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China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

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Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

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Fall of Beijing Official: Heavy Charges for Reading Publications on Political Issues

Former director of the Beijing City’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Zhang Guilin, has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and dismissed from his public office.

According to the CCP’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, the decision to expel Zhang Guilin was made by the Beijing Municipal Committee, with the approval of the Beijing Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Beijing Municipal Supervisory Commission.

The justification for his expulsion includes weak political consciousness, possession and reading of books and publications on serious political issues, violations of the eight-point austerity rules issued by the central government, acceptance of gifts and consumption cards that may affect the impartial execution of official duties, failure to report personal matters truthfully, involvement in illicit sexual activities and bribery, interference in and intervention with government procurement projects, and exploitation of his position to seek benefits for others and illegally accept[ng property from others.

However, the official announcement does not specify the details of Zhang Guilin’s possession and reading of books and publications on serious political issues.

Based on the definition provided in the “Disciplinary Regulations of the Chinese Communist Party,” publications with serious political issues include those that openly advocate bourgeois liberalization, oppose the four cardinal principles, oppose the party’s decisions on reform and opening up, and engage in unwarranted criticism of the central policies, damage the party’s unity, defame or slander party and state leaders, or distort party and military history. These are evidently more sensitive content, and party members who violate these regulations face severe consequences.

Cases involving books and publications related to political issues are not common, as stated by the Chinese Communist Party’s disciplinary authority. Similar charges were made against Wang Xiaoguang, former deputy governor of Guizhou Province, when he was expelled in 2018. In another case involving Sun Zhengcai, former party secretary of Chongqing, Wu Dehua, former member of the Yubei District Standing Committee, was accused of purchasing and reading books and publications that had serious political issues.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), June 28, 2023
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202306280029.aspx

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Fear of Scandal Exposures: 70 percent of CCP Officials Suffer from Cyberphobia

According to an article on the WeChat public account, “Chang’an Street Governor” by the Beijing Daily, a survey conducted by the “People’s Forum” magazine several years ago showed that about 70 percent of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials experienced cyberphobia. They were anxious and uneasy due to concerns about work-related mistakes or negative incidents being exposed, which could affect their future careers. Those who were most worried were propaganda officials and top leaders responsible for public opinion.

The article states that, with the advent of the era of mobile communication, this fear has only increased. From leaders in various organizations to grassroots employees, they fear public opinion, scrutiny, controversy, and accountability. Rather than facing the risks of the spotlight, they prefer to maintain a low profile and navigate their way through in silence.

As a result, CCP officials who are fearful and apprehensive about online public opinion often find themselves at a loss, leading to the proliferation of chaotic situations.

The article provides examples of different reactions by officials. Some try to avoid the situation altogether, adopting an ostrich-like attitude out of fear of being implicated. Others respond slowly, missing the opportunity to handle crises in a timely manner. Some officials adopt a wait-and-see approach, hoping that time will eventually diminish the intensity of the issue. There are those who give inconsistent information, creating confusion and contradictory statements. Some officials rigidly stick to prepared statements without engaging in meaningful communication with the public. Others deliberately conceal their mistakes, preferring to hide or distort information.

Furthermore, officials tend to respond selectively to public concerns. They avoid addressing the core issues and instead focus on trivial matters or on offering empty words.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), July 4, 2023
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202307040049.aspx

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Hong Kong Security Chief: Article 23 Legislation Encompassing Espionage and Cyber Crimes

In an interview published today by Ta Kung Pao, Hong Kong Police Commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung discussed the upcoming legislation regarding article 23 of the Basic Law. Tang stated that the legislation would take into account the recent situation in Hong Kong and the national security risks faced by the city from China.

He emphasized that individuals who pose a threat to China’s national security continue to engage in various forms of advocacy, infiltration, and collusion with foreign forces. Online platforms are frequently used to incite actions that endanger national security.

Tang noted that, in recent years, Hong Kong has experienced acts of “soft subversion” and that online discourse and publications can easily escalate tensions in society.

He also highlighted the significance of espionage risks and mentioned that intelligence agencies from other countries have openly expressed their intention to recruit secret agents from different nations and organizations globally, in order to gather sensitive information about China.

Therefore, the Hong Kong government is examining areas not covered by the existing national security law and current legislation, such as espionage activities and gaps related to online platforms. The aim is to develop effective and pragmatic measures and provisions to enhance the mechanisms for safeguarding national security.

Tang stated that, among the seven categories of behaviors that should be legislated under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Hong Kong national security law covers two: secession and subversion of the central government in Beijing. However, the existing local laws only cover certain aspects, indicating the need for further improvement.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam previously stated that the legislation for the article should be completed no later than next year.

