Social Stability - 150. page

China Review News recently reviewed an article by China Youth Daily on the recently published number of the percentage of the Beijing population that is middle class. It was reported that 40% of the population, which equals 5.4 million, are considered “middle class.” This percentage is above the national average – 23%. However the article questions the accuracy of the numbers and suggests that the largest majority is at the bottom of the “middle class” range. The article also refers to other statistics to prove that the 40% is hard to justify. Also, the new 40% number is based on registered households. A large number of people who live in Beijing are not registered. The article concluded that the latest optimistic number is just a “fairy tale.”

Source: China Review News, August 2, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/0/1/0/101401061.html?coluid=5&kindid=24&docid=101401061&mdate=0802224246

According to the PRC (People’s Republic of China) Ministry of Public Security on July 16, 2010, Wang Lequan, member of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Central Committee of the Politburo, deputy chair of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee, and deputy director of the Social Order Comprehensive Management Committee, was in Tianjin from July 14 to 15 promoting innovation in social management.

Wang emphasized that “we must guide, serve and manage all the newly established economic and social organizations, so as to ensure their development in a healthy direction. Pay immediate attention to early signs of unrest. To the greatest extent possible, resolve disputes at the grassroots level and at the initial stage. … Make an effort to keep small disputes within a street and big disputes within a district. …”

Source: The PRC Ministry of Public Security, July 16, 2010
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803680/2465198.html

On July 14, 2010, www.people.com.cn reported that “Guangdong Province’s Crisis Response Regulations” have been implemented since July 1.  Guangdong Province has hired 25,000 grass-roots informants including journalists, to collect information abouot urgent incidents. Once there is a sudden occurrence, lower level officials must report it to the next level government, and city level officials must report it to the provincial government within 2 hours. Sensitive information can be reported to the higher government directly. Those who fail to report an emergent incident will be penalized.

Guangdong Provincial Government, its relevant departments and all municipal governments above the district level have now set up spokesperson systems. “In case of an emergency, the news spokespersons must make an announcement within 4 hours,” said Li Shoujin, Deputy Minister of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department and director of the Provincial News Office.

Source: www.people.com.cn, July 14, 2010
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/14562/12148972.html

Zhou Yongkang, Standing Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party, stated on July 2, “Factors that influence social harmony and stability are still present in large quantities.” The remark was made at the 14th conference of the Committee of Political And Legislative Affairs of the Chinese Communist Party. Representatives from the Ministry of Public Security gave a briefing on the current status of social stability. Zhou is the public security chief of the Party.

Source: Nanfang Daily, July 3, 2010
http://nf.nfdaily.cn/nfdsb/content/2010-07/03/content_13428742.htm

Recently, the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China issued “a Public Security Police Training Plan for 2010 to 2012.” “The goal of the plan is to improve the public security organs’ capability to safeguard national security and social stability.” From 2010 to 2012, there will be trainings for the leading cadres, for specialized police in different departments, for lower level police, and for combat police instructors. “The plan ensures that all police across China will get trained within 3 years.”

Source: The Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China website, June 23, 2010
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803715/2449524.html

According to Xinhua on June 26, 2010, a newly released “2010 China’s Floating Population Development Report” said that China’s population of floating migrant workers reached 211 million in 2009 and will hit 350 million in 2050 if the current government policies remain unchanged.

Source: Xinhua, June 23, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2010-06/26/c_12266166.htm

On June 23, 2010, www.people.com.cn published an article by Wang Anshun regarding “mass prevention and mass control work” in Beijing. This means organizing residents to guard and patrol Beijing so as to guarantee social stability in Beijing. Wang is Deputy Secretary of the Beijing Municipal CPC Committee and Secretary of the Beijing Politics and Law Committee.

According to Wang, Beijing has built up a “mass prevention and mass control” network covering the whole city. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 National Day period, over one million people were mobilized to guard and patrol the bus stops, busy areas, village entrances, road junctions, bridges, and roads, etc. Wang said that members of the “mass prevention and mass control” teams must be registered with their real names to ensure that each job is watched, controlled and done. The city must be patrolled 24 hours a day.

Source: www.people.com.cn, June 23, 2010
http://theory.people.com.cn/GB/11943078.html

On June 2, 2010, the eleventh Standing Committee of Guangdong Province held its 19th meeting and passed the “Guangdong Regulation on Handling Emergencies,” reported Nanfang Daily on June 21, 2010.

According to the regulation, any government above the county level must annually evaluate the officials’ emergency prevention and handling performances. The higher level government should maintain oversight, and inspect and assess the emergency management work conducted by the lower level government.

Source: Nanfang Daily, June 21, 2010
http://nf.nfdaily.cn/nfrb/content/2010-06/21/content_13003252.htm