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RFA: Over 2.65 Million Haigui in 2016 and the Number Is Expected to Grow in 2017

RFA published an article stating that, according to a research paper that the CCG (Center for China and Globalization) published, which was about jobs and entrepreneurship for Haigui, (Haigui refers to students who return to China after studying abroad), by the end of 2016, the number of Haigui exceeded 2.65 million. It is expected that the number will grow in 2017. Over half of Haigui believe they can recover the cost of their overseas education within five years. IT, telecommunications, electronics, and the Internet in the private business sector are the fields that most attract the Haigui. Haigui prefer technology, renovation, and the service industry in second tier cities to pursue startup business opportunities.

Source: Radio Free Asia, August 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/7-08132017152156.html

Duowei: China Launched Internet Crackdown to Secure the Internet Prior to 19th National Congress

According to Duowei, a number of Internet security measures have been launched recently to ensure Internet stability prior to the 19th National Congress. On August 11, the Cyberspace Administration launched an investigation against Ten Cent Weixin, Sina Weibo, and Baidu Post Bar for alleged cases in which its users spread violent content, rumors, and sexually explicit material. Such acts violated the Internet Security Law that was introduced on June 1. Several Internet service providers including VeryCloud and EnHT Technology companies conducted a “one-key shutdown” drill in early August. The drill tested their ability to shut down Internet service immediately when they received an official notice. In addition to tightened control over VPNs, the central administration also issued a notice to its party members to exercise restraint over Internet activities to make sure no one spread information that damaged the party’s image or published commentary articles that contained politically sensitive topics.

Source: Duowei, August 11, 2017
http://news.dwnews.com/china/news/2017-08-11/60006388.html

SARFT Sets Program Guidelines for Satellite TV Stations

According to a notice that the SARFT (the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television) issued, satellite television stations should be news based television stations. They shouldn’t simply pursue or fabricate means to influence their TV ratings. They are required to control television programs aired during prime time. Those programs should not contain TV dramas that have excessive entertainment content or sensitive topics; they should air programs that cover public welfare, culture, science, and the economy. For entertainment programs, the stations are asked to limit reality TV or entertainment programs that use movie or TV celebrities or TV programs that copy their format from those in foreign countries. As to selecting special guests or commentators, they must use positive moral character and artistic achievements as the top criteria.

Source: Guangming Daily, August 7, 2017
http://e.gmw.cn/2017-08/07/content_25481844.htm

Retired Officials Excluded from the PLA Anniversary Celebration Event

On August 1, China held the Celebration Party for the 90th Anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping gave an important speech.

All of the seven Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee members and current high-rank military and Party officers sat on the rostrum. However, none of the retired officials, from either the military side or the Party, was seated on the rostrum. This is totally different from the 70th or the 80th anniversary celebration where the retired officials were on the rostrum.

A political commentator suggested that this showed Xi has full control of the military, exceeding what the previous leaders had.

Source: Epoch Times, August 2, 2017
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/17/8/2/n9487950.htm

Xi Jinping: We Absolutely Cannot Allow Splitting China

On August 1, China held the Celebration Party for the 90th Anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping gave a speech, stating “We absolutely will not allow any person, any organization, any party, at any time, using any means, to split any piece of China’s land from China. No one should expect that we will swallow the bitter result from the damage to our nation’s sovereignty, security, or development.”

Source: Duowei, July 31, 2017
http://news.dwnews.com/global/news/2017-07-31/60004426.html

Chatbots Fixed for “Political Correctness”

The QQ social media platform (owned by Tencent) recently offered two chatbots for online conversations with people. However, it was found that they did not provide “politically correct” answers. On July 30, they were taken offline.

The two chatbots are Baby Q, developed by Tencent, and Xiao Bing, developed by Microsoft.

To the question, “Do you love the (Communist) Party?” Baby Q replied, “No, I don’t love it.”

When people asked Xiao Bing, “What is your China Dream?” Xiao Bing answered, “My China Dream is to immigrate to the U.S.! It is very real.”

They were put back in use a few days later. According to a Reuter’s test, they became very “cautious.”

When they were asked, “Do you love the Party?” this time, Baby Q answered, “Let’s change the subject.”

When Xiao Bing was asked about political affairs in China, it answered, “I’m too young to understand.”

When asked, “Is Taiwan a country?” Xiao Bing answered, “I don’t want to talk to you.”  {Editor’s note: After losing the civil war to the Chinese Communist Party in 1949, the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan. From the perspective of mainland China (the Communist Regime), Taiwan is not a county but a part of China that is yet to be reunited with China.)

When typing “democracy” or “Xi Jinping,” Xiao Bing answers, “Let’s change the topic,” or “The wind is so loud that I can’t hear what you are saying!”

Sources:
1. VOA, August 2, 2017
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-chatbox-20170802/3969872.html
2. Epoch Times, August 4, 2017
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/17/8/4/n9497916.htm

Full Rebuttal in the Matter of the Divine Land Marching Band

{Editor’s Comment: In 2016, the Divine Land Marching Band, a group of Falun Gong practitioners, was scheduled to participate in the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Parade. At the last minute, they were rejected from the parade. They signed a complaint of discrimination against the organizer, Sakura Matsuri, Inc. with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission

Case Name:            Rui Wang v. Sukura Natsuri, Inc.

Docket Number:  FY-17-12C-030

The Full Rebuttal to the allegations follows:}

Dear Respectful Rebecca Oyama,

Thank you for being an investigator on the matter between the Respondent and us.

As you can easily perceive, the two parties have discrepancies on what was said and done in regards to how the Respondent handled our applications to and participation in the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Parade (NCCBFGP).

To prevent this matter from spiraling down into a “he said vs. he said” dispute, we will format our rebuttal into two parts. We will show in the “summary arguments” that the Respondent’s best effort of white-washing its disparate treatment of us not only in and of itself constitutes an admission of unfair treatment, but also cannot stand up to a cross examination of surrounding facts of the NCCBFGP. We will then make a point-to-point rebuttal of the Respondent’s response in the second part.

We will also provide a fact sheet and other supporting documents as reference material.

Thank you for your patience. Continue reading