Chinascope – Page 405

Reference News: U.S. Predicament Similar to That before the Fall of the Soviet Union

Reference News, a well-known branch of Xinhua, recently reported, based on some Russian sources, that there was a similarity between the current U.S. political situation and the period before the Soviet Union dissolved. The report said that President Trump’s “political incorrectness” and “arrogant impulses” have accelerated the loss of the United States’ “soft power.” Many U.S. traditional allies who used to follow the U.S. lead blindly have started to “hold their breath” and have doubts. The U.S. political landscape is heavily divided and the U.S. society is losing its traditional values on family and religion. Although the U.S. is still a very powerful nation, yet fewer and fewer of the U.S. population feel proud of being an American. Only 30 percent of the people surveyed outside the United States had a positive view of the Trump-led United States. Even if a Democratic president is elected in the next election, the fall of the U.S. global influence may continue. The loss of American values may lead to the fall of the empire, just like (what happened to) the Soviet empire. Reference News is one of the only two newspapers in China that can directly publish original foreign news reports legally. It is currently the largest daily newspaper in China.

Source: Reference News, August 1, 2019
http://column.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2019/0801/2387025.shtml

Briefings | | August 6, 2019 | US-China Relations

DW Chinese: President of Lithuania Stood against Chinese Investment

Deutsche Welle Chinese Edition recently reported that newly elected Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda strongly opposed introducing Chinese capital into port investments. He was referring to the modernization project of the Port of Klaipeda, citing concerns about national security and environmental protection matters. He called for putting a hold on the deep-water port investment since the people of Lithuania had not yet reached a domestic consensus. The President would rather not be forceful in pushing a project that Chinese investments had backed. He described it as “very dangerous.” In February, Lithuania’s national security agencies warned about Chinese spy activities in their official annual security threat report. Klaipeda Port is the largest port in Lithuania and the only non-freezing port in the Baltic region. The location signifies its importance in China’s One Belt One Road strategy. According to Russian reports, the modernization project requires 800 million Euro, which is a heavy burden for a country with a total GDP of only 45 billion Euro.

Source: DW Chinese, July 30, 2019
http://news.dwnews.com/global/news/2019-07-30/60143312.html

Briefings | | August 6, 2019 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Manufacturers Move to Vietnam to Evade Tariffs

As the prospect of the US-China trade war continues to be unpredictable, many Chinese manufacturers have turned to Vietnam to set up plants in the hope of avoiding high tariffs.

The statistics show that, in the first seven months of this year, the Southeast Asian country attracted US$20.2 billion in foreign investment, down 13.4 percent from the same period last year.

China topped other countries by investing US$1.78 billion in Vietnam in the first seven months. However, due to the large number of investment projects, a total of 364, the average size of each investment was quite small.

With the ongoing US-China trade war, since last year, Chinese manufacturers have set up small-size plants in Vietnam. The purpose is to import semi-finished products from China, change the country of production, and then sell to the U.S. and European markets to avoid high tariffs.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs reported that 15 products imported from China have shown a significant growth. Six of them are on the list of targets for high tariff sanctions that the United States has imposed on China, including timber products, electric wires, electronic components, mobile phones, furniture, household appliances, and leather shoes.

Source: Central News Agency, July 30, 2019
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/201907300115.aspx

Briefings | | August 6, 2019 | Economy/Resources

The Paper: Official Media Launched Media Campaign Attacking U.S. for Breaking its Promise and Bringing Harm to the World

After CCTV launched a full attack on the U.S. during its prime time for two consecutive days, People’s Daily published an editorial piece attacking the U.S. for failing to keep its promise. The Paper stated that this means that Beijing has officially launched a media campaign on the topic of “The U.S. betrayal of China.” In addition to CCTV and People’s Daily, on August 4th, Xinhua also published the first of its series of commentaries which further emphasized that China must “do well to ensure stability” and “take care of our own business.” The Paper said that, for those who are familiar with media protocol in China, whenever People’s Daily published a series of editorial pieces, it meant that something big was about to happen.

Source: The Paper, August 5, 2019
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_4083078

Briefings | | August 6, 2019 | Government/Politics

Propaganda TV Shows Dominate the 70th Birthday of the People’s Republic

On July 29th, the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) released a mandate to TV stations at all levels that, for the 100 days of celebration of the 70th birthday of the People’s Republic of China, they could only broadcast TV dramas that SARFT selected; no traditional costume dramas or idol dramas could be broadcast.

The SARFT mandate stated that, based on a careful review and repeated research, 86 TV shows were selected to be the TV stations at all levels in the country to broadcast, especially provincial satellite TV stations. These programs were predominantly pro-Communist propaganda TV shows.

The SARFT further warned that provincial radio and television bureaus must take politics as the lifeline of broadcasting and tighten up their control of the selection and broadcasting of TV shows during the 100 days of celebration.

Source: Sina.com, July 31, 2019
https://ent.sina.com.cn/v/m/2019-07-31/doc-ihytcerm7660422.shtml

Briefings | | August 6, 2019 | Government/Politics

NRTA Chief Emphasize Loyalty to the Party

The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), formerly the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT, 1998–2013) and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT, 2013–2018), is a ministry-level executive agency directly under the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. Its main task is to censor the radio, film, and television industries.

On July 25, Nie Chenxi, head of the agency and also deputy chief of the Chinese Communist Party’s Propaganda Department, gave a speech at one of the NRTA divisions. Nie said, “NRTA is a political organ, and the Propaganda Division is a key office. On either major or minor issues, it should take an unambiguous and firm stand on political directions. We must always follow the requirements of the General Secretary and consciously adjust ourselves to the basic theories, policies, and strategies of the Party. We should be on the same page as to the decisions and arrangements of the Central Committee (of the CCP).”

Nie added, “We should look at every program, every documentary, and every cartoon from a political standpoint and adhere to the principle that ‘every word matters, every second is about politics, and every day is a test.’ We must be absolutely loyal to the Party and vigorously temper the political character of loyalty, being ethical and duty bound, and constantly enhance our sense of mission and sense of political responsibility.”

Source: NRTA, July 30, 2019
http://www.nrta.gov.cn/art/2019/7/30/art_112_46920.html

Briefings | | August 4, 2019 | Government/Politics

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Denied Martial Law in Hong Kong

Although a report was made that China is planning to impose martial law in Hong Kong, at her news conference on August 2, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying denied it.

A question was asked, “According to a report, some staff members in Hong Kong’s public services are planning to gather at Central in Hong Kong tonight to request the withdrawal of the Extradition Bill. Some information has been reported that the Hong Kong government will, on August 4, use this as a reason to request China’s army at the Hong Kong garrison to implement martial law and clean out the consulate staffs of the U.S. and European countries in Hong Kong as well as people holding U.S. and U.K. passports. What is China’s response to this hearsay?”

Hua answered, “You called this hearsay. I can tell you clearly that this is not just hearsay; it is a complete rumor!” Hua then went on to repeat China’s usual comment about the Hong Kong movement and blasted the U.S. and other Western countries for stirring up fire in Hong Kong.

Source: Foreign Ministry website, August 2, 2019
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/fyrbt_673021/t1685719.shtml

Briefings | | August 4, 2019 | Government/Politics

The Paper: PLA’s Hong Kong Garrison Commander Expressed Hard-line Position

[Editor’s note: Chen Daoxiang, Commander of the PLA’s Garrison in Hong Kong said in June, when he met with David Helvey, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Defense, that the Hong Kong garrison would not interfere in local affairs.]

According to The Paper, “The reception for the 92nd anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese PLA’s garrison in Hong Kong” was held in Hong Kong on the evening of July 31. In his speech, Chen Daoxiang strongly condemned a series of recent incidents of extreme violence in Hong Kong and expressed his attitude with “seven resolutes.”

Chen Daoxiang said that the garrison will resolutely follow the instructions of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and President Xi, resolutely implement the Basic Law and the Garrison Law, resolutely support the Chief Executive of the Legislative Council, resolutely support the Hong Kong police in law enforcement, resolutely support the Hong Kong SAR Government’s rigorous law enforcement on anti-rioting, resolutely support the actions of the patriotic Hong Kong people to defend the rule of law in Hong Kong, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and the security of Hong Kong.

A theme film “Remain true to our original aspiration and Protect Hong Kong” was also shown at the reception, including training exercises such as special warfare, anti-terrorism, anti-riot, and flat violence.

[Editor’s note: the three minute long video with both Chinese and English subtitles is available at the Weibo site of the PLA’s Hong Kong garrison, https://www.weibo.com/u/1181382331?is_hot=1]

Source: The Paper, July 25, 2019
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_4057900

Briefings | | August 4, 2019 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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.”