Chinascope – Page 1192

Xinhua: Achieving Number One in Exports May Invite More Protectionism

The German Federal Bureau of Statistics predicted in December 2009 that German exports in 2009 would reach US$1,170 billion, while China would exceed US$1,200 billion. As the number one export country in the world, China may face more protectionism from other countries.

The greatest pressure may come from the U.S., which took a number of steps in 2009, claiming anti-dumping and anti-subsidy activities. Chinese economists believe that U.S. protectionism is “absurd” because the US-China trade deficit is the result of the U.S. refusal to sell China high-tech products. Another major pressure source is the EU, which also initiated a great number of anti-dumping investigations against China in 2009. In addition, a number of actions were taken by Argentina, India, Brazil and Mexico against China. It is believed that protectionism initiatives against China will continue to increase.

Source: Xinhua, January 12, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2010-01/12/content_12797144.htm

Briefings | | January 21, 2010 | Economy/Resources

Preferential Treatment of U.S. Citizens Triggered Protests in Haiti

China News Service cited a report by the Central News Agency (CNA, Taiwan) claiming there were protests because U.S. citizens received preferential treatment when using the U.S. controlled Haiti airport. Apparently, the airport became U.S.-only and aircrafts from other nations had a difficult time to get landing rights. It was reported that a few French citizens had to spend the night at the airport because they were not allowed to board their flight, while a great number of U.S. passengers were allowed to leave. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti denied any priority given to U.S. citizens. There are around 40,000 to 45,000 U.S. citizens in Haiti.

Source: China News Service, January 17, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/news/2010/01-17/2076164.shtml

Briefings | | January 21, 2010 | Geo-Strategic Trend

China Boycotts U.S. Companies for Arms Sales to Taiwan

China’s official website, www.huanqiu.com, reported on January 11, 2010, that Raytheon, one of America’s major arms dealers, has a notorious record of selling arms to Taiwan. The Chinese government has taken sanctions against Raytheon, which has not received any orders from China since 2004 and had to withdraw completely from China’s Mainland market.

Lockheed Martin Corporation, another U.S. military industrial enterprise involved in arms sales to Taiwan, has suffered the same fate in China. Like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin faced severe sanctions from China and lost its market in China.

Source: Huanqiu, January 11, 2010
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-01/684617.html

Briefings | | January 20, 2010 | Geo-Strategic Trend

China opposes U.S. having any official contact with Taiwan

According to Xinhua, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu stated, at a regular press briefing on January 12, 2010, that China opposes the United States having any form of official exchange or contact with Taiwan.

Jiang made the remarks when asked to comment on Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou’s Honduras tour with a scheduled stopover in the United States. Jiang said, "We demand that the United States abide by the principles laid out in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués and properly deal with the related issue with caution."

Source: Xinhua, January 12, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2010-01/12/content_12797259.htm

Briefings | | January 20, 2010 | US-China Relations

SARFT: Vigorously Develop the Internet Radio and TV

"Capable radio and television stations must vigorously develop Internet radio and Internet TV, breaking away from the traditional mode of production, so as to gather the resources and wisdom of Internet users," said the Zhu Hong, of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT), on January 14.

Zhu announced that 2010 will be a year to digitalize radio, film, and television, actively transforming the traditional media and accelerating the development of new media and new industrial trends.

Source: Xinhua, January 14, 2010

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2010-01/14/content_12810045.htm

Briefings | | January 19, 2010 | Information/Technology

China’s Information Official on Internet Security

On January 14, two days after Google’s announced threat to pull out of China, the People’s Daily published an interview of Wang Cheng, the Vice Chief of the Chinese Communist Party’s Department of Publicity and Director of the State Council Information Office.

In the interview, Wang said the Internet “has become an important national infrastructure, and the online information is the nation’s important strategic resource.” “Safeguarding the secure operation of the Internet and secure flow of online information is the fundamental requirement of safeguarding the fundamental interests of national security and the people, and promoting social stability.”

Wang also asked the Internet media “effectively to enhance the capability of guiding online public opinion,” “regulate the order of information dissemination,” and “promote the Internet media’s self-discipline.”

Source: People’s Daily, January 14, 2010

http://media.people.com.cn/GB/40606/10763399.html

Briefings | | January 19, 2010 | Information/Technology

Chinese Communist Party’s Spokesperson System

At the end of the year 2009, the State Council’s press conference announced an “important task initiating a press release system in 2010: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Committee’s spokesperson system.”

Over the past months, efforts of the pilot project were already put into place in local level party committees. On December 29, 2009, the CCP’s Nanjing Committee held its first press conference, with 117 spokespersons at various branches of the city’s CCP agencies showing up. In October and November, press conferences of the same nature were launched in Meishan City and Changsha City.

Ever since 2006, five agencies in the CCP’s Central Committee have set up a spokesperson system: the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the United Front Work Department, the International Liaison Department, the Party Literature Research Centre, and the Taiwan Affairs Office. It’s believed that the growing spokesperson system in the CCP system is another measure to dominate public opinion and maintain social stability.

Source: Xinhua, January 14, 2010

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2010-01/14/content_12806960.htm

Briefings | | January 19, 2010 | Government/Politics

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

Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”