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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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VOA Article: Is the Youth League Undergoing a Cleanup?

VOA published an article based on a news report from Hong Kong’s Apple Daily about some recent actions affecting the China Youth League. On April 6, a newly appointed Deputy Secretary General for Guangdong Province was taken away for investigation on the first day he was on the job. The official was said to have a China Youth League background but the official media has not yet confirmed that news. According to Apple Daily, in June and September of 2014, a former secretary of a Municipal Party Committee in the City of Guangzhou and a Vice Chairman of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were charged with corruption. On March 23, a report stated that the Central Discipline Inspection Commission was investigating another official who was the Secretary of a Municipal Party Committee in the City of Zhuhai. All these officials were said to have had a background with the China Youth League prior to their recent appointments. The article cited a report stating that the Politburo Standing Committee of the Party has decided to downsize the workforce in the Youth League. The article said that it is an indication that the Youth League could slowly be dissolved in official circles. Another observation was that Xi Jinping has been taking action to straighten out the Youth League to prevent the emergence of someone like Ling Jihua, the formal Chief of the Party’s General Office, who came from a Youth League background. 

Source: Voice of America, April 24, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-corrupt-20160424/3300256.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Military Reform Seminar Held for the First Time

Xinhua reported that a People’s Liberation Army senior officials military reform seminar was held for the first time from April 18 to 22, 2016, in Beijing. 

According to Xinhua, “President Xi has attached great importance to the success of this seminar. He personally reviewed and approved the program, determined the trainee list, and set specific requirements for the planning and layout of the seminar.”  
“Now, the curtain has lifted for the most important, most profound, most comprehensive, and most far-reaching reform in our military history. We must have a multi-level, multi-dimensional understanding of President Xi’s intention and resolve on national defense and military reform, strengthen our confidence and determination, maintain strategic focus, and unswervingly carry out the reform all the way to the end.” 
Participants in the seminar held that the military must constantly strengthen political awareness, unconditionally follow the command of President Xi, build up military capacity through reform, create innovative military theories through reform, carry out the military reform according to the law, and institutionalize the reform’s achievements through laws and regulations.
Source: Xinhua, April 25, 2016 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2016-04/25/c_128927263.htm
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

To Demolish a Church, a Team Buried a Christian Alive, Resulting in Her Death

Radio Free Asia reported that, in Xincai County, Henan Province, on April 18, 2016, a group of people used force to demolish a church. They buried Li Jiangong and his wife Ding Cuimei while they were still alive because they tried to defend their church.

"The demolition team consisted of local villains. They drove trucks to knock down the church’s walls. Li, who was in charge of the church and his wife stood in front of the wall. One of the demolition team shouted, ‘Bury them alive. I will take the responsibility if someone dies.’ Then a bulldozer pushed both of them into a hole and covered them with earth. Mr. Li managed to dig himself out a few minutes later. By the time other people got Ding Cuimei out, she had stopped breathing."

"After seeing the death, the manager of the demolition team claimed he was sick and went to a hospital. Police said that they arrested two suspects, but it may take one or two years for this case to go to court."

"The church was built in 2007. Its members raised the money, bought the land, and built it. It had about 200 members. The government approved the construction. Because of its convenient location – it was close to a highway – some (powerful) people wanted to take over the land; they resorted to force to move the church off of the land."

Source: RFA, April 18, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/ql1-04182016111213.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Some Chinese Celebrated Japan’s Earthquake

VOA reported that some Chinese celebrated the disaster in Japan after strong earthquakes struck there in April. Some Chinese complained, wondering why the earthquake was not of a magnitude of 10 (so that more Japanese would die). "How come only a few dozen people died? It would be better if hundreds of thousands died." "I wish there were more earthquakes of magnitude eight in Japan, so that it would not have time to threaten China." "It is said that 80 percent of Japanese have negative views of China. Let those 80 percent die in this earthquake." "It would be much better if this whole island country sank."

Some companies also used it in their advertising. A car dealer in Xi’an City posted on the web, "To celebrate the big earthquake in Japan, our store will offer super low prices on all cars for the next three days. If the aftershocks continue, the promotion will continue. If a higher magnitude earthquake occurs, the price will go even lower. If 100,000 Japanese die, the price will go to the bottom. If Japan sinks, all cars will be free."

Many Chinese netizens criticized this behavior. Internet commentator Tian Qizhuang thought it was caused by the anti-Japan patriotism that has become popular in China over the last few years. "I think a very important issue is that the current education (in China) lacks a certain aspect of human nature. Some extremist ideology is expanding and brainwashing people. People don’t treat others as humans anymore. They don’t take themselves as human either. Instead, they are just a political tool."

Source: VOA, April 18, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-chinese-nationalists-hail-kumamoto-earthquake-20160418/3290221.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

A School in a Poisonous Environment in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Oriental Daily reported on how the authorities handled the issue of the poisonous environment at the Changzhou Foreign Language School. The school’s surrounding environment, including the air, soil, and water, was polluted. Hundreds of students were diagnosed with dermatitis and measurable blood abnormalities; some even had leukemia and lymphoma.

"The school gave its rebuttal, saying that the number of students with physical abnormalities was not over 500; it was ‘only 133 students.’ The students’ parents then countered, stating that they had gathered 683 copies of student’s health checkup reports. "Of those, 522 had abnormalities. Actually, it should not matter whether it was only 133 or 522. Even 133 is not a small number. Isn’t that enough to prove that the school’s environment is poisonous?"

"Parents of the students received warnings from local authorities several times: ‘Don’t create trouble.’ Some were interrogated and detained for ‘inciting and planning illegal assemblies and demonstrations.’ Some were forced to sign a paper promising not have a demonstration. Some were contacted by their employers and warned ‘not to participate’ and were given ‘hints’ that they would lose their jobs if they did participate. Some elderly participants were threatened at their homes. When reporters came to interview some scientists, they also kept silent. They gave reasons such as, ‘I have an administrative title," "I want to avoid trouble,’ and ‘The issue is too complicated.’"

Source: Oriental Daily, April 21, 2016
http://hk.on.cc/cn/bkn/cnt/commentary/20160421/bkncn-20160421000321090-0421_05411_001_cn.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Consumer Spending on Luxury Goods Dropped 24 Percent in March

Xinhua reported that, based on the data released by Global Blue, a tourism shopping tax refund company headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland, Chinese consumer spending on luxury products in overseas markets was down 24 percent in March, for the first time since 2010. In European markets, luxury goods spending dropped 35 percent. The data also indicated that Chinese consumers spent less on luxury goods purchase in the Asia Pacific, which was down 6 percent. Japan was the only country that saw an increase. According to the report, in March of 2015, the Chinese consumers’ spending on overseas luxury goods grew 122 percent. The analysis suggested that the reduction in this year’s amount was mainly driven by the terrorist attack in Paris and Brussels as well as the narrower price gap between Chinese and European markets which currently averages about 30 percent. The article stated that the slowdown of the domestic economy in China is also a contributing factor.

Source: Xinhua, April 25, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fashion/2016-04/25/c_128921834.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Slackers in the Government Will be Held Accountable

On April 24, China Discipline and Inspection Daily, the official publication of Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), published a commentary warning that officials who slack off will be dealt with seriously. The commentary stated that the intensification of the anti-corruption campaign is deterring officials from engaging in the abuse of power. However, many officials continue to take no, slow, or illegal actions when they are expected to perform their official duties. The harm these "lazy government officials" bring is more serious than corruption. The commentary acknowledged that slacking off, omissions, and non-performance are increasingly rampant. It stated that it is better to hold someone accountable once than to motivate him a thousand times. 

Source: China Discipline and Inspection Daily, April 24,2016 
http://csr.mos.gov.cn/content/2016-04/24/content_32855.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

RFA: China Ranked Low in 2016 World Press Freedom Index

Radio Free Asia (RFA) recently reported that Reporters Without Borders, headquartered in Paris, published its 2016 Annual World Press Freedom Index, which analyzed the situation of press freedom in 180 countries and regions. The countries ranked at the top three positions are Finland, The Netherlands, and Norway. China was ranked at 176, which is actually in the bottom fifth. Taiwan was ranked at 51, which is the top rank in Asia. The United States was the 41st, up from the 49th last year but still behind Great Britain (the 38th) and Canada (the 18th). However, the report pointed out that overall global press freedom suffered a “Heavy and disturbing” decline in 2016 because dictatorship and governmental press controls are on the rise. 
Source: Radio Free Asia, April 20, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/5-04202016104345.html
Briefings | | |   Social Stability