Chinascope – Page 631

CCDI: Major Hidden Political Threats Have Been Removed

The sixth plenary session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of Communist Party was held from January 12 to 14, 2016. Xi Jinping spoke at the meeting. Other senior Party leaders including Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, and Zhang Gaoli attended the session.

The communique released after the conclusion of the session summarized the achievements of China’s anti-corruption efforts in 2015, including intensified supervision and disciplinary inspections at all levels. “The Party Central Committee’s disciplinary investigations of Zhou Yongkang and Ling Jihua removed major hidden political threats in the Party and demonstrated the CPC’s commitment to govern itself strictly.”

According to analysts, while the term, “hidden political threats,” was used before, the linking of major hidden political threats to identified individuals is very rare.

Source: The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of Communist Party, January 14, 2016

http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/xwtt/201601/t20160114_72851.html

Briefings | | January 15, 2016 | Government/Politics

CCDI Publishes Xi’s Articles on Political Discipline

Recently, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Central Commission on Discipline Inspection (CCDI) published a collection of Xi Jinping’s speeches on disciplinary issues. In addition to corruption, Xi also heavily criticized those officials who violated political rules.

Starting on January 9 and for four days in a row, the CCDI website published one article per day, each having one of Xi’s quotes in them. This might hint that Xi will expand the anti-corruption campaign to include a political violation campaign.

The following are the titles of these articles:

"Some People Have Come to an Unscrupulous, Reckless Point" – January 9.
"In Politics There Are Some Things One Should Absolutely Never Do; Otherwise, One Must Pay for it." – January 10.
"Some Cadres Put Themselves above the (Party) Organization: I Am the Biggest One in the World" – January 11.
"There Should Not Be All Kinds of Political Interest Groups within the Party" – January 12.

Source: CCDI website, January 9 – January 12, 2016
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/yw/201601/t20160108_72292.html
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/yw/201601/t20160108_72293.html
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/yw/201601/t20160108_72294.html
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/yw/201601/t20160112_72582.html

Briefings | | January 15, 2016 | Government/Politics

Xi Jinping: Anti-corruption Campaign Has No Quota or Ceiling

On January 11, 2016, Xinhua published additional highlights from the speeches Xi Jinping has given in recent years on his anti-corruption campaign. On furthering the anti-corruption campaign, it quoted Xi as saying, “There will be no quota or ceiling.”

Xi said, “Corruption is a social cancer. If corruption is allowed to intensify, the Party and the country will die.” In criticizing senior corrupt officials, he observed, “Some people have become so wanton and reckless!“

Xi vowed that, “There will be zero tolerance of corruption.” Once identified, every case will be investigated and handled. “There will be no quota or ceiling. Oppose all forms of corruption and wipe out all evils.”

Source: Xinhua, January 11, 2016

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-01/11/c_127376996.htm

Briefings | | January 14, 2016 | Government/Politics

Former Party Theorist on Universal Values

On January 5, Caixin published an interview that Global People Magazine had conducted of the scholar, Yu Keping (俞可平). Yu is a former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official and theorist.

On the question of what Western theories can be applied in China, Yu replied, "First, (China) has treated certain common values that human beings share, such as democracy, liberty, equality, the rule of law, and good governance, as unique Western factors and has rejected them. Actually, it is normal for these universal values to have some different characteristics in different countries. … But it should not be because the West has accepted them first that we then do not want democracy, liberty, or the rule of law. We already have deep lessons to learn on this issue."

Yu served as the Deputy Director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau that focuses on ideology and theory research. He resigned from that post to become a political science professor at Beijing University. Caixin introduced Yu as a "famous scholar and political scientist" and mentioned that his article "Democracy Is a Good Thing" had resulted in a lot of discussion in China.

