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

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

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

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CCP, Master of Hostage Diplomacy

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Hubei Taxi Drivers on Strike to Protest New Government Fee

Since November 24, no taxi has been running in Suizhou City of Hubei Province. The city’s 500+ taxis are parked, with some drivers petitioning in front of the city government.

The strike is said to be caused by a city government directive issued on November 15. It asked for an annual 4,000 yuan “operation fee” from each of the 550 taxi cabs running in the city. The fee is levied for a four year term. If the driver does not pay the money by the end of 2008, the city police will confiscate his license.

Burdened by multiple administrative fees and charges, the taxi drivers are left with a meager disposable income off of which to live. The newly added government charge has become the last straw. The strike has been going on for two days. There is no effective dialogue between the city government and taxi drivers.

Source: Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch, November 25, 2008
http://www.msguancha.com/Article/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=1608

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Expert: AIDS in China Heading Out of Control

A medical expert in Guangzhou warned on Nov 24 that AIDS in China has entered a stage of being uncontrollable.

An 18-year-old college freshman was recently diagnosed with AIDS in a Guangzhou hospital. According to the doctor, the male student was infected through sexual intercourse.
 
In China, transmission of the deadly disease through sexual activities has dwarfed every other channel of contagion, according to Cai Weiping, an AIDS expert from Guangzhou No. 8 People’s Hospital, in a media interview.

While the liberal attitude toward sex among the younger generation is one of the major reasons for the disease being out of control, migrant workers and the elderly are also vulnerable populations. Although the government has started the AIDS education, the sex workers at the bottom of  society are usually not targeted. Cai said that due to their extremely low income, they cannot afford the cost of condoms.

Source: Nanfang Daily, November 25, 2008
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/nfjx/200811250032.asp

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Phoenix TV CEO Receives International Emmy Directorate Award

On November 24, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Department Elaine Chao handed the Directorate Award from the International Emmy Awards to Hong Kong Phoenix TV’s CEO Liu Changle, as a compliment to his work of bringing Phoenix TV to the TV network of more than 150 countries and areas.

[Chinascope note: Pheonix TV has received the nickname of ‘little CCTV’ in some circles, as it shares similar reporting principles on many topics. Because it is based in Hong Kong, viewers in mainland China may regard it as an overseas TV station that is more independent though it follows the Party line on many topics.]

Source: Xinhua, November 25, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2008-11/26/content_10414412.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

People’s Daily: U.S. New Star Wars Plan Points to China

A blogger of the “Great Nation Forum” from the People’s Daily website published an article discussing the intention of a U.S. plan for developing a space missile defense system. The article says, “U.S. Congress granted five million dollars recently to fund independent research for developing a space missile defense system. The analyst here believes that once the plan is started, it means the "Star Wars Plan” from the 1980s is coming back. This time, the Pentagon’s putative enemies are not only Russia, or Korea and Iran, but also China."

Source: people.com.cn, November 25, 2008
http://military.people.com.cn/GB/42969/58519/8403479.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Russian Natural Gas and Oil Industrial Company Will Ship 1.2 Million Tons of Oil to China

Deputy General Manager of the Russian Natural Gas and Oil Industrial Company said the company is planning to export 1.2 million tons of oil to China while he was interviewed by Siberia Oil magazine. He said that the company will increase oil exports to China in the future through Kazakhstan, and the Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline.

Source: people.com.cn, November 25, 2008
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/57507/8402100.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rejects U.N.Torture Accusations

In responding to the recently published conclusions by the UN Committee Against Torture where China was reported to have a “large number of torture cases”, Qin Gang, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the claims calling them false accusations. “A few individuals in the ‘Committee Against Torture’ used unverified or fake sources to purposefully politicize the entire process. They have added a large amount of slandering facts and false accusations which we are completely against.” Qin said, “we will continue to be firmly devoted in protecting human rights. We are also willing to engage in international cooperation which will be based on equal rights and mutal respect so as to promote developments in the human rights field."

Source: People’s Daily, November 23, 2008
http://world.people.com.cn/BIG5/8212/9491/113836/8389641.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Shanghai Rights Lawyer Openly Renounces Membership in Communist Party youth organizations

On November 20, Zheng Enchong, a prominent Shanghai rights lawyer made an open speech to quit the Communist Party young pioneers and youth league. Zheng said he wanted to publicly make the announcement because it was the fourth anniversary of the book “Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party” being published. Zheng also recognized that since the book was published, there have been 45 million Chinese people who have renounced their membership in the Chinese Communist Party [and related youth organizations].

In his speech, Zheng said that he was inspired to quit the party because he found himself being misled by four big lies made by the Chinese leaders. The latest taxi driver strikes in Chongqing and Sanya as well as the social unrest in Longnan Gansu Province have demonstrated that Chinese people have regained the conscience to fight for their rights. He believes that China’s only hope is to have peaceful elections.

It was four years ago in September of 2005, two months after he was released from prison that Zheng read the book called the “Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party”. He asked his friend to use a fake name to quit from party organs (the youth league and young pioneers) for him. The recording of Zheng’s announcement was aired during a rally to celebrate 45 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and related organizations held in Hong Kong on November 23, 2008.

Source:

The Epoch Times, November 20, 2008
http://epochtimes.com/gb/8/11/20/n2335631.htm

Sound of Hope, November 23, 2008
http://soundofhope.org/programs/162/111255-1.asp

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

775,000 Compete for 13,500 Civil Service Job Openings

775,000 applicants will be competing for 13,500 job openings for civil servants, Xinhua reported. The annual Civil Service Exam will be held on November 30, 2008. Only 1.75 % of the applicants will be offered a government job. The increase in the number of applicants shows the tight job market for college graduates, said Yang Shiqiu, Vice-Minister of Human Resources and Social Security.

Interviews and exams on specialties will be held March 15, 2009. The hiring will be completed by June 2009. It was announced earlier that non-B hepatitis carriers are eligible for the exam.

Source: Xinhua, November 19, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-11/19/content_10382481.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2008-11/18/content_10376387.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-11/18/content_10377224.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability