Chinascope – Page 627

In 2015, Chinese Tourists Spend 0.2 trillion Dollars Overseas

According to a Xinhua report on the statistics that the Ministry of Commerce recently published on Chinese’ overseas purchase of luxury goods, in 2015, Chinese tourists spent about 1.2 trillion yuan (US$0.2 trillion) overseas, thus becoming the leader among the world traveler consumer groups.

Fortune Character Institute, a Shanghai based management consulting firm, estimated that, in 2015, Chinese consumers’ expenditures on luxury goods worldwide amounted to US$116.8 billion, about 46 percent of the world’s total expenditures on global luxury goods. Of Chinese consumers’ expenditures, US$91 billion or 78 percent, took place outside of China.

The price difference is still the most attractive reason for making purchases overseas. The average price spread for alcoholic beverages is around 64 percent; for wrist watches it is around 33 percent.

Overseas shoppers are mostly between 25 and 40 years old. Those between 25 to 30 years old prefer clothing and cosmetics; 30-to-35-year-old shoppers like luggage, bags, and digital products, 35-to-40-year-old shoppers are more interested in luxury jewelry, in addition to nutrition and health products.

Source: Xinhua, February 13, 2016

http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2016-02/13/c_1118026740.htm

Briefings | | February 16, 2016 | Economy/Resources

Political Rivalry in China Preface – The CCP’s Political Structure Fosters Political Rivalry

Preface: The CCP’s Political Structure Fosters Political Rivalry

Some Western observers feel that Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign is somehow confusing. It seems to them that, in addition to containing the widespread corruption in China, Xi also uses this campaign to purge officials who rival him politically.

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Perspectives | | February 16, 2016 | Opinion

Bangladesh Cancelled the Deepwater Port Development Project with China

Xinhua recently reported that Bangladesh quietly cancelled the development project of the deepwater port Resona Diaz in Cox’s Bazar. China had been planning to do the project. However, as the relationship between Bangladesh and India has shown gradual improvement, India developed an interest in building Bangladesh’s newest deepwater port Yap Hong Kong. From India’s viewpoint, the Chinese plan for Resona Diaz was just another strategic step to constrain India. The official reason for the cancellation of the Resona Diaz project was lack of commercial feasibility. However, the Japanese-funded Motor Er Bali Port is only 25 miles away. It is obvious that Japan and India cast a shadow over the cancellation of the Chinese project. The Yap Hong Kong port is located at the southwest corner of Bangladesh, which is much closer to India. This development project involves a seven-year plan. In addition to Indian companies, the Bangladesh government also invited Chinese companies to join in the construction.

Source: Xinhua, February 9, 2016

http://www.cankaoxiaoxi.com/china/20160209/1073838.shtml

Briefings | | February 15, 2016 | Geo-Strategic Trend

BBC Chinese: U.S.-Korean Missile Defense System Threatens China

BBC Chinese recently reported that Wang Yi, China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, urged the United States to give up its plan to deploy a missile defense system in South Korea. Wang suggested that the system would be a “threat” to China’s national security and it would be “way beyond the need” for defending South Korea. After North Korea’s long range missile test earlier this month, the United States and South Korea announced a joint plan to deploy the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Both China and Russia complained some time back that the THAAD radar system can penetrate deep into the two countries. The U.S. and South Korea said the the purpose of the THAAD system is to protect South Korea from the threat of the North. It is not against China or any other countries. However, Wang insisted that the United States should reconsider the decision since the THAAD coverage is very wide and even “an average person” can tell that the system does more than just protect South Korea.

Source: BBC Chinese, February 12, 2016

http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world/2016/02/160212_us_skorea_china_missile

Briefings | | February 15, 2016 | US-China Relations

Universities to Launch Patriotic Campaign with Theme of Always Follow the Party

According to Xinhua, China’s Ministry of Education has issued a directive asking Chinese schools to re-enforce patriotic education using innovative methods such as the new media.

In the directive, the Ministry of Education declared that schools at all levels must creatively carry out the patriotic campaign with a focus on the new media on the Internet. Schools are required to integrate the patriotic spirit into curriculum standards, textbooks, and exams and evaluations at the primary and secondary levels and in higher education; and also into morals, Chinese, history, geography, physical education, arts and other endeavors.

The directive calls for launching special campaigns in universities with the themes of “I love my motherland” and “Always follow the Party.”

Source: Xinhua, February 9, 2016

http://news.xinhuanet.com/2016-02/09/c_1118016897.htm

Briefings | | February 11, 2016 | Government/Politics

Former People’s Daily Deputy Chief Editor Criticizes Media Control

As a commentary on February 2, Hong Kong Phoenix published some quotes from the book Huangpuping: Where Should China’s Reform Head? The book’s author is Zhou Ruijin. Zhou wrote a series of commentaries on continuing the opening up and reform in order to promote Deng Xiaoping’s reform in the 1990s. He used the pen name "Huangpuping" (皇甫平). "Huangpuping" in Chinese is a homonym for "commentary from Shanghai." He was later promoted to Deputy Chief Editor of People’s Daily.

The Phoenix article criticized the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) propaganda work. "There are now some (bad) signs in our ideology work. We need to watch out for being "right" [too liberal], but most importantly, we should prevent being "left" [too rigid in Communist ideology]."

"We suggest ‘no debate’ in the field of ideology." "Protecting netizens’ rights to freedom of expression will, for sure, help our next round of development."

"Some cadres in the Party’s propaganda management department manage media as if they are managing a timetable for trains. They implant the administrative management approach into media management, directly intervening in the form and process of news reporting."

"During society’s transformation period, it is normal that there are different opinions and discussions in the field of ideology. We can only guide them, but not suppress them. Citizen’s freedom of speech, as defined by the Constitution, should be protected. The era of uniformity in media reporting is gone."

Source: Phoenix Online, February 2, 2016
http://i.ifeng.com/news/sharenews.f?aid=105897369&url_type=39&object_type=webpage&pos=1&fresh=1

Briefings | | February 10, 2016 | Government/Politics

CCDI Quoted Xi as Requiring Politburo Members to Follow Political Rules

Starting this year, Xi Jinping has been communicating that officials must follow political rules. On February 6, the CCDI website published some of Xi Jinping’s quotes. Xi has commented that top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must also follow the "Party’s discipline and rules."

"Comrade Deng Xiaoping once said, ‘In China, who has the potential to make big mistakes? It is the CCP.’ Then in the Party, who has the potential to make a big mistake? I think it is the top officials."

"High-level cadres must have political sense, a sense of the big-picture, and a sense of responsibility. … They should absolutely not implement only partially or modify the Central Committee’s policies; absolutely not create their own ways to respond to the Central Committee’s policies; and absolutely not make [improper] comments about the Central Committee’s policies. In any situation, they should obey the Party’s discipline strictly and they should safeguard the Central Committee’s authority."

"How should we manage the Party strictly? We should start with the Politburo. … The whole Party is watching the Politburo. Whatever we ask the whole Party to do, the Politburo must do it first."

Source: CCDI website, February 6, 2016
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/yw/201601/t20160126_73475.html

Briefings | | February 10, 2016 | Government/Politics

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.”