Chinascope – Page 1175

Global Times: Currency Exchange Rate Fight Is an Informational War

The Global Times published an article by a professor from the National Defense University titled, “Currency Exchange Rate Fight Is an Informational War.” The author argued that the U.S. pressure on China to appreciate the Renminbi is an information war with China in a broader sense. U.S. war tactics include information control and system integration. Its goal is to devalue the US dollar so as to pay less to China. The U.S. has set and controlled the tone of the information. It also tries to enlist allies to jointly fight China. China needs to improve its informational war capability by disclosing more true information on the Renminbi exchange rate and increasing China’s “speaking power” with international society.

The author also pointed out that every 1% appreciation of the Renminbi eats 1% of the profit for Chinese companies. Since Chinese export factories live on the average on a 3-5% profit margin, the currency exchange rate battle is critical to China’s economy.

Source: Global Times, March 23, 2010
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-03/753215.html

Briefings | | March 25, 2010 | US-China Relations

China Facing Serious Land Supply Shortage

Beginning on March 5, the Ministry of Land and Resources sent 30 research groups, led by nearly 100 bureau-level senior officials, to 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities to research land usage by local governments. Their reports showed that the local governments have a strong desire to take farm land for urbanization. There is a great land supply shortage. For example, Anhui Province has a need for 83,000 acres of land for construction, but its land usage quota from the central government was only half of that amount. It’s a common problem among other provinces. There are also tough issues in land management, mineral resource integration, and farmland management system reform.

Source: China News Service, March 23, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/estate/estate-tdxw/news/2010/03-23/2185501.shtml

Briefings | | March 25, 2010 | Economy/Resources

Jia Qinglin: Increasing Political Trust Across the Strait

On March 18, Jia Qinglin, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) stressed the importance of increasing political trust between the two sides of the strait (Taiwan and Mainland China). Jia made his remarks during a meeting with the Taiwan delegation headed by Yao Eng-chi. Jia stated that it had become the mainstream opinion in Taiwan that support for the equal consultation and cooperation and peaceful relationship with Mainland China is important. The economic and financial cooperation between the two sides should proceed to a new height. Also the cultural and educational exchange should be further developed to strengthen cultural and national identity and promote cross-strait cultural, social, and thoughts and ideas integration.

The Taiwan delegation visited on the invitation of the CPPCC’s Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese.

Source: Global Times, March 19, 2010
http://taiwan.huanqiu.com/liangan/2010-03/749790.html

Briefings | | March 25, 2010 | Government/Politics

Internet Plays Important Role in Lives of Middle School Students

Juveniles Internet Usage Research recently released its 2009 report. The report shows that the Internet is now an important channel for Chinese middle school students for knowledge, social issues and entertainment. The research found 64.9% of the students typically spend one hour each time they log onto the Internet. The most frequent uses of the Internet are “information research” (32.3%), “chatting” (31%), “downloading music and pictures” (29.4%) and “internet gaming” (19.8%). Among the “most liked” websites are those for entertainment (54.5%), games (37.1%), and literature (30.1%). The research was based on 9,000 questionnaires in 9 provinces.

Source: Xinhua, March 18, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2010-03/18/content_13194400.htm

Briefings | | March 24, 2010 | Information/Technology

National Development Bank Loans 6 Billion to Da Ming Gong Project

People Net, the online presence of Chinese state daily news Renmin, recently reported that the Da Ming Gong Project received a loan of RMB 6 billion from the National Development Bank. This is the National Development Bank’s largest culture investment. Da Ming Gong is the name of the emperor’s palace of the Tang Dynasty. The project is to build a culture park at the location of the palace. The Park, in the City of Xi An, will be open to public on October 1, 2010.

Source: Renmin, March 19, 2010
http://culture.people.com.cn/GB/87423/11176285.html

Briefings | | March 24, 2010 | Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Research Foresight Needed for Military Strategic Delivery

Xinhua recently published an article suggesting that the military’s strategic delivery capability is an important measure for national military capacity. The current Chinese strategic delivery is lacking theoretical studies, capacity building, reserve forces and a traffic mobilization mechanism. Chinese command methods are far behind the US Global Transportation Network. Strategic delivery requires integration among land, air and sea, as well as integration between national military and civilian systems. The article suggested that China should (1) establish an overall command system, (2) take full advantage of China’s railway system, and (3) enhance the “Military Representative System” along transportation lines.

Source: Xinhua, March 11, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-03/11/content_13145879.htm

Briefings | | March 24, 2010 | Defense/Military

Huang Xueping: It is groundless to associate Internet hacking with the Chinese government

According to China News Agency, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense and the Chinese Military, Huang Xueping, said on February 25, 2010, “It is groundless and irresponsible to associate Internet hacking with the Chinese government and the army. This is hype with ulterior motives.”

Huang Xueping made the above remarks targeting the reports that the hackers attacking the Google website have a background with the Chinese government and the army.

“Chinese law prohibits any form of Internet hacking,” said Huang Xueping.

Source: China News Service, February 25, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2010/02-25/2138236.shtml

Briefings | | March 23, 2010 | Defense/Military

Xinhua: National Defense Mobilization Implementation Act and Emergency Response Act Interrelated

According to Xinhua on February 26, 2010, the National Defense Mobilization Law approved by China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee stipulates that both the National Defense Mobilization Implementation Act and the Emergency Response Act are interrelated in terms of command, manpower, resources, information and guarantee.

Sun Zhenping, deputy head of the National Law Office of the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs, said at a press conference in the NPC Standing Committee General Office on February 26, 2010, “This law takes full account of the two functions in the development of national mobilization: ‘responding to war’ and ‘responding to emergencies’… thus, the law stipulates the above specification.”

Source: Xinhua, February 26, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-02/26/content_13057247.htm

Briefings | | March 23, 2010 | Government/Politics

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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

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