Chinascope – Page 1086

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

Propaganda Department Campaigns against False Reporting

The CCP Secretary of China’s Reporters Association, Zhai Huisheng, recently led the Chinese Communist Party’s Propaganda Department in launching a campaign to “eliminate false reporting.”

Zhai said that Beijing’s "most fundamental news media policy is not to allow individuals to run any media." However, with the rapid development of new media, anyone can become a "journalist." He added, "If someone does not have a clear grasp of the big picture and is not politically steadfast," there will be "false reporting." “These false reports” are “expanding to the political, economic, social, cultural, and other fields. They involve major issues that affect people’s livelihoods and macroeconomic policy." They pose a challenge to the "Party and the government’s capacity to govern.”

Ten teams composed of officials from leading positions in the CCP’s Propaganda Department, International Communication office, People’s Daily, Xinhua, and other agencies are to be sent to 14 provinces to “supervise and inspect” the news media there.

Source: Radio France International, January 27, 2011

http://www.chinese.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20110127-%E4%B8%AD%E5%AE%A3%E9%83%A8%E6%8E%A8%E5%8A

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Briefings | | January 28, 2011 | Information/Technology

China News Service: China’s Gold Production Exceeded 340 Tons in 2010

China News Service reported on January 27, 2011, that, according to the China Gold Association, China’s gold production in 2010 set a new world record at 341 tons. This represents an 8.6% increase from 2009. China has thus remained the world’s top gold producer for the fourth year in a row since it overtook South Africa in 2007. More than 500 counties in China produce gold. The gold industry has become the key industry and a major source of income for over 100 counties. The top five gold producing provinces are Shandong, Henan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, and Fujian. Collectively, they produce 60% of the national output. China’s gold market is also very strong. In 2010, China consumed 510 tons of gold for jewelry production, use in industry, and investment.

Source: China News Service, January 27, 2011
http://www.chinanews.com/fortune/2011/01-27/2817180.shtml

Briefings | | January 28, 2011 | Economy/Resources

International Herald Leader: China to Diversify Its Foreign Exchange Reserves

The International Herald Leader, a Xinhua publication, reported that, according to a January 11, 2011, release from the Bank of China, China’s foreign exchange reserves had reached US$2.8473 trillion by the end of 2010, an increase of about US$448.1 billion, or 18%, over the previous year. Reports from September 2010 indicate that about 65% of China’s reserves are in US dollars. In 2010, China was active in acquiring government debts in countries such as Japan, Spain, and South Korea, in anticipation of the depreciation of the U.S. dollar. “If investment in government bonds issued by South Korea and Japan demonstrates China’s short-term investment strategy, the purchase of European government bonds indicates China’s long term strategy.”

Source: International Herald Leader, January 17, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-01/17/c_13694069.htmchina’s

Briefings | | January 27, 2011 | Economy/Resources

China and Russia Held Talks on Global Security

China and Russia held their fifth round of strategic security talks in Moscow on January 24, 2011. Led by State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, the parties discussed the global security situation and their bilateral relationship in depth. The two sides acknowledged that the bilateral relationship has achieved unprecedented progress and has firmly supported each country’s core interests. The parties affirmed that the bilateral consultation mechanism is an important channel to communicate and coordinate on major strategic global issues. The next round of consultation will take place in China in 2011.

Source: Xinhua, January 25, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/25/c_121019062.htm

Briefings | | January 27, 2011 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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.