Chinascope – Page 1250

China Launching Another Round of Media Control

The Communist Politburo has issued a directive mandating further control of media as a preemptive strike against potential social unrest in 2009. A Politburo directive cited information from the State Security Department and from military intelligence sources indicating China will face severe challenges and crises because “anti-china forces, domestic and overseas are actively strategizing their activities.” As a result, the Politburo has increased funding for the Communist Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Public Security.

At a meeting towards the end of November, the Party’s Propaganda Department decided to initiate a preemptive strike in anticipation of increasing social unrest in 2009. It has blacklisted 6 print media and all websites except sina.com. In addition, 55 media professionals have also also blacklisted. “You should know that this is China. The Internet has a border. It is not a place where you can exercise your free will. The Internet must be under the control of the Party. It is the Party’s Internet as well as the mouthpiece of the Party,” said Mr. Chen of the Propaganda Department.

Source: Boxun.com, December 4, 2008
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china2008/12/200812040011.shtml

Briefings | | December 5, 2008 | Information/Technology

China to Provide Scholarships to New York State University Students

China Ministry of Education will provide 10 scholarships per year from 2009 to 2012 to New York State University. The scholarships will enable undergraduates to study for one year in China. The State’s authorities for administration of overseas Chinese students and related funding will be responsible for admission and enrollment into Chinese universities.

Source: Xinhua, December 4, 2008

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/04/content_10456740.htm

Briefings | | December 5, 2008 | US-China Relations

China’s Biggest Concerns of the U.S.- China Trade

Minister of Commerce expressed 4 major concerns during the 5th U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue: textiles free trade, advanced and new technology trade, categorization of China as market economy, trade barriers (antidumping and countervailing duty). Minister Chen indicated at a press event that China’s exports has suffered to a great extent now as result of the financial crisis and that therefore the U.S., China and other countries should step up the opposition to trade protectionism.

Source: Xinhua, December 4, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-12/04/content_10457760.htm

Briefings | | December 5, 2008 | US-China Relations

Background Material: Annual Meeting System Between China and Russia Premiers

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met on October 28 in Moscow, Russia, for the thirteenth annual meeting between the premiers of the two countries. During the meeting, Wen and Putin exchanged their views on major issues regarding the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. On the same day, the Xinhua News Agency published the background material on its website (Xinhuanet) about the system of the two premiers having regular meetings annually. Below is a translation to the background material. [1]

Xinhuanet, Oct. 28: Annual Meeting System Between Chinese and Russian Premiers

In April of 1996, Yeltsin, the Russian president at the time, visited China. He and Jiang Zemin, who was then the chairman of China, came to an agreement that there should be periodic meetings between China and Russia. They both agreed that it was very important that different branches of the two countries could communicate frequently in various ways and it was especially important for the leaders of the two countries to get in touch regularly. From December 26 to 28 of the same year, Li Peng, the premier of China at the time, went to Russia for a working visit. During the visit, the two sides agreed to a new system of having annual meetings between the two Premiers. Since the establishment of this system, the premiers from the two countries have met once every year.

There are three major regular meeting branches under this system: the meeting between premiers, the meeting for humanitarian affairs cooperation, and the meeting for energy negotiation among representatives. In all the foreign cooperation systems, this one [the meeting between the premiers] has the highest level, the most complete framework, and the widest area of discussion. The establishment of this system has pushed forward the good neighborliness and mutual beneficial cooperation, and has driven a healthy development of the strategic partnership of Russia and China. The major successes resulting from these meetings in recent years are as follows:

9/8/2001: Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Russian Premier Kasiyanov met in St. Petersburg for the Sixth Regular Meeting and signed a joint communiqué.

8/22/2002: Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Russian Premier Kasiyanov met in Shanghai for the Seventh Regular Meeting. The two parties thoroughly exchanged opinions on issues such as enhancing cooperation between the two nations, anti-terrorism, and easing tensions in hot spot regions.

9/24/2003: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Premier Kasiyanov met in Beijing for the Eighth Regular Meeting. The two parties both agreed that at the same time of making breakthroughs in the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, the two countries should extend humanitarian cooperation.

9/24/2004: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Premier Fradkov met in Moscow for the Ninth Regular Meeting. In a friendly and collaborative atmosphere, the two parties summarized the cooperative achievements between the two countries, worked over ways for solving existing problems, and determined the priorities of future works.

11/3/2005: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Premier Fradkov met in Beijing for the Tenth Regular Meeting. The two sides signed eight agreements in the fields of economics, education, health, banking, etc., and issued the “Joint Communiqué of the Tenth Regular Meeting Between Chinese and Russian Premiers.”

11/9/2006: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Premier Fradkov met in Beijing for the Eleventh Regular Meeting and both attended the closing ceremony of China’s “Year of Russia.” The two sides signed 17 agreements in the fields of energy cooperation, financial insurance cooperation, news exchange, etc.

11/6/2007: Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian Premier Zubkov met in Moscow for the Twelfth Regular Meeting. They signed a joint communiqué, and together attended the signing ceremony for signing the agreements on the cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade, energy, technology, banking, border trade, etc.

Endnotes:
[1] Xinhuanet, October 28th, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-10/28/content_10267944.htm

Reports | | December 4, 2008 | Report

Xinhua: Europe Is Not As United As France Expects

France did not receive the full support from Europe in its move to meet with the Dalai Lama, says International Herald Leader of Xinhua. “Things have not turned out to be what the naïve France expected – it has encountered the pressure from its partners.” The International Herald Leader reported comments from European officials, the UK’s Guardian and think tank analyst that are negative of the upcoming meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama.

Source: International Herald Leader, December 1, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2008-12/01/content_10438145.htm

Briefings | | December 4, 2008 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Belgian Reporter and Crew Beaten in Henan for AIDS Story

Belgian reporter Tom Van de Weghe of the Flemish public TV station VRT, his Australian cameraman and his Belgian assistant were in Henan province doing a report on AIDS in China when they were attacked and robbed by eight men recruited by the Henan provincial authorities, VRT said.

The eight men intercepted them while they were on their way to a village and demanded that they surrender the videotape of interviews they had already done. The crew handed over the videocassettes after being hit. Their assailants also took money, microphones and batteries.

VRT has demanded an apology and compensation. The Belgian government has asked the Chinese authorities for an explanation.

Source: BBC Chinese, December 2, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7760000/newsid_7761000/7761098.stm

Briefings | | December 2, 2008 | Information/Technology

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

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

The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.

CCP, Master of Hostage Diplomacy