Source: Ta Kung Pao (Hong Kong), July, 3, 2023
https://epaper.tkww.hk/a/202307/03/AP64a1dc49e4b068c215b9cd55.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Will Build a New Nuclear Power Plant for Pakistan

China and Pakistan signed a $4.8 billion contract on June 20 specifying that China will build its seventh nuclear power plant in Pakistan. This 1,200-megawatt project, named “Chashma 5,” is between the China National Nuclear Corporation and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). It will be located in the central Pakistani city of Chashma, where Beijing has already built four nuclear units, generating a total of 1,230 megawatts of power.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding. He praised China for offering a $100 million discount on the project.

Source: Voice of America, June 21, 2023
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-to-build-nuclear-power-plant-in-pakistan-20230620/7145623.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

China’s Efforts to Silence Unfavorable Financial News

Le Monde, a French newspaper reported that China has been trying to hide any bad news about its financial data from the world. China’s central bank, People’s Bank of China, established a Chinese credit rating company, Dagong Global Credit Rating Co, Ltd in 1994, to “serve” both the domestic market and the world. In 2013, Dagong merged with Russia’s credit rating company RusRating and a small U.S. rating company Egan-Jones Ratings, to form Universal Credit Rating Group (UCRG) (世界信用評級集團). To build its reputation, UCRG hired former French Prime Minister de Villepin to chair its advisory board and former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to serve on its advisory board.

In 2010, UCRG was banned from practicing in the U.S. because it refused to comply with the transparency rules of the U.S. Security Exchange Commission (SEC). The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), however, gave Dagong a green light in 2013. Part of the reason was that in the wake of the Greek debt crisis, the E.U. was happy to see a Chinese competitor enter the credit rating market which the British and American agencies dominated.

People soon saw that Dagong served as a strategic pawn for China to enter the European market. In 2018, Dagong was fined in China for corruption and collusion with the evaluated companies. In April 2019, the state power (the communist regime) directly took over the management of Dagong. The ESMA waited another seven months to exclude Dagong from the European market.

Beijing then adopted a new strategy. That is, to publish laws to control what information it feeds to the world. It introduced a data security and protection law in 2021, restricting the freedom of multinational companies to transfer information with their Chinese subsidiaries. It introduced and implemented cross-border data transfer regulations in 2022 to make it impossible for users to access Chinese corporate information databases, such as Tianyancha (天眼查), from abroad. Its new counter-espionage law, which will take effect on July 1, makes it possible to criminalize any exchange of information with foreigners and foreign organizations and companies.

Source: Radio France International, June 20, 2023
https://rfi.my/9dhS

Briefings | | |   @CS Economy/Resources Government/Politics

Xinhua: Russia Opened Its First Institute to Study Xi Jinping Thought

Xinhua News Agency reported that Russia has established a research office in Moscow, specializing in the study of “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era.” The office’s name in Russian is “Research Office on Chinese Contemporary Ideology and Xi Jinping Thought.” It was set up by the Institute of China and Modern Asia Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The office has 10 specialists now, from the Institute of China and Modern Asia Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of World Economy and International Relations Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Russian Higher Economic University.

The office’s research covers various fields, including politics, the economy, diplomacy, military, ecology, and culture. The first batch of its research results will be published in monograph form in 2025.

Source: Xinhua, June 21, 2023
https://app.xinhuanet.com/news/article.html?articleId=811fa66141e1672547fc744859d245ef

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

Protest Signs against Authoritarianism Emerge at Peking University

During the Dragon Boat Festival at Peking University in China, a protester displayed slogans opposing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) authoritarian regime. The individual, dressed in a tan robe, held up a sign near the cafeteria on campus calling for the abolition of the one-party dictatorship and the adoption of a multi-party system. The protester voluntarily included his social media account information on the sign, which pointed to YouTube and Twitter accounts registered in May 2023. The accounts identified the protester as Zhang Sheng, a self-described Chinese writer.

Pictures and posts on Twitter documented the incident, showing the protester being escorted away by the university’s security personnel. When questioned about the event, Peking University’s security department neither confirmed nor denied the incident.

This protest marked a resurgence of criticism against China’s political system and demands for multi-party rule at Peking University, where similar demonstrations had taken place during the 1989 Students Movement. Notably, this demonstration occurred in the same location where students had protested against the “zero COVID” policy in November of the previous year. It is important to highlight that the “zero COVID” policy was subsequently abolished ten days after university students, including those from Peking University and Tsinghua University, expressed their opposition to it by holding up white papers.

The recent protest at Peking University aimed to challenge the one-party rule and promote political reform through the establishment of a multi-party system. Despite attempts to ascertain the whereabouts of the detained student by contacting the university’s security department, that department neither confirmed nor denied the event. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between dissenting voices and the Chinese government’s control over political expression on university campuses.

Source: Radio Free Asia, June 22, 2023
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gt-06222023233902.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability