Chinascope – Page 1029

Guangming Daily: What Is the West Afraid of by Warning Africa not to Learn from China?

Guangming Daily published an article expressing the Chinese Communist government’s discontent with British Prime Minister David Cameron’s comments on China during his visit to Africa. The article said, “British Prime Minister Cameron visited Africa recently for the first time since he took office. Although his schedule was cut short due to the News of the World phone hacking scandal, Cameron didn’t forget to find time in Nigeria to give the Africans a lecture on Western democracy and free trade. At the same time, (he) specifically warned the African countries not to learn from China’s development model, which is ‘autocratic capitalism;’ (and that) only a ‘free society’ will bring Africa ‘sustainable stability and development.’ What he meant was that the Western system is the only choice for Africa.”

“Attacking China and Sino-African relations is not a manifestation of Western confidence. On the contrary, it is proof that they lack confidence. They deliberately belittle China in front of Africans. (Their purpose) is to maintain their control and monopoly over Africa in ideology, politics, the economy, and culture, and to kill Africa’s self-awareness and independent development. From this perspective, Cameron—the new generation prime minister of the self-claimed ‘out of the shadow of colonialsm’ and ‘not imposing Western beliefs on Africa,’ is no different from his predecessors. What they have done is truly ‘autocratic capitalism.’”

Source: Guangming Daily,July 28, 2011
http://theory.gmw.cn/2011-07/28/content_2357237.htm

Briefings | | July 29, 2011 | Government/Politics

Who Is Trying to Benefit on the South Sea Issue at China’s Expense?

On July 27, 2011, Xinhua republished an article from China Radio International that accused the Philippines and Vietnam of taking action at the recent 44th ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali, Indonesia to try to unite the ASEAN countries to form a “united front” against China on the South Sea conflict. The article quoted [Chinese] experts on international affairs who stated that uniting the ASEAN countries to force China to back off on the South Sea issue is an unrealistic proposition. Their purpose is to turn the South Sea conflict into an international “free lunch” so as to benefit both politically and economically at the expense of China’s interest.

The article also named India and Japan for getting into the conflict even though they have nothing to do with the South Sea. Finally, the article pointed out that the U.S. interfered in the conflict at a low cost to itself. [Chinese] experts believe that the U.S. is merely trying to stir up the waters. … The South Sea is only a low cost bargaining chip used to contain China. … “The South Sea is the weakest point in China-ASEAN relations.” The U.S. utilized the weak point to weaken China-ASEAN relations and has now “achieved its goal.”

Source: Xinhua,July 27, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-07/27/c_121726145.htm

Briefings | | July 29, 2011 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Party Official Advocates Promotion of Red Culture

Huanqiu reported on some comments made by Liu Yunshan, the Propaganda Minister and a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party after visiting the Red Army memorial at Zunyi and the propaganda and cultural units in Guiyang. Liu expressed that he advocated the promotion of red culture.

“We have blazed a path for the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. We are ushering in a golden period of cultural development. We must fully understand the status and role of culture, profoundly grasp cultural characteristics and patterns, institutionalize innovative mechanisms, and strengthen policy support in order to powerfully guarantee the promotion of the development and prosperity of socialist culture.” Liu emphasized that it is necessary to use historical cultural resources, red cultural resources, folk cultural resources and ecological cultural resources wisely.

Source: Huanqiu, July 25, 2011
http://china.huanqiu.com/hot/2011-07/1846044.html

Briefings | | July 28, 2011 | Government/Politics

Outlook Weekly: South China Sea Dispute Will Likely be a Long-Term Problem

According to an article in Outlook Weekly written by Li Zheng of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, China faces at least three important challenges in the South China Sea dispute. “The first important test is how to handle neighboring small countries. In reference to the South China Sea issue, Vietnam has the most intense conflict with China, followed by the Philippines and Malaysia. … The second test is how China will comply with international law and fulfill its international obligations. … The third important test is how China will co-exist with the United States in Southeast Asia and engage in healthy strategic competition. … The United States has intervened in the South China Sea dispute, directly targeting the ASEAN, not China. Therefore, there is no direct conflict with the United States, but there are competing interests.”

“If China can successfully deal with these challenges, the South China Sea will become a powerful example of China’s peaceful rise. However, if it is the opposite, China will spend a lot of national power on the South China Sea dispute, eroding China’s international reputation and enhancing anti-Chinese sentiment in the neighboring countries. The dispute could become a ‘long-term problem,’ or even a ‘power trap.’”

Source: Outlook Weekly, July 26, 2011
http://www.lwgcw.com/NewsShow.aspx?newsId=22294

Briefings | | July 28, 2011 | US-China Relations

China’s Central Propaganda Department Restricts News on Deadly Train Crash

Reuters reported on July 25, 2011, that China’s Central Propaganda Department told media that "the major theme of the Wenzhou bullet train news from now on will be ‘in the face of great tragedy, there is great love.’” Reuters has confirmed the truth of this directive. The Propaganda Department further stressed, “Do not investigate the cause of the accident,” and reminded journalists that “the word from the authorities is all-prevailing.”

On the same day, China Digital Times listed the comprehensive directives that China’s Central Propaganda Department issued, including, “Do not report on a frequent basis; report more touching stories instead, such as blood donations and free taxi services; do not investigate the cause of the accident; do not reflect or comment; do not question; do not elaborate; do not associate. No re-posting on micro-blogs will be allowed!”

Voice of America also reported about China’s Central Propaganda Department’s restrictions on train crash news reports, based on Reuters’ news article.

Source:
Reuters, July 25, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/25/us-china-train-censorship-idUSTRE76O1IG20110725
China Digital Times, July 25, 2011
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2011/07/directives-from-the-ministry-of-truth-wenzhou-high-speed-train-crash/
Voice of America, July 25, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110725-China-Tries-to-Silence-Report-on-Train-Crash-126135038.html

Briefings | | July 27, 2011 | Information/Technology

The Party’s Leadership Achieves Full Coverage over the Legal Profession in Shanghai

By the end of June 2011, the Chinese Communist Party achieved complete control of the legal profession in Shanghai. According to Sheng Leiming, President of the Shanghai Bar Association, a total of 451 Party branches (381 Independent Party branches and 70 joint Party branches) had been established, along with monitoring of all of the law firms (1090 firms) in Shanghai. In addition, there are 4 general Party branches and 1 Party committee in charge of all of the 451 branches in the law firms. As for those law firms where there are no Party members, political instructors (Party liaisons) are assigned there to monitor the work.

The Shanghai Bar Association has a complete reporting system with rules and procedures, and consults the Party on any important matter.

Source: People’s Daily, July 13, 2011
http://sh.people.com.cn/GB/140263/15148560.html

Briefings | | July 27, 2011 | Government/Politics

Outlook Weekly: The Need to Safeguard China’s Maritime Rights in East and South China Sea

On July 26, 2011, Professor Han Xudong of China’s National Defense University wrote an article for Outlook Weekly, a publication under Xinhua News Agency. Han said that China has the same need to safeguard the East and South China Sea’s maritime rights as it does to protect its terrestrial rights. The article describes how the United States tries to contain China through the island chain along Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and the Philippine islands. “If China cannot take good care of the East China Sea and the South China Sea, it will be impossible to break through the containment the United States and its allies have implemented in China’s coastal areas,” said Han.

Han further pointed out that almost all major world powers are maritime powers. They all highly value maritime rights, especially the United States. He concluded, “It is necessary for China to adopt appropriate mighty means to fight back against those countries that have violated China’s maritime rights and interests.”

Source: Outlook Weekly, July 26, 2011
http://lwgcw.net/NewsShow.aspx?newsId=22292

Briefings | | July 27, 2011 | Defense/Military

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.