On the morning of March 9, 2011, the Chinese Navy joined multi-nation anti-terrorist exercises along with Pakistan, Italy, and France in Karachi, Pakistan. The exercises tried to simulate how the Navy anti-terrorist team would respond to the task of rescuing “an abducted commercial ship” and identifying the suspects, while protecting the hostages.
Source: Xinhua, March 10, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-03/10/c_13771140.htm
An opinion piece appearing in the overseas edition of People’s Daily accuses some people of having “ulterior motives” in using the Internet to instigate “street politics” in China. The article says, “Since the end of last year, some countries in the Middle East and North Africa have been in turmoil and people have suffered from catastrophes. While the world is seeking ways to resolve the Middle East problem, some people with ulterior motives, both inside and outside of China, are plotting to bring trouble to China. They disseminate their conspiracy through the Internet to instigate ‘street politics,’ for the purpose of sending China into chaos.” The article emphasizes that China is not the Middle East, and that anyone who wants to transmit the turmoil from the Middle East to China is doomed.
Source: People’s Daily, March 10, 2011
http://opinion.people.com.cn/GB/40604/14103923.html
“The financial crisis gives the impression that U.S. military force is slowing down or contracting,” says a Xinhua commentary on the U.S.’s launch of a second X-37B space airplane. “However, the X-37B reminds us to look at the U.S. military from another angle. Since last year, the U.S. has started many projects featuring future military technologies, such as electromagnetic artillery, the X-37B space airplane, and the X-47 unmanned stealth bomber. … A deeper analysis tells us that U.S. military development is actually accelerating under the guise of reduction and withdrawal. When the U.S. develops certain advanced weapons, it often uses the excuse that it is in response to another country’s weapon. In reality, it is mostly to cope with the rapid progress of China’s military power.” “Foreign media claim that China’s intention is not clear and is worrisome. How about the U.S.? It is very clear; its intention is to start a war! Isn’t such a clear intention even more worrisome?” The article suggests that China’s military development still has a long way to go to catch up with the U.S. and warns the Chinese people of the potential danger.
Source: Xinhua, March 11, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-03/11/c_121171401.htm
Red Flag Manuscript, a publication of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee, published an article "China Cannot Replicate the U.S. Model." The author is the executive editor of Ifeng Weekly, a magazine run by Hong Kong based Phoenix TV. The article starts by describing the U.S. as “claiming freedom, democracy, and justice domestically, and being militaristic and hegemonic externally.” “To China, today the U.S. uses the compliment of ‘strategic partner,’ and tomorrow brandishes its fist with the label of ‘China threat.’” The article argues that concepts of American freedom and democracy do not fit in China. The author further argues that the U.S. will not trust China no matter how its political system might change. “U.S. foreign policy is guided by pragmatism. Americans will view a strong China with suspicion, whether or not it is free and democratic. In the eyes of Americans and even other Westerners, China belongs in a different category.” The article concludes that China must continue in the direction of socialism. The U.S. model is not suitable for China, nor is it for other developing countries, whereas the path China is following can be a good example for other developing countries to learn from.
Source: Red Flag Manuscript, March 7, 2011
http://www.qstheory.cn/hqwg/2011/201105/201103/t20110307_71237.htm
Outlook Weekly, a magazine owned by Xinhua, conducted a survey from February 13 to 18, 2011, in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Chengdu. The survey statistics show the underclass in China is growing. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed believe that there are few opportunities for the underclass to move up, while a meager 7.5% think opportunities are abundant. Seventy-seven percent believe that the underclass in China is growing. The survey also shows that many are concerned that they may become part of the underclass. Sixty-five percent think that unemployed college graduates are likely to join the underclass.
Source: China News Service, March 7 2011
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2011/03-07/2887584.shtml
According to a report released by the National Development and Reform Commission, a quarter of Chinese residents have no clean drinking water, one third of the urban population breathes polluted air, and less than 20% of garbage goes through proper treatment. The report says that, "Large numbers of people are exposed to polluted air, water, and soil.” It further states, “China’s ecological environment is very fragile; forests cover only 18.21% of China’s land surface, which is less than 67% of the average for the world’s countries. China has 1.74 million square kilometers of desertified land. 90% of its natural grassland suffers from degradation.”
Source: Economic Information, March 9, 2011, reprint by People’s Daily
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1027/14096289.html
Source: International Herald Leader, March 7, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-03/07/c_13764823.htm