Chinascope – Page 1079

China’s High Speed Railways Form a Network

People’s Daily recently reported that, with the completion of the newly planned 4,715 kilometers of high speed railway for the year 2011, the entire Chinese high speed railway system will cover a total of 13,000 kilometers, forming a national network. In the next five years, half of the planned railways will be high speed railways. The current high speed network covers 18 provinces. It is the world’s largest high speed railway system in terms of total mileage. According to the Ministry of Railways, electronic ticketing will be completed this year. The high speed railway system is expected to be the primary form of railroad transportation. The Ministry also believes that the massive construction project will not cause a “debt crisis” despite the lack of profitability on many of today’s routes.

Source: People’s Daily, January 24, 2011
http://ccnews.people.com.cn/GB/13796228.html

Briefings | | February 1, 2011 | Economy/Resources

State Council Announces New Regulations to Control the Real Estate Market

People’s Daily reported on January 27, 2011, that the State Council Executive Meeting chaired by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao just announced eight new regulations for the real estate market: (1) Take it one step further and hold local governments responsible for achieving stabilization of the real estate market; (2) Have the Housing Project for Low-Income Families initiate new construction; (3) Adjust the relevant tax policies; (4) Improve differentiated home loan policies for different types of families; (5) Strictly manage the supply side of land available for housing; (6) Reasonably guide the demand side of the housing market; (7) Implement mechanisms for government officials’ accountability; (8) Continue to guide the media as well as public opinion.

Source: People’s Daily, January 27, 2011
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1024/13824772.html

Briefings | | February 1, 2011 | Economy/Resources

Chinese Journalists Fired for Speaking Out

According Radio Free Asia on January 27, 2011, the Southern Daily Group dismissed Chang Ping, a well-known newspaper columnist. At the same time, Li Wenkai, director of the Southern Metropolis Daily, and two editors were asked to leave the Commentary Department of the newspaper.

Compared to other parts of China, the media outlets in Southern China are known for being outspoken. Recently, pressured by the Propaganda Department of the CCP Central Committee, a number of journalists have been let go.

Source: Radio Free Asia, January 27, 2011
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/bao-01272011103426.html

Briefings | | January 31, 2011 | Information/Technology

The PLA General Political Department Tells all CCP Members to Study “The CCP History, Vol. II”

According to China’s People’s Liberation Army Newspaper, the PLA General Political Department issued a notice on January 26, 2011, telling all PLA Party committees and political organs to organize CCP members and cadres to study The Chinese Communist Party History” Volume II. The second volume covers 29 years of Party history, from October 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was established, to December 1978, when the 3rd Plenary Session of the Eleventh CCP National Congress was held.

The notice emphasizes that “studying volume II of the CCP’s history is an important political task, which must be done urgently and well.” The purpose is to “further strengthen the Party’s absolute leadership over the army.” It calls on all the PLA personnel to “walk on the socialist path with Chinese characteristics with more firmness, confidence and determination.”

Source: Jiefangjun Bao (The PLA Newspaper), January 27, 2011
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/jfjbmap/content/2011-01/28/content_49443.htm

Briefings | | January 31, 2011 | Government/Politics

Government Approved Religious Organizations Help Build a Harmonious Socialist Society

According to Xinhua, on January 28, 2011, the Chinese government-approved religious organizations, which are under the CCP’s direct leadership and belong to China’s five major “religions,” held a forum on “Advocating Religious Harmony” in Beijing.

The “religious leaders” attended the forum and delivered speeches. They were from the Buddhist Association of China, the China Taoist Association, the China Islamic Association, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church of China, the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches of China, and the China Christian Council. The forum published “The Joint Declaration Advocating Religious Harmony,” which states that “religious harmony is very significant in developing a harmonious socialist society and building a harmonious world together.”

Source: Xinhua, January 28, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/28/c_121037089.htm

Briefings | | January 31, 2011 | Government/Politics

Chinese Netizens’ Responses to Lang Lang’s Performance at the White House

[Editor’s Notes: President Obama invited Chinese pianist Lang Lang to the White House to perform at the January 19, 2011, state dinner for visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao. Lang Lang played a solo, the famous patriotic Chinese song, “My Motherland,” for the participants. The song created great controversy, because it is the theme song of a famous 1956 anti-American movie about the Korean War, titled “Battle on Shangganling Mountain.” China calls that war a “War to Resist America and Support (North) Korea.”

Lang Lang denied that he was aware of the song’s background. China’s state media also said not to read too much into the song, but to many Chinese, this is a great diplomatic victory over the United States, especially right after the U.S. demonstrated superior military power in the face of China. The following are some comments by Chinese netizens.]

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Reports | | January 28, 2011 | Report

China Starts Research Project to Study Astronauts Living in Space

Officials from the China Astronauts Research and Training Center reported on January 26, 2011, that China has just established its first national basic manned-space flight research project. The Ministry of Science and Technology approved the project, titled “research on astronauts operating capability, adaptability to change, and mechanisms for long-term space flight.” The project will focus on the impact on astronauts of weightlessness, the rapid shift between day and night, and living in a confined space. The research will be done from 2011 to 2015. The results are critical to China’s space station.

Source: Xinhua, January 26, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/26/c_121026078.htm

Briefings | | January 28, 2011 | Defense/Military

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.