Chinascope – Page 606

Global Times: China Plans to Send Nuclear Submarines to the Pacific

Global Times recently reported, based on British news sources, that the Chinese military is in the middle of planning to send nuclear submarines to cruise the pacific. The new weapon systems that the United States has deployed in the region weakened China’s “power of deterrence.” Anonymous Chinese military officials said there has been no set time table for the submarines yet, but some actions like this are unavoidable. A recent Pentagon report also predicted that, at a certain point in 2016, a nuclear related “deterrence patrol” by China could be possible. So far Beijing has been following the “prudential military deterrence” policies, which promise not to be the first to use nuclear weapons. However, deploying nuclear submarines may have a long-term impact.

Source: Global Times, May 26, 2016

http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2016-05/8979102.html

Briefings | | May 31, 2016 | Defense/Military

CRN: Tsai Ing-wen Asked for U.S. Support to Join TPP Negotiations

China Review News (CRN) recently reported that the new Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with the U.S. Congressional delegation that was visiting Taiwan. Tsai expressed her appreciation for the official U.S. support in accepting Taiwan as an Interpol (The International Criminal Police Organization) observer. She further asked for U.S. support in letting Taiwan join the second round of the TPP (The Trans-Pacific Partnership) negotiation. Taiwan has a very tight economic relationship with the United States. Taiwan is the ninth largest trade partner of the U.S. and the U.S. is the second largest trade partner of Taiwan. She said joining the TPP is one of her key national growth goals and the new Taiwanese government will seek to participate actively in the negotiation for membership. TPP is a U.S. led trade organization for the pacific region. Most of the world’s economists have the belief that it was designed to contain China.

Source: China Review News, May 22, 2016

http://bj.crntt.com/doc/1042/4/0/9/104240946.html?coluid=46&kindid=0&docid=104240946&mdate=0522151954

Briefings | | May 31, 2016 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Exuberant and Fruitless G7 Summit Should be Cancelled

Xinhua recently published a commentary criticizing the G7 Summit for not achieving anything. The commentary suggested that the G7 only offered a forum for the seven member-country leaders to be able to talk shop; however, there has typically been no agreement and no swift action. The author questioned the need for such a multimillion dollar show. The G7 Summit is currently being held in Japan, and the Japanese will no-doubt seize the opportunity to smuggle some of their selfish interests into the outcome, such as the “freedom of navigation” in the East China Sea, which has nothing to do with five of the seven G7 members. It is also expected that the G7 will announce something related to sustainable world economic growth, counter-terrorism and the EU refugee issue. However, given the G7’s previous record, no one expected any concrete resolutions. It is reasonable not to hope for a solution to the world’s most serious challenges in two days, but many have been calling for the end of such a summit, after which these challenges will continue to worsen. [Editor’s note: the G7 Summit is a forum for leaders from Japan, the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Canada. The European Union is also represented.]

Source: Xinhua, May 26, 2016

http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2016-05/26/c_129018614.htm

Briefings | | May 31, 2016 | Government/Politics

Political Rivalry in China Part 3 – Who Pushed Tsai Ing-wen into the President’s Seat?

Part 3: Who Pushed Tsai Ing-wen into the President’s Seat?

On May 20, 2016, Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), was sworn in as the newly elected President of the Republic of China. In her inaugural address, she stated, “Once again, the people of Taiwan have shown the world through our actions that we, as a free and democratic people, are committed to the defense of our freedom and democracy as a way of life. Each and every one of us participated in this journey. My dear fellow Taiwanese, we did it.” [1]

Continue reading →

Perspectives | | May 26, 2016 | Opinion

PLA Daily: The Basic Problem for Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou Was Political Mistakes, Not Corruption

China’s top military newspaper PLA Daily published an article discussing the principles and directions of army administration under the new leadership. The article emphasized that, for the top officials, political correctness trumps everything else.

It said, “Facing the new situation and tasks, we need, more firmly and consciously, to implement the requirements of developing the army politically and ensuring a firm and correct political direction for the army’s development.”

The article explained that, as Former Vice Chairmen of the Military Commission, Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou’s fundamental problem was that they violated political principles. The article said, “[Because] cadres [government officials] are high up in position and heavy in power, any mistake, however small, won’t be small and will be costly. A political mistake will be even more damaging. Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou’s corruption problems were appalling, but this was not the crux of their problems. The key issue was that they violated the political bottom line.”

The article was also republished in other major Chinese state media such as People’s Daily. The key message of the article was widely circulated on the Internet.

Source: PLA Daily, May 25, 2016

http://www.81.cn/jfjbmap/content/2016-05/25/content_145667.htm

http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0525/c1011-28377961.html

Briefings | | May 26, 2016 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: China Hopes the U.S. Will Not Take Sides

Xinhua republished a Global Times’ article on China’s media campaign on the global stage on the issue of the South China Sea.

"As the South Chinese Sea Arbitration decision date is approaching, China’s media campaign to rebut those statements from the Philippines and the U.S. that have muddied the truth has reached its peak."

"Foreign Minister Wan Yi said, ‘On the South China Sea issue, any actions that ignore the basic facts, take the side of their own allies, or that deliberately create political issues will not get support from the people. Rather, they will ruin their own reputations and it will come to a fruitless end.’"

"On the same day, Rashid Alimov, the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, stated, ‘We strongly oppose interference on this issue from any countries outside the region; we also oppose the internationalization of the issue.’"

"On May 19, a U.S. Newsweek reporter asked Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin ‘whether China has a red line on the South China Sea issue.’ Liu expressed that ‘our red line is wishing the U.S. does not choose a side, in other words, does not support a so-called ally to oppose China.’"

"Recently, several of China’s Ambassadors started media campaigns overseas. The Ambassador to Great Britain, Liu Xiaoming, published an article in Financial Times and also gave a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. China’s Ambassador to Maldives, Wang Fukang, published an article in its mainstream media Sun Online. The Ambassador to Romania, Xu Feihong, published an article in a major local newspaper. China’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Chang Hua, published an article in Gulf Times."

Source: Xinhua, May 25, 2016

http://tw.on.cc/cn/bkn/cnt/news/20160522/bkncn-20160522150423796-0522_05011_001_cn.html

Briefings | | May 25, 2016 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Oriental Daily: Former Taiwan Affairs Office Official Stated Not Much Time Left to Reunify Taiwan

Oriental Daily reported that, in an internal forum, Wang Zaixi, former Deputy Director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the following points regarding the Taiwan issue:

The comprehensive powers of the two sides of the Taiwan strait have changed dramatically. Mainland China should have strategic confidence. There are four strategies that it can adopt to handle Taiwan independence: a political split, military deterrence, economic integration, and a diplomatic arrangement.

Wang stated that the Taiwan issue has existed for 67 years. The international convention takes 100 years as a key milestone in determining the authority of an island. "After 100 years, the international tribunal’s decision is not based on who owned the island historically but rather who has effectively controlled the island in the past 100 years." Thus there is not much time left to solve the Taiwan issue. There is no time table for the reunification, but the government should have a sense of urgency.

Source: Oriental Daily, May 22, 2016
http://tw.on.cc/cn/bkn/cnt/news/20160522/bkncn-20160522150423796-0522_05011_001_cn.html

Briefings | | May 25, 2016 | Geo-Strategic Trend

BBC Chinese: Chinese Official Media Gaining Ground on Facebook

BBC Chinese recently reported that official Chinese media channels such as the People’s Daily (newspaper) and CCTV (Chinese Central Television) are gaining popularity on the English Facebook platform. People’s Daily enjoys 18,923,312 followers, surpassing the New York Times. And CCTV has 25,838,015 followers, surpassing CNN. Most of the posts by these two channels are related to Chinese sightseeing, panda pictures and cultural reports. Sometimes there could be some news regarding South China Sea events and the U.S. Presidential Election. The front page stories these two carry in China never appear on Facebook. In the meantime, western studies raised some doubts. For example, a quarter of the People’s Daily followers were from India and Pakistan, as well as 12 million followers from Myanmar, which is one sixth of that country’s population. Facebook is blocked in China, so no Chinese domestic netizens can even read Facebook – very few can bypass the Great Firewall.

Source: BBC Chinese, May 18, 2016

http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/05/160518_china_state_media_facebook

Briefings | | May 24, 2016 | Information/Technology

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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.”