Chinascope – Page 1081

China Youth Online: China Increases Overseas Acquisitions

The “2011 World Economy Analysis and Forecasts” published a report by the World Economy and Politics Center of the China Social Science Academy. The report noted a rapidly increasing trend, which is that Chinese companies are acquiring more assets overseas. State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs), including Petro China, Sinopec, CNOOC, the Baosteel Group, and CHALCO, were the leaders in these acquisitions. The sectors most coveted are those in the extraction industry. Chinese companies acquired 91 companies with a value of US$32 billion between 2005 and mid-2010. Chinese companies made purchases in other industries: Geely (automaker) bought Volvo for US$1.8 billion and Sany Group (a machinery manufacturer) built plants in Germany. Morgan Stanley’s report showed that, by the first half of 2010, China became the second largest overseas acquirer of assets after the U.S.

“However, more than 50% of the overseas acquisitions were not successful after the acquisition, i.e., they didn’t generate more money for the parent company.”

Source: China Youth Online, January 24, 2011
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2011-01/24/nw.D110000zgqnb_20110124_2-10.htm

Briefings | | January 26, 2011 | Economy/Resources

Chinese Online Mapping Site Open for Business

On January 18, 2011, the China State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping released its official online mapping system with the English “Map World.” This project seeks to establish a “Chinese Brand” in the online GIS (Geographic Information System) services field. It is considered part of the “Digital China” initiative. The total amount of data in the system is 30TB, which includes 3 billion “tiles” of digital maps. The Bureau admitted that the Map World system still has problems with access, performance, and stability. It also lacks some “subject information.” Satellite images also have precision and foreign supply issues. The government is determined to firmly promote this system.

Source: Xinhua, January 18, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/18/c_12995918.htm

Briefings | | January 25, 2011 | Information/Technology

Ministry of Commerce: Continue Promoting the China Brand

Yao Jian, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, recently commented, in a monthly media briefing, that China must improve its national “soft power.” The commercial video currently playing in Times Square in New York is an example of this effort. The Ministry attempted this once before with another “image building” commercial video called “China Made with the World.” China also tried to promote the “China Brand” at the F1 games. Yao suggested that, in the future, China will use various means to continue the propaganda effort. On April 16, 2010, China rolled out a “Made in China” commercial at F1. At the end of 2009, China also aired another “Made in China” commercial on CNN.

Source: Global Times, January 18, 2011
http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2011-01/1439440.html

Briefings | | January 25, 2011 | Geo-Strategic Trend

CRN: The U.S. has Never Respected China

China Review News (CRN) published a commentary right after Chinese President Hu Jintao completed his visit to the U.S. The author maintained that the U.S. has long held a biased view of China. The U.S. has taken China’s every step to improve as a threat to the U.S. national interest. President Obama has revived the Cold War mentality to continue policies that restrict China’s international breathing room, using such excuses as “communism,” “dictatorship,” “human rights,” and “democracy.”

The commentary also accused the U.S. of being a troublemaker on the issues of Tibet, Taiwan, North Korea, Southeast Asia, and the South China Sea. For the U.S. to support the new Nobel Peace Prize winner was seen as its latest interference in China’s domestic legal system. The commentary suggested Hu’s visit to the U.S. is one more attempt on China’s part to build a healthy partnership. The author expressed the hope that U.S. extortion would stop.

Source: China Review News, January 22, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1015/7/7/1/101577177.html?coluid=1&kindid=0&docid=101577177&mdate=0122083240

Briefings | | January 25, 2011 | Government/Politics

Ministry of Public Security Carries out the Big Visit Campaign

The Public Security Bureau throughout China has started a “Big Visit” campaign. According to the Ministry of Public Security, Beijing started the campaign last November. Many provinces and cities, including Tianjin, Shanghai, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hebei, and others, started a full-scale campaign in January 2011. “Police officers visit companies, schools, organizations, entertainment sites, and residential neighborhoods to talk about security and safety issues and address people’s needs.”

Source: The Ministry of the Public Security website, January 19, 2011
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803715/2672661.html

Briefings | | January 24, 2011 | Government/Politics

Improving China’s Military Training

Qiushi Journal, a publication of the CCP’s Central Committee, republished an article from PLA Daily stressing the importance of improving the current military training to better suit warfare based information systems. The article advocates joint military exercises that integrate various military units, using the information network platform.

It points out that the PLA’s current training lacks an environment that simulates hardships and a near-war situation. Hence, training is relatively simple with reduced challenges. The new training should provide simulations of the actual war field, multi-dimensional surveillance, complicated electro-magnetic fields, real fighting, political and psychological warfare, network attacks and defense, and a hydrological and meteorological environment.

Source: Qiushi Journal, Jan 6, 2011
http://www.qsjournal.com.cn/gf/gfjsyfz/201101/t20110106_61298.htm

Briefings | | January 24, 2011 | Defense/Military

Li Yuanchao on Training Cadres on a Large Scale

The twelfth National Cadres Training Conference was held in Beijing on January 21, 2011. Li Yuanchao, head of the CCP’s Central Organization Department, made a speech on how best to conduct large scale training for cadres. Li pointed out that the training should continue strengthening the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics and should focus on the goals and tasks of the twelfth five-year plan. Li called on those conducting the training to use the CCP’s 90th anniversary as an opportunity to inculcate cadres in a better understanding of the Party’s nature and to enhance the cadres’ thoughts about Party nature.

Source: Xinhua, January 21, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/21/c_121010761.htm

Briefings | | January 24, 2011 | Government/Politics

China’s Gigantic Foreign Reserve Will No Longer Stay with the U.S. Debt

Since last year, China has adopted a new policy of diversification in order to handle the huge amount of its foreign reserve. The latest data shows that China’s foreign reserve is $US 2.8473 trillion. In 2010, China’s foreign reserve increased by $US 448 billion. Therefore, in the short term, China has increased its investment in the national debts issued by South Korea and Japan. As a long term strategy, China is going to put more of its reserve into European countries.

Another notable change in China’s foreign reserve policy is to allow Chinese citizens to invest directly in foreign countries. China is making this policy adjustment because, in recent years, China’s sovereign funds have encountered suspicion and barriers when trying to acquire overseas enterprises. China’s large, state owned enterprises will be the main foreign investors. At the same time, China will provide foreign currency loans to private companies and encourage and support more of China’s private enterprises in acquiring foreign companies.

Source: Xinhua, January 17, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-01/17/c_13694069.htm

Briefings | | January 21, 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.