Government/Politics - 330. page

A Beijing senior official recently claimed to “resolutely” strike on hostile forces’ secession, infiltration, and sabotage activities using the ethnic issues, so as to defend ethnical solidarity and social stability.

At the National Ethnical Working Forum on December 24, Jia Qinglin, the member of standing committee of Politburo and Chairman of The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), set the requirement of “deeply understanding the significance of the ethnical solidarity under the new situation and practically defending the ethnical solidarity.” Jia said it’s needed to “resolutely” strike on domestic and overseas hostile forces’ secession, infiltration, and sabotage activities using the ethnic issues, so as to defend national unity, ethnical solidarity, and social stability.

Earlier in December, the Ministry of Education issued the Guidelines for Ethnical Solidarity Education, requiring elementary schools to strengthen the education of ethnical solidarity from the third grade, calling it a “strategic task that matters for the great renaissance of the nation of China.”

Source: Voice of America, December 25, 2008
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2008-12-25-voa40.cfm

At the beginning of this year, the official target for the number of unemployed was set at 10 million or 4.5 percent. However the reality is far worse than that now. According to experts, the unemployment rate in China is estimated to be at 8 percent and could possibly reach even the 10 percent mark. They explain that even though there is a labor investigation system setup by the National Bureau of Statistic, the publicized number does not include those who are excess labor in the countryside, peasant workers who lost their jobs in cities such as regions of the Pearl or Yangtze River Deltas or the 12 percent of college graduates who are still looking for jobs.

Source: Radio Free Asia, December 20, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhong-12192008223343.html

On December 15, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences issued the Social Blue Book for 2009 and held a forum to report the overall situation of Chinese society, analyzing the country’s current situation and also predicting the hot issues for 2009. The book revealed that seeing doctors and employment are the most prominent issues. It also said that the current jobless rate of college graduates is over 12 percent, three times the registered jobless rate.

Source: people.com.cn, December 16, 2008 
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/8523717.html

The Central Committee of the Communist Party held an economic conference from December 8 to 12, 2008. The conference sets forth five major tasks for 2009 to overcome the global financial crisis. They include moderate macro economic controls, land use of farmland, structural changes to stimulate spending, financial reforms and measures to maintain social stability.

Source: People’s Daily, December 11, 2008
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1024/8498365.html

An article posted on Study Times, the journal of the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, states that China’s social problems result from stalled political reform. According to the article,  economic reforms have not been implemented to the fullest extent. Old power refuses to withdraw and instead is strengthening control to suppress market mechanism, thus leading to a rise in corruption. The article concludes that furtherance of economic and political reform is the key.

Source: Study Times, December 8, 2008
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=0&id=2321&bid=12

Chinese human rights are at the best period in history, said State Council Information Office Director Wang Chen. He stated that China has applied the universal human rights to the specific situation of China and has blazed a path of Chinese style human rights. The improvement of human rights has been in sync with the political, economic, social and cultural development, said Wang.

Source: Xinhua, December 9, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/09/content_10476593.htm

China’s state media have reacted angrily to French President Sarkozy’s decision to meet Dalai Lama and have continuously published articles to attack and discredit Sarkozy recently. Below are a few examples:

A Hoax Damaging [Sarkozy’s] Political Reputation
December 7, 2008, from People’s Daily
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-12/07/content_10466978.htm

Xinhua International Commentary: Unwise Move that Damages China-French Relations
December 7, 2008, from Xinhua
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/07/content_10465973.htm

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: The Wrong Action of Meeting Dalai by French Leader Rudely Interfered with China’s Internal Affairs
December 7, 2008, from Xinhua
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-12/07/content_10469357.htm

Sarkozy’s Political Show Is Overdone
December 8, 2008, from Guangzhou Daily http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-12/08/content_10472908.htm

College students are being recruited as "Information Security Agents" by the authority among Chinese universities, according to a web document recently disclosed from an official website of Dezhou College in Shandong province. This document details the guideline for "recruitment and administration" to establish a "secret student security team" among "political reliable" candidates. One of the stated missions is "to deeply investigate and monitor the mind status and trend of the faculties and students during important holidays, social and political events". All members conduct one-way communication for secrecy and have a monthly quota of reporting at least three "valuable information" to authority.

Source: Secret China, December 6, 2008
http://211.64.32.2/bumen/bwc/show.php?id=331