Government/Politics - 283. page

Xinhua published a commentary about the outlook for China’s future. Though the article was written with many glorious words, it stated, "The next five to ten years is not only a critical period for our country in terms of constructing a wealthy society; it is also a tough period in terms of overcoming escalating problems and increasing difficulties. Under the new situation, short term and long term problems in economic development intertwine, structural and systemic problems coexist, and internal and international problems interact, making it urgent to transform the economic development model and hard to improve people’s living standards and maintain social stability.”

The article mentioned several economic development directions: adopting a proactive fiscal policy and a stable monetary policy, expediting the realignment of the nation’s economic structure, stabilizing food prices (as a significant goal), improving economic development’s sustainability and the capacity of self-stimulus (ed: instead of relying on outside, or government stimuli), and increasing the quality and efficiency of economic development.

Source: Xinhua, January 2, 2011
http://cnstock.xinhuanet.com/index/gdbb/201012/1077104.htm

Study Times published an article by the Party Committee of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) about its practice of maintaining Party control over China’s overseas businesses. The operation of expanding the Party overseas involves following these businesses. “Where there are people, there are Party organizations and Party activities.” “These overseas Party organizations are under the CCECC Party Committee, while accepting the leadership and administration of the Party Committees at our embassies and consulates. … Currently, the overseas offices of the CCECC have formed, horizontally and vertically, a complete Party organization system with 100% coverage.”

Source: Study Times, December 27, 2010
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2010/12/27/08/08_13.htm

On December 21, 2010, the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Science, published its “2010: Evaluation of China’s Security Situation.” The report stated, “In 2010, China faced intensified security pressure from its neighboring countries and deteriorating relationships with its neighbors.”

Recently China’s government think tanks have been debating the direction of China’s foreign policy. The International Herald Leader reported on a forum held to discuss the security report. Participants expressed two opposing views:

1.  “China should learn how to reduce it neighbors’ fears and worries concerning China’s rise. In other words, make more friends and create zero or few enemies.”

2. “China should learn from Russia. It initially took a soft foreign policy approach, but the Western world’s continued interaction with its neighbors became a threat. After Russia showed its determination to safeguard its interests, [Ed: sending troops to Georgia], the situation stabilized.”

Source: International Herald Leader, December 24, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-12/24/c_13663115.htm

Guangming Daily published an article by Leng Song, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, on how to improve China’s influence over other countries. Leng listed the following strategies:

1. Build up the CCP Central media’s brand name and reputation overseas. All major Central media have already begun to expand in the Western world.
2. Have better control and utilization of the Internet, avoiding simple approaches such as blocking or removing articles on the Internet.
3. Expand the media’s focus to both developed and developing countries. China’s current foreign propaganda focus is Europe, the U.S., Japan, and Russia. China should also cover Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Leng also argued for the use of crises to promote China’s image. “Timeliness is the key to controlling the tone of the media when reporting a social crisis.” “Reporting on social crises requires full awareness of (the CCP’s) policy direction and political position.”

Source: Guangming Daily, December 22, 2010
http://epaper.gmw.cn/gmrb/html/2010-12/22/nw.D110000gmrb_20101222_1-11.htm

Xinhua recently reported that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) decided to vigorously support, promote, and protect China-made documentary movies. Jin Delong, Deputy Chief Editor of SARFT, observed on December 7, 2010, that imported documentaries significantly stifle domestic products. Jin suggested that this area is considered an important element in the national soft-power development strategy. The government should set a better “market stage” for domestic products. Jin announced that SARFT is releasing regulations to “improve the government administration of this marketplace” and to set a cap for the number of imported documentary movies. Meanwhile, the ratio of “domestic vs. imported” programs for television broadcasting is now set to be no lower than 7:3.

Source: Xinhua, December 8, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-12/08/c_12858844.htm

Xinhua reported that, on December 5, more than one million people in 46 cities all over China took the Civil Service Exam to compete for 16 thousand government jobs. This is the largest exam ever organized for government jobs. The number of people taking the exam grew from 120 thousand in 2004 to 1.41 million this month.

In the eyes of many Chinese, a government position means a relatively stable and easy work environment. However, the competition is intense; for some popular positions there are 900 applicants for each position. Although the State Bureau of Civil Service announced several times that no remedial classes would be offered, remedial courses have nevertheless become a RMB 4.2 billion business. Cheating is a big problem. 409 people were caught last year. Radio monitoring devices were used this year in Beijing to battle cheating technologies.

Source: Xinhua, December 5, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-12/05/c_12848918.htm

Xinhua announced that an important article would be published in the 24th issue of Qiushi (Seeking Truth) Journal on December 16, 2010. According to Xinhua, the article, by Jia Qinglin, the ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chairman of the People’s Political Consultative Conference, stresses that China must firmly walk the correct path in dealing with ethnic problems and use solutions with Chinese characteristics. The article also emphasizes that it is imperative to constantly insist on and implement the Party’s fundamental ethnic theory and policy and take it as an urgent task to speed up the development of ethnic areas.

Ed: The Qiushi article was not available at the time of publication.

Source: Xinhua, December 15, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-12/15/c_12883250.htm

The General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued a new regulation that expands the current audit system. Provincial level officials, ministers, and leaders of public institutions and State-owned enterprises will be subject to audit. During the audit of provincial governors and ministers, how they implement economic policies, and their handling of income and expenses, funding, and program management will all be examined. The outcome of the audit will be kept in the official’s file to allow for personnel actions such as performance assessments, promotions, or removal. Officials from the Party’s local disciplinary commissions and other departments will carry out the audits.

Source: Xinhua, December 8, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-12/08/c_12860568_5.htm