Chinascope – Page 1279

Government Site Warns Alarming Soil Erosion

China’s Ministry of Water Resources website says that soil erosion has deprived the country of 1 million mu* of arable lands on a yearly basis. From 2001 to 2005, there were more than 150,000 squared kilometers of annual new land losses due to construction activities. Total land loss has amounted to 3.56 million squared kilometers, 37.1% the country’s size. If the trend continues, the 1.4 million mu of black soils in Northeast China will disappear in 50 years, causing a 40% drop in grain production; the lithified land in the southwest will double in 35 years, leaving 100 million people nowhere to stay.

Source: Xinhua, March 18, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-03/18/content_11030156.htm

*mu is China’s traditional unit of measurement of areas. 1 mu = 666.7 squared meters.

Briefings | | March 18, 2009 | Economy/Resources

Xinhua: North Korea’s Hard-Line Stance Is Forced by Western Governments and Media

Xinhua published an article originally from China Youth Daily claiming that North Korea’s hard line stance is related to the actions by the United States, Japan, and South Korea. First, South Korea President Lee Myung Bak started the policy of “Korea unification under democracy” to replace his predecessor’s compromise policy between South and North. This has made North Korea feel pressured of its future. Second, Japan and U.S. always pressure North Korea. Although Japan, U.S., and other Western countries promise to give financial compensation and aids after North Korea abandoning nuclear arms, they add many additional political requirements, or attack North Korea’s “human rights,” or criticize Korea’s leaders, and delay the implement of the promise. These have made North Korea government very disappointed. Finally, Japan and U.S. never give up their preparation of war in Korea peninsula. They first installed missile defense system, then accused North Korea’s launch of satellite. All these actions made Pyongyang feel the need to defend its safety. In addition, tens of thousands of American and South Korea’s joint military forces conduct exercise at the Korean border. It would be strange if North Korea takes no actions.

Source: Xinhua, March 15, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-03/15/content_11013179.htm

Briefings | | March 17, 2009 | US-China Relations

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

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