In the time before the celebration of National Day, China’s Golden Shield Internet blockade project has become stricter than ever before. Lately, many Chinese Internet users, who have been utilizing software developed by the Global Internet Freedom Consortium to access overseas Internet sites, are complaining about difficulties in making connections.
Source: Secret China, September 17, 2009
http://www.secretchina.com/news/311166.html
Qiu Shi Journal published its 18th issue on September 16, 2009. It carried an article on socialism titled “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Is the Unity of Socialism and Patriotism.” The article reaffirmed the ideology that only socialism can save China. It also stated that "in facing new opportunities and challenges, China must reshape the nation’s spirit using the unity of socialism and patriotism."
Source: Xinhua, September 15, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-09/15/content_12057134.htm
Summary of article found on Xinhua:
With the approach of the National Day Celebration, Beijing police preventive control measures are gradually strengthening. Pedestrians experience road closures; drivers encounter the limitation of vehicle numbers on the road; passengers “enjoy” “luggage checks” whenever carrying a bag, etc. What makes Beijing residents complain more are the frequent traffic restrictions and subway outages without being notified on time, which cause inconveniences and troubles for the city residents’ outdoor activities. More and more community police, traffic police, and armed police are on the Beijing streets. They have increased patrol times and intensity, which leads to more visibility of the police and police patrols having wider coverage. The inspections and searches in Internet cafes, game rooms, beauty shops, dance halls, hotels, and inns are thus more frequent and thorough. Security on National Day is very important. Under the present circumstances, we need to particularly prevent the activities of "East Turkistan," "Tibet Independents," and "Falun Gong."
Source: Xinhua, September 07, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-09/07/content_12008597.htm
A series of “new high tech devices” used for security purposes are ready to be running to protect the celebration of the National Day according to China News Agency on September 18, 2009.
Starting from September 20, an access system using facial recognition technology will be turned on at Beijing Capital International Airport. Such a system can recognize an inspected passenger’s facial features and verify his/her identity within one second by comparing with the data in the database.
Starting from September 22, Beijing will use a traffic warning system for the first time in the crowded Beijing downtown, Xidan. This system can predict whether the flow of passengers will reach the alert level in the next 10 minutes, which can monitor any non-regular gatherings and other abnormal behavior.
At the same time, Beijing Electric Power Corporation has installed a wireless monitoring system called “electronic eyes” on the high-voltage electric transmission lines. The “electric eyes” will immediately alarm the police through wireless communication once the top of a large vehicle is not in the safe distance away from the electric lines.
During the National Day period, a light-emitting monitoring device will be installed to monitor any large machinery movements in the surrounding areas all day round.
From October 2nd to 8th, a command center will be set up on Tiananmen Square to monitor the whole square around the clock. Anything happening on Tiananmen Square will be displayed on a big screen in the command center through electronic eyes and GPS satellite positioning equipment. If a dispute arises, the staff can rush to the scene within 10 minutes.
Source: China News Agency, September 18, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/09-19/1874917.shtml
Zhou Yongkang, a Political Bureau Standing Committee member of the CCP Central Committee and the secretary of the Central Political and Law Commission presided over a meeting in Beijing on maintaining stability on September 12, 2009, according to Xinhua.
He stressed that maintaining stability in the capital is the current most overriding political task. Beijing must apply the successful security experience during the Olympic Games period by mobilizing the masses to form a security network named as the “coordination of experts and the masses” and the “united defense of the police and the ordinary people” so as to have a people’s war for national security during the National Day Celebration. To ensure the safety of the military parade, the mass celebration gathering, and other major events on National Day in Beijing, a “Moat” project is launched to use all the neighboring regions, cities and provinces around Beijing as the first check point for any people to come to the capital city. The whole country must support maintaining stability in the capital.
Maintaining the stability in Xinjiang remains the most important task. In Tibet and other Tibetan areas, the focus is on the strengthening the education of the monks and management of the monasteries.
Source: Southern Metropolis Daily, September 13, 2009
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/nfjx/200909130018.asp
The Tianjin government held the 2nd Overseas Chinese Media Conference on September 15, 2009. Over 20 overseas Chinese media attended the conference. Ha Wenlong, Director of the Tianjin Overseas Chinese Affairs Office said, “Currently there are more than 500 Chinese-language media around the world. They transmit information, keep in contact with overseas Chinese, build up Chinese sentiments and have played an important role, especially when it comes to today’s world economic integration process and the process of raising the Chinese voice throughout the world.” The Xinhua report states that domestic and overseas Chinese media “reached a common understanding to deepen cooperation and join hands in accepting the challenge.”
Source: Xinhua, September 15, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-09/15/content_12057814.htm
According to the Guangdong Provincial Department of Justice, it has achieved “three complete coverages” in the Party membership build-up. All of the 27 lawyers associations now have established Party organizations. All of the 1,268 law firms in Guangdong with Party member lawyers have established Party organizations and all of the 197 law firms that do not have Party member lawyers now have Party liaisons in place to establish Party organizations. Of the 17,241 practicing lawyers in Guangdong Province, 5,766 are Party members.
Source: Xinhua, September 15, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-09/15/content_12057800.htm
President Obama’s decision on Chinese tires met with “strong opposition” in the United States, according to Chinese state media. On September 11, President Obama announced punitive tariffs on all car and light truck tires entering the United States from China. The International Herald Leader under Xinhua, a state-run media outlet, noted that in previous trade cases sanctions against China were ordered by the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. International Trade Commission. “It is noteworthy that during the eight years of the George W. Bush administration, the U.S. government without exception rejected several requests for punitive damages against China."
Source: Xinhua, September 14, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-09/14/content_12048716.htm