Government/Politics - 318. page

On April 17, Jia Qinglin, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, spoke at a forum on the Party’s religion work attended by provincial level party leaders.

Jia emphasized that all levels of party committees and government bodies should understand the overall and strategic importance of religion work under the current environment. They should further strengthen and exercise the Party’s leadership in religion work; strengthen research and investigation of the current status of various religions; pay attention to religion work at the ground level; strengthen the support of patriotic religious organizations; fully encourage and utilize personnel within those organizations to play active roles to bridge the connections between the government body and religious believers to ensure stability among religions.

Jia also instructed that it is required that they should actively engage in building friendly relations with religions from overseas and be on guard against foreign forces using religion for espionage. 

Source: Xinhua, April 17, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-04/17/content_11200560_1.htm

The People’s Daily published an opinion piece titled "Let the Glory of the New Era Shine in our Patriotism." It states that "to celebrate the new China’s 60th anniversary, (China) will carry out public patriotic education in depth throughout the entire nation. The Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China had a teleconference to motivate its staff and assign tasks, marking the kickoff of the program."

Source: People’s Daily, April 15, 2009
http://opinion.people.com.cn/GB/40604/9131420.html

The President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez arrived in Beijing on April 7 for a three day visit. Upon arrival, he stated that “a new world order is being established”.

The BBC Chinese report indicates that it believes the motive of developing the relationship between Venezuela and China is simple: Venezuela wants to break loose of the trade dependency on oil with the United States, while China wants to expand its oil supply channels.

In addition to the oil trade relationship, the two countries have military and news media relationships.

Source: BBC Chinese, April 7, 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7980000/newsid_7988800/7988822.stm

Responding to recent news reports accusing China of cyber attacks, the International Herald calls such accusations by Western media groundless. The article quotes defense expert Professor Meng Xiangqing, who claims that it was a smoke bomb. He defends that China is indeed the victim and has been attacked by  Western cyber spies, lead by the country’s enemies and anti-China forces.

Meng lists the U.S. as having the most powerful cyber-attack potential and that it has provided funding in the amount of tens of millions of dollars a year to a number of organizations including “Ze Wa online,” a Tibetan independence entity and “cyber traitors,” the Chinese democracy movement leaders, to conduct cyber spying activity on China, attack the Chinese government, criticize China’s open reform policy and other socialist values.

Source: Xinhua, April 9, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-04/09/content_11154934.htm

Since the end of February, China has sent numerous officials on more than half dozen trips to Taiwan for various purposes including tourism, cultural exploration, trade, sports, energy, agriculture, information technology, religion, and politics. These represent the largest number of high level visits made across the straight.

Source: Apolo, April 2, 2009
http://www.aboluowang.com/news/data/2009/0402/article_72951.html

One of the few interesting topics during the CPPCC sessions at the National People’s Congress was an open discussion about disclosing officials’ personal property.

The public strongly supported the idea. However, most officials stood firmly against it. One official was quoted as saying, "Why not have the people disclose their property first?"

Some serious issues that China currently faces have also been raised as a consequence of the discussion.  Disclosing officials’ property holdings involves the fundamentals of a free society such as freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly, which the government isn’t ready or willing to allow.

Source: BBC Chinese, March 30, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7970000/newsid_7971800/7971849.stm

Although Hong Kong police have enough evidence to bring Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe to court, she will not be prosecuted, according to the Hong Kong Department of Justice. Mugabe attacked and hurt British reporter Richard Jones on January 15. According to the Hong Kong Secretary of Justice, the decision was made by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who decided that Mugabe enjoys diplomatic immunity.

Many Hong Kong human rights organizations and Legislative Council members argued that Mugabe was on a tourist trip, not a diplomatic mission, when she conducted the attack. They also expressed deep concerns regarding the Hong Kong government’s inability to stand for human rights while yielding to Beijing’s pressure in support of dictators.

Source: Epoch Times, April 1, 2009.
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/4/1/n2480942.htm

Xinhua reported the following. On the opening of the Second World Buddhist Forum on March 27, 2009, the 11th Panchen Lama Qoigyijabu gave a speech in English. His English skills “shocked” the eminent monks and cultural elites at the conference. He took at least two English lessons each week.

Xinhua also quoted reports from other media sources. According to Xinhua, Ta Kung Pao said that the Panchen Lama’s good English is helpful to promote Tibetan Buddhism overseas and to clear the outsiders’ misunderstanding of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. Xinhua said Reuters stated that the “Chinese government chosen” Panchen Lama is the critical tie for Tibetans to stay loyal to the central government. Xinhua also offered Sing Tao’s comment that “Under the official arrangement, the 19-year old Panchen Lama is moving quickly to the front stage.”

Chinascope Editor’s note: Panchem Lama is the second highest religious position in Tibet. After the death of the 10th Panchen Lama, the Dalai Lama proclaimed Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama. However, the Chinese government named their own 11th Panchem Lama, Qoigyijabu, whose parents are both Chinese Communist Party members.

Source: Xinhua, April 2, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-04/02/content_11118684.htm