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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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China’s Post-80 Generation’s High Divorce Rate

CanKao XiaoXi reported on Jun 17 that those who were born in the 1980’s (“Post 80”) are becoming the main group that is experiencing divorce in mainland China. The reasons for their divorces vary a lot and some are quite strange. There are many reasons why those “Post 80” are becoming the main driving force in divorce cases. Those “post 60” and “post 70” have passed the peak time for divorce and those “post 90” have not yet gotten married. Their divorce triggers include “who should wash the dishes,” and “who should own Transformers models." One couple had a record short marriage – from getting married to divorce, it took them only 25 minutes. Taiwan’s Central News Agency quoted a Chinese news article about a Shanghai court staff member saying that, between 2011 and 2012, the divorce cases they handled showed that the marriage time for “post 80” was much shorter than their predecessors. Twenty-six percent of the cases they handled in these two years filed for divorce after two years of marriage; more than 40 percent filed for divorce after three years of marriage; only 9 percent filed  for divorce after seven years’ marriage. 

Source: Cankao Xiaoxi, June 17, 2015
http://china.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2015/0617/819953.shtml
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Caixin: Fukuyama Gives Priority to the Rule of Law

In its June 1 issue, Caixin, a media group that features financial and business news in China, published an interview of Francis Fukuyama, author of the well-known book, The End of History and the Last Man (1992). In his book, Fukuyama claimed that liberal democracy was the last stop on history’s long road. On June 15, Caixin also published the interview on its English website.


In recent years and with the rise of economic powerhouses linked to political systems such as China’s that do not rely on the one-man-one vote model, memories of what many called democracy’s Cold War victory have dimmed. In Caixin’s recent interview in Beijing, Fukuyama said he remains committed to the premise that the modernizing human family is marching toward political systems that balance the rule of law, "state capacity," and democracy. 

Fukuyama stated that it is possible for a strong state to succeed economically without democracy, but that democracy builds stability and legitimacy, which, in turn, supports growth and helps governments survive economic crises. "I think that, in the long run, transitioning to democracy makes the whole system stable and legitimate and therefore is good for growth." Fukuyama continued, "I think that’s why most rich countries in the world today are actually liberal democracies." 

In answering the question on the relative importance of state capacity, the rule of law, and accountability in today’s China, Fukuyama gave priority to strengthening the rule of law. Discussing his interest in China, besides its size, and that it has never been integrated into the world system, Fukuyama observed, "There is so much in Chinese history about being a civilization that people aren’t aware of." It was the richness of that tradition that he found really fascinating.

Fukuyama also questioned the sustainability of China’s growth model, as well as the lower productivity of its state-owned enterprises compared to its private sector. 

Sources:
Caixin Online, June 15, 2015
http://english.caixin.com/2015-06-15/100819331.html 
Caixin Weekly, May 29, 2015
http://weekly.caixin.com/2015-05-29/100814472.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Caixin: Fukuyama Gives Priority to the Rule of Law

In its June 1 issue, Caixin, a media group that features financial and business news in China, published an interview of Francis Fukuyama, author of the well-known book, The End of History and the Last Man (1992). In his book, Fukuyama claimed that liberal democracy was the last stop on history’s long road. On June 15, Caixin also published the interview on its English website.


In recent years and with the rise of economic powerhouses linked to political systems such as China’s that do not rely on the one-man-one vote model, memories of what many called democracy’s Cold War victory have dimmed. In Caixin’s recent interview in Beijing, Fukuyama said he remains committed to the premise that the modernizing human family is marching toward political systems that balance the rule of law, "state capacity," and democracy. 

Fukuyama stated that it is possible for a strong state to succeed economically without democracy, but that democracy builds stability and legitimacy, which, in turn, supports growth and helps governments survive economic crises. "I think that, in the long run, transitioning to democracy makes the whole system stable and legitimate and therefore is good for growth." Fukuyama continued, "I think that’s why most rich countries in the world today are actually liberal democracies." 

In answering the question on the relative importance of state capacity, the rule of law, and accountability in today’s China, Fukuyama gave priority to strengthening the rule of law. Discussing his interest in China, besides its size, and that it has never been integrated into the world system, Fukuyama observed, "There is so much in Chinese history about being a civilization that people aren’t aware of." It was the richness of that tradition that he found really fascinating.

Fukuyama also questioned the sustainability of China’s growth model, as well as the lower productivity of its state-owned enterprises compared to its private sector. 

Source: Caixin Online; Caixin Weekly
http://english.caixin.com/2015-06-15/100819331.html 
http://weekly.caixin.com/2015-05-29/100814472.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Japan’s Four Hidden Plots against China in the South China Sea

Xinhua published a series of articles, including an editor’s introduction, on its “International Channel” commenting on Japan’s involvement in the South China Sea issue. 

Editor’s introduction: “In recent years, as the U.S. has been adjusting its Asia-Pacific strategy and openly intervening on the South China Sea issue, the Japanese government has also been stepping up its intervention. Recently, in addition to the U.S. military fulfilling its requirement to start military patrols in the South China Sea and performing military exercises with and providing equipment to the Philippines, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also repeatedly accused and discredited China. He has done so at the G7 summit and on many other occasions."  
“Although the South China Sea dispute has nothing to do with Japan, the Japanese side is actively getting involved and continuously increasing its intervention efforts. Just what is Japan plotting as it hides behind the scenes?” The series then listed the following four agendas that indicate what Japan is "plotting" against China: 
Plot I: to divert public attention in the international media from Japan’s history problem [in World War II]; 
Plot II: to stir up the "China threat theory" in order to create a favorable atmosphere for [Abe’s] security bill; 
Plot III: to use the tactic of “relieving a besieged ally by attacking the home base of the besiegers,” thus trapping China on the South China Sea issue; 
Plot IV: to curb the rise of China by creating an Asian version of NATO. 

Source: Xinhua: June 17, 2015 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2015-06/17/c_127922033.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Qiushi: Promote Positive National Image of China in Multiple Ways

On June 3, 2015, Qiushi, the Chinese Communist Party School and the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee’s political theory website, republished an article from Chinese Social Sciences Today, titled, “Avoid Single-Mode Propagation of China’s National Image.” 

According to the article, Western countries have a serious misunderstanding of China’s national image due to the fact that China’s official media always exaggerate the positive aspects of China and the Chinese government. To display a responsible, positive, and pragmatic national image of China, China’s official media may sometimes, at the same time that they showcase the greatness of China’s achievements, “skillfully and appropriately” present some problems, difficulties, or even failures that China faces so as to demonstrate to the world that China is willing to be humble, accept well-intentioned criticism, and be active in solving problems. In addition, the article recommended using movies, TV operas, books, performances, cultural exchanges, and activities to further promote China’s national image.
Source: Qiushi, May 3, 2015
http://www.qstheory.cn/international/2015-06/03/c_1115495442.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

With No Confidence in the Future, the CCP Departmental and Regional Officials Stay Idle at Work

On May 20, 2015, People’s Tribune, which is under People’s Daily online, published an in-depth analytical article on why Chinese Communist Party officials do not take action in applying the CCP Central Committee’s policies, why they are waiting and remaining idle, and why they have the mentality of not causing problems or not messing things up. 

The reasons behind the officials’ inaction are:

1) They lack political confidence in China’s future.
2) As the anti-corruption movement continues, they are uncertain about their own futures.
3) They find the policy changes and current comprehensive reforms too confusing.

Source: People’s Tribune, May 20, 2015
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmlt/html/2015-05/20/content_1574755.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

RFI: China Issues Internet IDs to Chinese Citizens

Radio France International (RFI) Chinese Edition recently reported that the Chinese government has initiated a program of rapid issuance of “Internet IDs” to its citizens at a speed of 100,000 issued per day. The “Internet ID,” also known as the “eID,” will be integrated into the Ministry of Public Safety’s Citizen’s Online Identification System and the personal identification systems of the banking industry. The eID system was certified by the National Passcode Administration in 2013, with a pilot program going into effect in the City of Karamay in Xinjiang. Starting in 2012, the Ministry of Public Safety worked closely with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to use a “strategically” embedded eID in the ICBC-issued IC (Integrated Circuit) debit cards and reached its capacity of producing 300,000 cards daily. In the market value of its assets, ICBC is generally considered the largest bank in the world.
Source: Radio France International, June 9, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/p3lt529
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Xinhua: China Sternly Refuted the Philippines on the South China Sea Issue

Xinhua recently reported that, at the 25th Conference of the Member Countries of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, held in New York on June 12, the representative from the Philippines delivered harsh criticism against China. The Head of the Chinese Delegation, Wang Min, “sternly refuted” the Philippines’ accusations. Wang stated that China’s land reclamation activities in the South China Sea are exercised solely under China’s sovereignty and that the purpose was to improve the living conditions of China’s citizens as well as to provide better maritime search and rescue missions. China considers these to be its international responsibilities. The construction work will also improve the freedom of navigation for all countries. China was also against any “single-sided” maritime arbitration – Wang called for peaceful nation-to-nation negotiations based on international laws to resolve all South China Sea related issues. 
Source: Xinhua, June 13, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2015-06/13/c_1115605446.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend