Chinascope – Page 1047

PLA Daily: The U.S. Will Never Give Up the Use of Hard Power

The people’s Liberation Army Daily published an article that comments on U.S. Defense Secretary Gates’ recent speech. The article states that during the speech, Secretary Gates held that dealing with a complex and unpredictable international security environment needs size, steel, and strength. It marks a change from President Obama and Secretary Clinton’s earlier remarks that the new administration would adopt “smart power” diplomacy. “In short, to maintain its world hegemony, the normal practice of the U.S. is to use both hard and soft power; put figuratively, it is the ‘carrot and stick’ approach. In the future, the U.S. may still insist on building its soft power, but when it comes to maintaining its global hegemony, it will never give up or relax the use of hard power. In this regard, one should not have any wishful thinking or unrealistic expectations.”

Source: Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, reprinted from People’s Liberation Army Daily, May 29, 2011
http://www.mod.gov.cn/gflt/2011-05/29/content_4244191.htm

Briefings | | June 2, 2011 | US-China Relations

Report Projects 200 û 300 Million Migrants in Coming Decades

A China Urban Development Report released by a mayors’ association predicts that the size of the nation’s mobile population will be 200-300 million in the coming two or three decades. “The complex dynamics of its (migrants) geographic distribution, composition, and quality is posing a severe challenge for national strategic planning, the government’s social management, and public services.”

A Tsinghua University professor, Mao Qizhi relates the phenomenon to the country’s accelerating urban development. “Many conflicts and confusions need attention, such as high housing prices, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and imperfect urban infrastructure.”

The report also indicates that many local governments rely on land transfers as a major source of fiscal income.

Source: Xinhua, May 30 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/30/c_13901731.htm

Briefings | | June 1, 2011 | Economy/Resources

Politburo Study Session on Social Management

On May 30, the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo, a group of 25 of the most senior cadres, held a study session on “strengthening and innovating social management.” The meeting, over which Hu Jintao presided, emphasized that “strengthening and innovating social management matters for consolidating the ruling status of the Party and is important for the nation’s long term stability and for people’s livelihoods.” “China is now in an important period of strategic opportunities, and also in a period with prominent social conflicts. The task of social management is heavier and more arduous.” “(We need) to firmly grasp the general requirements of maximally stimulating social vitality, maximally increasing harmonious factors, and maximally reducing disharmonious factors.”

The structure of social management was reiterated at the meeting. It views the CCP committees as the leadership, with the government taking responsibility, and the communities and the public participating and coordinating.

Source: Xinhua, May 30, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/30/c_121475082.htm

Briefings | | June 1, 2011 | Government/Politics

China Admits Cyber Warfare Unit

At a press briefing on May 25, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Senior Colonel Geng Yansheng acknowledged the existence of a professional cyber warfare unit at Guangzhou Military Region, also known as the “Online Blue Army.” “China’s network protection is comparatively weak. Enhancing IT capacity and strengthening network security protection are important components of military training for an army,” said Geng, who did not respond to a question on whether the goal of the unit is to attack other countries.

Source: China Review news, May 26, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1017/0/5/7/101705788.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=101705788&mdate=0526085650

Briefings | | June 1, 2011 | Defense/Military

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China Opposes Words and Deeds against the One-China Principle

On May 24, 2011, Xinhua reported that Jiang Yu, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented on an opinion expressed by Richard Bush, the former Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of the American Institute in Taiwan. Mr. Bush asserted that no one can deny the fact that the Republic of China has existed continuously since 1912. Jiang said that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is part of China, and that China strongly opposes that some people in the U.S. completely ignore the facts and employ words and deeds that are against the One-China Principle.

Source: Xinhua, May 25, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/25/c_121453563.htm

Briefings | | May 31, 2011 | Geo-Strategic Trend

China Hopes to Become a Net Capital Exporter

A Chinese Ministry of Commerce official told Xinhua that the country’s overseas investments have been growing at a high speed. “If the world economy continues to improve, in three or four years, Chinese enterprises’ annual foreign direct investment is expected to exceed US$100 billion, an amount commensurate with the current annual absorption of foreign capital. This brings the hope that China will soon become a net capital exporter.”

In 2010, China invested US$59 billion in 122 countries and regions. According to a UN report, last year saw China become the third largest investor in Latin America. Despite the high growth of outbound investment, risks are increasing. Some governments have prevented China from investing in some industries, with the belief that Beijing’s support of certain large companies results in unfair competition.

Source: Xinhua, May 17, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/17/c_13878558.htm

Briefings | | May 31, 2011 | Economy/Resources

People’s Daily: China Marine Surveillance Increases Use of Hi-Tech Equipment

People’s Daily recently reported on the newly published 2010 China Marine Law Enforcement Bulletin. Information from the Bulletin indicated that, in 2010, China Marine Surveillance sent out 188 marine missions, which traversed a total of 211,428 nautical miles, as well as 523 air flights, which covered 538,480 kilometers. The missions monitored 1,303 foreign vessels, 214 flights and 43 other objects. China Marine Surveillance owns 9 airplanes and more than 280 vessels. In order to increase its capacity, the agency is implementing the use of more and more hi-tech equipment, such as a new 3000-ton level surveillance ship that came with on-board helicopters, the latest satellite devices, and cutting edge engines. The agency is also building a platform with real time integration of space, air, sea, and coastal communications. The system currently supports real time audio and video communications across multiple command channels.

Source: People’s Daily, May 23, 2011
http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/14705786.html

Briefings | | May 31, 2011 | Defense/Military

Retired Military General: In the Future China Will Surely Have Overseas Bases

In response to Western media’s reactions to the news that Pakistan asked China to help build the Gwadar port, Xu Guangyu, a retired military major general, wrote an article in Global Times “In the future China will surely have overseas bases.” The author argued, “There is no need for much ado about nothing, even if it is true; let alone that China has denied the news.” Xu continued, “[China’s] growing national power and an ever interconnected world do not allow us to avoid exchanges with the outside. It is inevitable to contact and cooperate with other countries on issues of the economy, culture, and security. Since ancient times, the vast ocean has been an irreplaceable platform for such exchanges. Any country, as long as it has a coastline of over a kilometer, will try to build ports and a fleet, exchange voyages and share ports with friendly countries.” “Today, if such a big China peacefully assists Pakistan or other countries to build ports or even naval bases, it will be a breakthrough for China’s normal overseas condition of ‘two zeros’ (no ports, no bases). This is progress. For China, as a big country with the responsibility for regional and world peace and development, such breakthroughs should become quite normal. Are you ready (to accept it)?”

Source: People’s Daily website, May 26, 2011
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/42969/58519/14742139.html

Briefings | | May 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.