Chinascope – Page 1207

Changes in Provincial Heads on the Horizon

Members of the “League Faction” (Ed: Hu Jintao’s supporters and allies) will serve as provincial heads in several provinces or autonomous regions (ARs), as current heads are close to retirement.

Takunpao republished Mingpao’s latest version concerning political realignment, which may be launched in early December:

– Liu Qi, Party Secretary of Beijing and Wang Lequan, Party Secretary of Xinjiang AR will remain in their posts
– Hu Chunhua, Governor of Hebei will assume the Inner Mongolia AR provincial head position
– Sun Zhengcai, Minister of Agriculture will be provincial head in Jilin
– Wang Min, current Jilin Party Secretary will take the Liaoning provincial head position
– Lu Zhangong, Party Secretary of Fujian will accept the Henan provincial head position.

Both Hu and Sun are 46. They are expected to be rise to the central leadership in Zhongnanhai at the 19th Central Committee in 2017.

Source: Takunpao, November 25, 2009
http://henan.takungpao.com/news/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=40539

Briefings | | December 3, 2009 | Government/Politics

Chinese Broadband Users Pass 100 Million

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently published numbers about the communications industry. The total number of telephone users has reached 1.1 billion, among whom are 0.7 billion cell phone users. Broadband Internet users passed 100 million for the first time. This October, the number of landline users declined by 2.4 million, while mobile phone users increased 9.7 million. Dial-up Internet cusomers declined by 3.4 million.

Source: China News Service, November 23 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/it/it-itxw/news/2009/11-23/1978345.shtml

Briefings | | December 2, 2009 | Information/Technology

Global Times: New Shielding Cloth Reduces Electromagnetic Attacking Power by 99.9%

Shielding against electromagnetic weapons is the key to protection of commanding and communication systems in modern warfare. Previously, the Chinese Army did not have the technology in this critical area. In 2001, the Construction Engineering Institute of the Army’s General Logistics Department started research work. With help from the Nonferrous Metal Research Institute, the project team delivered the shielding cloth after six years by utilizing technologies from areas of camping construction, special textile, electromagnetic shielding and environmental control. The distance for information leakage was reduced from 1000 meters down to 1 meter.

Source: Global Times, November 20, 2009
http://mil.huanqiu.com/china/2009-11/638437.html

Briefings | | December 2, 2009 | Defense/Military

Study Times: Protectionism in US Trade Policies

Study Times, a newspaper of the CCP Central Party School, recently published an article on the U.S. tendency toward protectionism in today’s trade policies. The article listed supporting cases like “Buy American” (Article 1640), the Chinese tire tariffs, and China steel pipe anti-dumping duties. The article also stated the belief that, as part of its strategy, the U.S. is stepping up the volume on issues like intellectual property protection and the Chinese currency exchange rate. The article expressed concern about “discrimination” against “Made in China,” but it also said trade friction has not yet “lost control”.

Source: Study Times, November 9, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=3037&nid=11069&bid=2&page=1

Briefings | | December 2, 2009 | US-China Relations

2009’s Major National Science and Technology Projects Underway

On November 23 and 24, Liu Yandong, a member of the Politburo and the State Council, presided over a meeting to implement the 2009 Major National Science and Technology Projects. Liu emphasized carrying out the “latest requirements” of the Party and State Council in the fields of science and technology, with a focus on assuring national security, leading the world with a roadmap of R&D, expediting innovations in key areas, and fostering new strategic industries.

Liu said the Major Projects are based on forward-looking strategic decision made by the Party and the State Council. Comprehensive implementation is underway.

Source: Xinhua, November 25, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/25/content_12539105.htm

Briefings | | December 1, 2009 | Information/Technology

Outlook Weekly Publishes Hu Jintao’s Epochal Views

The latest issue of Outlook Weekly magazine, owned by Xinhua, published an article titled “Hu Jintao’s Epochal Views.” Although the full text of the article, already in the print version of the magazine, is not seen on the web, major state media have widely reported this article.

According to Xinhua, “Hu Jintao’s Epochal Views” is a “complete set of basic views that reflect the trend of the current epoch, promote the development of the epoch, and lead the advance of the epoch.” “It embodies major theoretical innovations of the Chinese Communist Party of the new century and new stage on the issues of the current epoch.” “It is mainly composed of fives aspects: the view of profound transformation, the view of a harmonious world, the view of joint development, the view of shared responsibilities, and the view of active participation.”

Source: Xinhua, November 24, 2009

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/24/content_12530093.htm

Briefings | | December 1, 2009 | Government/Politics

Strategic Cooperation between Ex-Im Bank and Ministry of Culture

On November 27, China Arts & Entertainment Group (CAEG) signed a strategic cooperation pact with the Export-Import Bank of China. This is the first instance of a state policy bank providing preferential financing to a large cultural enterprise, said Xinhua.

Earlier in March of this year, the Ex-Im Bank and the Ministry of Culture signed the Cooperation Agreement on Nurturing Key Export Oriented Culture Enterprises and Projects. According to the agreement, the Ex-Im Bank is to provide preferential financing to China’s culture industry with at least 20 billion yuan or equivalent foreign exchanges within five years.

Parties present at the signing ceremony, according to Xinhua, believe the cooperation will boost CAEG’s international competitiveness, expand its market share, and promote China’s soft power around the globe.

Source: Xinhua, November 27, 2009

http://news.xinhuanet.com/society/2009-11/27/content_12551017.htm

Briefings | | December 1, 2009 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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