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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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CCDI: Early Warning Needed When Party Officials Show Signs They Are Going to Flee

China News Service carried an article that the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) originally published. The article was part of a five article series on the anti-corruption effort, specifically on the international pursuit of stolen goods. The article stated that, while China is actively building an international network to go after the Party officials who have fled the country with money, more preventive efforts can be taken before it is too late. The article said that the Party officials often show signs when they plan to flee. Therefore, it is crucial that their behavior and daily routine are closely monitored. It also requires that the Party organization take responsibility and follow the guidelines on passport management, boarder entry, and exit claims, as well as the guidelines on the family members of the Party officials who have emigrated overseas. The article said that any early signs of fleeing should be reported immediately. 

Source: China News Service, July 4, 2016
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/07-04/7926229.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Cyberspace Administration Office Issued Notice to Tightened Online News Source

People’s Daily published an article which reported that the Cyberspace Administration Office issued a notice titled “Further Tighten Online Content Management and Prevent the Circulation of Fake News.” The Office requested that all online websites must follow correct media guidelines to ensure “accurate, comprehensive, objective” news reports. It stated that any contents circulating on social media must be verified before those contents can be treated and published as a news article. The website is strictly prohibited from publishing news without a proper source or from using a fake source. The article stated that the move is to “combat and prevent the circulation of fake online news.” The article listed examples of a few fake news articles published this year. It also named a list of websites that were penalized for carrying fake news.

Source: People’s Daily, July 3, 2016
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0703/c1001-28519812.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Ministry of Commerce: China Has Been the Main Target for Anti-Dumping for 21 Consecutive Years

According to an article that Guangming Daily published, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce reported that China has always been the biggest target of trade remedy investigations. The spokesperson pointed out that, since the WTO was formed in 1995, the number of investigations against China totaled 1,149. This number accounted for 32 percent of the total.  China has been investigated for anti-dumping for 21 consecutive years and under countervailing investigations for 10 consecutive years. The article mentioned that recent reports from the WTO and the EU both cited the rise of trade protectionism, especially among G20 members where one-third of their trade remedy measures directly target China. The spokesperson claimed that trade protectionism does not help the world with the recovery of its economy.

Source: Guangming Daily, July 6, 2016
http://economy.gmw.cn/2016-07/06/content_20848735.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

VOA: UK Parliament Hearing on China’s Organ Transplant Practice

The Chinese edition of Voice of America reported that a special hearing on organ transplants was held in the UK parliament on June 29, 2016. The hearing came one day after the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission published its report on the range of China’s appalling human rights abuses.

The 68-page report, titled the Darkest Moment: The Crackdown on Human Rights in China 2013-2016 examined the severe repression of human rights lawyers, violations of freedom of expression, suppression of democratic movements in Hong Kong, and topics on Tibet and Xinjiang, Falun Gong, and harvesting organs.

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Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China News: Top Provincial Leadership Reshuffling Peaked

China News recently reported that, on June 29, the Chinese Communist Party announced the replacement of the provincial top Party secretaries of Jiangxi and Qinghai provinces. Since January, four provinces have had new top Party secretaries. The other two provinces are Henan and Shaanxi. In less than two years’ time, China has changed the top Party secretaries in 12 provinces. In addition to the four mentioned earlier, the rest of the 12 provinces are Shanxi, Jilin, Yunnan, Tianjin, Liaoning, Anhui, Guizhou and Jiangxi. A provincial Party secretary is considered the highest governing official in a province. [Editor’s Note: In China, the governor of a province must be elected. The top provincial Party secretary is appointed by the central committee of the national Communist Party. In reality, the governor typically reports to the top provincial Party secretary.]
Source: China News, June 30, 2016
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/06-30/7922161.shtml
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Caixin: June Manufacturing PMI Fell to Four-Month Low

Well-known Chinese financial site Caixin recently released its official Chinese Manufacturing PMI index number for June. It reflected the sharpest deterioration in operating conditions in four months amid economic weakness at home and abroad, with the index at 48.6. Caixin PMI was formerly known as HSBC PMI, which was a well-respected economic indicator monitored globally by financial institutions. The PMI report showed that total new orders decreased in June, driven by the seventh straight monthly decline in new export sales. At the same time, companies continued to reduce staffing for the 32nd successive month. Overall, economic conditions in the second quarter were considerably weaker than in the first quarter. Caixin expressed its belief that the government must strengthen its proactive fiscal policy while continuing to follow prudent monetary policy. PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) is an indicator of financial activity reflecting purchasing managers’ acquisition of goods and services. A PMI number below 50 typically reflects a decline. 

Source: Caixin, July 1, 2016

http://pmi.caixin.com/2016-07-01/100960907.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Chinese Rating Agencies Completely Ignore Corporate Debt Risks

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that, based on a Financial Times analysis, no Chinese rating agency recognizes the credit risks that Chinese domestic corporate debts have caused. According to data that the IMF has published, China has around US$1.3 trillion worth of corporate debt that can turn bad. However, when checking with the top 10 Chinese rating agencies, the Chinese companies were all considered “healthy.” Based on the current ratings, nearly all of the US$2 trillion domestic corporate debt is considered safe. However, in the first six months of this year, the number of corporate debt default cases skyrocketed to three times the number for the entire previous year. The Chinese ratings are also dramatically different from ratings that the well-respected international agencies such as Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch have given. Some of the Chinese AAA-rated corporate bonds were rated “garbage” outside of China. Critics suggested that the Chinese rating agencies are under the pressure from both the government and the large domestic companies. Some Chinese government officials explained that the overseas ratings did not “properly” consider the government support those Chinese companies enjoy.
Source: Sina, July 1, 2016
http://finance.sina.com.cn/stock/usstock/c/2016-07-01/doc-ifxtrwtu9659094.shtml
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources