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Xinhua: Devalue the RMB or Control the Pace of RMB Appreciation?

On January 3, 2100, the International Herald Leader, a newspaper under Xinhua News Agency, published an  article titled “The Currency War, Win the Two Battles inside and Outside (of China).” It included several interviews.

Tan Yaling, President of the China Foreign Exchange Investment Research Institute, told Xinhua reporters, “I would like to take the initiative to devalue the RMB, choosing a good time to take action, so as to remove any expectations for RMB appreciation. We cannot let the expectation for RMB appreciation kidnap public opinion in the market and (affect our) policy parameters.”

Guo Tian Yong, Professor of the Central University of Finance and Director of the China Banking Research Center, said, “Substantial appreciation of the Renminbi in the short term is the ‘dog in the manger.’” In his opinion, China should control the pace of RMB appreciation and “let the RMB appreciate modestly and gradually.”

Source: International Herald Leader, January 3, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-01/03/c_13675030.htm

China’s Marine Affairs Expert: China Should Take Over the Islands Occupied by Neighbors

The International Herald Leader published an article containing interviews on how to deal with the U.S. return to Asia.

Yin Zhuo, Major General and Director of the Navy Information Expert Committee, said, “It will take the United States a fairly long period of time to return to Asia. Anti-terrorist wars still constrain U.S. power. … China needs to grasp this strategic opportunity firmly.”

Xu Ke, Marine Affairs Expert, Institute of International Relations, Xiamen University, said, “While the cooperation between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is still in its initial stage, China should use drastic measures in the South China Sea to take over the islands and reefs occupied by our neighboring small countries.” As for the East China Sea, China may have to wait until China’s naval forces are strong enough before taking any drastic measures.”

Source: International Herald Leader, January 3, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-01/03/c_13675032.htm

The Sources of Pressure on China’s Economy in 2011

Sun Lijian, Vice President of the School of Economy, Fudan University, published an article analyzing the (anticipated) economic pressures on China in 2011. The article says that “three big issues, both inside and outside” of China are of concern: The pressure from the instability of the international currency system, the pressure from the “virtualization” of industrial capital, and the pressure from the “imbalance” in income distribution.

Source: China Review News, January 7, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1015/6/2/7/101562738.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=101562738&mdate=0107082119

National Conference on Foreign Propaganda Work Held in Beijing

The national conference on foreign propaganda work (international communication work) was held in Beijing on January 4-5, 2011. Wang Chen, Director of the CCP Central Committee’s International Communications Office and the State Council Information Office, emphasized that (China) should face the world in a more open manner; it should also take advantage of the important strategic opportunity to promote the development of foreign propaganda work in order to improve the nation’s cultural soft power and create a favorable international media environment. It is expected that 2011 foreign propaganda work will coordinate both the domestic and international situation, more proactively disseminate China’s voice, emphatically enhance the development of China’s international communication capability, and improve the competitiveness and influence of Chinese culture.

Source: Xinhua, January 6, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/06/c_12952617.htm

Qiushi: Summarizing the 2010 International Situation and China’s Diplomacy

On New Year’s Day, Qiushi published an article by the director of the China Institute of International Affairs that summarized the international situation in politics, the economy, and security in 2010. The article pointed out that one of the main features of the 2010 international situation was the significant progress in world multi-polarization. The U.S. obviously feels incompetent and has to adjust its strategy. The U.S. strengthened its involvement in the South China Sea, utilizing every possible opportunity to create divisions between China and the Southeast Asian countries. China is very active in diplomacy and has skillfully handled this complicated situation.

Source: Qiushi, January 1, 2011.
http://www.qsjournal.com.cn/zxdk/2011/201101/201012/t20101228_60716.htm

Poverty Lies behind the Rising Consumption of Luxury Goods

Behind the increase in luxury brands, China’s manufacturing industry is silently creating poverty, said Twenty-first Century. Per Goldman Sachs, China is becoming the second largest consumer of luxury goods. With consumption in 2010 at $6.5 billion, luxury goods scored the fastest growth three years in a row. The Ministry of Commerce predicts that, by 2014, China will become the largest market for luxury goods in the world, accounting for 23% of the market share. However, “this may be a blessing for luxury brand names, but not for improving China’s domestic demand,” said the article. “Residential consumption in GDP spending has been on the decline every year, while government consumption is rising consistently. … Booming luxury consumption now has become a symbol of the gap between the rich and poor, and of sluggish domestic demand. It is very worrisome.”

Source: Twenty-first Century, December 30, 2010
http://www.21cbh.com/HTML/2010-12-30/yNMDAwMDIxMzcyNQ.html

Communist Party History Is Now Online

Since January 1, 2011, China’s major portal and news websites have been running a special column, "Today in Party History," as part of the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “Today in Party History" will systematically publish the Party’s milestone events compiled by the Party History Research Center under the CCP Central Committee, with the goal “to further affirm the confidence and determination to follow the Chinese-style socialist path.” It appears on the CCP official website, www.cpcnews.cn, and other major portal websites such as xinhuanet.com and sina.com.cn.

Source: Guangming Daily, January 2, 2011
http://politics.gmw.cn/2011-01/02/content_1515019.htm

Qiushi: Using the Internet as a Tool to Spread Marxism

Qiushi published an article discussing how the Internet can be used as a tool to popularize Marxism. “Whenever information on Marxist theory is published on the Internet, it can appear instantly across the country and around the world. … It can be presented in the form of text, audio, image, and video. … Thus it enhances the appeal of education and arouses the audience’s interest in learning more [about Marxism].” The 4th plenary session of the 17th Congress of the Communist Party called for action to “sinicize, modernize, and popularize Marxism.”

Source: Qiushi, December 29, 2010
http://www.qsjournal.com.cn/wh/whsy/201012/t20101229_60834.htm