On April 29, The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress enacted a new People’s Republic of China law concerning guarding "State Secrets." The law will be in effect beginning October 1, 2010.
Source: VOA, May 6, 2010
http://www1.voanews.com/chinese/news/-20100506-CHINA-NEW-STATE-SECRETS-LAW-LEAVES-JOURNALISTS-EXPOSED-92961114.html
On April 19, 2010, the National Center for Health Inspection and Supervision of the Ministry of Public Health informed each provincial Public Health Bureau that local health organizations may no longer go to Yushu, Qinhai Province for earthquake relief activities without prior approval. They must apply through the chain of command. Once approved, they are free to go.
Information provided by unconfirmed source.
China Central Television is merging its web site CCTV.com with China Network Television’s CNTV.CN. The new website will point to CNTV.CN. All CCTV video content was copied to CNTV since it was founded last year. Now Network TV has online channels for news, the economy, sports, entertainment, movies, TV series, and documentaries. Network TV will include all CCTV videos plus various other content sources such as province-level satellite TVs and international programming. The new web site strategy is centered on “interactive audio visual media” and will provide a “public web video service platform.” Although CNTV is considered “national class,” its management team admits that the network is still behind the private sector.
Source: Netease, May 5, 2010
http://media.163.com/10/0505/10/65TNH2RS00763N4O.html
Xinhuan reported that Kim Jong-il made an informal visit to China between May 3 and May 7. He stopped in Beijing, Tianjin and Liaoning and met with all nine members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee. Hu Jintao proposed five suggestions in their conversation: (1) maintain top level contacts; (2) enhance strategic communication; (3) deepen trade cooperation; (4) extend culture exchanges; (5) improve coordination in international and regional affairs. Kim commented that the current core work of the North Korean Communist Party is to improve the living quality of the North Korean people. He also agreed that denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is still his policy. Establishing the positive conditions for returning to the Six Party Talks is also a priority. In his meeting with Kim, Wen Jiabao agreed to push trade cooperation, especially the projects with high priorities.
Source: Xinhua, May 7, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-05/07/c_1278775.htm
Global Times recently published an editorial on nuclear transparency. The editorial commented on the recent U.S. disclosure of its nuclear arsenal size, as well as the fact that the U.S. called for transparency with China’s name mentioned. Global Times believes this makes China “look morally shorter” and China should stay alert on U.S. intent. The article suggests that China’s strategic interest is to maintain a limited nuclear deterrence. Since China’s early warning capabilities are weak, it is in China’s best interest not to offer too much transparency. The editorial believes U.S. lip service does not qualify the United States to have the moral high ground to ask China for anything.
Source: Global Times, May 7, 2010
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-05/806039.html
Asia Weekly (Yazhou Zhoukan) published an article on May 7, 2010, regarding the multiple murders of children in Mainland China’s preschools and elementary schools.
“Within just over a month, there were six consecutive killings targeting children, done by different perpetrators in different locations,” said the article. According to the article, the media across China received an order from China’s propaganda authorities, requiring that all media “report the news following the released sample news.” They are “not to send reporters to conduct interviews”; “not to give any comments”; “not to provide relevant news links”; and only major media are allowed to report the news.
The article said that one killer was executed within a month (of the murders). No one had been allowed to approach him or his family members.
Source: Asia Weekly, May 7, 2010
http://www.yzzk.com/cfm/Content_Archive.cfm?Channel=br&Path=3494213932/19br3.cfm
On May 10, 2010, Xinhua reprinted an article from People’s Daily written by two Tsinghua University scholars emphasizing that China must not utilize a “separation of powers.”
According to the article, the CPC Central Committee Propaganda Department Theory Bureau has published the book “Six Whys – the Answers to Several Important Questions.” The book stresses that China cannot implement a “separation of powers.” The book tells the Chinese people that the “separations of powers” has only been put into operation in very few countries in the Western world.
The article says that the CPC Central Committee Propaganda Department Theory Bureau’s explanation is very important in clarifying and even correcting people’s ambiguous or wrong ideas about the “separation of powers.” It concludes that China is a socialist country and must always uphold the Party’s leadership.
Source: People’s Daily, May 10, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-05/10/c_1282906.htm