Chinascope – Page 1032

Study Times: Controlling the Release of Information during Social Unrest

An article from Study Times advocates that the government establish a mechanism so it is the first one to release information during major social unrest. For example, dedicated spokespersons should be appointed for major social unrest, including those representing the government, Party committees, enterprises, and other trades. “Their role is to timely and appropriately release factual information. Specific requirements include that the information must be objective, speak along the same lines, and become the authority for the dissemination channel.” The article states that the government must approve the content to be released prior to its release. After it is published for the first time, there should be follow-up information according to developments and the disposition of the social unrest.

Source: Study Times, July 18, 2011
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2011/07/18/06/06_44.htm

Briefings | | July 21, 2011 | Information/Technology

Report: Micro-blogs Have Become Second Largest Source of Public Opinion

An Internet research group under of the Communications University of China issued a report on its study of Chinese Internet opinion that covered the first half of 2011. The report concluded that micro-blogs have become the second largest source of public opinion after news media reports. The conclusion is based on an analysis of the source, geography and subject matter of over a thousand popular topics on the Internet. Forums, blogs, and news websites used to be the most important sources of public opinion. In the first six months of 2011, 18% of public opinion originated from micro-blogs. In those six months, public opinion on the micro-blogs tended to focus consistently on food safety issues. More opinions and information came from developed provinces with Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang being the top three. Hunan Province, Chongqing City and Hubei Province showed rapid growth. According to the report, news media remain the largest source of public opinion but their dominance has weakened.

Source: Xinhua, July 18, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-07/18/c_121684906.htm

Briefings | | July 21, 2011 | Information/Technology

Huanqiu: U.S. Debt Negotiation is Holding Other Countries Hostage

Huanqiu published an editorial on the current negotiation between the U.S. President and Congress to increase the national debt ceiling. “Although analysts believe that Obama and Congress ultimately will ‘definitely’ reach an agreement, they dare to use their sovereign credit as a rubber ball on a playing field, and dare to hold hostage China, Japan, Germany, and the many countries that have bought U.S. Treasury bonds. Imagine how unbalanced this world is!”

“There must be more restrictions placed on the prerogatives of the United States. It would require that the world join hands in fighting the U.S. as well as that the United States awaken. The self-serving nature of the U.S. dollar as the sovereign currency is incompatible with the role of internationalism that it plays. … Wall Street used to be the recharger of the U.S. economy and has now become a smoke-filled common gaming house and a school for thieves. Power cannot sustained unreasonable things for long. The United States should awaken.”

Source: Huanqiu, July 16, 2011
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2011-07/1826399.html

Briefings | | July 21, 2011 | US-China Relations

Outlook Weekly’s Comments on Mullen’s China Trip

Outlook Weekly, a magazine under Xinhua, published an article commenting on the visit to China by Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. The article claimed that the Sino-U.S. relationship has entered a period in which both sides accommodate each other. It stated that there are still several legacy issues (caused by the U.S.) impacting the Sino-U.S. relationship: U.S.’ arm sales to Taiwan, military surveillance of China under China’s nose, restrictions on Sino-U.S. military exchanges, political discrimination against China, restrictions on high-tech exports to China, criticism of China’s political system, military alliances in Asia, and involvement in its ally’s territorial disputes with China.

It also warned that new issues may emerge. “Along with China’s continuing to rise in power and expand its national interests, … the chances of friction or collision developing between the two countries are increasing.”

Source: Sohu, July 18, 2011
http://news.sohu.com/20110718/n313762556.shtml

Briefings | | July 20, 2011 | US-China Relations

Xinhua: The Provincial vs. National GDP

Xinhua reprinted an article from Yangcheng Evening News, which reported that the GDP numbers that each province in China reported did not match the GDP number from the central government. For the past several years, the sum of GDPs reported at the provincial level has always been greater than the national number. In 2010, the provincial sum was 3.5 trillion yuan (US$540 billion), or 8.8%, greater than the national number. The report listed the reasons for this inconsistency as double counting, calculation errors, and false claims at the provincial level. “For example, an economic review of the previous two years found significant gaps in some provinces’ GDPs numbers. As a result, those GDP numbers underwent a major correction.”

Source: Xinhua, July 19, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2011-07/19/c_121690132.htm

Briefings | | July 20, 2011 | Economy/Resources

China Launched Tian-Lian One-02 Satellite

According to China Manned Space Engineering Online, China recently successfully launched a second data relay satellite named Tian-Lian One-02. The satellite is to be used for China’s first space docking mission planned for the second half of the year. The satellite was developed by China Academy of Space Technology, under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This new satellite works in conjunction with the Tian-Lian One-01 satellite, launched three years ago, to form a network to support space data relay and to provide monitoring and control services. The Tian-Lian One-01 satellite served the manned space mission Shenzhou VII to increase the coverage of monitoring and control services from 15% to 50%.

Source: China Manned Space Engineering Online, July 12, 2011
http://www.cmse.gov.cn/news/show.php?itemid=1485

Briefings | | July 19, 2011 | Information/Technology

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.