Chinascope – Page 682

Beijing to Step up Control over Foreign NGOs in China

Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on Jun 2 that the “PRC’s Foreign NGO Administration Law (Second Draft)” public comment session will end on Jun 4. The most controversial part is that the PRC Ministry of Public Security will monitor the activities of foreign NGOs in China, whereas they used to work most closely with the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The draft says that foreign NGOs need to have a Chinese government entity as their “administrative authority.” The foreign NGOs will need to submit an activity list for the next year’s operations before Nov 30 of each year and their operation plans will need to be approved; those who do not comply with this requirement will be subject to criminal punishment, which will apply to the foreign NGOs as well as to their cooperating Chinese counterparts. The EU representative in Beijing as well as the European Chamber of Commerce in China both expressed “concern” over this draft law. RFA quotes Liu Qing, a Chinese human right activist based in the U.S. who said, “There will be almost no real (Chinese) NGO in China as these organizations need to have a government entity to ‘manage’ them. Usually there are two functions for an NGO – the first is to provide aid and help to people; the second is to monitor the government; the Chinese Communist Party won’t allow either one.”

Source: Radio Free Asia, June 2, 2015

http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/nu-06022015122138.html

Briefings | | June 2, 2015 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Global Times: How China Should Face the U.S. South China Sea Provocation

Global Times recently published an editorial explaining the strategy China should take in handling the recent U.S. intervention in China’s land reclamation activities in the South China Sea. The editorial suggested that the United States intends to promote the South China Sea situation into an international conflict and to declare the U.S.’ position of not recognizing China’s sovereignty over some islands. With strong military power in hand, the U.S. may be confident in controlling a regional issue. However China doesn’t want to go head-to-head with the U.S. and the U.S. may not be interested in taking this into a war with China. It seems the U.S. is focusing on creating trouble for China’s plan. If China can manage to complete the construction plan, the U.S. trouble-making may fail. The editorial recommended that the Chinese government ignore the U.S. intervention activities and see who will have the last laugh.

Source: Global Times, May 22, 2015

http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2015-05/6497745.html

Briefings | | June 2, 2015 | US-China Relations

People’s Daily: Be Vigilant for Financial Industry Overdevelopment

People’s Daily recently published an article discussing the relationship between the financial industry and the real economy. The article referred to an IMF statement that, if the financial industry holds too large a share of the economy, then the cost of a financial crisis will wipe out the contribution the financial industry has made to the economy. It seems advanced economies such as the U.S. and Japan are showing signs of overdeveloped financial industries. The article pointed out that the purpose of the financial industry is, in fact, to serve the real economy. Overdeveloping it may result in bubbles of overpriced assets, a lack of sufficient regulation, and wasted liquidity within the financial industry. The U.S. economy demonstrated all these issues in its development history; the world economy is still suffering the consequences of the last financial crisis. The article concluded that the rebalancing of the financial industry may take a long time to reach its end and the global capital market could still face another crisis in the near term.

Source: People’s Daily, May 28, 2015

http://finance.people.com.cn/stock/n/2015/0528/c67815-27068489.html

Briefings | | June 2, 2015 | Economy/Resources

Reuters Chinese: List of Key Recent Agreements China Signed with Foreign Countries

Reuters Chinese (Shanghai Branch) recently published an article summarizing the important agreements the Chinese government has concluded with other countries in recent years. Chile: RMB 22 billion (US$3.5 billion) in a currency exchange agreement; Peru: 5,300 kilometers in a railway project and various other cooperation projects in energy, mining, infrastructure building, quarantine, medicine and space industries; Columbia: multiple agreements on infrastructure building, the steel industry and the Buenaventura Port Economic Development Zone; Brazil: a Chinese order for 22 airplanes, a US$10 billion loan to Petro Brazil, and an ocean shipment agreement on iron ore; India: US$22 billion in cooperation agreements in energy, trade, and financial industries as well as building industrial parks; Belarus: a five-year potash supply agreement, RMB 7 billion (US$1.1billion) in currency exchange, and US$7 billion in loans; Russia: 32 cooperation projects worth US$25 billion (mainly in railway, energy and information security), plus a number of bank credits as well as loans.

Source: Reuter Chinese, May 27, 2015

http://cn.reuters.com/article/2015/05/28/china-deals-idCNKBS0OD07E20150528?sp=true

Briefings | | June 2, 2015 | Government/Politics

We Should Not Deny Our History

Recently, a number of countries have criticized Japan’s attempts to revise, or otherwise whitewash its atrocities during World War II, but none has been as vociferous as China.

Continue reading →

Perspectives | | June 1, 2015 | Opinion

Ministry of Public Security to Start 24 hour Internet Surveillance Program

People’s Daily reported that, according to the Ministry of Public Security, a brand new Internet surveillance system has been established. Starting June 1, it is expected that Internet police in 50 cities and provinces will monitor online activity using a unique identification account to “safeguard internet security.” The article stated that internet surveillance, covering a full 24 hours, will help to discover “illegal and harmful” information; present “warnings and threats” to those conducting improper online speech and behavior; publish online instances of criminal activity; and accept online tips that report illegal behavior. The article also listed 50 cities and provinces in which the Internet police surveillance is expected to take place.

Source: People’s Daily, March 31, 2015
http://legal.people.com.cn/n/2015/0531/c42510-27082485.html

Briefings | | June 1, 2015 | Government/Politics

Politburo of the CCP Published New Guidelines on Developing the Party Organization

Xinhua reported that during the recent Politburo meeting held on May 29, the Party organization introduced new guidelines for the development of its work. The article stated that the organization agreed that the Chinese Communist Party should play the “core leadership role” in China. Therefore it should expand in order to further the Party organization’s development in government agencies and in civil, economic, cultural and social organizations. The guidelines provided comprehensive requirements for setting up Party organizations and defined the roles, responsibilities, and decision making process for the work.

Source: Xinhua, May 29, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-05/29/c_1115455011.htm

Briefings | | June 1, 2015 | Government/Politics

PLA to Conduct Military Exercises Near China Myanmar Border

Huanqiu published an article reporting that a PLA spokesperson from the Chengdu military base announced that the PLA will conduct combined air-ground operation military exercises starting on June 2. The exercises are to be held in the region where the Myanmar government’s bombs fell and where Chinese citizens were injured. The article stated that this will be the first exercise since the fighting took place in Northern Myanmar in February.

Source: Huanqiu, June 1, 2015
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2015-06/6563465.html

Briefings | | June 1, 2015 | Defense/Military

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.