Chinascope – Page 1278

Qiushi: Must Persist Marxism as the Guiding Principle in Ideology

Qiushi, a magazine under Xinhua News Agency, published an article titled “Why Must (China) Persist Marxism as the Guiding Principle in Ideology and Cannot Have Multi-Polar Principles?” The article says, “Marxism as the guiding principle in China was not determined by any individual’s or party’s will. It was a choice by the history and the people. Without Marxism, there is no new China, there is no China-style socialist. Under any circumstance, (China) must persist Marxism as the guiding principle.” The article emphasizes that “under the leadership of the Central (Communist) Party surrounding Hu Jintao, as long as we persist Marxist principle and continue to innovate in the economic reform and modernization, Marxism will have more sparkling life in China, and its leading position in ideology will be unshakable.”

Source: Xinhua, March 16, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-03/16/content_11021088.htm

Briefings | | March 17, 2009 | Government/Politics

Large Number of Absentees at Annual Political Consultative Conference

As of March 11, members who did not show up at the annual China People’s Political Consultative Conference reached 301, Nanfang Dushi newspaper reports. China started its annual parliamentary sessions, the National People’s Congress (NPC) and its advisory auxiliary, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), on March 5 and March 3, respectively. 252 out of 2,235 CPPCC members were absent for the second session. 84 of them did not obtain prior approval for the absence. 301 were absent for the third session. 103 of them did not get permission for the leave. Most absentees are Hong Kong members, followed by artists and athletes. Nanfang Dushi comments that such a large number of members who did not care to show up is unprecedented in the 60 year history of the CPPCC.

Source: Epoch Times, March 12, 2009
http://epochtimes.com/gb/9/3/12/n2459179.htm

Briefings | | March 13, 2009 | Government/Politics

China Expanding its Influence Through Confucius Institutes

China is expanding its influence through Confucius Institutes, says Deputy Minister of Education according to a government portal under the State Council. Currently there are 256 Confucius Institutes in 81 countries. Over 100 countries have applied with the Chinese government. These establishments are primarily funded by oveasea partners while both Chinese government and overseas partner share the management. These institutes have been used to further the Chinese government policy on oversea Chinese and encourage their patriotism toward China. Confucius Intstitues are headquartered in Beijing under the Office of Chinese Language Council International of the State. It goal is to establish 500 Confucius Institites by 2010.

Source: China Internet Information Center, March 12, 2009
http://www.china.com.cn/zhibo/2009lh/2009-03/12/content_17427344.htm

Briefings | | March 13, 2009 | Government/Politics

State Media: China Needs More Hawks to Safeguard National Interest

Without more hawks, there is no protection of Chinese national interest, warns an article of Global Times, a newspaper under the State media People’s Daily that focuses on international news. The Global Times article advocates for tough stance against the West and Japan as China is increasingly involved in international conflicts. The article cites examples of Wu Yi, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, Sha Zukang, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and former Chinese Ambassador in Washington, Li Zhaoxing. Chinese Navy admirals were quoted in the article to say that with the People’s Liberation Army, other countries have no chance in the South Chinese Sea.

Source: Global Times, reprinted by Qiaobao (a Chinese Government sponsored newspaper in the United States)
http://www.usqiaobao.com/newscenter/2009-03/09/content_198164.htm

Briefings | | March 12, 2009 | Defense/Military

Chinese Navy: Pentagon Making up Story about USNS Impeccable

Chinese Navy top officials stated that U.S. stories about Impeccable were untrue. Deputy Political Commissar of Chinese Navy, Wu Huayang, stated that Pentagon’s statements about Chinese vessels harassing USNS Impeccable were totally U.S. speculations. “There were no confrontations or conflicts between China and U.S. ships,” Wu was quoted by Global International Leader under Xinhua. Chinese Navy Deputy Chief of Staff, Zhang Deshun, stated that USNS Impeccable was in the economic zone of the Chinese continental shelf and was engaging in ocean surveillance with military purposes. The U.S. Pentagon said on March 9 that Chinese ships dangerously trailed and followed the U.S. surveillance ship and harrassed the U.S. crew on board USNS Impeccable on March 8 in the South China Sea .

Source: China News, March 10, 2009
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2009/03-10/1596401.shtml

Briefings | | March 12, 2009 | US-China Relations

7,000 Border Police Stationed as Village Cadres

A Ministry of Public Security (MPS) official recently revealed a massive dispatch of officials and police from MPS border control corps into bordering regions since early December 2008. 600,000 personnel were sent out and 7,123 police were stationed at local villages, serving as local Party chief or member of Village Committee. It’s reported that 16,112 social conflicts were solved and 449 social unrests were handled.

Source: Sina.com, March 11, 2009
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2009-03-11/043015288984s.shtml

Briefings | | March 11, 2009 | Government/Politics

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

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