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50 Million Quit Chinese Communist Party and Affiliates

As of February 26, over 50.4 million Chinese have renounced their affiliations with Chinese Communist Party at a web site of Epoch Times. Since the November 2004 release of an editorial series Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party by The Epoch Times, Quit the Party has become the biggest push ever for freedom in China. There have been numerous news reports that the Beijing authorities have arrested, tortured and killed people for distributing and possession of the editorial series. According to Epoch Times, these withdrawals run deep into the heart of the Party as its upper echelon including diplomats, general Party secretaries and other high-ranking officials are among those who publicly sever their ties with the Party.

Source: Epoch Times
http://tuidang.epochtimes.com/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/t/quitting-the-chinese-communist-party/

Police Helicopters to Patrol in Beijing

The first four police helicopters will be patrolling above Beijing and will play a major role in cracking down social unrests, according Beijing police authorities on February 26, 2009. “During social emergencies, the police helicopters will work with ground police to track, search and arrest the targets.”

The police helicopter team consists of forty-three pilots. 86% of them are air force servicemen. It is the largest and best-equipped police helicopter team and will fly monthly schedules, three days a week, between 4 to 8 flights. In times of social emergencies, helicopters will take off within 30 minutes of the order. The helicopters were imported from Italy, models AW139 and AW109.

Source: China National Defense Information, February 27, 2009
http://info.cndsi.com/html/20090227/60815075742.html

Chinese RMB Becoming Hard Currency?

Chinese currency is quickly being adopted as settlement currency, claimed International Herald Leader under Xinhua on February 16, 2009. Since Dec 2008, China has entered into agreements with eight of its neighboring countries including Vietnam, Myanmar, Russia, Mongolia and South Korea to use Chinese RMB as settlement currency. On Feb 8, 209, China entered into a currency exchange agreement with Indonesia worth 80 billion yuan which allows Indonesians to borrow RMB at banks in Indonesia. China views the international financial crisis an opportunity to “internationalize” its currency to make further inroads into the international economies.

Source: Xinhua, February 16, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-02/16/content_10825739.htm

Xinhua: Pressure by Western Countries Can Not Stop China and Congo’s Cooperation

Reporter of Xinhua’s International Herald Tribune reports from Congo’s capital Kinshasa that the road maintenance project co-operated by China Enterprises United Inc. and Congo’s is under way normally. The reporter describes that the warm atmosphere of Chinese engineers and the local workers working together forms a stark contrast with the (Western) reports that the “project is being stopped.” The report says that Western countries regard Congo as their territory of interests because of Congo’s rich natural resource and important geographic location. Western countries tried to interfere since the beginning of the negotiation of cooperation between China and Congo. They pressured Congo government through their controlled World Band and IMF. The report further says that Congo government resisted the pressure from the West and welcomed the China’s help. Now the preparation phase of the projects is progressing on normal track.

Source: Xinhua, February 17, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-02/17/content_10831601.htm

Xinhua Downplays Criminal Charges Against Chinese Woman for Illegal Export

Xinhua comments on the recent criminal charges in the U.S. against a Chinese woman in Maryland. She was charged with exporting miniature controls for small, unmanned aircraft to China. Xinhua article stated that the alleged dual use aircraft has not yet been put to use by military thus it is far fetched to charge her for assisting Chinese military. Further, Xinhua stated that the case might be viewed as racial discrimination since Mr. Hansen, who played a more active role in the export and works at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, has not yet been charged in the case. “In fact, spy cases related to China are common in the U.S., most of which have acquitted defendants,” said Xinhua.

Source: Xinhua, February 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/overseas/2009-02/19/content_10848849.htm

State Public Relations: Transition from the Defensive to the Offensive

Starting from the Olympics in 2008 China has moved to the offensive in its public relations, wrote a government think tank, the Institute of Public Communications of the Remin University of China. From SARS in 2003 to Tibetan violent crackdown in March 2008, China was passive in public relations during crises. However, the Olympics in August 2008 served as a turning point when China changed to the offensive. In subsequent crises such as toxic milk powder and current international financial crisis, China was more proactive and quickly controlled the situation. The article recommends three PR weapons available to the State: media, visits and speeches by overseas leaders, and statements by Chinese celebrities such as Yao Min (athlete), Zhang Ziyu (actress), Jackie Chan (actor) and Jet Li (actor).

Source: Xinhua, February 3, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-02/03/content_10755014.htm

Study Times: China To Internationalize Its Currency

China should take advantage of international financial crisis and push to “internationalize” the Chinese Renminbi, says Study Times, journal of the School of the CCPC February 16, 2009. The article takes note of recent State Counsel decisions on using RMB in settling commercial transactions with Hong Kong. The current international crisis has lowered the net worth in the U.S. dollar and the esteem the international communities has held for the U.S. dollar. The article recommends expanding pilot programs to use RMD as settlement currency.

Source: Study Times, February 16, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=1&id=2439&nid=8801&bid=1&page=1

Largest Petition Campaign in Chinese Legal Community Supporting Rights Lawyer

511 lawyers in Shenzhen signed a petition challenging the sentencing of a fellow lawyer and calling for a fair trial. On December 17, 2008, Lawyer Liu Yao in Shenzhen was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment for providing legal services to farmers who lost their land to a power company. He was charged with “intentional destruction of property.” Liu has filed appeal. The petition is the largest campaign to date by China’s legal community on rights issues.

Source:
Epoch Times, February 1, 2009
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/2/1/n2414246.htm
Xinhua, September 27, 2008
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-09/23/content_10095057.htm