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

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Xinhua: Foreign Countries Cannot Force China to Drink Coke

After Coca-Cola’s acquisition of Hui Yuan failed the antitrust review by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the news quickly gained media attention. The failed acquisition triggered a range comments.

Many Foreign media cited trade protectionism as the cause. Because the case sets the precedent for Chinese Antitrust Law governing a foreign acquisition, Chinese researchers indicated that the reported reactions reflected a worry about future foreign acquisitions. The Wall Street Journal insisted this was a warning to foreign investors.

Foreign media also brought up the potential negative effect on Chinese investments overseas. Chinese experts dismissed this view as they believed the ruling was merely based on protecting healthy competition as they stated that there was no bias against international corporations.

Source: Xinhua News/International Herald Leader, March 23, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-03/23/content_11056881.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Embezzlement Spreading, Science and Education Based Revitalization Dissolving

The academic corruption case in Zhe Jiang University struck China. With more and more dark news being unveiled, it seems that a national trend is forming by which the nation’s large academic investments are embezzled by corrupt individuals.
 
With millions in hand, a research group in Zhe Jiang University produced twenty fake theses and the university has so far offered no explanation. 
 

A growing number of such scandals have been reported in recent years. According to the China Society and Technology Association, due to poor administration, only 40% of its funding was actually spent on activities related to its projects.

Source: The Sun News, March 19, 2009
http://www.secretchina.com/news/285252.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Chinese Foreign Aid Tops Developing Countries, Much Higher Than India

On March 13, Chinese Premier Wen Jia Bao suggested in a press conference that before 2008 China waive more than 40 billion RMB worth of debt from 46 lesser developed countries while providing over 200 billion RMB of foreign aid to developing countries. He also mentioned that the United States provided less than 1/4 of promised aid in 2005.

Beginning in 1950, the Chinese foreign aid program now tops developing countries. During fiscal year 2006 to 2007, India only provided USD $500 million in aid although USD $1 billion was promised. Brazil, another large developing country, received more aid than it provided.

Chinese aid does not have political conditions attached, which makes it well received by developing countries. Currently there are more than 140 countries receiving aid from China.

Source: Elite Reference, March 21, 2009
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/200903/news-gb2312-820112.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Two More Soldiers Killed in Chongqing Shooting

New Tang Dynasty Television’s website carried a series photos of the crime scene where two military soldiers were shot to death on the evening of March 20.

On March 20, one day after a security guard was shot to death and his weapon taken by the suspects in Jiang Bei District of Shi Qiao Pu in Chongqing, Sichuan province, two soldiers were shot to death around Yu Zhou Hotel in Chongqing. Police are actively searching for the suspects throughout the city. There were also rumors that the suspect only targeted uniformed military personnel.

Source: New Tang Dynasty Television, March 21, 2009
http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/gb/2009/03/21/a271419.html#photo

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

3000 District Procurators to Take Part in Intensive Training

Following the intensive training of 3000 top Public Security Bureau officers, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate recently called for an intensive training session for 3000 general procurators from the district level. The training started on February 26 and will end before 2010. Cao Jianming, Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, calls the training an unprecedented event of historic significance.

There are over 3000 district procuratorates nationwide which accounts for 80 percent of the total.

Source: Xinhua, March 3, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2009-03/03/content_10932555.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

State Media: Obama, Why Should We Believe You?

Obama must take action to ensure Chinese assests are secure in the United States, says a March 19 editorial in the International Herald Leader, a subsidiary of Xinhua. On March 13, Premier Wen re-iterated China’s request that the U.S. administration honor its promise to ensure Chinese assets are secure in the United States. In response, Obama announced that investors from the world including China should have absolute confidence in their investment in the United States.

The editorial comments that unless Obama takes concrete action to reassure China, his promise is nothing but lip service. Specifically, China should leverage its position as the largest debtor and negotiate a much higher return with the U.S. Treasury for U.S. government bonds. China should tie the appreciation of the RMB with the purchase of U.S. government bonds to resist further pressure from the U.S. on RMB appreciation.

Source: Xinhua, March 19, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-03/19/content_11034722.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

2009 China Military Power Report Will Harm U.S.-China Relations, Warns Chinese Defense Ministry

Qian Lihua, Director of the Foreign Affairs office of the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated that the March release of the 2009 China Military Power Report by the U.S. Department of Defense will cause new damage to bilateral military relations. His remarks were made after a meeting between himself and David Sedney, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. The Xinhua report says that the past 30 years of exchanges have lacked a fundamental principle both countries agree to. This is the result of “a strong U.S. and a weak China.” China has invited the U.S. to observe several field exercises in the past few years, while the U.S. rarely does the same.

Source: Xinhua, March 2, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2009-03/02/content_10926360.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

State Delegation of Tibetans Visits the United States

A State delegation of Tibetan members of the National People’s Congress met with U.S. Congressmen, reported the Chinese Central Government’s website on March 18, 2009. The delegation met with Congressmen Rick Larsen, Chairman of the U.S.-China Working Group, and John Conyers, Chairman of Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives. The delegation also visited the Brookings Institution in Washington DC.

Source: Central Government of China, March 18, 2009
http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2009-03/18/content_1262072.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations