmly safeguard the stability of Chongqing."

Source: Xinhua, March 16, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2012-03/16/c_122840891.htm

On March 12, 2012, President Hu Jintao, who is also Chairman of the Central Military Commission, met with the military representatives attending the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National People’s Congress. Vice President Xi Jinping, who is also Vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was present as well. Hu’s remarks at the meeting emphasized the role that the military plays in maintaining stability. “[The military] should adhere to the overall tone that progress is made amidst stability. … [The military must] pay more attention to safeguarding social stability and the security and stability of the military itself. …” Hu stated that the People’s Liberation Army must unswervingly adhere to the fundamental principle of the Communist Party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces and must ensure, through strict discipline, that all political and military orders are carried out with no impediments.

Source: Huanqiu, March 13, 2012
http://china.huanqiu.com/2012lianghui/news/2012-03/2517693.html

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao responded to questions about Wang Lijun, the former Changchun police chief who entered the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu and stayed there for one day. At a press conference after the conclusion of the Fifth Session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wen stated, “I can tell you all that the Central Committee [of the Party] has taken this matter very seriously. It instructed the relevant departments to start an investigation immediately [as soon as this incident took place]. The investigation has already shown progress. Based on the facts and the law, the matter will be handled strictly in accordance to the law. An answer will be given to the people with respect to the results and handling of the investigation, which will stand the test of law and history."

Source: People’s Daily Website, March 14, 2012
http://lianghui.people.com.cn/2012npc/GB/239293/17385949.html

City Express, a newspaper based in the city of Hangzhou, recently reported a comment made by Liu Xirong, a member of The National People’s Congress (NPC), Vice Chairman of the NPC Law Committee, and former Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Liu suggested that China is “overflowing with government officials.” Four years ago, there were six million government officials nationwide. Now the number is ten million. Based on his experience working in the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Liu expressed the belief that it is very hard to manage that many government officials. The cost of their salaries, benefits, training, and administration is very high. “The tax payers have to pay for all this,” Liu sighed. “No matter how hard the people work, they will not be able to afford so many public servants.”

Source: City Express, March 11, 2012
http://hzdaily.hangzhou.com.cn/dskb/html/2012-03/11/content_1234636.htm