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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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The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.

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Record Number of Traffic Jams in Beijing

During the evening rush hour on September 17, downtown Beijing had a record number of traffic jams – 140 roads were jammed. This broke the earlier record of 90 roads blocked by snow. During the rush hour, the average traffic speed was less than 20 kilometers per hour. It was believed that the main reasons for the traffic situation were: (1) the fall holiday season, (2) rain, (3) the weekend, (4) increased fender-benders, (5) only cars with tag numbers ending in 4 or 9 were not allowed to be on the road, (6) an ever increasing number of cars. Currently there are 4.5 million automobiles in Beijing. Experts believe that the Beijing traffic problem is ultimately a city planning issue, which is a comprehensive topic. The growing population is becoming a heavy burden. The government is asking drivers to avoid busy roads and even to avoid driving.

Source: Beijing News, September 18, 2010
http://news.bjnews.com.cn/2010/0918/91423.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Qiu Shi: China Will Continue to Be a Developing Country for a Long Time

Qiu Shi, a magazine of the CCP Central Committee, published an article coming out against “The Theory of China’s Responsibilities.” The article referred to the standards put forth by the United Nations and the World Bank, and the author drew five conclusions: (1) China’s per-person average (income) will remain low for a long time; (2) China’s industrial structure and employment structure are still typical among mid-and-low income countries; (3) China is far behind advanced countries in terms of social development; (4) China still has many problems in consumer structure; (5) China’s level of modernization is still weak despite recent improvements. The article believed the media in the West is pointing a finger at China by overstating China’s economic success in order to overload China with unfair burdens.  

Source: Qiu Shi, September 16, 2010
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2010/201018/201009/t20100911_46952.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

PLA Deputy Chief Ma Xiaotian Explains Purposes of SCO Joint Military Drill in Kazakhstan

On September 17, 2010, China Review News republished a Xinhua report on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) [1] joint military drill – "Peace Mission 2010" in Kazakhstan. Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the PLA and the Chief Commander of the 1,000 PLA troops in the drill, held a press conference on September 16.

According to Ma, the SCO joint military drill is not targeted at any country. The purposes for the dril are:

  1. Implement the consensus reached by the leaders of all SCO member countries;
  2. Further strengthen the practical cooperation among the SCO member countries including defense cooperation;
  3. Further demonstrate the determination, will, and ability to fight together against terrorists, separatists, and extremists;
  4. Further increase mutual political trust among SCO member countries and enhance the understanding and friendship among the armed forces of the member countries.

[1] Editor’s Note: The SCO members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Source: China Review News, September 17, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/4/8/9/101448906.html?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=101448906&mdate=0917094801

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Huanqiu: Take Advantage of the U.S. Financial Crisis to Raise China’s International Status

On September 13, 2010, Huanqiu, China’s official website, published an article stating that the financial crisis has ended the United States’ foreign expansion cycle and opened a new stage in its strategic contraction cycle. The contraction of the U.S. foreign policy has created the conditions for China to raise its international status. China is thus able to fully take advantage of the “dividends” brought by such a contraction to sustain and move forward China’s moderation, while elevating China’s international status.

“The United States is ‘the only country that can pressure China and cause substantial damage to China’s national security and internal stability.’ Therefore, seeking China-US cooperation is the highest priority on China’s foreign policy agenda. … China should stick to the policy of cooperating and fighting with the U.S. at the same time. It should fight only to the point of not breaking up the relationship.”

Source: Huanqiu, September 13, 2010
http://mil.huanqiu.com/Exclusive/2010-09/1097381.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Chinese Think Tank Warns: The U.S. Will Surely Lose If a China-US Trade War Breaks Out

China Review News republished an article from Jiefang Daily, a newspaper of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China, titled, “Chinese Think Tank Warns: The US Will Surely Lose If a China-U.S. Trade War Breaks Out.”

“The Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives held a two-day hearing on September 15 to discuss the RMB exchange rate in an attempt to exert pressure for RMB appreciation.”

“Ding Yifan, Deputy Director of the Institute of World Development (IWD) under the Development Research Center of China’s State Council (DRC), said that once the United States deliberately imposes economic sanctions on China, China can respond by selling its holdings of U.S. debt. At present, China is still the biggest holder of U.S. Treasury bonds. If China sells off its holdings, the domestic interest rates of U.S. banks will increase."  

Source: China Review News, September 17, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/4/8/6/101448618.html?coluid=148&kindid=0&docid=101448618&mdate=0917004914

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Exim Bank: Support Chinese Enterprises to Land in Latin American

At the second Latin America-China Investors Forum (LA-CIF) held in Beijing on September 15 and 16, Vice Governor of China’s Export-Import Bank Zhu Xinqiang spoke about actively supporting Chinese enterprises to open up businesses in Latin America. The Exim Bank will “fully make use of its good relations with Latin American countries and bountiful information about local policies, laws, and business protocols to provide consulting services for the enterprises and help Chinese enterprises with project evaluation and risk assessment. At the same time, it will provide financial products and services to support China-Latin America business and trade cooperation.”

The Exim Bank, with total assets of over 1 trillion Yuan (0.15 trillion $US), is offering financial support for Chinese enterprises in more than 150 countries and regions; its Latin American outstanding loans are as high as 40 billion Yuan (US$6 billion).

Source: Xinhua, September 15, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-09/15/c_12573296.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Qiushi Criticizes Western Style Democracy

On September 16, Qiushi, the core publication of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, printed the following article: “Systematic advantages and basic characteristics of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics – Draw a clear line between socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics and Western capitalist democracy.” The article touted “walking our own path” instead of “copying the Western capitalist democracy model,” “real people’s democracy” instead of “dollar democracy in essence,” “a unicameral People’s Congress” instead of “a bicameral system with separation of powers,” and “CCP-led multi-party cooperation” instead of “Multi-party rule in turn.”

The article emphasized the importance of ideological work, which is of “important and far-reaching significance for improving the party’s political sensitivity and discernment, leading cadres and the masses consciously to adhere to socialism with Chinese characteristics, clarifying wrong viewpoints on the political direction of the buildup of democracy, and resisting the hostile forces’ attempts at Westernization.”

Source: Qiushi, September 16, 2010
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2010/201018/201009/t20100911_46966.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics