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Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

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Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

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Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

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The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.

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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 | | |   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 | | |   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 | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua Editorial: Introducing Western Democracy” in Cote d’Ivoire Resulted in Chaos

Xinhua published an editorial commenting on the power struggle in the African country of Cote d’Ivoire. It reported that the power struggle surrounding the presidential election in Cote d’Ivoire has seriously affected social stability, economic development, and people’s livelihoods. The article described Cote d’Ivoire as a stable and prosperous country that became very unstable, full of violence and bloody conflict, after Western countries pressured it into introducing a multiple party system and presidential elections. The article further offered that this phenomenon is widespread in Africa.

The article concluded that “Western democracy” is not a panacea for every country. In different countries and in countries in different stages of development, arbitrarily transplanting Western democracy or “being democratized” frequently causes power struggles, instability, and violent conflicts. Thus it hinders economic development and damages the fundamental interests of the nation and the people.

Source: Xinhua, January 19, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-01/19/c_121000621.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Media and Rights Groups Work to Secure Gao Zhisheng’s Release

Because of Hu Jintao’s visit to the United States, many have expressed concern for Gao Zhisheng, the lawyer who was ”disappeared” twice and cruelly tortured for defending Christians, political and religious dissenters, and Falun Gong.

On January 10, 2011, AP released an interview with Gao, taken before his second disappearance, in which he discussed his torture, including electric shocks to his genitals, near suffocation, and temporary blindness from cigarettes held close to his eyes.

In a speech given Friday, January 14, 2011, Secretary of State Clinton specifically mentioned Gao Zhisheng. At a congressional press conference on January 18, 2001, Bob Fu of ChinaAid requested that President Obama ask Hu Jintao to free Gao and let him come to the United States to be reunited with his wife and two children. Fu has been circulating a letter that Gao gave his wife, Geng He, before she and their children escaped to the United States. Gao is still missing. No one knows his whereabouts or whether he is still alive.

Sources:
Christian Newswire, January 20, 2011
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/9101616001.html
Washington Post, January 10, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011001287.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua: China Launches International TV Broadcasting

A new media broadcasting network, the China International Broadcasting Network (CIBN), was officially launched in Beijing on January 18, 2011. The network will be based on CRI Online, the world’s largest multilingual website, run by China Radio International. According to China Radio International, CIBN will be a convergence of multilingual websites, online broadcasters, network television and mobile service terminals.

Source: Xinhua, January 19, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/zgjx/2011-01/19/c_13696920.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

2010: China’s Mergers and Acquisitions Overseas

 According to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers, in 2010, Chinese companies transacted 188 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) overseas. Totaling US$38 billion, this represented a 30% increase over the previous year. Thirty-four M&As occurred in the United States, which was the largest share. While the majority of M&As appeared to be in mining, metal, and chemical plants, the number in the technology sector increased from 11 in 2009 to 24 in 2010. Regarding whether China is treated fairly in its M&A activities in the United States, PricewaterhouseCoopers stated that the government review and approval process is the same for Chinese companies as it is for their competitors.

Source: Jinghua Times, January 18, 2011
http://epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2011-01/18/content_624117.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

International Herald Leader: Managing Sino-US Relations

According to an article in the International Herald Leader, there is not much room for the Sino-U.S. relationship to expand. The priority should be to manage, rather than develop, the bilateral relationship. The article states that there is no way whatsoever for China to satisfy the U.S. requests on the issues of RMB appreciation, global energy dominated by the U.S., or China’s military modernization. There is no misunderstanding between the two – what exists is truly that their interests are at stake. “What is important now is how to manage the fundamentals and major differences in the bilateral relationship, rather than to explore ways to further develop mutual understanding and common interests, so that these differences will not affect cooperation in other areas.”

Source: Xinhua, January 14, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-01/14/c_13690481.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations