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

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

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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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Xinhua: Navy Ceremony Starts the “Era of Chinese Sea Power”

Xinhua News published a digest article on April 23, based on a report by The China Press, a US based publication sponsored by the Chinese government. The article pointed out that the Chinese naval 60-year anniversary ceremony marked a “breakthrough” on the traditional limited “Coastal Waters Defense” naval strategy, which “obviously” does not match China’s status as a rising world power.

China has noticed that its sovereignty over sea waters has been significantly challenged in recent years. As an example, the article referred to recent incidents between China and Russia, Malaysia, Japan and the United States.

Source: Xinhua, April 23, 2009.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-04/23/content_11240727.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Military Talent Gaps

Study Times, a magazine by the CCP Central Party School, recently published an article on the gaps between Chinese military generations.

The article identified three major issues: (1) average military officers’ lack of education, especially in information technology; (2) significant lack of talented officers capable of joint combat commanding in the information systems environment; (3) significant lack of high level technical talents.

The article concluded that the causes of the problems are that the(1)education system is far behind modern day world standards; (2)the military organizational structure does not meet the requirements of today’s challenges;(3) and that compared to profitable civilian organizations, the military does not have enough incentives to attract needed talents.

Source: Study Times, April 27, 2009.
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=0&id=2603&bid=7

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Navy Commander & Political Commissar: No to Nationalization of Armed Forces

In the latest Qiushi magazine, Wu Shengli, Navy Commander and Liu Xiaojiang of Navy’s Political Commissar co-authored an article and firmly insisted that the Chinese Navy shall only follow and advance under the party’s command and leadership. It must firmly resist the influence created by ideologies such as “nationalization of the armed forces and non-party or non-political Army.”

Source: China News, May 2, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/05-02/1673357.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Qiushi Magazine: China Stays Firm on Socialism

Qiushi magazine published an article in its 9th issue on May 1 titled: "Why China Must Take the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics as Its Only Solution." The article claims that "the path of socialism was a historic decision made by the Chinese people." "Socialist guidance for China’s development can never be allowed to be altered. China did not alter its socialist path in the past, nor will it do so in the future.”

Source: Xinhua, April 30, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-04/30/content_11289588.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Study Times: Land Rights to Keep Farmers Out of Cities

Study Times reported on April 27, 2009, that allowing farmers to keep some land would help prevent farmers from migrating to major cities, a situation that could result in social unrest. According to Study Times, the International fianancial crisis is harming Chinese agriculture in four areas. It is pushing down agricultural product prices; there are fewer jobs for migrant workers; agricultural exports are decllining; and the tough times make it difficult to develop small town businesses and processing shops for agricultural products. The article concludes, “Allowing farmers to retain some land rights and to migrate between urban and rural areas would help prevent a concentration of farmers without land in major cities, which would result in serious social problems.”

Source: Study Times, April 27, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=0&id=2597&bid=1

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Study Times: New Strategy: Media to Go Global

The Party’s publication Study Times summarizes highlights of the recent guidelines that China’s General Administration of Press and Publications in China issued on April 6, 2009, to "further facilitate deepening reform of the press and publishing system." One, separate for-profit media companies from public interest media groups; two, encourage initial public offerings by media companies; three, acknowledge private publishing companies; and four, encourage media companies to go global.

Source: Study Times, April 27, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=0&id=2602&bid=6

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Physicians among the Worst When It Comes to Integrity at Work

A recent public survey indicates what people perceive to be the professions most lacking integrity in China. In order, starting from the worst are: physicians (74.2%), police (57.8%), teachers (51.5), lawyers (48.4%), and civil servants (47.8%), followed by journalists (37.6%), accountants (30.7%), scholars (20.3%), and social workers, listed at the bottom at 10.9%.

73% of the people believe the main reason for the slipping moral standards is the strong pursuit of personal gain, self-interest and neglect of the importance of professional conduct.  52.4% of those surveyed think such a phenomenon is caused by lack of legal regulation and an environment in which the public voice has no influence. 52.3% believe that the entire society’s moral decline is what has caused such unprofessional conduct. 41.9% of the people believe it is because the public has little idea what professional integrity means.

Among all of those surveyed, 82.4% think the worst situation of all is when physicians lose their moral code.

Source: China Youth Online, April 28, 2009
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2009-04/28/content_2642546.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Security Heightens In Beijing As The 60th Anniversary Approaches

Beijing has ruled since 1949 and is nervous about its upcoming 60th anniversary. The city is requiring that secured be tighten up, and will take every measure necessary to prevent anything that the party doesn’t like from happening, including handling those giving petitions for their cases to designated agencies.

Source: China News, April 28, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/04-28/1667131.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability