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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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Bird’s Nest Designer Blasts Olympic Opening Ceremony

Ai Weiwei (艾未未), who contributed to the design of the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Summer Olympics, also known as the “Bird’s Nest,” said of the ceremony, “I’m afraid it’s going to be awful.” He was speaking in an interview for Friday’s issue of a German newspaper Hessische Allgemeine. “The Chinese government has chosen choreographers and directors who sacrificed their so-called art in favor of propaganda,” the artist and architect said. “They were taking part in a grand manipulation of the public.”

Source: Min Pao News, January, 5, 2008
http://www.mpinews.com/htm/INews/20080105/ca61452a.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Singapore and China Signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement

On Monday, January 7, 2008, in Beijing, Singapore and China signed a bilateral agreement on defense exchanges and security cooperation, formalizing on-going activities between Singapore’s Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). MINDEF says that it “marks a significant milestone in Singapore’s bilateral defense relationship and is a testament to the growing defense ties between Singapore and China.” The new agreement, written by Permanent Secretary for Defense Chiang Chie Foo and PLA’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General (LG) Ma Xiaotian, also includes new areas of cooperation such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. The deal was signed at the end of the inaugural China-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue (DPD).

Source: Central News Agency, January, 7, 2008

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Beijing Requires Migrants to Register Their Political Identity

Radio Free Asia reported on January 7, 2008, that according to a notice issued by the China Central Organization Ministry and the Public Security Ministry, migrant residents are required to register their political identity (i.e., whether they are members of the Chinese Communist Party or the Party’s associated organizations) along with their application for temporary resident status. The notice asks that all related departments and organizations take care of the migrant Party members.

According to independent analysts Zhu Jianguo and Chen Yongmiao from Shenzhen (southern China), such tactics are a way of using sthe Party’s old-fashioned methods to try to control the migrant population. Chen believes that such control will not have any effect because nowadays being a Party member has a very negative connotation. When people call one’s name, they call the whole family are “Communists.”

Source: Radio Free Asia, January 7, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/07/immigrants/

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua Publishes Article Attacking Western Democracy

On January 5, 2008, Xinhua published an article titled “Western Democracy Is Failing Globally” by Fang Ning, deputy director of the Politics Institute of the National Academy of Social Sciences. In the article the author used Russia, Latin American countries, and South Korea as examples to support his point. Fang concluded that protecting rights and centralizing power are essential for developing a countries’ political structure and that western democracy is not a universal value. The article hinted that China’s communist system is the model for other countries to follow. The website also listed four other related articles under the title to reinforce Fang’s statement from various angles.

Source: Xinhuanet, January 5, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-01/05/content_7366065.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China Requires Migrant People Register Their Political Identity

Radio Free Asia reports on January 7, 2007, that in a notice issued by China Central Organization Ministry and Public Security Ministry, migrant residents are required to register their political identity (i.e., whether they are members of Chinese Communist Party or the Party’s associated organization) along with their application for temporary resident status. The notice asks that all related department and organizations take care of the migrant Party members.

According to independent analysts Zhu Jianguo and Chen Yongmiao from Sunzhen (southern China), such tactics is a way of trying to control the migrant population with the Party’s old-fashioned method. Chen believes that such control will not have any effect because nowadays being a Party member has a very negative connotation. When people call one’s name, they call the whole family are “Communists.” 

Source: Radio Free Asia, January 7, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/07/immigrants/

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua Publishes Article Attacking Western Democracy

On January 5, 2008, Xinhua published an article titled “Western Democracy Is Subjecting Failure Globally” by Fang Ning, deputy director of Politics Institute of National Academy of Social Sciences. The article used Russia, Latin American countries, and South Korea as examples to support his point. The Author concluded that protecting rights and centralizing power are essential for developing countries’ political structure and that western democracy is not an universal value. The article hinted that China’s communist system is the model for other countries to follow. The website also listed four other related articles under the title to fortify Fang’s statement from various angles.

Source: Xinhuanet, January 5, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2008-01/05/content_7366065.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

China’s Toy Exports Grew In 2007

China’s toy exports totaled US$ 7 billion from January to October of 2007, a 20.1 percent increase from the year before. The official statistics showed that following the large scale of toy recall, toy exports were down 6.2 percent in September. The number then rebounded back to 21 percent, consistent with the growth in the first ten months. The European Union and the US are two of the largest markets and account for 67.6 percent of toy exports. It has been predicted that the increasing cost, operation model and reduced export taxes may affect future toy exports. China remains the world’s largest toy export country.

Source: BBC Chinese.com January 6, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_7170000/newsid_7173600/7173685.stm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Consumer Price Increase Burdens Low Income Families

On January 3, Social Sciences Academic published the “Blue book of Chinese Society.” It stated that with China’s GDP growing over 10 percent in 2007, mid to low income families are facing increasing financial pressure. The consumer price increase will continue to be a serious factor in 2008. The Blue Book disclosed that 10 percent of the low income group spent close to 50 percent of their income on food consumption, in addition to the rising cost of living and medical expenses. This group is thus the least capable of surviving. The report also warned that the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor continues to be a threat to social stability.

Source: Radio Free Asia, January 4, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/01/04/income/

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources