Chinascope – Page 1048

Top Military Officials Re-Stress Party’s Control of the Army

Xu Caihou, a Politburo member and vice chairman of Central Military Committee (CMC), recently toured the military institutions in China’s southeast provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui. Navy Commander Wu Shenli and Air Force Commander Xu Qiliang accompanied him. In his speech, Xu stressed that all military institutions must follow the Party’s strategic ideas and intensify their ideological work. Xu emphasized that “the quality of political thought is the core and soul of one’s personal quality. … [One] must firmly solidify the political foundation of holding the [Communist] banner, listening to the Party, and fulfilling [one’s] responsibility. … [One] must strictly follow the political discipline, … enhance Internet control, and prevent the spread of wrong political views.” [1]

Separately, during his recent visit to Yunnan Province, Guo Boxiong, also a Politburo member and the CMC’s vice chairman, stressed that the military must always uphold the Party’s absolute leadership. [2]

Sources: PLA Daily, June 23, 2011
[1] http://chn.chinamil.com.cn/xwpdxw/2011-06/23/content_4455428.htm
[2] http://chn.chinamil.com.cn/xwpdxw/2011-06/23/content_4455430.htm

Briefings | | June 24, 2011 | Defense/Military

Ex-German Chancellor Schr÷der Wishes to Listen to Red Songs

According to a Chongqing Daily report republished by Xinhua, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, while attending a forum in Chongqing, expressed a strong interest in the activities of “sing-read-speak-spread,” a musical campaign to mark this year’s 90th anniversary of the Communist Party’s birth. Schröder told the reporter that he would very much like to listen to Chongqing’s “red” song [Note: the revolutionary song of the Chinese Communist Party] if he gets a chance next time. The report said, “Schröder believes that ‘sing-read-speak-spread’ is a very creative idea. It allows people to understand history and tradition more clearly. … Schröder expressed that there are many civilian chorus and art groups in Germany’s many cities. [He said] ‘I hope the German art groups will communicate with Chongqing’s Red Song Group to promote cultural prosperity together.”

Source: Xinhua, June 20, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-06/20/c_121555597_2.htm

Briefings | | June 24, 2011 | Geo-Strategic Trend

The Founding of a Party in China Showing in 10 North American Cities

The Beginning of the Great Revival, known as The Founding of a Party in China, a movie that glorifies the Chinese Communist Party during the historic period from the 1911 Revolution to 1921, when the first CCP National Congress was held, is now being shown in cities in North America. The movie features more than 100 Chinese actors and actresses such as Andy Lau and John Woo. It is part of the celebration of the CCP’s 90th anniversary. A premiere of the movie was shown in Los Angeles on June 20, then in New York and San Francisco on June 21 and 22, respectively. Starting on June 24, it will be shown in 30 theaters in 10 North American cities, including Washington, D.C., Boston, Seattle, Atlanta, and Hawaii.

Source: website of People’s Daily, June 22, 2011
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/57507/14968391.html

Briefings | | June 24, 2011 | US-China Relations

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

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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