Social Stability - 155. page

An assessment report published by the Ministry of Civil Affairs indicates China faces increasingly severe natural disasters. According to the Response Assessment Analysis for 2008 Natural Disasters, disasters in 2008 were high in frequency, of different varieties, spanned vast geographical ranges, were of high magnitude and caused heavy losses. “The overall situation remains grim.” Statistics show that in 2008, 470 million people were affected, 88,928 killed or missing, 26.822 million evacuated, 39.99 million hectares of crops damaged, and 10.977 million houses collapsed. The disasters caused direct economic losses of 117.524 billion Yuan.

Source: Ministry of Civil Affairs, September 23, 2009 http://www.mca.gov.cn/article/zwgk/mzyw/200909/20090900038648.shtml

Zhou Yongkang, a Political Bureau Standing Committee member of the CCP Central Committee and the secretary of the Central Political and Law Commission presided over a meeting in Beijing on maintaining stability on September 12, 2009, according to Xinhua.

He stressed that maintaining stability in the capital is the current most overriding political task. Beijing must apply the successful security experience during the Olympic Games period by mobilizing the masses to form a security network named as the “coordination of experts and the masses” and the “united defense of the police and the ordinary people” so as to have a people’s war for national security during the National Day Celebration. To ensure the safety of the military parade, the mass celebration gathering, and other major events on National Day in Beijing, a “Moat” project is launched to use all the neighboring regions, cities and provinces around Beijing as the first check point for any people to come to the capital city. The whole country must support maintaining stability in the capital.

Maintaining the stability in Xinjiang remains the most important task. In Tibet and other Tibetan areas, the focus is on the strengthening the education of the monks and management of the monasteries.

Source: Southern Metropolis Daily, September 13, 2009
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/nfjx/200909130018.asp

A series of “new high tech devices” used for security purposes are ready to be running to protect the celebration of the National Day according to China News Agency on September 18, 2009.

Starting from September 20, an access system using facial recognition technology will be turned on at Beijing Capital International Airport. Such a system can recognize an inspected passenger’s facial features and verify his/her identity within one second by comparing with the data in the database.

Starting from September 22, Beijing will use a traffic warning system for the first time in the crowded Beijing downtown, Xidan. This system can predict whether the flow of passengers will reach the alert level in the next 10 minutes, which can monitor any non-regular gatherings and other abnormal behavior.

At the same time, Beijing Electric Power Corporation has installed a wireless monitoring system called “electronic eyes” on the high-voltage electric transmission lines. The “electric eyes” will immediately alarm the police through wireless communication once the top of a large vehicle is not in the safe distance away from the electric lines.

During the National Day period, a light-emitting monitoring device will be installed to monitor any large machinery movements in the surrounding areas all day round.

From October 2nd to 8th, a command center will be set up on Tiananmen Square to monitor the whole square around the clock. Anything happening on Tiananmen Square will be displayed on a big screen in the command center through electronic eyes and GPS satellite positioning equipment. If a dispute arises, the staff can rush to the scene within 10 minutes.

Source: China News Agency, September 18, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/09-19/1874917.shtml

Summary of article found on Xinhua:

With the approach of the National Day Celebration, Beijing police preventive control measures are gradually strengthening. Pedestrians experience road closures; drivers encounter the limitation of vehicle numbers on the road; passengers “enjoy” “luggage checks” whenever carrying a bag, etc. What makes Beijing residents complain more are the frequent traffic restrictions and subway outages without being notified on time, which cause inconveniences and troubles for the city residents’ outdoor activities. More and more community police, traffic police, and armed police are on the Beijing streets. They have increased patrol times and intensity, which leads to more visibility of the police and police patrols having wider coverage. The inspections and searches in Internet cafes, game rooms, beauty shops, dance halls, hotels, and inns are thus more frequent and thorough. Security on National Day is very important. Under the present circumstances, we need to particularly prevent the activities of "East Turkistan," "Tibet Independents," and "Falun Gong."

Source: Xinhua, September 07, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-09/07/content_12008597.htm

Influenza H1N1, commonly known a Swine flu, is spreading widely in China, according to Renmin Bao. Liang Wannian, the Deputy Director of the Emergency Office, Ministry of Health estimated that the number of infected people in China might have reached several dozen million. The swine flu epidemic is in full breakout and infected people have been found in all provinces. It is also spreading among soldiers stationed in Beijing.

On the night of September 11, Xiong County, Hebei Province an urgent internal order was passed to all towns, townships, and districts, requiring complete silence on the actual numbers of people infected. According to higher-level orders, this is to ensure a great celebration of the 60th anniversary of the communist regime. The order reads that no one is allowed to report any such cases, forbids giving any medical confirmation of the H1N1 flu strain infection; requires treating all infections as regular flu; and all must report less or provide no reports about the H1N1 epidemic (Ed. – this is just as Beijing handled the SARS breakout — complete silence).

Source: Renmin Bao, September 13, 2009
http://renminbao.com/rmb/articles/2009/9/13/51121.html

Because of the widespread international financial crisis, China has a much greater social stability problem to deal with, especially when there are more and more “sensitive periods.” The following points summarize some of the successful experiences: (1) Trying to solve important issues people have their focus on; (2) Establishing a risk assessment system; (3) Enforcing the responsibilities of leadership on all levels; (4) Enhancing grass roots work at the base level ; (5) Responding quickly on sensitive incidents with press “guidance”; (6) Firmly and artfully fighting the hostile forces’ penetrations.

The current two biggest “tough battles” are maintaining stability in Xinjiang and maintaining the safety of the 60th anniversary celebration. Social stability is now considered the top responsibility of the leaders of the Party and of the government at all levels.

Source: Xinhua, September 7, 2009.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-09/07/content_12010488.htm

China will soon have its own “Anti-terrorism Law” and shall submit it to the People’s Congress for approval upon completion, disclosed by Professor Zhao Bingzhi, Dean of the College for Criminal Law Science, Beijing Normal University. Zhao said China started the research on anti-terrorism law after “9.11.” The development work of anti-terrorism law was expedited following July 5 Xinjiang incident which was viewed as a “terrorist act” by some Chinese, including Li Wei, Director of the Anti-terrorism research center of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

Source: Xinhua, September 11, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-09/11/content_12033506.htm

Hong Kong based analyst Li Yi believes China’s policy for ethnic minorities is the root cause of violence in Xinjiang, including the most recent needle stabbing of hundreds.

The CCP’s preferential treatment of ethnic minorities provides a venue for expressing resentment by the Uyhgurs, who dislike the government’s political suppression and economic exploitation.

The Han Chinese feel they are the victims of reverse discrimination. They often feel unprotected by the government during ethnic conflicts.

Many people realized that the botched policy is the culprit and call for the ousting of Xinjiang’s hardline Party secretary, Wang Lequan.   

Source: Apple Daily, September 4, 2009 (URL indirectly from Wenxuecity.com)
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/200909/news-gb2312-917610.html