Chinascope – Page 1021

People Daily: What Is Our Grand Vision for China-Japanese Relations?

Zhao Qizhen, the dean of School of Journalism at People’s University of China wrote an article for People’s Daily (overseas edition) titled “In Our Grand Vision, What Kind of China-Japanese Relations Do We Want?” The author’s question arose from a public opinion poll that indicated the people of both countries had a negative impression of each other. China Daily and Genron NPO of Japan jointly conducted the poll in preparation for the seventh Beijing-Tokyo Forum. According to the poll, 28.6 percent of Chinese had a positive view of Japan, while over 70 percent had a negative view. The Japanese general public’s view toward China was even worse. Only 20.8 percent of respondents said they had a favorable view of China. The author lamented that the poor feelings the two country’s people have toward each other is readily seen and that the fragile relations between them is worrisome. The author stated that Sino-Japanese relations are a manifestation of both countries’ multiple and complex relationship (from ideology to national interests to history) and proposed to develop a relationship from the grand vision. The proposal includes looking into the common interests of both sides; striving to develop common interests and complementing each others economic structure; coordinating the common views of geopolitics; calmly handling territory disputes; and cautiously dealing with unanticipated sudden incidents. At the same time it involves avoiding “abusive language, forceful action, and hard injuries” such as what happened in Japan’s handling of the boat collision incident at the Jiaoyu (Senkaku) islands.

Source: People’s Daily, August 25, 2011
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2011-08/25/content_907017.htm

Briefings | | August 26, 2011 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: The U.S. Trump Cardof Arms Sales to Taiwan Has Lost Its Shine

Recently, based on Taiwan’s media reports, the U.S. has declined Taiwan’s request to purchase the F-16C/D fighter plane. In the past, both the U.S. and Taiwan were very passionate about arms sales. What has caused such a drastic change?

A Xinhua article believes that it is because of the U.S.’s strategic change in Asia. For a long time, Taiwan was a “trump card” for the U.S. in balancing Sino-U.S. relations. As the cross-strait relationship has moderated, the “trump card” has lost its shine. Therefore, in such a circumstance, the U.S. is unwilling to sell arms (to Taiwan).

The article further says that China’s scientific and technological advances in national defense are the fundamental reason for the U.S. to be low-key on arms sales to Taiwan. The article concludes that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is an old issue for China. China always held an opposing attitude, which previously had little effect. Now, the impact of China’s scientific and technological advances in national defense has surpassed all past efforts. Therefore, in many international political affairs, strategic missions, and military issues, the role of scientific and technological advances in national defense will be very important.

Source: Xinhua, August 5, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-08/05/c_121813828.htm

Briefings | | August 26, 2011 | US-China Relations

State TV Shows Chinese Military Engaged in Cyber Attacks

A military TV program on CNTV, an online TV station launched by China Central TV (CCTV), broadcasted a 22 minute documentary program titled “The Cyber Storm Has Arrived!” The program featured Col. Du Wenlong, a military expert from China’s top military research institute who analyzed the U.S. cyber war strategy and then discussed how China is preparing for a cyber war. In the program, Du stated that the U.S. was the first to propose the “cyber war” concept and was also the first who applied it in actual war.

The program repeatedly highlighted the U.S. Defense Department’s cyber war strategy, “If other countries intentionally break into a computer system of the United States, that constitutes an act of war; (the U.S.) will counterattack with missiles.” In China’s preparation for conducting a cyber war, Du stressed that China must establish the concept of “Internet border” and the concept of “mobilizing all the people.” The program then showed some shots of a computer screen in which a Chinese military university engaged in cyber-warfare against specific entities in the United States. During the TV program, the screenshots showed the name of the software and the Chinese military university that built it, the Electrical Engineering University of China’s People’s Liberation Army.

The CNTV link is no longer working. However, the program can be viewed through youtube.

Source: CNTV, July 17, 2011
http://military.cntv.cn/program/jskj/20110717/100139.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyIdgOHJmCY

Briefings | | August 25, 2011 | Information/Technology

Red Flag Manuscript: The Key to China’s Political Security Is the Communist Party’s Leadership

Red Flag Manuscript published an article on the relationship between political security and political system reform. “Political security is an important component of national security. … It is the fundamental symbol of national security and the supreme goal of China’s national interest. Only when political security is ensured, can there be the security required for China to seek and safeguard the economy, science and technology, culture, society, ecology and other areas. … The key to ensuring political security and the realistic path to success in China’s political system reform lies in expanding citizens’ participation in politics, upholding the rule of law, and increasing the level of institutionalization of participation in politics, all under the leadership of the Party.”

Source: Red Flag Manuscripts reprinted by Qiushi, August 10, 2011
http://www.qstheory.cn/hqwg/2011/201115/201108/t20110810_101108.htm

Briefings | | August 25, 2011 | Government/Politics

Party Official: New Dynamics of the Gaming in the South China Sea

Gao Zugui, a Professor at the Party School of The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), wrote that China should find a common ground with its neighboring countries and with the United States in order to contain the tension in the South China Sea. Gao believes the urge of the neighboring countries to leverage external forces to resolve the dispute in the area meets the United States need to find an opportunity to re-instate its dominance in Asia, thus leading to the current tension in the South China Sea. “If China can expand the common interests or concerns that it shares with the ASEAN countries, including the South China Sea, and tries to prevent escalation of the conflict, it may be possible to limit the space the United States is interested in using. If China can expand its common ground with the United States related to more important interests and concerns, it may be possible for China to push the United States toward exercising restraint on the issue of the South China Sea.”

Source: People’s Online, August 22, 2011
http://theory.people.com.cn/GB/82288/112848/112851/15478658.htm

Briefings | | August 25, 2011 | US-China Relations

Chinese Scholars on South China Sea Strategies

{Editor’s Note: The International Herald Leader recently published an exclusive report covering the "South China Sea Situation and the Media’s Responsibility Forum," a July 13 event jointly hosted by Yunnan Provincial Television and the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. [1] The Chinese scholars invited to speak at the forum suggested strategies for multiple ways that China could use to deal with its South China Sea disputes with other countries: taking a hard diplomatic position with military backup, guiding international public opinion to favor China, and using "marauding pirates" as grounds to enter the disputed waters and assert China’s leadership. The following are excerpts from the article.]

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Reports | | August 24, 2011 | Report

Xinhua Editorial: The End of the Gaddafi Era Does Not Mean the End of Unrest in Libya.

On August 22, 2011, Xinhua published an editorial about the end of Gaddafi’s Rule. The article criticized the West for taking advantage of the unrest in Libya and constantly conducting air strikes against Gaddafi’s forces even though, since the beginning of the century, Gaddafi had adjusted his foreign policy to be favorable to the West. “As far as the West is concerned, smiling or swords are only tools to achieve their own strategic interests.”

The article pointed out that internal strife has started among Libyan rebels, concluding, “The end of the Gaddafi era does not mean the end of unrest in Libya. The power vacuum caused by the fall of a political regime tends to lead to factional conflicts, which will result in social turbulence.”

Source: Xinhua, August 22, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-08/22/c_121894757.htm

Briefings | | August 24, 2011 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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

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

Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.