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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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People’s Daily: Registered Trademark Exceeds 10 Million but Few of Them are Recognized Worldwide

People’s Daily reported that, by October 7, 2015, the total number of registered trademarks in China exceeded 10 million. This number ranks the highest in the world, but few of them are recognized around the world. The article said that among the exported products, only 11 percent of the products are Chinese brands. In 2014, among the top 500 of the world’s brand names, 29 of them were from China. The article also indicated that some companies register trademarks only to seek profits while ignoring the practical usage of the brands, which is against the requirements of the trademark law in China.

Source: People’s Daily, October 19, 2015
http://finance.people.com.cn/n/2015/1019/c1004-27714357.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Unemployment Rate for College Graduates from the Countryside Is 30.5 Percent

People’s Daily published an article reporting that the unemployment rate among college graduates who came from the countryside is 30.5 percent. The biggest obstacle that the group faces is a lack of job opportunities. Many of these students attend college with the costs emanating from their parents’ support. They are burdened with high expectations and pressure from the family. Some have had to seek further education hoping the situation might change in the future.

Source: People’s Daily, October 19, 2015
http://edu.people.com.cn/n/2015/1019/c1053-27711962.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Six Costly Lessons for SOEs Foreign Investments

People’s Daily published an article which listed six mistakes that State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) made when they invested in overseas markets, resulting in huge financial losses. In the article, each mistake was supported by examples. The article stated that Chinese enterprises have a huge potential in the overseas market but they should also be cautious and need to learn the lessons from their past mistakes. The six types of mistakes are as follows: 1) The foreign government called off the contract due to a change in the political environment. 2) The bid price was too low and the actual expenditures came in much higher. 3) They didn’t take environmental issues seriously. 4) They lacked understanding of the local culture and customs. 5) They underestimated the power of the local union. 6) They rushed into certain decisions.

Source: People’s Daily, October 18, 2015
http://finance.people.com.cn/n/2015/1018/c1004-27710400.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua Published Full Text of Xi Jinping’s 2014 Speech on the Arts

On Wednesday, October 14, 2015, one day before the one year anniversary of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s speech on the arts, Xinhua was authorized to publish it in full. Xi Jinping delivered the speech to select Chinese artists, authors, actors, script writers and dancers on problems in Chinese art. 

Xi listed such problems as plagiarism, stereotyping, exaggeration, changing history, vilifying people, creating cultural “trash,” and shoddy work. As a result of these problems, art works have become money trees. Xi criticized the low taste in the arts, saying that being vulgar does not mean it is popular. Nor does desire mean hope. Sensory excitement is not spiritual joy. For art to be recognized by the people, one cannot be there for quick money, or be opportunistic, or go after fame, or engage in self-promotion. "Art cannot get lost in the market economy." Xi said that good art works are those that warm one’s heart, and have "bones, morality and warmth," meaning they inspire the mind, touch the soul and advocate integrity, merit, and compassion; they travel fast, last longer, provide "food for thought," and are enjoyed by all. Xi stressed that Chinese traditional culture has a lot of principles and moral values that transcend the times. 

Source: Xinhua, October 14, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-10/14/c_1116825558.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Caixin: Investigation into Fujian Governor Linked to Audit of Sinopec

Caixin, a provider of financial and business news and information, based in Beijing, reported that an inquiry into Su Shulin, the governor of Fujian Province, was linked to corruption allegations made during an audit of Sinopec, a state-owned oil company. 

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the Communist Party’s anti-graft agency, said on October 7 that it is probing Su Shulin, 53, for serious violations of discipline, a euphemism for corruption.  
Su was the first governor placed under investigation after the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. He was the fifth official removed from office who had served as the General Manager in China’s top two state-owned oil companies, Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). 
The government is looking into US$10 billion worth of offshore oil investments that Sinopec made in Angola. Those investments have yielded little oil or revenue. It is not known whether Su’s problems are linked to the losses from those deals. 
One person who was briefed about the inquiry into Su said the CCDI investigators questioned Su after authorities announced, in July 2014, that they were investigating former security tsar Zhou Yongkang over corruption allegations. 
Zhou is serving a life sentence for taking bribes, abuse of power and leaking state secrets. He spent more than three decades in the oil and gas industry, rising to general manager of CNPC. Zhou became a member of the Party’s powerful Politburo Standing Committee in 2007, overseeing the country’s domestic security apparatus. 
Several of Zhou’s former aides or associates, including Jiang Jiemin, former head of the CNPC, have gotten in trouble for graft since President Xi Jinping launched a major anti-corruption drive late in 2012. 
Source: Caixin, October 9, 2015 
http://companies.caixin.com/2015-10-08/100860639.html http://english.caixin.com/2015-10-09/100861184.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

People’s Daily: The World Should Stay Alert to Japan’s Nuclear Capabilities

People’s Daily recently reported on the newly released “Research Report on Japan’s Nuclear Materials.” The China Arms Control & Disarmament Association, along with the China Nuclear Science and Technology Information and Economic Research Institute jointly authored the report. The report warned that Japan possesses 47.8 tons of separated plutonium. Around 10.8 tons are stored in Japan. This is good enough to build 1,350 nuclear weapons. Japan also owns 1.2 tons of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU). In the meantime, Japan is building six more factories to produce separated plutonium, which will give the country the capability of making 1,000 nuclear weapons annually starting in 2019. The report noted that the international community has been wondering for years why Japan keeps producing more “military class” nuclear materials – way above the demand level for all of its nuclear power stations combined. 
Source: People’s Daily, October 10, 2015
http://military.people.com.cn/n/2015/1010/c1011-27681823.html
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

BBC Chinese: World Marxism Conference Held in Beijing

BBC Chinese recently reported that Beijing University hosted the First World Marxism Conference in Beijing. Over 400 people attended the Conference and over 120 of them delivered speeches. The primary theme of the conference was “Marxism and Human Development.” Two out of the eight forums of the Conference were related to China. One of those was “The Chinese Road and Its Marxist Language System.” Another was “Xi Jinping’s Political Thoughts and the Development of Marxism in China.” The Conference lasted two days. Beijing University announced that the Conference will take place every two years. This Conference triggered a wide discussion online among Chinese netizens, most of which were negative. Typical online opinions expressed the thought that Communism can never be realized. Some even questioned why China has been imposing Marxism on the people while exporting Confucius Institutes.
Source: BBC Chinese, October 10, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/10/151010_beijing_marxism_conference
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Global Times: U.S. Congress Accused China of Manipulating Hong Kong

Global Times recently reported that the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) just released its annual report accusing China of manipulating Hong Kong’s autonomy. The report also asked the U.S. Executive Branch to resume reporting annually to the Congress on Hong Kong’s reality. The spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that reports of this type do not introduce anything new and they just make irresponsible remarks on Chinese internal affairs. The new report is yet another channel for the U.S. government to put pressure on China. The CECC report covers various topics such as human rights and the rule of law. It also covers developments in Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macao. The latest report started with describing China’s human rights condition as having “worsened.” In the Hong Kong portion, it continued by suggesting the Chinese leadership’s focus on “sovereignty and control” violated multiple rights of the Hong Kong residents. 
Source: Global Times, October 10, 2015
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2015-10/7718105.html
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations