Chinascope – Page 1039

World Conference on Titanium Held in China

For the first time, China hosted the 12th World Conference on Titanium, which took place from June 19 to June 24, 2011. According to Xinhua, “Since 2000, China’s titanium industry has developed rapidly with an average annual growth exceeding 30%. While China’s output of the strategic metal used to be about a 3% share of the world output, in 2008, Chinese titanium alloy output jumped to No. 1, accounting for 30% of the world output. Presently, China is the largest producer and consumer of titanium, with production having reached 54,661 metric tons.”

“However, the industry now shows an imbalance between supply and demand, and investment in titanium alloy is over-heated. Industry analysts indicate that, at present, China has the capacity to produce an annual output of 100,000 metric tons, exceeding the output of all other countries combined, and far exceeding Chinese domestic demand.”

Source: Xinhua, June 21, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-06/21/c_121562534.htm

Briefings | | June 23, 2011 | Economy/Resources

Returned Overseas Chinese Organized to Show Support for the Party

To celebrate its 90th anniversary, the Communist Party organized various activities for overseas Chinese who returned to settle in China. On June 19, 2011, close to 2,500 attended the “Overseas Chinese Support the Party with Their Hearts” event at a Beijing stadium where the attendees sang pro-Party songs. People from 15 organizations formed groups to sing together. “The song ‘There would be no new China without the Communist Party’ opened the entire performance. People sang an array of select songs together to pay tribute to the Chinese Communist Party’s 90 years of struggle and great achievements.” Earlier, organizations of overseas Chinese from Vietnam, Laos, and Korea held various activities to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Party, with pro-Party songs and music.

Source: Guangming Daily, June 21, 2011
http://politics.gmw.cn/2011-06/21/content_2117690.htm

Briefings | | June 23, 2011 | Government/Politics

China Review News: We Would Rather Not Have Democracy that Leads to a Country’s Decline

An editorial from China Review News, a Hong Kong based government news agency, criticizes the U.S. efforts to promote democracy in third world countries. “The risks and costs when third world countries rush to democratize are far greater than its potential benefits.” According to the editorial, before a country really solves the livelihood problem of its people, the priority is to develop its economy and to emphasize collective discipline and hard work. Democracy relates to individuality and promotes freedom, which "means the dispersion of political authority and deviation from the major task of economic development.”

The editorial cites Iraq as an example. “[That country] is in urgent need of development, iron rule, and centralization, but the current administration is trapped in religious conflicts and unable to make any decision on major issues.” The editorial concludes, “If the price of democracy is the decay of a country, we would rather not have it.”

Source: China Review News, June 22, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1017/3/6/6/101736673.html?coluid=1&kindid=0&docid=101736673&mdate=0622001856

Briefings | | June 23, 2011 | US-China Relations

China to Complete Beidou Satellite Navigation System Testing in October

According to People’s Daily on June 20, 2011, the China Beidou (Big Dipper) Satellite Navigation System will complete its comprehensive testing in October 2011, and will have the capacity to provide "preliminary" services to most parts of China. Next year, the navigation system may provide services to the Asia Pacific region.

China has sent eight Beidou navigation satellites into orbit, said Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation System management office. China will launch 3 – 4 network satellites this year to provide preliminary positioning, navigation, and time services in and around China. Next year it will launch 5 – 6 network satellites to provide services to the Asia and Pacific region.

Source: People’s Daily, June 20, 2011
http://hn.people.com.cn/GB/208663/14946299.html

Briefings | | June 22, 2011 | Defense/Military

Study Times Article Justifies Defense Budget for Social Stability

A June 20, 2011 article in Study Times, the newspaper published by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Party School, acknowledged the role of the military in domestic stability while defending China’s growing defense budget. “In the process of its development, China faces not only a situation where developed countries lead in areas of the economy, technology, and military, and also in external strategic prevention and containment, as well as in interference and sabotage by separatist and hostile forces; China also faces, in addition, the challenge of maintaining social stability and fighting against secession.”

The article quotes from China’s Annual National Defense White Paper, “against the backdrop of the current international and domestic security environment, China faces traditional and nontraditional security threats, … as well as domestic and international threats, and political, economic, social, and military security threats, which all intertwine together.”

Source: Study Times, June 20, 2011
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2011/06/20/07/07_46.htm

Briefings | | June 22, 2011 | Defense/Military

U.S. and al-Q’da in the Anti-terrorism – Retaliation Cycle

An official Chinese media article commented on the statement of Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the U.S. military will hunt down and kill the new Al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al Zawahiri. “Although bin Laden is dead, the terrorist organizations remain. Information shows that bin Laden’s death has provoked terrorists’ retaliatory emotions. Some of the retaliatory verbiage and actions leave the U.S. no respite. It has no alternative but to deal with the anti-terrorism situation in the ‘post-Laden era.’” “After decades of development, the al-Qaeda organization has a solid foundation and a rich network. The U.S. counter-terrorism operations may intensify terrorists’ retaliations. The recent terrorist attacks demonstrate that the U.S. is already involved in a stalemate with al-Qaeda in cycles of ‘anti-terrorism – retaliation – more anti-terrorism – more retaliation.’”

Source: Science and Technology Daily, June 21, 2011
http://digitalpaper.stdaily.com:81/kjrb/html/2011-06/21/content_108367.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | June 22, 2011 | Geo-Strategic Trend

The Implications of China’s International Position

[Editor’s note: On March 7, 2011, at the press conference of the 4th Session of 11th National People’s Congress in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that, in its international position, China is still a developing country. Yang expressed the opinion that China can only play its role within its abilities because, based on the United Nation’s standard, China has 150 million people living in poverty. [1]

Mr. Yang’s views on China’s international position are a response to the international community’s question whether China should shoulder more responsibility in international affairs and whether the fact that China is now the second largest economic entity in the world means that it should no longer be considered a developing country. Why does China claim in public that it is still a developing country and how does China really view its position in the world? Below are excerpts from China’s media reports and experts’ studies on the topic.]

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Reports | | June 21, 2011 | Report

SCO Denounced the U.S. National Missile Defense System

Voice of America (VOA) recently reported that leaders who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan denounced the U.S. National Missile Defense (NMD) system. They pointed out that a single-sided missile defense system will damage global strategic stability and security. The U.S. had suggested that a European missile defense system can safeguard the region against Iranian missiles. However Russia is concerned about the vulnerability of its own nuclear deterrence capabilities if such a European system is built. The President of Iran recently suggested that Central Asian countries should “create a new world order.” However, after the Summit, both the Chinese and Russian presidents called for a “more constructive Iranian attitude.”

Source: Voice of America, June 15, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/international/20110615-SCO-SUMMIT-123960309.html

Briefings | | June 21, 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.