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Study Times: Reform of the Financial System is the Cure for China’s Economy

Study Times, a newspaper of the CCP Central Party School, recently republished an article from Value China on how to rescue the current imbalanced Chinese economy. The article first compared the Chinese financial system with the U.S. financial structure. Then it asserted that (1) the Chinese financial system is a weak link in China’s global positioning as it relies too heavily on manufacturing and (2) the large amount and the rapid growth of China’s foreign exchange reserves are proof of the lack of domestic consumption and international investments. The author believes that the Chinese financial system has a low service level, a lack of mid-to-small range banks, and a lack of local financial markets. Large national banks have monopoly power and they tend not to provide loans to small businesses even though they create a majority of the jobs in China. The lack of official local financial markets has also encouraged the growth of an underground financial market. In conclusion, the article called for “major structural adjustments.”

Source: Study Times, September 9, 2011
http://www.qstheory.cn/jj/jjyj/201109/t20110909_109222.htm

CRN: PLA Developed Night Vision Maps

China Review News (CRN) recently reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has developed night vision maps. Last year, the PLA started searching for practical night vision technology for maps. The University of Lanzhou, the Map Institute of Gansu Province, and the Surveying and Mapping Institute of the PLA General Staff Department jointly worked on the project. The night vision maps emit “cold light” which can only be seen by people nearby; remote enemies cannot see them, even with today’s military night vision equipment. The technology used to print the maps enables them to preserve energy in daylight. They are waterproof, radiation-free, and have good luminous intensity. The material is suitable for mass production.

Source: China Review News, September 12, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1018/3/2/7/101832706.html?coluid=4&kindid=16&docid=101832706&mdate=0912131552

Using Marxism to Analyze the U.S. Financial Crisis

[Editor’s Note: Qiushi Theory Online republished a Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS) thesis on applying Marxist theory to analyze the recent global financial crisis. The author is Wang Weiguang, the Vice President of CASS. Wang argued that most analyses of the financial crisis have been done at the surface level; however, to do a scientific analysis to determine the essential cause of the crisis at the system level, one must apply Marxist theory and methodology. Wang praised Marx’s theory of cyclical recessions and the inevitable demise of capitalism. He claimed that China’s socialist market economy can prevent recessions. The following are excerpts from his thesis.] [1]

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Qiushi: Why the Chinese Style Socialist System Is Better Than the Western Capitalist System

Qiushi Theory carried an article originally from Beijing Daily that laid out the drawbacks of the capitalist system while listing the positive features of the Chinese style socialist system. It concluded that the socialist system has a stronger vitality and demonstrates significant advantages to the world.”

The article suggested that the capitalist’s over-protect their capitalist interests, private and personal interests result in an over emphasis on the free market, the multi-party system of administration, and personal values. It attributed the economic crisis around the world to “the greed of capital and its lack of control.” It also faulted the capital system because the protection of personal interests results in a lack of ability to bring about a common agreement. “When it comes to making key social, political and economic decisions, capitalism lacks centralized power.” Lastly, according to the article, the capitalist system lacks a long term strategy and consistent growth.

As to the advantages of the Chinese style socialist system, the article noted first that “the common goal is to get rich together.” The various social classes are the consistent driving force for the nation’s development power. Second, the system carries “incomparable advantages in social mobilization and resource collection because Chinese style capitalism adheres to democratic centralism.” Third, the system is reliable and stable with long term goals. Fourth, the system is based on the clear understanding of each developmental stage and is constantly undergoing social reform.

Source: Qiushi Theory September 16, 2011
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2011/201118/201109/t20110914_110033.htm

The Party Must Guard against Western Enemy Forces

An article in Qiushi Theory published on September 17, 2011, discussed a seminar that the Organization Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the National Party Construction Research Center held prior to July 1, 2011, to memorialize the Party’s 90th anniversary. The seminar included a review of Xi Jinping and Li Yuanchao’s latest speeches. It also covered the following four major topics: the Party’s major achievements and lessons learned over the past 90 years; Party development in the new environment; ways to improve the Party’s scientific development; and experiences and lessons learned from the ruling parties of overseas countries.

The seminar addressed a lesson learned from the collapse of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries: that economic and political reforms should be adjusted according to a nation’s internal affairs and cannot blindly follow in another country’s footsteps. The seminar also emphasized that lessons can be learned from the recent political crises in the mid-East and north African countries, and concluded, “We should be on guard against the propaganda from the Western enemy forces when dealing with ‘Color Revolutions’ and must firmly resist different forms of interference.” 

Source: Qiushi Theory, September 17, 2011
http://www.qstheory.cn/zywz/201109/t20110917_110705.htm

“Why Do Presidential Candidates, for No Reason, Always Pick China as a Topic”

People’s Daily Oversea’s Edition carried an article questioning why, without reason, presidential candidates always pick China as a topic.

The article named republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney. According to the article, even when Romney seems to lose his approval rating due to the high profile candidacy of Texas Governor Rick Perry, Romney’s words to “attack China” grow stronger in areas from trade, to patent rights, to currency. The article also mentioned the comments that Romney made in 2006 during his visit to China when he was the Massachusetts Governor, “China is a stronger competitor than expected. … It is important for the U.S. to interact with China based on free trade. … The US-China relationship should be bridged instead of building a concrete wall.”

The article points out that Romney’s inconsistent remarks and inter-changeable principles "demonstrate the bad trait of U.S. politics." It calls the U.S. “a country that is constantly looking for an opponent” and criticized the two parties for their “ignorant, arrogant, extreme statements (on China)” in order to attract voters’ attention.

Source: People’s Daily Oversea’s Edition, September 16, 2011
http://www.qstheory.cn/gj/gjsspl/201109/t20110916_110467.htm

Securities Times: A Rare Opportunity for Chinese RMB Internationalization

An editorial in the Securities Times states that the economic crisis in the United States and Europe has brought a rare opportunity for internationalization of the Chinese RMB. In early September, Nigeria announced that it had a Memorandum of Understanding with the People’s Bank of China to convert about 5 to 10% of its foreign exchange reserves to Chinese RMB. China has already entered into agreements with Russia, South Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Malaysia and others regarding use of the RMB in settlement. The editorial states, “To internationalize the RMB is the only path for the rise of China. … From regional to global, this is the real path of internationalization.” "It not only expands the RMB’s influence but also reduces the exposure of Chinese foreign trade to the weak U.S. dollar." However, the editorial recognized that the RMB has a long way to go to become a true international currency, stating that the current situation is inadequate because China is the second largest economy and has the largest trade surplus and foreign reserves. “The current international environment has provided China with a historic opportunity to accelerate RMB internationalization.”

Source: Securities Times, September 9, 2011
http://epaper.stcn.com/paper/zqsb/html/2011-09/09/content_304984.htm

For the First Time, Cyber War Included in Security Treaty between U.S. and Australia

Xinhua reported on the newly formed cyber war alliance between the U.S. and Australia, pointing out that this is the first time the U.S. has included cyber defense in a bilateral treaty, the intention being to increase its military presence in the Asia Pacific region.

The report highlighted U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta’s view that “The Internet is the future battlefield." It quoted Panetta’s statement that, “We not only need to defend against a cyber attack; we also need to be proactive. We not only need to depend on ourselves; we also need to cooperate with our partners. This is the best way to achieve the goal.”

The article also quoted Australia Defense Secretary Smith’s statement, “Cyber security is becoming a big transnational threat. It will be a major topic in the secretary level discussions between Australia and the U.S.”

Source: Xinhua, September 16, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-09/16/c_122041466.htm