Skip to content

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

Read More ...

Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

Read More ...

Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

Read More ...

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

Read More ...

Study Times: The U.S. Should Show More Respect for China’s Interests

According to Study Times, if the United States truly intends to engage in constructive cooperation with China, it should care about China’s core interests “such as economic development, arms sales to Taiwan, Tibetan issues, and China’s disputes over territorial waters with its neighboring countries.” The US should not ask China to make a promise on environmental controls that exceeds its capability. “No matter what excuses the U.S. uses or what the volume of the sale is, China views arms sales to Taiwan as an interference with China’s sovereignty and disrespectful of Chinese feelings. The same holds with the issue of Tibet, which goes beyond human rights. And even from the human rights angle, the U.S. has no just reason to interfere….”

Source: Study Times, November 2, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=3017&nid=11024&bid=2&page=1

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Xinhua: Potential Obstacles in Sino-US Military Exchanges

According to Xinhua, during the meeting with US Defense Secretary Gates, Vice Chairman Xu of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party highlighted four obstacles facing the two countries: arms sales to Taiwan, activities of U.S. warships and planes in the Chinese economic offshore zone, legal barriers, and strategic trust in China.

Xinhua concluded with quotes from a Chinese military expert, “Generally, there was no breakthrough in military exchanges to speak of. In the past, whenever the United States needed China to cooperate with its overall strategy, it would make some moves to ease up. Otherwise, they would stir up trouble in Sino-US relations.”

Source: Xinhua, November 2, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-11/02/content_12371404.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

A Celebration under Bayonets

The 60th anniversary of the CCP’s Rule finally passed. The $44 million celebration on Tiananmen Square on October 1 was a grand parade of thousands of troops along with 30 blocks of weapons, including jets, tanks, and missile-toting trucks. The communist leaders and the state media boasted of the prosperous and glorious era that China is in and the bright prospect of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

However, one “disharmonious” tone throughout the entire preparation and actual celebration was the extremely tight security control in Beijing. The Ministry of Public Security set up a “security moat” in neighboring provinces, including Hebei, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Shandong provinces, and the Tianjin municipality, telling police to keep “all unstable factors” out of Beijing. More than 100,000 participated, but, except for top Communist leaders and 30,000 carefully selected guests, there was no live audience. Beijing residents had to stay at home and watch the parade on TV like the rest of the country. For the safety of the celebration, many areas of the Capital were blocked and businesses were closed. Staff and residents could not even open their windows; supermarkets could not sell sharp knives and all participants had to sign secrecy agreements prohibiting them from talking to journalists, taking photos, or sending text messages.

Continue reading →

Analyses | | |   Opinion

Air Force Commander on Space Development

During an interview with a Xinhua reporter, Xu Qiliang, China’s Air Force Commander, claimed that the arms race and arms development have taken on a new challenge, as it now includes control of space. Xu stated that whoever controls space will control the ground, ocean, and the electromagnetic field, achieving a strategic advantage. The Air Force should keep on track of the overall goal, including building IT capabilities and being ahead in information warfare. The impetus should continue on strategic requirements, covering air and space and focusing both on offense and defense. The thrust must include improvement of reconnaissance capabilities and early detection, warning, air strikes, defense against air strikes, and strategic delivery capabilities. Military capabilities must face continued refinement and the military must realize the transition from mechanization to information as early as possible.

Source: Xinhua, November 1, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-11/01/content_12364603.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Xinhua Bookstore Opened in London

The International Herald Leader, a newspaper under Xinhua, reported that on October 20, 2009, the Xinhua Bookstore opened its first European store in London. At present, there are three Xinhua Bookstores and one on-line store in the United States. The goal of the Xinhua Bookstore is to use the world’s languages, e.g. English, Germany, French, Japanese, Korean, and so on, to tell the desired stories about China.

The article also discussed the differences between the Confucius Institute and the Xinhua Bookstore, both of which are increasing their presence overseas.  It is important to note that the Confucius Institute is directly under the Chinese government’s funding while the Xinhua Bookstore is a business operation (Ed: under a State-Owned Enterprise though).

Source: International Herald Leader, October 30, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-10/30/content_12360037.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Ministry of IIT: New Industries for Industrial Equipment Development

Zhang Xiangmu, Director of the Department of Industry Equipment, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology outlined five areas where China has to develop its equipment production industry further, Xinhua reported. The five areas are regulation, technology improvement, self-sufficiency in technology and equipment, the thrust into mergers and acquisitions, and new industry development. At present the targets for establishing new industries are energy-savings and new energy sources for automobiles, oceanic engineering equipment, general aircraft and regional aircraft, high-speed rail system equipment, and high-performance ship sectors.

Source: Xinhua, October 27, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2009-10/27/content_12342093.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Xinhua: Strengthen and Expand Coverage of Primary Party Newspapers and Magazines

The Year 2010 National Video Conference of Publishing Work of Party Newspapers and Magazines was held on October 16. The conference focused on the publishing of the works of the People’s Daily, Qiushi Magazine, Guangming Daily and Economic Daily. The Conference also pointed out that Party newspapers and magazines are the primary “ideological instrument of public opinion.” Party publicity branches should work closely with postal services to firmly accomplish wider distribution. The conference also emphasized continually raising the Party’s capabilities to “guide” public opinion.

Source: Xinhua, October 16, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-10/16/content_12246458.htm 

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

PLA Daily: New Concept Submarine 330 Improves Combat Capabilities

As part of the East China Sea Fleet, Submarine 330 is the first of a new generation of Chinese developed submarines. The primary features of this “new concept power” submarine include low noise level, long submerge time, advanced power systems and cutting edge weapons systems. During a recent trial trip in the northern seas under extreme low temperature conditions, the crew collected a large amount of data on the atmospheric variation patterns of the new cabin, the maneuver margin of the new power system and the physiological tolerance of the crew. The new submarine fleet is introducing new tactics focusing on concealment, breaking through a destroyer fleet, and combating air anti-submarine forces.

Source: Ministry of National Defense, October 23, 2009
http://news.mod.gov.cn/forces/2009-10/23/content_4097218.htm 

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military