Source: Caixin, January 5, 2015
http://opinion.caixin.com/2016-01-05/100896025.html

Briefings | | January 14, 2016 | Government/Politics

Wang Qishan: Continue the Anti-Corruption Work

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) website reported that Wang Qishan gave an important speech on the future of the Anti-Corruption Campaign. The speech was given at a forum with some provincial Party Secretaries, the CCP Central Committee’s Departmental Party Secretaries, Heads of CCDI Inspection Teams, and scholars in attendance.

Wang stated, "The anti-corruption struggle should not decrease its intensity, change its rhythm, or loosen its standards. It needs to maintain high pressure on corruption."

"(The campaign) should firmly hold onto the Primary Leader’s Accountability and focus on cadres."

"Mobilizing people a thousand times is not as effective as holding them to account (punishing the violators) once."

Source: CCDI website, January 7, 2016
http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/xxgk/ldjg/wqs/zyhd/201601/t20160108_72287.html

Briefings | | January 13, 2016 | Government/Politics

Xi Jinping Chaired Work Report Session

On January 7, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo Standing Committee held an all day meeting. Xi Jinping chaired the meeting to listen to the work reports. The Party Committees of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the State Council, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate gave reports. At this meeting, the CCP Central Committee also reported on its work.

The head of the NPC Standing Committee is Zhang Dejiang. The head of the State Council is Li Keqiang. The head of the CPPCC National Committee is Yu Zhengsheng. The head of CCP Central Committee is Liu Yunshan. All of them are members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee.

Source: Xinhua, January 7, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-01/07/c_1117705534.htm

Briefings | | January 13, 2016 | Government/Politics

Ministry of National Defense’s Spokesperson on CMC Administrative Organ Reshuffle

China has continued its military reform. On January 11, Xi Jinping met the new leaders of the Central Military Commission’s (CMC’s) 15 administrative organs.

After the adjustment, the former four headquarters/departments of the CMC, namely the General Staff Headquarters (GSH), the General Political Department (GPD), the General Logistics Department (GLD), and the General Armaments Department (GAD), were replaced by 15 functional sections including seven departments (offices), three commissions, and five directly affiliated bodies.

The 15 functional sections are: CMC General Office, CMC Joint Staff Department, CMC Political Work Department, CMC Logistic Support Department, CMC Equipment Development Department, CMC Training Management Department, CMC National Defense Mobilization Department, CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, CMC Political and Legal Affairs Commission, CMC Science and Technology Commission, CMC Strategic Planning Office, CMC Reform and Formation Office, CMC International Military Cooperation Office, CMC Audit Office, and CMC General Affairs Administration.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense held a news conferences and answered many questions on the CMC changes. The whole English translation of the Question and Answers is available at: http://english.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/china-military-news/2016-01/12/content_6854444.htm.

Source: Xinhua, January 11, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-01/11/c_1117739984.htm

Briefings | | January 13, 2016 | Defense/Military

China’s Economy Faces Three Constraints

Li Wei, head of the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), recently expressed the view that it will be "very difficult” for China to maintain a GDP growth rate of 6.5 percent in 2016 because the Chinese economy faces three constraints.

“The first is a tightened external demand from the global market. Since the 2008 financial crisis, although major economies have initiated a series of stimulus measures for economic recovery, … it will still take time to see a new round of high growth. The IMF lowered [its forecast] for the world’s economic growth in 2016 from 3.8 percent to 3.6 percent.

“The second is the kink in the population structure, which results in escalating labor costs. With an aging population and a rapid decline in the active labor force, the competitiveness of Chinese laborers has weakened.

“The last is the pressure on the environment and resources. For a long time, China’s arable lands have been decreasing due to industrialization and urbanization, directly threatening China’s food security. A development model that neglects the cost to the environment cannot last.”

The DRC is a ministerial level government policy research and consulting institution directly under the State Council.

Source: China Securities Journal, January 11, 2016

http://www.cs.com.cn/xwzx/hg/201601/t20160111_4881221.html

Briefings | | January 12, 2016 | Economy/Resources

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.