Study Times published an article by the Party Committee of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) about its practice of maintaining Party control over China’s overseas businesses. The operation of expanding the Party overseas involves following these businesses. “Where there are people, there are Party organizations and Party activities.” “These overseas Party organizations are under the CCECC Party Committee, while accepting the leadership and administration of the Party Committees at our embassies and consulates. … Currently, the overseas offices of the CCECC have formed, horizontally and vertically, a complete Party organization system with 100% coverage.”

Source: Study Times, December 27, 2010
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2010/12/27/08/08_13.htm

On December 21, 2010, the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Science, published its “2010: Evaluation of China’s Security Situation.” The report stated, “In 2010, China faced intensified security pressure from its neighboring countries and deteriorating relationships with its neighbors.”

Recently China’s government think tanks have been debating the direction of China’s foreign policy. The International Herald Leader reported on a forum held to discuss the security report. Participants expressed two opposing views:

1.  “China should learn how to reduce it neighbors’ fears and worries concerning China’s rise. In other words, make more friends and create zero or few enemies.”

2. “China should learn from Russia. It initially took a soft foreign policy approach, but the Western world’s continued interaction with its neighbors became a threat. After Russia showed its determination to safeguard its interests, [Ed: sending troops to Georgia], the situation stabilized.”

Source: International Herald Leader, December 24, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-12/24/c_13663115.htm

Guangming Daily published an article by Leng Song, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, on how to improve China’s influence over other countries. Leng listed the following strategies:

1. Build up the CCP Central media’s brand name and reputation overseas. All major Central media have already begun to expand in the Western world.
2. Have better control and utilization of the Internet, avoiding simple approaches such as blocking or removing articles on the Internet.
3. Expand the media’s focus to both developed and developing countries. China’s current foreign propaganda focus is Europe, the U.S., Japan, and Russia. China should also cover Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Leng also argued for the use of crises to promote China’s image. “Timeliness is the key to controlling the tone of the media when reporting a social crisis.” “Reporting on social crises requires full awareness of (the CCP’s) policy direction and political position.”

Source: Guangming Daily, December 22, 2010
http://epaper.gmw.cn/gmrb/html/2010-12/22/nw.D110000gmrb_20101222_1-11.htm