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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 Had Full Page Coverage of The Difficult Position that Democracy Faces in the U.S.

Xinhua reported that, on July 26, the print edition of People’s Daily used a full page to cover the issue of democracy in the U.S. The title was, “The Difficult Position Democracy Faces in the U.S.” In the editor’s note, the article questioned what happened to democracy in the U.S. It said that democracy in US has turned into a mere show off piece, which is a problem in itself. It is evident in the U.S. economy, in the model for the operation of democracy, and in U.S. foreign policy. The full page consisted of the translation of four articles. These were, “Money dictates Politics; ‘American Democracy’ is not a true Democracy,” written by John Ross, the former director of London’s economic and business policy [Editor’s note: John Ross was economic advisor to Ken Livingstone when he was mayor of London]; “A Double Standard is Used; Inequality is Increasing,” written by Boris Guseletov, the Advisor to the State Duma (Russian Parliament); “The Small Group holding Power Has Control of the General Population; the Oligarchy Damages Democratic Values,” written by Paulo Duate, Researcher at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium; and “American Democracy Does Not Fit Other Countries; Being a Copy Cat will not Work," written by Yuksel Gormez, the Central Bank of Turkey’s Beijing Economic Counselor.

Source: Xinhua, July 26, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2015-07/26/c_128059281.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

PLA Strategist: China’s Rise Requires Great Wisdom

[Editor’s Note: Oriental Outlook Weekly interviewed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Major-General Qiao Liang on China’s military strategy on the issue of China’s rise. Qiao Liang is the PLA strategist who co-authored the book, Unrestricted War.

In the interview, Qiao argued that the Diaoyu Islands and the islands in the South China Sea are not China’s current core interest and that, for the next 10 to 20 years, China should focus on its continued economic development so that it can become a super strong economic power. He also talked about how China can counter the U.S.’s military superiority in the information technology field.

Although the interview was conducted in March 2014, his points and his perspective are still relevant today. The following are excerpts from the article.] [1]

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Reports | | |   Report

Xinhua: In Defense White Paper, Japan’s Ulterior Motive Is to Stir Up the “China Threat”

Xinhua published an article on its headline news denouncing the Japanese government’s approved Defense White Paper (2015 edition). The article stated that the purpose of the white paper is to stir up the "China threat" and create a tense atmosphere so as to strengthen Japan’s security policies, develop its defense system, and find an excuse for a closer Japan-U.S. military alliance. 


The article said that "the volume of the white paper this year was the smallest in the last 10 years, but the China-related contents have increased rather than decreased. Attacking China has intensified as well." 

"Unlike previous years, this year’s white paper placed the China ‘threat’ in a prominent position. Furthermore, for the first time this year, the white paper set up a separate section called ‘Maritime Trends,’ making a big fuss about maritime security issues and making the accusation that ‘China’s unilateral action is undermining the principle of freedom of navigation.’"

"The white paper also instigated, for the first time, the issue of the South China Sea islands and reefs. In addition, it published a set of high-definition pictures to show that China is building islands from the reefs, creating an excuse for Japan to intervene on the South China Sea issue." 

"In the white paper, the Japanese government constantly repeated that ‘the security environment is getting more severe by the day and China has become the biggest threat,’ paving the way for the ‘expansion of the role of the Self Defense Force.’" 

Gao Hong, deputy director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, stated that the Japanese right-wing forces recently refused to recognize their history, provoking the redline of Asian security and stability. It does this by spreading [the rumor] that the external security environment is deteriorating and China is its "enemy." The purpose is to confuse the public and hide its ever-expanding military ambitions. 

Source: Xinhua, July 22, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2015-07/22/c_1116010371.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

70 Percent of Investors Suffered Losses in the Stock Market Crash

Southern Metropolis Daily published the results of a survey in which individual investors in the stock market in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province were asked to respond. The survey closed on July 21, 2015. Of the 1,006 participants, about 70 percent suffered losses, 20 percent had gains, and 10 percent had neither gains nor losses. As to the extent of losses, over 40 percent of respondents said they lost over 30 percent of their investment. 

Of those responding, male investors accounted for 87 percent and female 13 percent. As for the level of experience, those with less than two years of experience in the market accounted for 40 percent of the participants in the survey. Over 40 percent indicated they had invested over 50 percent of their savings in the market. 
Source: Southern Metropolis Daily, July 23, 2015 
http://hz.southcn.com/content/2015-07/23/content_129102070.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

The Party Has Not Won a Landslide Victory over Corruption in the Military

In a Qiushi article, Du Jincai, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, stated that corruption in the Chinese military is "grave and complex." He stated that the Party has not yet won "a landslide victory" over corruption.  

“To be honest, the situation of the government’s anti-corruption campaign remains severe and complicated. [We] have not won a landslide victory to ensure that people dare not, cannot, and will not become corrupt. Some problems are long-standing and so deeply rooted that we urgently need a major massive investigation and ideological clean up.” 
Du warned that without such a major effort to remedy the situation, corruption “will spread like an epidemic” and “will seriously undermine the Party’s absolute leadership over the military.” 
Du further explained that the external environment cannot be ignored. “The so-called Western democracy, freedom, human rights, and other erroneous ideas” have greatly influenced military personnel. 
Source: Qiushi reprinted by Huanqiu, July 22, 2015 
http://mil.huanqiu.com/china/2015-07/7065368.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

The Stock Market Crash ‘Destroyed’ 600,000 Members of the Middle Class

On July 17, 2015, China Business Journal published an article titled, “The Stock Market Crash Has ‘Destroyed’ 600,000 Members of the Middle Class.” Since June of 2015, a total value of ten trillion Chinese yuan has evaporated as a result of the stock market crash in China. Forbes once predicted that the Chinese middle class would number over 14 million people. If 500,000 to 600,000 members of the Chinese middle class have disappeared as a result of the stock crash, 3 percent of the Chinese middle class has disappeared.

Source: China Business Journal, July 17, 2015
http://news.cb.com.cn/html/economy_9_26382_1.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xin Jinping’s Big Move: Jiang Zemin’s Closest Army Allies Are No Longer in Power

On July 17, 2015, Hong Kong Oriental Daily (http://hk.on.cc/hk/) published an article on the military leadership personnel changes in China titled, “Three Phenomenon at the Center of Army Restructuring.” China Gate and some other overseas Chinese websites republished the article on July 18, 2015, with a different title, “Xi Jinping’s Big Move: Jiang Zemin’s Closest Army Allies Are No longer in Power.”

According to the article, Xi has assigned some senior military generals to insignificant positions. Over the last six months, those in the most important leadership positions in the armed forces have all been replaced. Those officials who were close to Xi were promoted.

Source: Oriental Daily, July 17, 2015
http://hk.on.cc/cn/bkn/cnt/commentary/20150717/bkncn-20150717000313936-0717_05411_001.html
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2015/07/18/4422945.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

People’s Daily: Other Countries Won’t Get Anything Out of a Conflict in the South China Sea

During his recent visit to the Philippines [on July 18], Admiral Swift, the U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander, participated in person in the surveillance flight over the South China Sea. In an interview with a People’s Daily reporter, Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe explained China’s position on Swift’s tour. 

“Talking about the motives of the United States, Zhang said that the U.S. has patrolled in the South China Sea for decades. Whether it uses P-8A or P-3C patrol aircraft, it is nothing new. It is rare, however, that this time Swift, the newly appointed commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, was aboard a reconnaissance aircraft P-8A patrol for seven hours. This is especially so, since the U.S. also publicly reported the event afterwards. The [purpose of the] U.S. move is to deliver a message of support to the Philippines and to countries who have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea."
“The dispute over the South China Sea islands and reefs is a long-standing one. The Philippines and Vietnam have properly dealt with it in the past. There is no big problem. Since the United States implemented the strategy of ‘returning to the Asia-Pacific’ and ‘Pacific rebalancing,’ the U.S. has deliberately muddied the South China Sea issue and incited neighboring countries to make trouble for China. This move of the United States also expresses support for the Philippines’ provocative actions toward China.” 

“Zhang Junshe pointed out that the South China Sea was calm to begin with but the United States wanted to use the Philippines to contain China’s development. Therefore, the U.S. Admiral made a big fuss in the South China Sea. The South China Sea reefs dispute is not tense like what the United States says. In order to maintain its hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States encourages the neighboring countries to make trouble in the South China Sea. It contributes no good [toward helping] China and related countries to resolve their disputes.” 

“To the countries who continue to provoke conflicts, we will take the necessary measures and strengthen our defense. If other country’s actions threaten the core interests of China, we will respond firmly. China, as a big country, is the backbone of maintaining regional peace and stability. Some countries continue to discredit and attack China. Once a military conflict with China occurs, these countries will not gain any benefit. We will take firm actions.” 

Source: People’s Daily, July 22, 2014 
http://military.people.com.cn/n/2015/0720/c1011-27330886.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations