Chinascope – Page 540

BBC Chinese: 6-Month Implementation of China’s New NGO Law Brought Disruption

BBC Chinese recently reported that China’s new NGO (Non-Government Organization) law that went into effect on January 1 resulted in disruption. A large number of NGOs suspended operations, cancelled activities, or lost sponsorship. The new law required that all NGOs, including those dedicated to environmental protection and charitable activities, must register with the police before they can operate. The police maintain a list of organizations that help overturn the government or support separatists. Financial and operations audits are needed before registration. It is estimated that there were around 1000 permanent NGOs in China and around 6000 NGOs working on short-term projects. So far only 139 NGOs have officially registered. Many NGOs refused media interviews, citing concerns about blockage from the police. Some anonymous NGOs mentioned “major bureaucracy” in the registration process. China’s Ministry of Public Safety refused to comment on this matter.

Source: BBC Chinese, July 7, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-40528289

Briefings | | July 10, 2017 | Government/Politics

BBC Global Survey: China’s International Image Worsens

BBC Chinese recently reported that the BBC World Service just completed its global survey of country images among people from 19 nations. Compared to the same survey done in 2014, the number of people with positive views on China declined from 43 percent to 41 percent, and those with negative views grew by two percent to 42 percent. On a country level, Canada, the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Indonesia, and India have negative views on China, while Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Greece, Russia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Pakistan hold positive views on China. According to the survey, people from the U.S. have the highest percentage of negative views on China (70 percent). In some countries, negative views grew significantly, such as India (from 35 percent to 60 per cent). For the first time, Indonesia has more negative views (50 percent) than positive (28 percent). In the meantime, 61 percent of the people in China gave the U.S. negative views. They gave Russia 74 percent positive views and Britain 73 percent positive views (this was after Brexit, with a 34 percent increase from 2014). China also gave North Korea 76 percent negative views and Japan 75 percent negative views (from 90 percent in 2014). China’s negative views against South Korean changed dramatically, from 32 percent (in 2014) to 71 percent.

Source: BBC Chinese, July 6, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-40522666

Briefings | | July 10, 2017 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Frequent Appearances of Former Prime Minister Suggests Rally behind Xi for the Upcoming 19th National Congress

According to an article in the Epoch Times, the recent frequent appearances of former prime minister Wen Jiabao suggests that Wen is trying to rally behind Xi for the upcoming 19th National Congress. The article reported that, on July 6, Wen was spotted visiting the China University of Geosciences. In April Wen went to Lu Liang of Shanxi Province. A couple of months later, in June, Xi Jinping also visited Lu Liang and a poverty stricken village in the region. Xi’s visit was interpreted as his using Wen’s political power to extend the influence of his new leadership. According to the article, Wen and former President Hu Jintao are considered Xi’s major allies. Wen assisted Xi in taking down a number of political opponents who are part of former President Jiang Zemin’s faction. Wen and Hu Jintao have often appeared in public during the critical timing when Xi took down members of Jiang’s faction during the campaign to combat corruption.

Source: Epoch Times, July 8, 2017
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/17/7/8/n9369270.htm

Briefings | | July 10, 2017 | Government/Politics

Noble Prize Winner Liu Xiaobo Still Wishes to Leave China to Receive Medical Treatment Overseas

According to an article that Radio Free Asia (RFA) published, Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo is in critical condition because he has reached the late stage of liver cancer. Both Liu and his wife have continued to express their wishes to leave China to receive medical treatment overseas. Liu was sent to the hospital from Jinzhou prison where he was serving an 11 year jail sentence. Since June 7, he has been hospitalized at the First Hospital of China Medical University in the city of Shen Yang, Liaoning Province. On June 26, 2017, he was granted medical parole after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. The daily updates that the hospital has issued have never mentioned the family’s intent to have him seek treatment overseas. Based on an interview with RFA, a close friend of Liu’s wife told RFA that the official news release from Liu’s family has been strictly controlled by the officials; they could only say whatever the officials wanted them to say. The article also mentioned that Liu’s medical condition took a sharp turn in April after his wife disclosed the latest situation of his family members to him: his wife has been suffering from severe depression and her brother was sentenced to 11 years in jail.

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-07072017101142.html

Briefings | | July 9, 2017 | Government/Politics

Global Times: The United States Is Unreliable; China and Russia Are True Friends

China’s state media Global Times published an opinion article stating that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership for cooperation is an extremely important diplomatic asset for both countries. It proposed that China and Russia should continue to move forward in the direction of an all-around strategic partnership.

The article stated, “The same day that Chinese leaders received a call from Washington, they left for Moscow, arriving three days later. Inevitably they let the public relations between China and the United States continue with China to make contact. Thinking about the twists and turns that happened between China and the United States in the previous week, they looked at the long-term stability of the China-Russian relationship. China does not know how many people cannot help but think that the United States is still unreliable but that China and Russia are real friends.”

“The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation is true to its name. The two countries have reached a high level of strategic mutual trust; leadership exchanges are like visiting relatives. Since becoming president, Xi has visited Russia six times. Xi and Putin have met together a total of 21 times.”

“Both China and Russia have a very positive attitude toward the development of China’s and Russia’s strategic cooperation with each other. It is not for a temporary purpose; both countries regard the relationship with the other side as a strategic ballast stone to deal with the complex world. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation is an extremely important diplomatic asset for both countries.”

“Washington has not given up on the idea of ‘transforming’ China; its attitude towards China’s policies is very complicated. On the one hand, they want to maximize the interests of the United States through Sino-U.S. economic cooperation. On the other hand, and at the same time, they want to restrict China strategically to ensure that the U.S. has the absolute advantage in security.”

“One cannot be impulsive in thinking the worst about Sino-U.S. relations, allowing the friction to ferment. One cannot hold an unrealistic fantasy either. The strategic issue between China and U.S. is very deep. One can only find the answers slowly.”

Source: Global Times, July 4, 2017
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2017-07/10931314.html

Briefings | | July 9, 2017 | US-China Relations

Duowei: Vice Chairman of CMC Cut Short His Visit to Vietnam

Duowei reported that it was not with a purpose that Fan Changlong, the First Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), cut short his visit to Vietnam in June.

Fan left Beijing on June 12 to visit Spain, the Netherlands, and Vietnam. China’s Ministry of Defense reported that Fan would attend the Forth Summit of the Sino-Vietnam Militaries. However, the Ministry of Defense later reported that “due to a work arrangement, China cancelled the Forth Summit of the Sino-Vietnam Militaries.”

Analysts think this is related to the sovereignty debate between China and Vietnam, related to the South China Sea, where both sides claim ownership. One version of the story was that Vietnam started exploration work on a gas field in the South China Sea during Fan’s visit. China was so irritated that it sent over forty military ships and sea patrol ships and several military transport aircraft, to stop Vietnam’s drilling operation.

Source: Duowei, June 28, 2017
http://china.dwnews.com/news/2017-06-28/59822486.html

Briefings | | July 6, 2017 | Defense/Military 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.