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China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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

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Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

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Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

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Potential Security Issue with Chinese Foreign Assets

A recent Xinhua article discussed the security of China’s foreign assets. With the Chinese government’s “Going Out” strategy, many Chinese companies’ sped up their international investment process, resulting in large overseas assets. By the end of 2009, the total amount exceeded 4 trillion yuan. The recent Libyan situation highlighted the issue of the security of these assets. Although the workers returned home, the investment and assets there remain unprotected. Experts suggest that international investments involve two types of risks. One is market risks, such as price changes; the other is non-market related, such as government regulations and terrorist attacks. Many Chinese companies “rushed out” without proper preparation, such as insurance. The article called for improved risk management.

Source: Xinhua, May 21, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/21/c_121442871.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Ministry of Health Issues Emergency Response Plan on Poisoning Incidents

On May 20, 2011, the Ministry of Health issued an “Emergency Response Plan on Poisoning Incidents.” The plan’s purpose is to “effectively control sudden incidents of poisoning and any damage they may cause, and to minimize the hazardous impact on public health.” 

The plan requires that all levels of the health authorities be equipped with emergency response equipment, schedule periodic professional trainings and drills, and establish an expert team that can issue warnings, recommend preparation, assess the severity of incidents, and advise on response measures. The plan also classifies the poisoning incidents by the extent and scope of the damage, and calls for setting up a real time monitoring and reporting mechanism. Health authorities at county-and-above levels are required to carry out a risk assessment of the damages that poisonous materials and poisoning incidents cause to public health .

Source: Xinhua, May 20, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/health/2011-05/20/c_121440343.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Guarding Stability, Top Priority for Beijing’s Armed Police

Liu Qi, a Politburo member and the Communist Party’s chief of Beijing, watched the military exercises performed by the People’s Armed Police (PAP) in Beijing. Liu urged the PAP to “carefully study the situation and characteristics of maintaining stability in the capital, and vigorously step up training and readiness.” 

Liu pointed out a few “outstanding issues” in social harmony and “multiple factors” that affect stability. “Creating a stable environment to welcome the CCP’s 90th anniversary and ensuring a successful 18th National Congress of the CCP” are PAP’s top political priorities.

Source: Beijing Daily, May 21, 2011
http://bjrb.bjd.com.cn/html/2011-05/21/content_403673.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Grassroots Party Secretaries Trained to Improve Social Management Skills

Starting on May 18, 2011, in Beijing, over 120 nationwide Communist Party chiefs at the grassroots level – counties, villages, street neighborhoods, and communities – attended a training session on social management. Senior Party cadres were invited to give talks on policies and share experiences. Li Yuanchao, a Politburo member and head of the CCP’s Organization Department, emphasized that the focus of social management is being placed at the local level and that grassroots Party secretaries are required to improve their social management skills and demonstrate leadership roles in grassroots social organizations.

Source: Xinhua, May 19, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/19/c_13882817.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua Opens New Office in NYC’s Times Square

On May 19, 2011, the North American regional headquarter of the Xinhua News Agency celebrated the launch of its new office in Manhattan’s Times Square, in a bid to step onto the stage of world-class media. Zhou Xisheng, Xinhua’s vice president, said, “The launch of our North American regional headquarters will play an active role in increasing Xinhua’s abilities in international news transmission and enhance the influence of its international reports.” Currently, Xinhua employs some 16,000 people, with more than 30 domestic bureaus and over 140 overseas. It has seven bureaus in the United States and three in Canada. 

Ambassador Peng Keyu of the Chinese Consulate-general in New York, Tom Gallo of the U.S. State Department Office of Foreign Missions, and Steve Orlins, the President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations,  were among nearly 100 guests at the ceremony.

Source: Xinhua, May 20, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/20/c_121438523.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Huanqiu: A Chinese Should Be the New Head of the IMF

A Huanqiu opinion piece suggested that ex-chief of IMF Strauss-Kahn’s replacement should come from China as its voting power in the IMF is increasing rapidly. “China’s position in the IMF surpasses European countries, having risen to 6.394 percent; it ranks third, only narrowly behind Japan by 0.07 percent. … The increase in China’s position means China can have a greater voice in policy suggestions, and will have more rights and responsibilities to send senior officers to the IMF. … Recently, many people have criticized the IMF for being too slow to react to the financial crisis and the near collapse of the banking system, and for paying too little attention to the financial development of developing countries. Adding more Chinese elements to the senior positions will be an excellent complement to the IMF’s insufficiencies.” The article concluded that “China does not lack capable personnel for the next IMF chief position. If the current 24 voting executive members understand this and send a Chinese to head the agency, it will show tremendous respect for the rising China.”

Source: Huanqiu, May 18, 2011
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2011-05/1699867.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Plagued by Bin Laden, the U.S. Has Become a ‘Super Sick Cat’

China News Service republished an article by Hong Kong’s Wenweipo, citing the economic cost of the U.S. fight against bin Laden. “According to the Washington Post, since 9.11, the U.S. has spared no effort to pursue bin Laden. More than 263 intelligence agencies were rebuilt or reorganized. 1,271 government agencies, nearly 2,000 private companies, and a total of 200,000 people in 10,000 locations are carrying out anti-terrorism related intelligence work. Bin Laden is the first Arab in U.S. history that it has spent so much energy and resources to pursue. For 10 years, the U.S. has spent at least $100 million a day to catch him.” 

“According to U.S. media, the potential economic loss from hunting bin Laden ranges between US$2.8 to 5.0 trillion. … While the Clinton administration ended up with a slight surplus, today it has become a super sick cat. The world’s strongest superpower is facing the risk of bankruptcy.” 
The article continued, “… Americans know that although bin Laden is dead, the conflict between the U.S. and the extremists has not changed a bit. On the contrary, it may have intensified. This implies that the terrorist groups will continually launch unpredictable attacks and cause disasters. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars and economic crisis that Bin Laden brought have already crushed the U.S. and have made the U.S. become a really super sick cat.”

Source: China News Service, May 20, 2011
http://www.chinanews.com/hb/2011/05-20/3054805.shtml

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China Faces a Severe Power Shortage

Central China Grid Company Limited, one of the five regional power plants of the State Grid Corporation of China, released an analysis stating that power shortages, which used to be seasonal, are becoming a year round problem. "[The Central China Grid] is at a critical turning point – seasonal and local power shortages now occur throughout the year and cover the entire region.” Rapid increases in consumption and an insufficient supply of coal are believed to be the root causes of the shortage. The Central China Grid covers the five provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Jianxi, and Sichuan and the city of Chongqing. In the past, the Central China region did not experience any problems with the supply of power during April and May. In 2010, restrictions on consumption [that were imposed during the winter] were lifted in February. In contrast, in 2011, the restrictions have remained in place through April. The analysis predicts a shortage of 8.22 million kilowatts for the summer of 2011.

Source: Xinhua, May 6, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/06/c_121387402.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources