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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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Nanjing Military District Accelerates 5G Pilot Application in Military-Civilian Integration

On February 26, 2018, Nanjing Military District Commander Li Bin visited Unicom (Jiangsu) to learn about the application results of Unicom (Jiangsu) in new technologies and new fields such as big data, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. Li Bin had exchanges on how to promote the application of 5G technology in military-civilian integration.

Commander Li Bin said that 5G will not only change society but will also shape future wars. The widespread application of new combat warfare such as unmanned reconnaissance, unmanned vehicles, and autonomous combat will rely on the 5G ultra-high-speed information transmission. Both the military and local civilians should implement the concept of the integration of military and civilian development; they should strengthen cooperation in the areas of mobilization, construction of new quality militia, dynamic management of the militia, and mobilization of auxiliary decision-making zones; and they should actively explore the in-depth use of information technology in the field of national defense mobilization.

Source: jstv.com, February 27, 2019
http://news.jstv.com/a/20190227/1551254341392.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Xi Jinping on Social Science and Works of Art and Culture

Social science and the works of art and culture relate to the theoretical foundation and propaganda vehicles of the Chinese Communist Party’s ideology. During the ongoing sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chinese president Xi Jinping told the conference attendees that social science and art should focus on socialism with “Chinese characteristics.”

According to Xinhua News Agency, Xi said that, without a soul, a country and a nation cannot stand. Works of culture and the arts, philosophy, and social science belong to the work of casting for souls. It plays an important role in the new era of developing socialism.

Xi Jinping advised that philosophy and social science research should be based on the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and should put forward creative and original theories.

Xi emphasized that this year is “the 70th anniversary of the founding of the New China.” It is necessary to present China’s historical achievements and the theoretical and cultural advantages of socialism with “Chinese characteristics”.

Source: Central News Agency, March 4, 2019
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/201903040320.aspx

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

CBIRC: China Faces High Financial Risks

Wang Zhaoxing, Vice Chairman of the China Banking Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) spoke recently about financial risks. Wang said that, to prevent and resolve financial risks, it is necessary to be ready for a good fight as well as to be prepared for a protracted war. He indicated that China should always focus on the following five major risk areas.

First, China should continue to increase its efforts to dispose of the non-performing assets of banking institutions and, at the same time, to control the growth of new non-performing loans.

Second, China should beware of the liquidity risks of small and medium-sized bank insurance institutions during economic downturns and financial market fluctuations.

Third, China should continue to watch out for shadow banking activities such as regulatory arbitrage, “passageway business,” and increased leveraging that includes inter-bank investments, interbank financial management, entrusted loans, and “passageway trust loans.”

Fourth, China should continue to focus on real estate financial risks and implement prudent lending standards for real estate development loans and personal mortgage loans. In particular, it should impose strict control over speculative real estate development and personal loans, and prevent major problems related to real estate financial risks.

Fifth, China should continue to coordinate among other government departments in the disposal of local government debts, especially the disposal of hidden debts of local governments.

Source: The State Council Information Office, February 25, 2019
http://www.scio.gov.cn/xwfbh/xwbfbh/wqfbh/39595/39902/zy39906/Document/1647716/1647716.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Shanghai Residents to Be Able to Access Personal Property Info via Self-service Inquiry Terminal

According to Shanghai Municipal Planning and Resource Bureau, starting from April 1, a self-service inquiry terminal for personal property registration data will be available for the general public to use. At that time, residents can check their house and land registration information using their ID card and facial recognition feature on a self-service inquiry terminal set up in their own district. They can use the terminal or go to the municipal government’s “one stop network” platform to look up property registration, as well as location and mortgage information. At present, Xuhui District is having a pilot test of the self-service inquiry terminal.

Source: The Paper, March 3, 2019
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_3067624

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

China to Launch 8 to 10 Beidou Satellites

According to the China Satellite Navigation Office, in 2019, China plans to launch 8 to 10 Beidou navigation satellites as part of its high intensity global networking. It will finish launching all medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites and improve system wide service functions and user experiences.

The official media reported that, since the completion of the basic system and the launching of global services of the Beidou No. 3 project at the end of 2018, the Beidou system has operated steadily. Its positioning accuracy is within 10 meters around the globe, and within 5 meters in the Asia-Pacific region.

At present, the Beidou system is being used in land confirmation in Indonesia and electric power inspections in Russia.

Source: People’s Daily, March 5, 2019
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2019-03/05/nw.D110000renmrb_20190305_5-04.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

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 | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics