Chinascope – Page 1204

Xinhua: Hollywood Changing Attitude

Xinhua Net recently republished an article by Globe Magazine, which is a branch of Xinhua News Agency, on recent changes in Hollywood. The article stated the belief that the recent popular movie 2012 signals Hollywood’s changing attitude towards China. The change started from Kungfu Panda in 2008. In both of the movies, China had a positive image. The article concluded that there are three reasons for Hollywood’s change: (1) China is a rising world power; (2) The U.S. is facing challenges around the globe; (3) Hollywood cannot ignore the Chinese market.

Source: Xinhua, December 1, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/globe/2009-12/01/content_12570710.htm

Briefings | | December 9, 2009 | US-China Relations

Xinhua: What’s behind the “Made in China” CNN Commercial

The Chinese government recently delivered a “Made in China” commercial via CNN. The 30-second commercial took one and half years to prepare. It was paid for by multiple government-controlled chambers of commerce and reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Commerce. CNN was selected to run the commercial because it has the “biggest influence.” The total cost of the commercial was estimated to be tens of millions in RMB. The idea is to cleanse the image of “Made in China,” especially after western media’s widespread reports on the poor quality of Chinese products.

Source: Xinhua, December 3, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-12/03/content_12580786.htm

Briefings | | December 9, 2009 | US-China Relations

Minister of Public Security: Internet a Major Tool of Anti-China Forces

In a recent article in Qiushi Journal, publlished by the CCP’s Central Committee, Meng Jianzhu, the Minister of Public Security and a State Councilor, claimed that the Internet has become a major tool of anti-China forces.

Meng considered current Chinese society to be characterized by intensified conflicts among the people, high incidents of criminal offenses, and complex struggles against the enemy. “The Internet has become an important means used by anti-China forces to infiltrate, sabotage, and amplify destructive damage, posing new challenges to the public security authorities in safeguarding national security and social stability.” Meng demanded strengthened development of six networks so as to achieve full range of control over the dynamic society, including a street-level prevention and control network, a community prevention and control network, a workplace prevention and control network, a video surveillance network, a regional police cooperation network, and “virtual society” prevention and control.

Source: Qiushi, December 1, 2009

http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2009/200923/200911/t20091127_16024.htm

Briefings | | December 8, 2009 | Information/Technology

New PLA Command Regulations Cover Emergent Reactions

Chinese President and Chairman of Chinese Communist Party’s Central Military Committee, Hu Jintao, recently issued new PLA command regulations for all branches of the army. The regulations give clear stipulations for commands at all levels and all branches geared toward “new situations and new requirements of the military struggles in the new era.” In particular, the new regulations include the PLA’s responses to multi-level security threats, combat situations involving information warfare, organization, and command operations in response to emergent incidents.

Source: Xinhua, December 2, 2009

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-12/02/content_12573997.htm

Briefings | | December 8, 2009 | Defense/Military

Chinese Language Rises Amid Financial Crisis

The fourth annual Confucius Institute will be held in Beijing December 11 to 13. As a press conference for the event, Xu Lin, the Director of the state agency Hanban, and The Chinese Language Council International under Ministry of Education, commented that the impact on Confucius Institutes and overseas Chinese language promotion is counter-cyclical.

Xu, also the Executive Director of the Headquarters of the Confucius Institute, explained that as China has not been hit hard by the financial crisis, and many foreigners wanted to learn how Chinese deal with the crisis, the demand for Chinese language learning has been increasing.

According to the data provided by Hanban, by the end of 2008, 249 Confucius Institutes have been established in 78 countries. Within the crisis year of 2009, 33 more Confucius Institutes and 10 more countries were added. The theme of this year’s annual conference is “Confucius Institutes and Community Service.”

Source: Huanqiu, December 4, 2009

http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2009-12/651395.html

Briefings | | December 8, 2009 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Made in China Experiencing Three Tribulations Overseas

According to a Xinhua’s International Herald Leader’s article on December 3, 2009, Chinese products have been experiencing three tribulations overseas: exposure of the tainted products, becoming anti-dumping targets, and being misinterpreted by those wearing “tinted glasses.”

Toxic toothpaste, tainted toys, poisonous dumplings and milk … have led Chinese products into a “poisonous” crisis. Meanwhile, Chinese products are becoming “anti-dumping” targets due to the cheap price supported by cheap labor. In addition, westerners view Chinese goods with tinted glasses, labeling “Made in China” as a “China’s foreign economic expansion tool” and blaming Chinese businessmen because they never consider social values such as human rights, environment and safety issues.

Source: Xinhua’s International Herald Leader, December 3, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-12/03/content_12580393.htm

Briefings | | December 7, 2009 | Economy/Resources

H1N1 Influenza Outbreaks in People’s Liberation Army

China News Net reported that the outbreaks of H1N1 influenza have significantly increased since the autumn season started, according to the Department of Defense web site. Zhang Yan-ling, the Health Minister of the PLA General Logistics Department reported that up to now, 51 outbreaks have occurred in the PLA. Recently, some army divisions have had at least one hundred or even hundreds of individuals simultaneously sick with H1N1 influenza. The prevention and control of the disease is very difficult.

Source: China News Service, December 4, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/12-04/1999546.shtml

Briefings | | December 7, 2009 | Defense/Military

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