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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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Zhou Yongkang Sentenced to Life in Prison

On June 11, 2015, Xinhua reported that China’s ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang was sentenced to life in prison. He is the most senior Communist official to face corruption charges. Zhou is 72 years old.

Xinhua reported that the Tianjin Municipal No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court held the on camera trial on May 22, 2015. The charges included taking bribes, abuse of power, and intentional disclosure of State secrets. For the charge of bribery, he was sentenced to life in prison, with his political rights deprived for life and his personal assets confiscated. For the abuse of power, Zhou also received seven years and for the intentional disclosure of State secrets, he received four years. 
Xinhua reported that the court found that on bribery, there were mitigating factors including his confession and his remorse; his abuse of power charge was particularly serious; intentional disclosure of State secrets was also particularly serious but there were not any particularly serious consequences. 
On July 29, 2014, Zhou had been placed under investigation on suspicion of "serious disciplinary violations." Zhou was expelled from the Communist Party and arrested in December 2014. On April 3, 2015, Zhou was charged with bribery, abuse of power, and intentional disclosure of State secrets. 
Source: Xinhua, June 11, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2015-06/11/c_1115590304.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua: How Can the Half Torn G7 Intervene in the South China Sea Issue?

Xinhua’s web magazine, International Sphere (Volume 551) published a group of articles commenting on the G7 summit’s joint statement about China’s actions in South China Sea. The editor added the following comment in the introduction, “Because of [Japanese Prime Minister] Abe’s plot behind the scenes, the just-concluded summit of the G7 issued a joint statement, irresponsibly commenting on the South China Sea issue. Japan coerced the G7 summit into placing the South China Sea issue on its agenda. Its attempt to instigate the Western countries to choose sides is all too clear. In the end, though, the statement did not name China, indicating that the European G7 countries are very clear that the remote South China Sea belongs to Asia and that the issue should be resolved among the related countries through consultation. What qualifications do outsiders have to criticize the involved country so recklessly? Meanwhile, the rich G7 countries’ club is no longer what it once was. It is in a semi-torn state on many issues. Even though the U.S. and Japan forcefully pushed the South China Sea issue, how will the European countries that are in a big mess and have a hard time taking care of themselves have the energy to interfere in the South China Sea, not to mention their becoming an enemy of China? This is by no means the best policy!” 

Source: Xinhua, June 11, 2015 
http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/jrch/551.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Central Bank Report: China’s Economy Is Slowing Down

The Chief Economist of China’s central bank led a number of officials from the bank in writing a research report predicting that China’s economy will continue to slow down for the rest of 2015. 

According to the report, in the first four months of 2015, industrial output continued to drop, while the downward pressure on the economy has been increasing. The report observed three new changes in China’s economy. Export growth has decreased significantly; real estate and manufacturing investment are slowing down faster than expected; and banks are now facing the problem of there being an insufficient demand for loans. 
The report adjusted its prediction for 2015 GDP growth downward from 7.1 percent to 7 percent. 
Source: ifeng.com, June 10, 2015 
http://finance.ifeng.com/a/20150610/13767943_0.shtml
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China to Require Censoring Personnel for Internet Video Providers

On June 10, Beijing city’s local newspaper, Jinghua Times (京华时报), reported that the State Council Legislative Affairs Office called for public comment on the "Administrative Approaches to the Dissemination of Audio-visual Programs via the Internet or Other Information Networks (revised draft)" (hereinafter referred to as the "draft"). According to the draft, Internet video broadcasters should be staffed with professionals who review the program contents. If broadcasters do not do so, they should be given a warning for correction and subject to a fine up to 30,000 yuan ($US 4,834). In addition, the current affairs audio-visual news programs that the Internet service providers broadcast should be those programs that regional or city level radio stations or TV stations already produced and broadcast. This means that homemade current affairs news programs are to be banned from the Internet.

Source: Jinghua Times, June 11, 2015
http://epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2015-06/11/content_206133.htm
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Li Keqiang: Cancel Household Register Restrictions and Diploma Requirements for Entrepreneurs

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang chaired a State Council Executive Meeting on June 4, 2015. To facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship in China, the meeting decided to cancel the household register restrictions and academic diploma requirements for entrepreneurs. However, residence restrictions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen will not be canceled within a short period of time due to the limited capacity of these first tier cities. The 2nd and 3rd tier cities will take the lead to attract new entrepreneurs from outside, who may or may not have academic diplomas. “As long as you have the will and ability to start a business, no matter where are you from, and regardless of your educational level, the policies will support you.”

Source: People’s Daily, June 7, 2015
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2015/0607/c1001-27116255.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Oriental Daily: The CCP Deceived the World about the Yangtze River Shipwreck Rescue.

On June 7, 2015, Hong Kong Oriental Daily published a commentary titled, “The CCP Deceived the World about the Yangtze River Shipwreck Rescue.” On June 1, 2015, a Yangtze River Passenger Cruise Ship, “The Eastern Star” capsized. Of the 456 people on board, only 14 people survived. Seven swam ashore; five drifted to other places where local residents saved them, and “rescue teams” saved two more. The other 444 people either died or were missing. This shipwreck caused the most deaths since 1949, the year when the People’s Republic of China was established. From June 2 to June 5, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Propaganda Department issued 5 orders to restrict and ban media coverage.

On June 2, the CCP Propaganda Department notified all media that no reporters were allowed to visit the shipwreck area or conduct interviews. Many reporters ignored the ban and still interviewed some survivors and witnesses. Their articles could not be published. A 2nd notice from the Propaganda Department stated that all media in China could only publish relevant Xinhua News articles or broadcast the China Central Television (CCTV) footage. "The news must highlight the CCP Central Committee’s attention to the incident, to the rescue efforts, and to the treatment of the victims. Do not describe the details of the tragedy. Whoever violates the rules must be held accountable." 

On June 3rd, Prime Minister Li Keqiang held a moment of silence in front the victims’ bodies at the scene. The CCP Propaganda Department disallowed any mention of it so as to avoid any misinterpretation that the silence was for the students killed on Tiananmen Square in 1989. Also on June 3, China invited 75 reporters from overseas to the rescue site. CCTV reported that foreign reporters praised the Chinese government for how it handled the emergency. 
On June 5, the Foreign Ministry Information Department organized 30 reporters from 20 overseas mainstream media to board the wrecked ship and learn the latest developments on the rescue. The foreign media reporters did not know that what they saw was well choreographed performances. About two hundred Chinese reporters who rushed to the place could not get anywhere near the scene, let alone “board the ship.” 

The Oriental Daily commentary concluded, “China’s official media said the rescue efforts ‘touched China.’ Actually, everything was planned in detail and under strict media control. The CCP deceived the world.”

Source: Hong Kong Oriental Daily, June 7, 2015
http://hk.on.cc/cn/bkn/cnt/commentary/20150607/bkncn-20150607000317468-0607_05411_001.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Exports Slide Further While Imports Plunge

According to China’s General Administration of Customs, in May, Chinese exports fell for the third consecutive month, while imports plunged to the lowest level in three months. These developments highlight the adverse Chinese domestic economic environment, which may trigger further monetary policy adjustments. 

The total trade value in May was down by 9.7 percent from April. Exports fell 2.8 percent, and imports 18.1 percent, with the trade surplus increasing by 65 percent. In the first five months, the U.S. and ASEAN demand helped prevent a more substantial decline in Chinese exports as the exports to Europe and Japan dropped. U.S-China trade went up by 2.8 percent and Europe-China trade was down by 7.1 percent. 
Source: People’s Daily, June 9, 2015 
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2015-06/09/nw.D110000renmrb_20150609_3-01.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources