Chinascope – Page 432

Swedish Ambassador Acted for China

Anna Lindstedt, Sweden’s Ambassador to China, was reported to have arranged “Chinese businessmen” to put pressure on a political dissident on behalf of China. She was then called back to Sweden for an investigation. The Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallström, said that she was “very angry” about what Lindstedt did.

Angela Gui’s father, Gui Minhai, was held in custody in China for political reasons. Lindstedt invited Angela Gui to meet two “Chinese businessmen” who claimed that they could help with her father’s case. She went to Stockholm and met Lindstedt and the two “Chinese businessmen.” The two “Chinese businessmen” put pressure on her, representing the Chinese Communist Party’s position. They asked her to stop making public statements. One even threatened that she would never see her father again if she did not keep her mouth shut.

Angela Gui noticed that Lindstedt was helping those two “Chinese businessmen.” Lindstedt asked her to cooperate; otherwise “China might punish Sweden.”

Gui pointed out to Lindstedt that those “Chinese businessmen” were trying to control her. Lindstedt responded that she felt sorry that Gui had that thought.

Angela Gui exposed the meeting on a blog. She also inquired of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden about Lindstedt’s arranging the meeting. The ministry was not aware of such a meeting and thought that Lindstedt was in Beijing. Lindstedt was later recalled.

About Gui Minhai (桂民海)

Gui Minhai, also known as Michael Gui, is a Chinese-born Swedish scholar and book publisher. He was one of the three owners of a book publishing company, Causeway Bay Books in Hong Kong, that is known for publishing politically sensitive books banned in China. He disappeared in Thailand in 2015 and later appeared on China Central Television (CCTV) in January 2016 where he admitted he was guilty of drunk driving and killing a student. Several other people connected to the publishing company also disappeared from Hong Kong around the same time and ended up in China.

Gui Minhai was released in October 2017 and stayed with his wife in a rental apartment in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. The couple tried to leave China, but in January 2018, he was arrested again, in front of two Swedish diplomats who were accompanying him on a train to Beijing.

Sources:
1. Epoch Times, February 15, 2019
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/19/2/15/n11048172.htm
2. Boxun, January 24, 2018
https://www.boxun.com/news/gb/intl/2018/01/201801240656.shtml
3. China Worker, February 21, 2019
https:// chinaworker.info/en/2019/02/21/19791/

Briefings | | March 6, 2019 | Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

China’s Official PMI for February Recorded Three-Year Low

Well-known Chinese news site Sohu recently reported that China’s National Bureau of Statistics just released its official February numbers for the manufacturing industry sector. The manufacturing PMI dropped to 49.2, which is the lowest since March 2016. Some experts suggested that the February Chinese New Year was the cause. However, the PMI decline this year is worse than it was for the Chinese New Year months in the past three years. This is also the first time since February 2009 that the official manufacturing PMI has gone below 50. The latest numbers showed very low new orders on the import side. New export orders also reached the lowest since March 2009. Almost all analysts pointed out that the new PMI numbers do reflect a continued pressure on the Chinese economy. PMI is an indicator of financial activity reflecting purchasing managers’ acquisition of goods and services. A PMI number below 50 typically reflects a decline.

Source: Sohu, February 28, 2019
http://www.sohu.com/a/298199657_114986

Briefings | | March 5, 2019 | Economy/Resources

Ford is Cutting Headcount in China

The Shanghai-based Chinese financial news site East Money recently reported that Ford is cutting its headcount in its joint venture Company in Xi’an, China. The total amount of workers being “quietly” laid off is in the thousands. There is no precise report on the actual count, but among the five factories Ford has in Xi’an, the shifts have been reduced from three per day to one. The three large assembly factories in Chongqing also lowered their output to one fifth of their capacity. The Chinese automobile market shrank in 2018, seeing the first decline in sales since 1990. With the increasing pressure from transportation infrastructure and tough emission standards, it is widely expected that China’s automobile market will continue to suffer over the next few years. Ford is not the only automobile manufacturer that is facing market pressure. Nearly all major players are seeing declines. Analysts expect that the Chinese automobile industry will have more challenges in 2019.

Source: East Money, February 28, 2019
http://finance.eastmoney.com/a/201902281056249338.html

Briefings | | March 4, 2019 | Economy/Resources

Jiangxi to Introduce “Red Culture” Textbooks across the Province

According to an article Sohu published, starting this spring, all schools in Jiangxi Province will introduce “red culture” courses, and use the “red culture” textbooks that the Ministry of Education Development Research Center, the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee Education Working Committee, and the Provincial Department of Education developed jointly. This set of textbooks ranges from kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school and also including secondary vocational schools, to college including higher vocational colleges. This will be the first set of “red culture” textbooks in China.

Yu Weiyue, deputy director of the Department of Basic Education of the Ministry of Education, stated that the purpose of the preparation of “red culture” textbooks is to “plant the seeds of love for the party, patriotism, and the people in the hearts of children; to apply these sentiments to their daily behavior, and to have them become part of their lifelong values.”

Deputy Governor of the Jiangxi Provincial Government said that Jiangxi Province will take the lead in the country to promote the “red culture” in the campus and the classroom, and strive to spread the “red culture” education to the rest of the country.

Source: Sohu, March 2, 2019
https://www.sohu.com/a/298566425_267106?scm=1002.44003c.fd00fe.PC_ARTICLE_REC&spm=smpc.content.fd-d.16.1551398400023WRl5Apr

Briefings | | March 4, 2019 | Government/Politics

Xi Jinping Emphasizes Faith in Marxism

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has recently focused on ideology. Not long ago, at the Politburo’s “Democratic Life Meeting,” Politburo members were told to submit a written “performance report.” On February 28, the CCP released, “Opinions on strengthening the political construction of the Party.” On March 1, at the Central Party School’s opening ceremony of the “training session for young and middle-aged cadres, Xi Jinping gave a speech.

Xi said that it is “a big event” to train and select outstanding young cadres, which matters for the destiny of the party, the country, and the nation, as well as for the well-being of the people. The cadres, especially young cadres, must maintain “loyalty to the party, gratitude to the people, an enterprising spirit for their work, and a sense of respect for the law and for discipline.”

Xi added that being politically steadfast cannot be separated from “being firm on theory.” The ideals and beliefs of the Chinese Communists are based on a profound understanding of Marxism. With firm ideals and convictions, the cadres can adhere to the correct political direction. “Once you have set your mind on a faith, you have to believe it throughout your lifetime, otherwise there will be big problems.” He said that the key to measuring whether a cadre has ideals or not depends on “whether he is loyal to the party.” “Leading cadres must be loyal and clean.” “Loyalty is always of the foremost importance.”

Source: Central News Agency, March 1, 2019
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/201903010218.aspx

Briefings | | March 4, 2019 | Government/Politics

Beijing’s Ten Years of “Festival of Spring” Global Tour

On the evening of February 25th, at Warner Theatre in Washington DC, the American Troupe of “Festival of Spring” completed the final performance of its global tour. China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, a subsidiary of the Chinese Ministry of Culture, put together the show of “Festival of Spring.” The presenters included the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. The former is also an office under the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department; the latter is a liaison organization between the CCP and the overseas Chinese community.

For the season of 2019, six troupes of the “Festival of Spring” program were reported to have travelled to 29 cities in 16 countries with 33 shows, including Medan (of Indonesia), Barcelona, New York, Nairobi, Suva (of Fiji), Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.

According to People’s Daily, since 2009, the program of “Festival of Spring” has toured overseas every year during Chinese New Year holiday season. So far, it has dispatched 75 arts groups and done 450 performances in 331 cities across five continents, with nearly 7 million theater or public square audience members.

Tang Cuiying, head of the American Troupe of “Festival of Spring” and a board member of the China Overseas Friendship Association, a CCP led United Front Work organization, stated, “The overseas performances are to bring the blessings and greetings from the homeland to the overseas Chinese, so that they can enjoy the melodies and love from the homeland in an atmosphere of reunion and happiness.” Tang is also an official at the Bureau of Overseas Chinese Affairs under the CCP’s United Front Work Department.

Source: People’s Daily, March 1, 2019
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2019-03/01/nw.D110000renmrb_20190301_2-20.htm

Briefings | | March 3, 2019 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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.”

The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.