Chinascope – Page 648

People’s Daily: Lack of Communist Ideals and Beliefs Drives Party Officials to Superstitious Rituals

People’s Daily published an article about some Party officials’ superstitious practices and concluded that a lack of communist ideals and beliefs is the fundamental cause for their behavior. The article said that Party members should be antitheists, but some of the party members believe in rituals and superstitions such as visiting temples and they also believe in Feng Shui. The article said that this has seriously damaged the Party’s image. It cited several reasons that have caused their behavior. It named weakened Communist ideals and beliefs among the Party officials as the fundamental cause. It also mentioned other reasons for the Party officials to perform superstitious rituals. These include an increased personal desire to seek material gain and corrupt officials seeking to have a spiritual belief.

Source: People’s Daily, September 30, 2015
http://fanfu.people.com.cn/n/2015/0930/c64371-27652352.html

Briefings | | October 5, 2015 | Government/Politics

China’s Banking System Needs a Remedial Class

On October 1, 2015, a speech that Zhou Xiaochuan, the Governor of the Bank of China, made back in April at an internal government seminar was released to the public. In his speech, Zhou said that China’s banking-system reform needed to go through a “remedial” class. Without strong reform measures, China’s banking system might not survive.

Zhou said, “Although today we have been able to push marketization, internationalization, and changing the mono-banking system into a plural-banking system, in the process areas in which we need to take remedial action have become apparent.” According to Zhou, banking-system reform in economies in transition always face several major difficulties. Without strong measures, serious commitment, cleaning up the financial problems, or adopting a market mechanism, China’s banking system may not survive.

Source: China Stocks, October 1, 2015

http://news.cnstock.com/news/sns_bwkx/201510/3581511.htm

Briefings | | October 2, 2015 | Government/Politics

CRN: Think Tanks in China Lack Independence

China Review News published an article based on a book titled, Power Think Tanks (Daguozhiku), which was written by Wang Huiyao and Miao Lu.

According to the article, there are over 2,000 think tanks in China. All of them have three critical defects: the government influences them; they lack independence; and they are not recognized internationally. Compared to well-known global think tanks, these Chinese think tanks have a long way to go.

At present, most Chinese think tanks are government-run or university-affiliated. Private citizens run very few of them. It is the government itself that funds these government-run or university-run think tanks, directly or indirectly. It also determines the salaries and job titles of the researchers. Because of the dependence on the government, the government’s influence on the research they do is considerable. It is difficult for them to make any constructive recommendations. In most cases, these think tanks are actually the mouthpiece for government policies or they certify the validity of government policies. The article also cited the lack of transparency in government information without which no meaningful research can be conducted and also the lack of funding sources, since charitable donations are not common in China.

Source: China Review News, September 27, 2015

http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1039/4/4/9/103944976.html?coluid=151&kindid=15430&docid=103944976&mdate=0927002006

Briefings | | October 1, 2015 | Government/Politics

17 Explosions Occurred in Rapid Succession Prior to China’s National Day

On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 17 explosions rocked Liucheng County, Liuzhou City, Guangxi Province. At least 7 people died in the explosions. It was confirmed that 51 people were injured and 2 people are missing. BBC Chinese reported on the casualty information, which was based on a recent Liuzhou local Police Press Conference about the bombings. The Liuzhou public security bureau released the information that the explosions occurred in many locations including a town government building, a prison, a shopping mall, a railway station, a supermarket, a hospital, a dormitory of the animal husbandry bureau, a farmers market, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The series of rapid blasts may have been caused by parcel bombs. So far, the police have found over 60 suspicious parcel packages.

According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), within about two hours on the afternoon of September 30, 2015, Beijing time, parcel explosions occurred in more than a dozen places. The explosions were caused by explosive devices wrapped inside express parcels. The Chinese authorities announced through Xinhua News Agency that this is a criminal case. The suspect is a 33-year-old man surnamed Wei who lives in Dapu town, Liucheng County.

An RFA reporter phoned the Liuzhou City government for information, the operator asked the reporter to call the Liucheng County propaganda office. However, the Liucheng County propaganda office refused to share any information. The Liucheng County Public Security Bureau also refused RFA’s interview request. When a hospital received RAF’s telephone query, the person who answered the phone was in a panic and hung up the phone immediately before the reporter could ask any questions.

Li Jianghan, a human rights activist, told RFA that he believes that the series of explosions must have been purposely arranged prior to China’s National Day (October 1st).

Sources: BBC Chinese & Radio Free Asia Chinese, September 30, 2015
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/09/150930_china_explosions
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/explosion-09302015094459.html?encoding=simplified

Briefings | | October 1, 2015 | Social Stability

CCDI: To Capture the Thieves, Capture the King of the Thieves First.

On September 29, 2015, the Chinese Communist Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) published an article titled “Four-Types of Strategy Does Not Mean Slowing Down the Anti-corruption Movement.” The article began with a well-known ancient poem in which it says, “To capture the thieves, capture the king of the thieves first.” After the quoted poem, the article continued, “When two fighting armies confront each other, choosing the correct strategy and tactics is important to defeat the enemy.”

According to the article, there are four types of strategy in terms of the anti-corruption campaign. “1) Every Party official participates frequently in regular criticism and self-criticism meetings within the Party; 2) A majority of the corrupt Party officials will be punished lightly within the Party; 3) A minority of corrupt Party officials who have seriously violated the Party’s discipline and state laws will be punished severely and their positions will be lowered, changed, or removed; 4) Very few Party officials will be charged for their crimes in terms of serious violations of the law and the Party’s discipline.”

The article said that the four-types of strategies serve as guidance for targeting the right group of Party officials using the appropriate discipline methods.

Source: Sohu, September 29, 2015
http://news.sohu.com/20150929/n422337295.shtml

Briefings | | October 1, 2015 | Government/Politics

Caixin: Li Ka-shing Responds to Commentaries on Divesting His Interests in China

On Tuesday, Hong Kong property tycoon Li Ka-shing responded publicly to those who expressed the viewpoint that he is moving his money out of China. Li said that there was no truth to these reports. He affirmed his confidence that the central government is committed to deepening reform and openness and that the mindset during the Cultural Revolution years will not revive.

On Sept. 12, the Liaowang Institute, which is linked to the official news agency Xinhua, published an editorial, "Don’t Let Li Ka-shing Make an Exit," which expressed great displeasure over Li’s moving his money out of China. The article reminded Li that his huge wealth, as head of the Hutchison Whampoa conglomerate, had come from his connections to powerful Chinese officials, not from a level playing field in a market economy. It went on to lecture Li that "as someone who had reaped profits, [you are] not in a position to simply walk away."

A statement that Li’s Cheung Kong Property Holdings Limited and CK Hutchison Holdings Limited released said, "Li understands that broader freedom of expression gives a voice to everyone, regrettably, even [to those who make] false accusations." The statement continued, "We did not respond earlier as the flurry of reports came at a time when President Xi Jinping was heading to the United States for a state visit. We did not want to take the spotlight off of that."

In response to the "withdrawal" reports, the statement said, "In the past 10 years, over 70 percent of the companies listed in Hong Kong, including Chinese mainland state-owned enterprises, have chosen to register using BVI vehicles. The reason for companies to choose this method is for greater flexibility."

The statement denied that there was any change in Li’s relationship with China’s leadership and added, "We are confident that the central government is committed to improving governance and to continuing on a path of economic reform. We do not think the mindset during the years of the Cultural Revolution will revive. Individual viewpoints in the Chinese media are not in line with China’s overall direction. Mr. Li greatly admires President Xi’s steady leadership."

Source: Caixin, September 29, 2015
http://companies.caixin.com/2015-09-29/100859580.html

Briefings | | September 30, 2015 | Government/Politics

VOA: Chinese Petitioners Stopped Xi’s Motorcade Outside Department of State

On September 25, 2015, petitioners from Beijing, Shanghai, and two central provinces, Hunan and Hubei, among other regions of China, briefly stopped Xi Jinping’s motorcade when Xi and his wife were heading toward the Department of State for lunch during Xi’s state visit to Washington.

At around 1:10 p.m., Xi’s motorcade was passing through the intersection of 18th St NW and E St NW. Several Chinese petitioners rushed toward and stopped two stretch Cadillacs. It was reported that Ms. Li Huanjun, from Beijing and Ms. Ge Lifang, from Shanghai, stopped the second Cadillac. From within, Xi looked squarely into the eyes of one of the petitioners for several seconds. The police rushed over and took the petitioners off the street and released them. Then Xi’s motorcade proceeded toward the State Department. Later, Xi sent someone from his entourage to chat with the petitioners and to take their complaint letters.

Source: Voice of America, September 25, 2015

http://www.voachinese.com/content/xijinping-china-human-rights-20150925/2980160.html

Briefings | | September 30, 2015 | US-China Relations

People’s Daily: China Opposes Tsai Ing-wen’s Visit to Japan

People’s Daily recently reported that Hong Lie, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented in a press conference on Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party’s chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen’s planned visit to Japan. Hong communicated that the Chinese government is seriously concerned and strongly opposes Tsai’s visit. He also called for Japan to stick to the “One China” principle. Hong asked the Japanese government to keep its promise of not providing anybody, using any excuse, room to spread the idea of an independent Taiwan. Tsai Ing-wen is currently running for President of the Republic of China in Taiwan. She was appointed Vice Premier under Premier Su Tseng-chang, who served until 2007.

Source: People’s Daily, September 25, 2015

http://world.people.com.cn/n/2015/0925/c1002-27636137.html

Briefings | | September 29, 2015 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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.