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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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Bush Family Given Royal Treatment During Olympic Visit

In general, China’s state-run media has not shied away from attacking or even demonizing President George W. Bush, but coverage changed tone in an obvious way during the Olympics.

An article “Bush Family Hands in ‘China Transcripts’ (During Olympics)” by Xinhua’s newspaper International Herald Tribune touts that “[the fact that] Sino-U.S. Relations advanced to today’s level cannot be separated from Bush Senior and Junior’s efforts.”

In appreciation of Bush’s appearance at the Olympics, Bush’s whole family was invited to dinner at yíng tái in Zhongnanhai (an ocean platform in Zhongnanhai surrounded by water on three sides, formerly a recreation area for imperial wives and concubines). The building is rarely used and only a few foreign political leaders have been invited to the place, not to mention a foreign leader’s whole family.

Source: Xinhua, August 19, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-08/19/content_9497770.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Chinese Commodity Prices Increased by 9.4% in July

People’s Bank of China announced that July’s commodity price rose 9.4 % compared to July 2007.  Agricultural produce prices increased by 6.8%.  Mineral products and thermo electricity prices went up by 18.3% and 26.7% respectively.
 
Source: Xinhua, August 20, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune//2008-08/20/content_9540203.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

No Protest Permits Issued During the Beijing Olympics

The Beijing Public Security Bureau admitted in a press interview that it has not issued protest permits to anyone since August, Xinhua reported.  Of the 77 applications, “74 were voluntarily withdrawn,” 2 had “incomplete documentation” and 1 was rejected according to the law.

Since August, the Beijing Public Security Bureau has received 77 applications (149 persons), of which 74 applications (146 persons) were from Chinese residents while 3 applications (3 persons) were from people residing outside China.   In addition, the authorities received 22 inquiries (24 persons) about matters of protest permits, 13 (14 persons) from Chinese residents and 9 (10 persons) from residents outside China.
 
According to Chinese law, one must apply for a permit before taking to the streets. 

Source: Xinhua, August 18, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-8/18/content_9469687.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Olympics: IGF Investigating Age of Chinese Gymnasts

New evidence of fraud pertaining to the age of two Chinese gymnasts has prompted an Internatioanl Gymnastic Federation (IGF) investigation into the matter, said the International Olympics Committee (IOC) on August 21, 2008.

The new evidence includes an official document prepared by the central government in February 2006, entitled “2006 Registration Table for National Gymnasts” that contains information on the age and birthplace of several hundred Chinese gymnasts.  Line 811 shows that Yang Yilin is a female, born on August 26, 1993 in Guangzhou.  Line 1040 shows that He Kexin is a female, born on January 1, 1994 in Wuhan.  A similar list for 2005 contains the same information for the two gymnasts. The two lists were found through an online search and the links have since been removed.

Source: Epoch Times, August 21, 2008
http://epochtimes.com/gb/8/8/21/n2236520p.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Applicants of Protest Permit Sentenced To One-Year Forced Labor Camp

Two elderly women who applied for a permit to protest in the newly established protest park during the Beijing Olympics have received notification of a “Decision on Education through Labor” from the Beijing Municipal government, BBC reported.

Between August 5 and August 18 Wu Dianyuan of 79 and Wang Xiuying of 77 had applied 5 times with the Beijing Public Security Bureau seeking permit to protest.  Both were detained and interrogated for 10 hours during their attempt on August 5 at Beijing’s Public Security Bureau.  The two went to Beijing’s Public Security Bureau again on August 18 and were told that since both had received the notification “Decision on Education through Labor” on August 17, they have no right to apply for a permit to protest.

Education through forced labor (laogai) is an administrative form of sentencing issued at the discretion of the government or police without a trial.

Source: BBC, August 21, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7570000/newsid_7573200/7573239.stm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Obituary: Former Chinese Leader Hua Guofeng Dies

Hua Guofeng, a former leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), died on August 20 at the age of 87, Xinhua reported without elaborating.  In a short official statement, Hua was praised as "an outstanding CPC member, a long-tested and loyal Communist fighter and a proletarian revolutionary who once held important leading posts in the CPC and the government." Hua Guofeng succeeded Mao Zedong in 1976 as China’s Communist Party chairman and the nation’s head of state.

Source: Xinhua, August 20, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-08/20/content_9545861.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Rights Website Shut Down Due to Content on Olympics

On August 20, 2008, the Chinese authorities indefinitely shut down a popular website dedicated to the advocacy of rights of citizens in China, www.315wqchina.com.  For the over 200 days that it was active, the website was shut down repeatedly because of its content, but was generally allowed to be up, until August 20.  The last articles that it posted and which apparently led to its final closure were a story titled “Olympic Gold Medals Will not Determine the Happiness of the People” and a poem by a policeman.

Weiquan (wq) is a Chinese phrase meaning “safeguarding rights.” 

Source: Boxun, August 20, 1008
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/08/200808202102.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Olympics: Athlete Liu’s Departure Raises Questions

On August 18, Liu Xiang, one of China’s greatest hopes for winning a gold medal had to withdraw from the Olympics due to his foot injury, reported Xinhua. His abrupt departure from the 110 meter hurdles surprised Chinese who had high expectations of his winning gold medals as he did at the 2004 Olympics.  According to a poll, 49% understand and want him to move on.  40% regret his action and would have preferred that he continued with the competition.  Many have voiced claims that Liu’s action was ordered by the Chinese authorities to save face because Liu could not win. Sources say on August 19, the Chinese Communist Party Propaganda Department issued a mandate that all media must follow the official explanation. 

Source:
Chinese News, August 18, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/olympic/news.2008/08/-18/1352128.shtml
Epoch Times, August 20, 2008
http://epochtimes.com/gb/8/8/20/n2234459.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics