Chinascope – Page 1268

Foreign Resistance to China’s Forced Certification of IT Products

The China National Certification and Ratification Regulatory Committee announced that it will defer implementation of its “IT Product Safety Forced Certification System” for one year. The scope of the forced certification has also been reduced to government-procured IT products only. However, Japan, European countries, and the US all expressed concerns about China’s policy.

The certification system dictates that makers of thirteen IT products, which have been either imported or produced in China, including anti-spam software, firewalls, network monitoring and control systems, and OS for IC chips, must disclose the source code to Chinese government for certification. However, the source code is the intellectual property and core compatibility of the software producers. Foreign countries are concerned that Chinese producers may produce copycat products once businesses disclose these trade secrets to China. Also, exposing source code for network tools will allow China freedom to browse private information on the Internet.

Source: The Liberty Times, May 1, 2009
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2009/new/may/1/today-int2.htm

Briefings | | May 7, 2009 | Information/Technology

Challenges for College Graduates to Find Jobs

China Youth Daily listed the challenges for college graduates to find jobs: One, irrational industrial structure makes manufacturing the strongest industry in China and other industries such as design, supply chain, and services that need more college graduates weak. Second, the large gap in social security benefits makes government or state-owned enterprises, offering more benefits, more attractive than agriculture or private companies, offering limited or even no benefits. Third, national monopolies prevent private enterprise from entering certain industries and thus creating jobs.

This year, China will have 7 million college graduates enter the job market.

Source: China Youth Daily, May 1, 2009
http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2009-05/01/content_2648156.htm

Briefings | | May 7, 2009 | Economy/Resources

Li Changchun: No One Allowed to Report on Officials Involved in Siemens Scandal

The Central Propaganda Department recently banned all Chinese media from reporting on Chinese officials involved in the recent international Siemens bribery scandal. Relatives of two members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee were on the bribery list.

Documents regarding the scandal that have been released by the US Justice Department revealed names of companies involved, including Chinese companies. Under US and German government pressure, Siemens also provided names to the involved governments, including China. The targeted media ban order was issued by Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, the CPC Central Committee. However, Chinese media can freely report on the rest of the scandal story.

Source: Sina News, April 26, 2009.
http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/chn/chnnews/ausdaily/20090426/1711187101.html

Briefings | | May 6, 2009 | Government/Politics

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 | | May 6, 2009 | 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 | | May 6, 2009 | 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 | | May 5, 2009 | 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 | | May 5, 2009 | Government/Politics

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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

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

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