Chinascope – Page 1072

The CCP Trains Spokespersons on How to Deal with the Media

From February 21 to 23, 2011, spokespersons from the CCP Committee and their working team members gathered in Beijing to attend a training course. It was the first course of its kind organized by the International Communications Office of the CCP Central Committee and the State Council Information Office. The purpose was to train CCP spokespersons on handling issues such as how to organize a press conference, how to respond to reporters’ questions, and what to learn from Western governments’ press conferences on events that occur unexpectedly.

Source: Xinhua, February, 23, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2011-02/23/c_121115226.htm

Briefings | | February 25, 2011 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: America’s Black Hand Can Be Seen behind the Turmoil in the Middle East

Xinhua quoted an article from a Russian media report with the same title as above to hint that the United States instigated the recent Egyptian riots. The article stated that the dramatic events happening in the Arab countries in recent weeks once again demonstrate that the United States has never observed the principle of not interfering in a sovereign country’s internal affairs. It (the U.S.) gets rid of the “dictators” from the list of its past friends in order to arrange newly “elected” dictators. As long as it can help solve the problems facing the United States, the U.S. State Department is willing to see crowds and blood in the squares belonging to other territories. Secretly starting a revolution “from within" is an ideal tool. The article quoted a report from the U.K.’s Telegraph claiming that the United Stated secretly supported the Egyptian dissidents who, three years earlier, had promised Washington they would organize a “power turnover” campaign.

Source: Xinhua, February, 23, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-02/23/c_121115542.htm

Briefings | | February 25, 2011 | US-China Relations

Beijing Will Not Tolerate Democracy or a Separation of Powers

On January 24, 2011, Wu Bangguo, a member of the Politburo standing committee, spoke at a national conference on the Chinese style legal system. Qiushi published his speech on February 1, 2011. The highlights of his speech also appeared in a People’s Daily editorial on February 21, 2011. “Based on China’s national conditions, [we] solemnly declare that we will not engage in a multi-party political system or in diversity of the guiding ideology. We will not pursue the ‘separation of powers’ and the bicameral system, or engage in federalism or privatization of property.”

Sources:
Qiushi, February 1, 2011
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2011/201103/201101/t20110128_64951.htm
People’s Daily, February 21, 2011
http://theory.people.com.cn/GB/13963415.html

Briefings | | February 24, 2011 | Government/Politics

Sinopec Completes Acquisition of Occidental’s Argentine Unit

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), Asia’s largest refiner, completed its acquisition of Occidental Petroleum Corp.’s Argentine oil and gas unit for $2.45 billion. The acquisition agreement was signed on December 10, 2010. This purchase gives Sinopec an interest in 23 production and exploration concessions in Santa Cruz, Mendoza, and Chubut provinces. According to Sinopec Groups, in 2010, petroleum production had reached 15 million barrels with natural gas sales hitting 14 billion cubic feet.

Source: Xinhua, February 23, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-02/23/c_121114769.htm

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

Developing Inner-Party Grassroots Democracy: Problems and Prospects

[Editor’s Note: Ms. Zhang Jinming is a Deputy Party Secretary of Mianyang City, Sichuan Province. In 1999, as a District Party Secretary, she organized China’s first direct election of a township administrator. After surviving the controversy that resulted from this experiment, China’s media made Ms. Zhang a celebrity and she received several promotions. [1] The following are excerpts from Ms. Zhang latest article in Study Times. The author lists the problems of China’s Inner-Party democracy. As a pioneer of grassroots democracy, Ms. Zhang’s observations reveal some fundamental flaws and contradictions in the Party’s theory and reality.] [2]

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Reports | | February 23, 2011 | Report

China Acts to Implement Social Control

Echoing Hu Jintao’s important speech on social control given on February 19, Chinese media reported on a series of actions taken to implement social control.

Xinhua reported that Beijing is implementing a grid-style social service and control model. Since 2007, each building has had an informant assigned to it. Ten thousand safety and stability specialists and thirty thousand public servants are participating in social control. Guangming reported that the Supreme Court published “Opinion on Further Strengthening Root-level Court Development under the New Situation.” The document calls for the development of a risk evaluation mechanism for major sensitive cases. The Political Department of the Public Security Ministry published “Ideological and Political Work Guidelines for Root-level Public Security Organizations.” It sets the standards and guidelines for the ideological and political work done in public security organizations.

Sources:
1. Xinhua, February 18, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-02/18/c_121098674.htm
2. Guangming Online, February 20, 2011
http://politics.gmw.cn/2011-02/20/content_1630096.htm
3. Public Security Ministry Website, February 17, 2011
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803715/2693580.html

Briefings | | February 23, 2011 | Government/Politics

State Council Releases Regulations on Foreign Acquisitions Review System

On February 12, 2011, Xinhua reported that the General Office of the State Council sent out a notice about establishing the National Security Review and Approval System for Foreign Acquisitions of Chinese Companies. A multi-ministry joint committee will be created to administer the review process. The notice encompassed the System’s scope, content, working mechanism, and procedures. The national security review mainly covers companies that foreign investors may actually control. The fields the companies will deal with will include military, key agriculture products, critical energy and resources, important infrastructure, important transportation, key technology, and heavy equipment. The State Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce are the leading agencies on the operational front. These regulations apply to investors from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The process of reviewing the acquisition of financial companies will be regulated separately.

Source: Xinhua, February 12, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-02/12/c_121070713.htm

Briefings | | February 23, 2011 | Economy/Resources

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.