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Global News Times Named Jiang Zemin as the Top Boss behind All the Corrupt Officials

On September 1, 2015, Global News Times, a magazine headquartered in Hong Kong, published an article titled, “Groups and Groups of Tigers (corrupt officials) Found in the Chinese Communist Party, the Government, and the Army; the Original Tiger Producer Must Be Blamed.” The article called for digging out the “head culprit” who has hidden deep among the high-level leadership organizations of the Chinese Communist Party, the Government, and the Military.

According to the article, the sacked corrupt officials Zhou Yongkang, Ling Jihua, Xu Caihou, and Bo Xilai (or Su Rong) are the new “Gang of Four.” They are similar to the old “Gang of Four,” a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), who, after Mao’s death, were later charged with a series of treasonous crimes. The article said, “The new ‘Gang of Four’ actually share one ‘boss.’” It asked, "Who is their boss? It is Jiang Zemin. Will the ‘boss’ be arrested? We will wait and see.”

Source: Global News Times, September 1, 2015
http://www.globalnewstimes.com/jueyuancailiao/guona/2015/0901/1806.html
http://www.globalnewstimes.com/jueyuancailiao/guona/2015/0901/1806_3.html

Briefings | | September 23, 2015 | Government/Politics

VOA: Beijing Grants New York Times’ Chris Buckley a Journalist Visa

After three long years, the New York Times correspondent Chris Buckley was granted a journalist visa prior to Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States. Buckley was pleased with the result after the long wait, and expressed his appreciation to friends, colleagues and family.

Buckley was forced to leave China on the last day of 2012 after China’s Foreign Ministry denied his application for the renewal of his journalist visa. Overseas media widely held that China’s denial of Buckey’s visa application was related to the fact that, in 2012, the New York Times published the results of an investigation into the family wealth of former premier Wen Jiabao. The Chinese government also blocked the websites of both the Chinese and the English editions of the newspaper.

During a joint press conference with President Obama last November, Xi Jinping at first appeared to dodge the question of Beijing’s withholding residence visas for U.S. journalists. Toward the end, he stated that the foreign media had to abide by Chinese laws. "When a car breaks down on the road," Xi went on to say, "perhaps we need to get out of the car and see where the problem lies. The Chinese say, ‘Let he who tied the bell on the tiger take it off’."

Analysts held that granting Buckley a journalist visa would avoid the same question being raised again in the press conference to be held during Xi’s upcoming visit to Washington.

In Beijing, days before his trip to the U.S., Xi also met with Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of News Corp. Xi assured Murdoch that China will remain open to the world’s media. During the meeting on September 18, Xi said, "[We] welcome foreign media and correspondents to cover China stories, introduce China’s development to the world, and help the world grasp the opportunities [afforded by] China’s development."

Still, websites of the Wall Street Journal, which Murdoch owns, and of Voice of America remain blocked in China. The public has to install software applications that circumvent Beijing’s Internet censorship to visit these sites.

Source: Voice of America, September 22, 2015

http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-beijing-chris-buckley-20150922/2973587.html

Briefings | | September 23, 2015 | US-China Relations

The Three Pillars for China to Build New Sino-U.S. Relations with Big Powers

In anticipation of Xi Jinping’s visit to U.S., Liu Jianfei, deputy director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies of the Central Party School, published an article on the website of People’s Daily, discussing the direction of current Sino-U.S. relations

The author stated that, in recent years, Sino-U.S. relations have been facing turbulence and frequent disputes. However, bilateral collaboration has not stopped. Overall, the relationship is not off the normal track; it is just not smooth.

Liu said, “Maintaining the stable development of Sino-U.S. relations is one of most important objectives of China’s diplomatic strategy. China has offered to build new relations with the major powers, which fully reflects the expectations of the development of China-U.S. relations. According to the primary meaning of the new relations between big powers — no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect, win-win cooperation — China has three pillars on the development of relations with the U.S. The first is the strengthening of strategic mutual trust, effectively managing differences, and ensuring that no conflict or confrontation will occur. The second is the promotion of exchanges at all levels so as to improve mutual respect between the two countries. The third is to promote the pragmatic cooperation in various fields, to continue mutual benefits. However, currently, [China’s] U.S. policy should focus on strengthening strategic mutual trust, effectively controlling the differences.”

Source: People’s Daily, September 19, 2015

http://world.people.com.cn/n/2015/0919/c1002-27607163.html

Briefings | | September 23, 2015 | US-China Relations

New Zealand Vetoed a Chinese Commercial Acquisition Deal

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that the New Zealand government officially announced that it vetoed a proposal that a Shanghai-based Chinese company acquire a farm in New Zealand. The Chinese company told the media that they were very much surprised by the announcement and were disappointed too. The company does not plan to give up immediately and is working with a consulting firm on the next step. The New Zealand government stated that the denial was based on the public’s concern about foreign capital owning land. The same Chinese company was stopped when it attempted to buy farms in New Zealand in 2012. There was a court ruling then. There have been reports saying that the opposition party, the New Zealand Conservatives, insisted that the Chinese deal was not in the best interest of New Zealand.

Source: Sina, September 18, 2015

http://dailynews.sina.com/bg/news/int/int/chinesedaily/20150918/07156921360.html

Briefings | | September 22, 2015 | Geo-Strategic Trend

The Philippines Is Concerned about China Made Voting Machines

The well-known new Chinese news site The Paper recently reported that the Philippine Election Committee announced that the voting machines to be used in the national election next May will be the ones made in Taiwan. The current voting machines were made in China. The Committee explained that the decision was based on the concern that the Chinese government may attempt to disrupt the coming election. The Election Committee Chairman, Christian Robert Lim, called China “the biggest threat” to the election, hence the switch in the supplier of voting machines. Lim claimed in a congressional hearing that intelligence revealed that “someone is planning to destroy the election.” Voting machines used to be manufactured in the City of Suzhou, China. The spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines called this whole thing, “groundless nonsense.” He promised that China will stick to its policy of not interfering with other countries’ internal affairs.

Source: The Paper, September 17, 2015

http://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1376098

Briefings | | September 22, 2015 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Does China Pose a Threat to the World?

With China’s President Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S., many Americans have been discussing whether China poses a threat to the world. They have the right to be concerned. China’s recent acts include island-building activities in the South China Sea and an Admiral’s declaration that the South China Sea “belongs to China,” widespread, non-stop cyber intrusions, a recent military parade that showcased missiles with English writing on them such as “carrier killer” and “Guam killer,” warships sailing into U.S. waters, and the arrest of over 200 human rights lawyers and activists inside China. In addition, China’s slow economy has impacted the world’s stock market, China devalued its currency, and many U.S. critics have commented on China’s stock market intervention.

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Perspectives | | September 21, 2015 | Opinion

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.