China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recruits nationwide once a year in winter starting November 1. Typically the Party Secretary of each town or city heads the recruitment campaign. A local Party Secretary in Jiangsu Province made a speech which reveals the general policies of the 2006 annual PLA recruitment campaign.
The Communist Party’s News Releases Are Meant to Shape Public Opinion
Study Times, the newspaper of the Communist Party School in Beijing, published an article on June 26, 2007, titled "Take the Initiative to Control Public Opinion." The article states that by proactively feeding information to the media, the Party news release mechanism implemented last December "will guide media and public opinion, both domestically and overseas, and set the agenda for both domestic and overseas public opinion, thus diverting the media’s original focus and perspective so that the media will voluntarily report and track news events and topics as released by the Party."
Chinese Lawyers Seek to Change Legislation for Effective Discovery
Chinese lawyers face numerous hurdles in conducting discovery for their cases. When dealing with discovery in a criminal defense, for example, lawyers worry that, when the evidence they uncover contradicts the government’s findings, the government will use Article 306 of the Criminal Law to charge them with forgery and perjury. A recent feature article in Legal Daily (reprinted by the official Xinhua) discusses the issues in detail.
Methods Used in Crackdown on Falun Gong and Xinjiang Uygur Groups
In April 2007, the Tai Shun County government, Jiangsu Province published a 2005 report that provided insight into the methods the County used in its crackdown on Falun Gong and Xinjiang Uygur groups.
China Rejects “China Navy Threat Theory” Despite Growth in Amphibious Forces
Richard Fisher wrote an article about China’s new large amphibious assault shipe for the website of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. China rejected the article, saying China’s building up its capacity for a future amphibious force is a "complete exaggeration and irresponsible speculation." "Actually, most amphibious ships currently in use in China are traditional landing ships. There is no so-called ‘threat’ whatsoever."
Priorities for Xinjiang Public Security Bureau: Ethnic & Faith Based Groups & Overseas Intelligence
According to an investigation report by a local People’s Congress in Xinjiang, the persecution of Falun Gong and Xinjiang ethnic groups were considered priorities in maintaining social and political stability. The development of secret forces and overseas intelligence were also at the top of the list.
Cracking Down on Satellite Dishes to Block Infiltration from Overseas Hostile Forces
China’s crackdown on unauthorized installation of household satellite dishes is "an urgent response to the attempts of overseas hostile forces to infiltrate and divide China." It is also meant to "prevent Falun Gong members and Christian groups from spreading their religious activities using ground satellite receivers."
Chinese Diplomats Commend Overseas Chinese Organization for Supporting China
Amidst allegations that China controls Chinese associations of commerce and Chinese students’ organizations in the United States, Chinese diplomats in the United States attended a celebration of the 27th anniversary of the Chinese American Association of Commerce in San Francisco.