An article published on Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of Shanghai’s Communist Party committee, blames the turmoil in North Africa on the United States for shifting its domestic crisis to other countries. Many other state media republished it on their websites. The article claims, ”The recent continuous turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East may have profound world economic and social causes. It not only results from the global financial crisis, but is also the result of the decline of the U.S.’s ability to lead in world affairs. In the end, it is due to the U.S. shifting its domestic crisis to other countries through two waves of quantitative easing of its currency.” The article concludes that, as long as the internal problems arising from the financial crisis are not completely resolved, such turmoil will continue. It warns, “What’s even more worrisome is that some big power will use ulterior political and economic motives to implement irresponsible policies while the Arab countries in Africa are still not stable, making the situation even more complicated.”
Sources: Jiefang Daily, February 28, 2011
http://newspaper.jfdaily.com/jfrb/html/2011-02/25/content_518795.htm
China Review News republished an article by a Chinese scholar nicknamed “Dong Shen" (meaning "Statement from the East") criticizing U.S. “Internet freedom.” The article stated, “There is a saying called ‘Internet freedom.’ It is said to have originated in the U.S. in February 2010. One year later, on February 15, 2011, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a speech on ‘Internet Freedom,’ in relation to the political turmoil in North African and Middle East countries. She further explained ‘Internet Freedom’ in more detail, and specifically included it in the framework of U.S. foreign policy.” The article continued, “Every citizen on earth who knows a little about the various U.S. ‘freedoms’ understands that ‘Internet freedom’ is nothing new. It is, in essence, another U.S. trick to impose American values on other countries. The fundamental issue is that the U.S. wants to expand its interests around the world, using American values to control other countries.” The article concluded, “Facing ‘Internet freedom,’ we (Chinese) must resolutely walk the path of the ‘Chinese style Internet.’ A Chinese style Internet is the requirement of the Chinese style Socialist path.”
Source: China Review News, March 2, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1016/1/4/1/101614142.html?coluid=148&kindid=0&docid=101614142&mdate=0302004203
An article posted on the People’s Daily website and many other webistes in China accuses the U.S. of getting involved in Russia and Japan’s conflict over the Habomai Islands (in the southernmost Kuril Islands) and China and Japan’s conflict over the Pinnacle Islands (called the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China). According to the article, the U.S. said it “will side with the Japanese on the Habomai Islands;” and in a conflict “will expel the Chinese from the East and South Sea.’’
The article noted that the U.S. will not get militarily involved in the Habomai issue, but will militarily intervene if China takes military action in the Pinnacle conflict. Commenting on U.S. involvement, a scholar from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said, “U.S. overall power is disappearing; its original strategic position is also rapidly declining. In order to keep its military presence and leading position in the Asia Pacific, it has to use Japan and South Korea, making them shoulder more strategic tasks.” A professor from China’s National Defense University pointed out that U.S. involvement in the Pinnacle Islands is consistent with the “U.S. National Military Strategy Report” issued more than a week ago. The report indicated that the U.S. will shift its military emphasis to the Asia Pacific region.
Sources: People’s Daily, March 2, 2011
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/14040232.html
According to Qi Faren, an expert in Chinese space technology, China will establish its own global navigation system, called Beidou-2, by 2020. It will be done in three steps. The first step is to build a regional navigation system. This has already been completed through the launch of the first Beidou system, officially called the BeiDou Satellite Navigation Experimental System, also known as Beidou-1. Beidou-2 will be completed in the second and third steps. The second step is to launch about 12 to 14 satellites in the early part of the twelfth five-year plan period (2011 to 2015) to form a regional and autonomous navigation positioning system. The third step is to have over 30 satellites covering the entire earth by 2020. Beidou-2 will provide navigation services to China and its neighboring countries, said Qi. “Beidou-2 will be the equivalent of the U.S. GPS. Wherever the U.S. GPS is used, one will be able to use Beidou-2.”
Source: Xinhua, March 1, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/it/2011-03/01/c_121136735.htm
From February 21 to 23, 2011, more than 200 Communist Party spokespersons from across the country met in Beijing for the first time for a three-day intensive training course to learn how to handle the media. The topics covered included “understanding the responsibilities of a Party spokesperson, how to better explain the Party’s policies and major decisions to the public, and the best way to present China’s ruling party to the world. …” The Party’s International Communications Office and the State Council Information Office sponsored the training. As of the end of 2010, the 13 departments under the Central Committee of the Party and Party committees at provincial levels had spokespersons in place. “2011 is the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party, the first year of the twelfth five-year plan, and the year when the Party secretaries at the provincial, municipal, county, and township levels will change. This will provide sufficient press content to the Party spokespersons.”
Source: Xinhua, March 1, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-03/01/c_121136112.htm
This year, the PLA will see its third pay raise in the past six years. The pay raises range from 5% to 40% and will be retroactive to the second half of 2010. Non-commissioned officers will receive a 40% raise, while the average raise for officers will be 1,000 yuan (US$152). For example, a platoon lieutenant’s monthly pay will increase from 3,500 to 4,500 yuan (US$685) and a general’s monthly pay will increase from 21,000 to 22,000 yuan (US$3,348). Salaries vary in different services. For example, Army salaries are the lowest, followed by the Navy and Air Force, with the Second Artillery Corps, also known as the PLA’s Strategic Missile Forces, being the highest.
Source: Guangming Daily, March 2, 2011 reprint from Chongqing Morning
http://mil.gmw.cn/2011-03/02/content_1666423.htm