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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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Zhejiang Provincial Committee National Security Council Office launched an “Anti-Spy Publicity Week”

The Paper reported that, in order to promote anti-espionage security awareness among the general public, the Zhejiang Provincial Committee National Security Council Office launched an “Anti-Spy Publicity Week” from November 1 to 7 in 11 cities. In Hangzhou City, there are billboard posters in Railway stations and mini-cartoons in city buses and subways stations. Wenzhou City organized an online anti-spy knowledge contest with cash awards. Zhoushan City hosted anti-spy education seminars for college freshman and exchange students from Taiwan. Five people received cash awards between 5,000 to 100,000 yuan (US$726 to US$14,512) from the provincial Department of National Security for submitting tips. The article claims that there has been a higher occurrence of spying activities in Zhejiang Province in recent years. In addition to key departments such as the party, the government, and the military, the general public with certain secrets and confidentiality conditions have also become the targets of foreign intelligence spy agencies. According to the article, the purpose of the Anti-Spy Publicity Week was to use various forms of publicity and education to promote anti-espionage security awareness, especially among the leading cadres at all levels and among key personnel in key positions in different departments and localities.

Source: The Paper, November 2, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2592546

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

RFA: Australian Think Tank Published Report on How Chinese Students or Scholars Steal Military Technology from the West

Radio Free Asia  (RFA) reported that on October 30, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), an Australian think tank, published a report titled, “Picking flowers, making honey.” The report criticized China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for sponsoring Chinese students or scholars to study in the west so they would be able to steal military technology. The report stated that, since 2007, the PLA has sponsored more than 2,500 military scientists and engineers to study abroad and has developed relationships with researchers and institutions across the globe including in such countries as the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. These people often pose as students or scholars in a collaboration project to collect military technology. They hide their military background, and it is difficult for Western countries to understand or learn about their relationship with the Chinese military. These people usually do not directly contact the military personnel in the host country. The research cooperation projects they participate in are usually concentrated in the fields of emerging technology or military and civil science, such as quantum physics, signal processing, cryptography, navigation technology, artificial intelligence, etc. They secretly collect relevant technology. Meanwhile in the past five years, the number of research reports that Chinese military researchers and British and American scientists have published has been more than the number of research reports that  scholars from any other country have published. The report also pointed out that, since the Western academic environment is open, it is very difficult to prevent the CCP military personnel from stealing key technologies at the academic level. When many scholars of the Chinese military participate in scientific and technological research projects in Western countries, they often bring research funding as well.

A former Chinese Army Naval Intelligence Officer told RFA that major universities in mainland China have national defense students. These students have to sign confidential contracts with the military after they enter the university. Many scientific and technical personnel in the military are national defense graduates.

China’s official media Huanqiu condemned the report making the accusation that the report is “the western forces’ going to new heights to smear China’s image.” The report quoted one Chinese diplomatic scholar who claimed that Australia has followed in the footsteps of the U.S. in its China policy and actively cooperated with Trump’s statement that China’s development is based on stealing Western technology. This approach has not been good for Australia.

Source:
1. Radio Free Asia, October 31, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/report-10312018093328.html
2. Australian Strategic Policy Institute, October 30, 2018
https://www.aspi.org.au/report/picking-flowers-making-honey
3. Huanqiu, October 30, 2018
http://hqtime.huanqiu.com/article/a-XDIVXC5A79CF363246A988

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Corrupt Officials Ran Away with Money; Depositors Made a Run on the Bank

Zigong Bank is a privately run bank in Zigong, Sichuan Province. People made a run on the bank after news spread on the Internet that the three executives of Zigong Bank fled with money they had embezzled. Many people in Zigong rushed to the bank to withdraw money.

The news of the run on Zigong Bank spread widely on the Internet. After only 20 minutes, the authorities ordered the information to be deleted, but the people had already flocked to the bank’s branches to withdraw funds. Rumors were that the bank did not have enough reserves to pay for the withdrawals.

The local government issued a notice denying the rumors and claimed that Zigong Bank is functioning normally. The police later claimed to have arrested a 31-year-old netizen.

Source: Radio France International, November 3, 2018
http://rfi.my/3I47.T

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua Editorial Calls for Private Enterprises to Have Confidence in China’s Economy

After admitting that the economy is facing downward pressure, Beijing began to speak to private enterprises through its official media. The People’s Daily published an editorial claiming that private enterprises must first “enhance confidence in China’s economy” so as “to overcome difficulties and achieve greater development.”

The article, titled, “Strengthening Confidence in China’s Economic Development,” states that “the confidence of certain victory” comes from the “many favorable conditions” of China’s economic development and comes from “the strong leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and its ability to control the overall situation of the economy.”

The article points out that, domestically, with a market of 1.3 billion people, China has enormous resilience, potential, and room for maneuvering. It also has a unique institutional advantage and has the political advantage of “concentrating resources to do big things.”

Externally, the article continued, the world economy has shown signs of recovery. In the first three quarters of this year, China’s imports and exports “maintained a steady growth momentum.” It has accelerated investment and trade cooperation with countries along the “Belt and Road.”

The article said that it is necessary to unite closely around the “Central Committee of the Party with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core,” “maintain strategic composure, make progress in a steady fashion, and pay close attention to implementation of the reform.” It shows the confidence that “the vessel of the Chinese economy will be able to sail far and steady by cleaving together through the waves.”

Source: Xinhua, November 4, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-11/04/c_1123660864.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

With Chile on Board, “Belt and Road” Advances into U.S. Backyard

Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero said on November 2 that Chile will participate in China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which will deepen the economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

In the statement, Ampuero said that participation in China’s global infrastructure initiative will make Chile more attractive to Chinese investors; he hopes to make his country a “landing point for investments in Latin America.”

China is Chile’s top trading partner and the two countries are deepening ties. Last week, Chile and China signed a trade deal to streamline customs controls and widen access to the Chinese market for Chilean products.

Ever since Trump took office, China has continued to play important roles around the globe. For example, China has been promoting the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, so as to replace the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

China also challenges the dominance of the U.S. in Latin America. In the coming decade, China will pour a total investment of $250 billion into this region. China is also the largest trading partner of many Latin American countries including Brazil and Argentina.

Source: Central News Agency, November 2, 2018
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/201811020051.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Beijing Announced the List of Foreign Heads of State or Heads of Government Attending the China International Import Expo

According to Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on October 29 that the first China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the following heads of state or heads of government will attend the Expo:

Miloš Zeman, President of the Czech Republic,
Miguel Díaz-Canel, President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba,
Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic,
Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya,
Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Lithuania,
Juan Carlos Varela, President of Panama,
Salvador Sánchez Cerén, President El Salvador,
Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation,
Henry Puna, Prime Minister of Cook Islands,
Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia,
Mostafa Kamal Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt,
Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary,
Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia,
Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Laos,
Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta,
Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan,
Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of Russia, and
Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Prime Minister of Vietnam.

Source: Xinhua News Agency, October 29, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/2018-10/29/c_129981443.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

RFA: Ministry of National Security Prevented Underground Church Believers from Attending Christian Training in South Korea

Radio Free Asia reported that, according to the pastor of the Chinese Underground Christian Church, on October 25, the Chinese Ministry of National Security personnel intercepted more than 100 underground church believers who were about to board a plane so they could attend the Christian training meeting that the Texas Baptist Church organized on Jeju Island in South Korea. They were stopped from boarding on the grounds that they might harm National Security. A twitter photo showed that a member of the National Security Department held a note telling the Christians sitting at the airport that they got an order from the Ministry of National Security to stop these people from going abroad. The Christians were also told that they would be questioned once they got back home. One pastor in China told Radio Free Asia that the Chinese authorities have further escalated the suppression of the underground churches and what little freedom they enjoyed in the past has quickly disappeared. Article 6 of the Chinese Constitution stipulates that Chinese citizens have freedom of belief. He hopes that the international community can pay attention to this issue. Another pastor in the U.S. told Radio Free Asia that this incident shows that the Chinese government has further intensified its persecution of Christianity. The “Regulations on Religious Affairs” that China promulgated last year includes a guideline to intensify the control of believers who attend meetings or any training abroad. Previously, even though Chinese underground church believers were not allowed to attend training in China, they could still go abroad to participate in exchanges or gatherings with believers from other countries. However, since Beijing began to promote “a Chinese-Style religion,” {that is, to Sinicize all religion} they have intensified further control and suppression of religious figures including underground Christian church believers.

According to Radio Free Asia , the revised Regulations on Religious Affairs, which was promulgated in September 2017 and implemented in February 2018, provides strict control over the financial, publishing, and online promotion of religious affairs and the training of believers abroad.

Source: Radio Free Asia, October 29, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/nu-10292018105136.html;

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

World Laureates Forum and “WLA Scientific Community”

According to China’s official newspaper China Daily, in November 2017, Roger Kornberg and six other Nobel laureates, including Michael Levitt and Ada Yonath, founded the World Laureates Association (WLA), also known as the Global Nobel Prize Scientists Association.  The association’s purpose is to “enhance innovative creativity and foster the development of future Nobel Prize winners” for the benefit of the world.

On October 29, the WLA hosted the World Laureates Forum at Dishui Lake in the Lingang Area of the Pudong New Area in Shanghai. The theme was “Science and technology for the common destiny of mankind.” Over 30 of the world’s top scientists, including 26 Nobel laureates, and winners of the Wolf Prize, the Lasker Award, the Turing Award, the MacArthur Fellows Program, and Chinese scientists attended the forum.

The forum focused on building Shanghai as a science and technology innovation center with global influence. The three-day event included topics such as photonic science, life sciences, innovative drug research, brain science, and artificial intelligence.

Around that time, the “WLA Scientific Community” was launched in Lingang.

According to Chinese media, the community aims to “break the imaginary boundaries of Silicon Valley and Optics Valley and create a ‘Science Valley.’” The “original inhabitants” of Science Valley are the world’s top scientists such as the winners of the Nobel Prize, the Wolf Prize, the Lasker Award, and the Turing Award. The community will be tailored to their diverse needs and for human being’s best brains to create a poetic dwelling for independent innovation.

On May 11, Roger Kornberg represented the WLA and signed a tripartite “Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation” with the Shanghai Lingang District Development and Construction Management Committee and the Shanghai Lingang Economic Development (Group) Co., Ltd. Kornberg stated, “We also hope to establish a number of open, cooperative and shared future technology communities in several Chinese cities such as Shanghai. The world’s top scientists, covering Nobel Prize scientists’ laboratories, studios, and international intellectual property services will lead them.

The “WLA Science Community” consists of three major platforms: the ideological platform, the laboratory platform, and the technology transformation platform. The ideological platform includes the scientific work area, an exchange center, and the release of scientists. It is the birthplace of original ideas. The laboratory platform includes the scientists’ incubator center and the scientists’ laboratory. It is a technology incubator to transform ideas into technology. The technology transformation platform covers a science community technology bank, and the science community fund. It will transform technology into applications.

Source: The Paper, October 29, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2575508
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2576979

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology