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Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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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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CASS: China Faces Four Threats on Its Periphery

On January 12, 2011, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) published an Asian Pacific Blue Book. The book pointed out that, with respect to security, in 2010, China’s relations with its neighboring countries deteriorated. China faces the following four big threats. First, the mutual political trust between China and its neighboring countries has weakened due to the United States’ return to Asia. Second, the tension between South and North Korea has increased. Third, conflicts on the sea have intensified. Fourth, water issues have affected China’s non-conventional security. Chinese experts believe that China is unlikely to have the same stable environment for development that it saw in the first decade of this century. In the long period of time over the coming years, the peripheral environment will be in a state of flux.

Source: China Review News, January 13, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1015/6/8/5/101568505.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=101568505&mdate=0113085205

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Party Propaganda: Tighten Control of the Media in 2011

Shortly after a national conference of the Party’s propaganda chiefs adjourned, a guideline for news reporting in 2011 was passed down through the chain of command. According to the guideline, news reporting should lead public opinion; among other things, it should “eliminate doubt and confusion, and resolve conflicts.” Only central government level media are allowed to report on major disasters and incidents. Reporters outside the region of the disaster or incident may not file reports. The media cannot challenge the relocation of residents. Nor can the media report on suicides, self-mutilation, or massive social unrest in connection with the relocations. “We must strengthen the control of metropolitan media and make sure that the reports do not direct public attention toward Party committees or the government.”

Source: Baidu, January 12, 2011
http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=975372820

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinjiang Party Leader: Resolutely Suppress Terrorist Activities

Zhang Chunxian, Party Secretary for the Xinjiang Military District, stated that military forces stationed in Xinjiang must resolutely suppress terrorist activities. Zhang made the remark at the end of a two-day conference of the Xinjiang Party Committee. “All Party members and military servicemen must fully understand the complexity of the Xinjiang stability issue and must act in concert with the directives and decisions of the Party. … They must be in total control of safeguarding stability. They must improve emergency response systems. … They must resolutely suppress terrorist activities.”

Source: People’s Daily, January 12, 2011
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/14562/13714082.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Hu Jintao Calls for Strict Enforcement of Political Discipline

Communist Party Secretary General Hu Jintao spoke about priorities at a conference of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The priorities include strengthening the monitoring and inspection of how the Party’s major decisions are implemented. “We must strictly enforce the Party’s political discipline, resolutely safeguard the Party’s focus on unity, and unswervingly walk the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” He also called for re-enforcing mechanisms to penalize and prevent corruption.

Source: Xinhua, January 10, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-01/10/c_12965490.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Chinese Government Scholar: The U.S. Is Using Universal Values to Intimidate China

Yu Wanli, an Associate Professor of International Strategy Studies at Beijing University, wrote an article on possible changes in the U.S. policy toward China. As the Chinese government funds China’s universities, Yu’s view reflects the Chinese government position. In his article, Yu discussed how the U.S. is likely to stress universal values to both the Chinese people and the global community in order to intimidate China.                

 

Yu said that the U.S. will not stop its efforts to intimidate China on China’s core interests, including arms sales to Taiwan, the Dalai Lama, and Xinjiang.“ (It will) continue using the issues of democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech to deepen its influence over the Chinese people.” Furthermore, globally, “it is more and more clear that the U.S. is intimidating China through its allies, the multi-party system, and the system of universal values.”

Source: China Review News, January 10, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1015/6/4/8/101564866.html?coluid=148&kindid=0&docid=101564866&mdate=0110005159

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Social Science in China: China Will Have More Influence over the U.S.

Yang Jiemian, Dean of the Shanghai International Studies Institute, predicted a change in the Sino-U.S. relationship. Yang suggested that, over the next five years, instead of being under U.S. influence, China will have more and more influence over the U.S. 

 

“The United Nations remains the most authoritative and legitimate entity over world affairs, but regional organizations and forums will have more influence.” The gap between the developed countries (with the U.S. as the representative) and the developing countries (with China as the representative) is closing, but the developed countries will remain in the leadership positions. “The China-driven change of rules in the global scheme of things will manifest mainly in the international monetary system and trade.” “China’s influence will remain limited when it concerns such areas as the military, technology, cultural influence, international speaking power and rule making.” “The Asia-Pacific will be the main platform where China and the U.S. interact.”


Source: Social Science in China, December 30, 2010
http://sspress.cass.cn/news/16379.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China to Verify Passengers’ Names against Train Tickets

China will require passengers to provide their names when purchasing a train ticket. The passenger will then have to show an ID with the same name to board the train. During the massive railway travel season for the upcoming Chinese New Year, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Xi’an, Chongqing, Chengdu, and many other cities will initiate a name verification pilot project.

Twenty-five types of proof of identity will be accepted, including a residential card, a temporary residential card, a driver’s license, a military officer ID, a student ID, a passport, an alien residence card, and a temporary ID card issued by the Railway Police Office.

Source: People’s Daily Online, January 11, 2011
http://travel.people.com.cn/GB/13701643.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: A Look Back at Chinese and U.S. Military Exercises in 2010

Xinhua recently republished an article summarizing the highlights of the military exercises that both China and the U.S. conducted in 2010.

China’s highlights were characterized as “oriented toward actual combat and included:” (1) perfecting remote operations; (2) information warfare, which was used widely throughout the exercises; (3) breaking traditional geo-areas in international cooperation; (4) sending a clear message on defending sovereignty.

The U.S. highlights were characterized as “encircling China:” (1) The USS George Washington covered three main Chinese seas; (2) U.S. soldiers deployed to China’s borders on all sides; (3) The U.S. arranged “preventive deployments” against China.

Source: Xinhua, December 24, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-12/24/c_13663015.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military