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China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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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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Wen Jiabao: Advancing Political System Reform

Wen Jiabao stated “(We) should not only advance economic system reform, but also advance political system reform. Without the guarantee of political system reform, the results of the economic system will be lost, and (China’s) modernization goal won’t be reached.” Wen made this speech when he visited Shenzhen City on August 21, 2010. China News Service reported that Wen’s “political reform” statement has profound meanings behind it.

The Epoch Times pointed out that Wen’s speech exemplified that the discord between the CCP “Reformists” and the “Conservatives” has surfaced amidst an intensified power struggle for the upcoming 18th Party Congress. The “Conservatives,” the majority of whom are the CCP “Princelings,” want to have Xi Jinping as the new President and Bo Xilai as the new Prime Minister. The “Reformists” wish to drive the Princelings out of the power center and endorse Li Keqiang as the President and Wang Qishan as the Prime Minister. Wen’s speech is a strong statement by the “Reformists.” Wen also talked about political system reform during his interview with NHK in Tokyo on June 2.

Sources:
1. China News Service, August 23, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/hb/2010/08-23/2483336.shtml
2. The Epoch Times, August 23, 2010
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/10/8/23/n3003233.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

PLA Conducting Information-Based Training

The PLA’s seminar and viewing activity, coded as “Sharpened Sword 2010,” on military training under information-based conditions, started in Beijing on August 23. It lasted for five days. More than 100 mid-level or senior officials from the PLA and the Armed Police will discuss major military issues, including how to improve combat capability over information systems and advance the transition of military training towards information-based training.

Since 2007, the PLA’s military training has been transitioning towards information-based training. It now includes base training, simulation training, and Internet training and focuses on being under complicated electro-magnetic conditions.

Source: Xinhua, August 23, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-08/23/c_12476015.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

China Review News on Circulating the Renminbi Overseas

The People’s Bank of China recently published a “Notice on Issues of Three Types of Organizations, Including Offshore Renminbi’s Clearing Houses, Investing the Renminbi in Banks’ Bond Markets.” China Review News quoted an article by the Shanghai Securities News, commenting that it will improve the Renminbi’s circulation overseas to create the condition for it to “come back” after “pushing it out,” moving forward the goal of making the Renminbi a major foreign exchange currency.

The article stated that there are 3 ways to push the Renminbi to “go abroad.” They are: currency exchange between China and other countries, using the Renminbi for cross-border trade settlement, and Hong Kong’s Renminbi’s offshore market. The article then argued for establishing a Renminbi onshore market in Shanghai to provide a better condition for the Renminbi to circulate back.

Source: China Review News, August 24, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/2/4/1/101424105.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=101424105&mdate=0824074956

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

CRN: Aircraft Carrier George Washington Drops out of Exercise

China Review News (CRN) reported that the reason behind the heavy weight U.S. aircraft carrier dropping out of the Yellow Sea exercise was the result of risk assessment. The report believed that the U.S. did not want to “anger” China. It is also believed that China’s biggest advantage is its strong economy. Some Chinese military experts suggested that the aircraft carriers are the “last card” the U.S. can play, and the “U.S. cannot play the same card every day.” Another reason the report discussed was that Asia-Pacific countries welcome the United States less and less, because the U.S. economy is no longer the main engine that runs the economy of these countries.

Source: China Review News, August 21, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/2/1/5/101421571.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=101421571&mdate=0821085716

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

CRN: Ministry of Public Safety Held Tibetan Conference

The Chinese Ministry of Public Safety recently held a conference in the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa. The conference covered the Grand Tibetan Region which goes across four other provinces (Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan). The conference believed that, although the overall situation is relatively quiet, the task of maintaining social stability in Tibet is still a huge challenge. The key strategy guiding the near term work is to proactively engage. Actual planned steps include: (1) enhance the “prevention and control system”; (2) enhance border checks; (3) improve emergency handling capabilities; (4) significantly improve education and “mental development”; (5) increase investment in equipment and technology. The conference called for stronger support from other provinces.

Source: China Review News, August 20, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/2/0/2/101420233.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=101420233&mdate=0820090253

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

CRN: Traditional Etiquette Fading

China Review News (CRN) recently reported on a social research study of young people’s views regarding traditional Chinese etiquette. The research showed that 85.9% of the young population believes traditional etiquette is “important,” but only 55.1% believes they have some understanding of etiquette. Three classes of people are believed to be the worst in following traditional etiquette: “young people,” “eastern people,” and “city residents.” The top two reasons for the decline of etiquette are that the “size of a modern family is too small,” and “lack of the opportunity to learn.” The report mentioned that experts believe the fading of traditional Chinese etiquette is caused by the emphasis, over the past centruy, on delinking society and tradition.

Source: China Review News, August 19, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/1/9/4/101419430.html?coluid=6&kindid=29&docid=101419430&mdate=0819104648

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

PLA Lt General Liu Yazhou Calls for Political Reform

On August 7, 2010, China Review News republished a news report from Hong Kong’s Singtao Daily regarding PLA Lt. General Liu Yazhou’s calls for political reform in his article published by Phoenix magazine in Hong Kong.
 
“Within 10 years, a transformation from authoritarian politics to democracy will inevitably take place,” Liu Yazhou said, “A great change will happen in China. Political reform is the mission that the history has entrusted to us. It is impossible for us to retreat.”

Lt General Liu Yazhou is political commissar of the PLA National Defense University and son-in-law of China’s former President Li Xiannian.

Source: China Review News, August 7, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/0/6/9/101406982.html?coluid=5&kindid=23&docid=101406982&mdate=0807154447

Briefings | | |   Grapevine

Jia Qinglin: Apply Patriotic Ideas to Preaching and Learning Islamic Doctrines

Jia Qinglin, a member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee and the Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, held a forum with religious representatives in Hetian, Xinjiang on August 21, 2010, according to Xinhua.

Jia hopes Xinjiang Muslim representatives will:

  1. Actively promote scientific development;
  2. Further enhance the agreement with the great Motherland, the Chinese ethnic groups, the Chinese cultures and the socialist road with Chinese characteristics;
  3. Do a solid job of interpreting the Koran and standardize the preaching content and formalities. Apply  patriotic ideas to preaching and learning Islamic doctrines;
  4. Ensure that the leadership of religious organizations is firmly in the hands of those who love China.

Source: Xinhua, August 21, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-08/21/c_12469913.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics