Chinascope – Page 1107

China News Service: U.S. Publicity about Free Navigation in the South China Sea is to Contain China

China News Service recently published a special article written by Liu Feitao, a scholar from the China Institute of International Affairs. The article questioned U.S. public discussion about “freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Liu stated, “Since July, on various public occasions, U.S. politicians have frequently mentioned ‘freedom and security of navigation in the South China Sea,’ claiming it ‘is in the national interest of the U.S.’ and that the U.S. opposes ‘any activities obstructing freedom of navigation.’”

The article says that the fact that the U.S. purposely brought up an issue that was a non-issue to begin with is really because of “well-thought-out ulterior motives.” The author believes that the U.S. has three reasons for doing this: first, to maintain the U.S. military hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region; second, to seek support in maintaining its Asia-Pacific strategy; and third, to use the South China Sea issue to contain China.

Source: China News Service, November 9, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/2010/11-09/2642310.shtml

Briefings | | November 12, 2010 | US-China Relations

China to Strengthen Control of City Residents

Xinhua was authorized to publish “The Opinion on Strengthening and Improving the Development of the Urban Community Residential Committee,” which was jointly issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the CCP and the General Office of the State Council on November 9. This directive stressed that such a committee is the CCP’s basic organization in the city and called for great efforts from Party organizations at all levels to develop it. The directive also emphasized the important role that the residential committee plays in maintaining social stability.

Such a committee will be strictly under the Party’s leadership. The concomitant Party committee members are suggested to be “democratically” elected as the heads of the residential committee. The residential committee will have 5-9 staff members. The city-level government will provide the financing for both the staff salaries and for operations. It will also provide annual training in Party ideology for the head of the committee and training for other members every two years. The provincial Party committee will meet regularly to discuss residential committee development work and the city, county, and district Party secretaries will be directly responsible for the development work.

Source: Xinhua, November 9, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-11/09/c_12755666.htm

Briefings | | November 10, 2010 | Government/Politics

China Radio International: U.S. Monetary Policy Hurts China’s Economy

The U.S. has created a great challenge for China’s economy, China Radio International Online reported. The U.S. flooding the market with U.S. dollars has multiple impacts and effectively devalues the U.S. dollar: 1. It makes China lose money on its foreign reserve holdings of U.S. dollar based assets, such as U.S. Treasury bonds. 2. It puts great pressure on the renminbi to appreciate and hurt China’s export economy. 3. It provides the market with extra money that may come to China and continue pushing up China’s stock and housing market bubble. 4. It causes a big increase in the price of commodities such as oil, food, and iron ore, and in turn, it creates the pressure of inflation on China’s economy as China imports large quantities of these commodities. 5. It forces the Bank of China to increase the renminbi supply to maintain the renminbi exchange rate.

Source: China Radio International Online, November 9, 2010
http://gb.cri.cn/27824/2010/11/09/5311s3049187.htm

Briefings | | November 10, 2010 | US-China Relations

China Youth Daily: Is India Ready to Challenge China?

Commenting on Obama’s visit to India on November 7, 2010, an article in China Youth Daily said that some Indians want to challenge China, with U.S. backing. The U.S. supports India with economic ties and international diplomacy. Some Indians criticize China for using Pakistan to block India’s rise. They feel that it is the right time for India to challenge China for the leadership of South Asia and even for all of Asia. India is using diplomatic and economic means to win other Asian countries’ friendship in order to counter China’s expansion.

However, the article argued that the U.S. just wants to use India to counter China. The U.S wants itself, not India, to be the leader of Asia. Just like its relationship with Japan, the U.S. will never view India as an equal.

Source: China Youth Daily, November 9, 2010
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2010-11/09/content_3440306.htm

Briefings | | November 10, 2010 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Beijing to Send the Largest Ever Delegation to The 2010 Asian Games

With the 2010 Asian Games kicking off in Guangzhou, China, on November 7, Beijing is sending the largest team in Chinese history, with a total headcount of 1454. Of the 977 athletes participating, 35 are Olympic champions. The athletes are from 31 provinces all across China. Their average age is 24. 261 of them participated in the Beijing Olympic Games, and 322 of them have participated in international events like the Olympics and the Asian Games before.

Source: Xinhua, October 26, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/sports/2010-10/26/c_12703055.htm

Briefings | | November 9, 2010 | Geo-Strategic Trend

CASS Blue Book: To Become the No. 2 Nation by 2050

The Chongqing Evening Post recently reported that the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) announced publication of the Blue Book of National Competitiveness. The Blue Book is based on research done on more than 100 countries. It concluded that China now holds the number 17 position among all countries and is number 9 among the G20. The Blue Book also set a goal for China to become number three in terms of national competitiveness (after the U.S. and the EU) by 2030 and number two (after the U.S.) by 2050. However, it is believed that China’s current growth model relies heavily on real estate investment and massive resource consumption. This is not a competitive model. The Blue Book also pointed out that China’s lack of the ability to innovate is a primary disadvantage. China is far behind Japan and South Korea in this area.

Source: Chongqing Evening Post, October 26, 2010
http://www.cqwb.com.cn/NewsFiles/201010/26/20100026120000399042.shtml

Briefings | | November 9, 2010 | Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Improving the Development of Online Media

Wang Chen, Deputy Chief of the Central Propaganda Department of the CCP, Director of the Central Outreach Office of the CCP, and Director of the State Council Information Office, recently gave a speech at the Tenth Chinese Online Media Forum. Wang observed that there are four new trends in the development of the Internet: 1) The Internet is quickly becoming an important media channel; 2) The Internet is rapidly penetrating the social economy and this means better administration is needed; 3) Multiple information networks are merging, such as the trend to merge the computer, TV, and cellphone; 4) Internet technology is upgraded very frequently, and new service models are introduced very frequently. Wang also pointed out that, in order to cope with the new trends, it is very important to direct public opinion, to control the “battlefield,” and to regulate the “dissemination of information via the Internet.”

Source: Xinhua, October 27, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-10/27/c_12706129.htm

Briefings | | November 9, 2010 | Information/Technology

Xinhua: China Forbids Newspaper Websites, or Reporters’ Websites unless Approved

According to Xinhua, the General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP), the Chinese government’s administrative agency that has the legal authority to screen, censor, and ban any print, electronic, or Internet publication in China, issued a notice October 28, 2010. The notice stated that, unless approved, no reporters or staff members of a newspaper or periodical are allowed to have their websites either in the name of the newspaper or periodical or in the name of the reporters of the newspaper or periodical.

GAPP has recently punished seven media organizations in China. Its actions included closing news stations and firing journalists.

Source: Xinhua, October 28, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-10/28/c_12713658.htm

Briefings | | November 8, 2010 | Information/Technology

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.