Qiushi published an article promoting deepening the reform and even expanding it from economics to the political arena, to culture, and to the social system. However, the article stated that two parts comprise the overall goal of the reform: "Improving and developing the Socialist Path with Chinese Characteristics, and advancing the national governance systems and governance modernization." The first part sets the fundamental direction.

It includes things such as "One Center and Two Basic Points" (economic development was the central focus; it should occur through 1) centralized political control – i.e., the Four Cardinal Principles [the socialist road, the people’s democratic dictatorship, the leading role of the Party, and Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong thought] – and 2) economic reforms and opening up). It also includes the socialist market economy, keeping public ownership for the majority of the economy, the People’s congress system, multi-party cooperation, and the political consultation system under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Marxist leadership, and the CCP’s absolute leadership over the military. Not only can these not be changed, but they should also be enhanced.

"We must improve our political determination and must not make subversive errors on fundamental issues."

Source: Qiushi Online, Mary 15, 2015
http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2015-05/15/c_1115245799.htm

The Trend Magazine, which is based in Hong Kong, published a commentary in its May issue to discuss the argot of the "Iron Hat King." "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) likes to play political games by using argot to criticize someone without disclosing his name." The Chinese media have stated that there is no "Iron Hat King" in the anticorruption campaign [a king whose descendants would always enjoy the royal king title], which translates to mean that top officials will always be subject to corruption charges.

The article suggested that Jiang Zemin (the "core" of the CCP’s third generation of leaders, who was installed by Deng Xiaoping after the Tiananmen Square Massacre) is the "Iron Hat King." He has built up his clique, with Zeng Qinghong (the "Qing Prince") to control the Party’s affairs, Bo Xilai as the crown prince, Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou to cover the military, and Zhou Yongkang to oversee the police. However, his (Jiang’s) secret was exposed when Wang Lijun came to the U.S. Consulate in 2012. Now the new leaders’ large-scale anticorruption campaign has trapped him in Shanghai, where he can barely survive.

The article further suggested that the CCP’s first three top leaders all had their "two legacies" [to preserve]. Mao Zedong’s legacies were the taking-over of China from the Kuomintang and the Cultural Revolution. Deng Xiaoping’s were the economic reform and the crackdown on the June 4th movement. Jiang has also worried about two things: The June 4th democratic movement can never be redressed and the suppression of Falun Gong cannot be stopped. "This big tiger is very clear: if the Party stops bearing those criminal actions for him, he will die badly."

Source: Cheng Ming Online
http://www.chengmingmag.com/t357/t357-ed/t357ed.html

Radio Free Asia published a commentary on Wang Qishan’s meeting with three foreign scholars on April 23. The scholars were the renowned political scientist Francis Fukuyama, economist Masahiko Aoki, and former Citic Securities manager Tatsuhito Tokuchi. Wang was talking most of the time. Afterwards, Tatsuhito Tokuchi, Wang’s long-time friend, published Wang’s speech on the Internet. Chinese media did not publish it.

"A key message that Wang passed on in this meeting was that his anticorruption campaign faces severe difficulties." People being targeted as well as a large number of officials are against this "selective" anticorruption and the rapid expansion of Wang’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Now the campaign has reached a stalemate. If Wang stops, the public will be disappointed and the result may be social turmoil. If he proceeds, some cliques will fight back and even fight to the death.

"Another key message in this talk was that Wang promised his opponents that he does not seek a complete systematic reform that will fundamentally prevent corruption."

"It is rare for a politburo standing committee member to have a discussion with visiting foreign scholars. Wang’s high-profile meeting with them and the posting of his talk through an official channel is a big taboo for high-ranking Party officials. This, on the one hand, reflected that he could not easily find friends in the Party. On the other hand, it showed that he does not need to be bound by the rules since Xi Jinping relies on him so heavily."

Source: RFA Online, May 15, 2015
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/commentaries/hushaojiang_com-05152015083428.html

The State Council recently introduced a plan to simplify and transform government work that requires decentralized power, while still maintaining control. China Review News carried an article that provided its interpretation of the plan. The article stated that simplification of the work and the decentralization of power indicate that the government needs to listen to the general public rather than impose its own will. It also requires that the government be transparent about its administrative approval process so the general public can gain greater benefits from the change. Moreover, the article said it was encouraging to see that the policy mentioned the importance of imposing deadline requirements and improving the efficiency of the government’s work.

Source: China Review News Agency, May 17, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1037/5/5/5/103755546.html?coluid=151&kindid=11513&docid=103755546&mdate=0516153046

In January, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Party and the General Office of the State Council published, “An Opinion on Further Development of Think Tanks with Chinese Characteristics.” China Review News recently published an interview with three experts from Hunan Province to get their input. According to the article, the experts mentioned that, currently, not only was there a lack of focus on the development of think tanks in China; there was also a lack of high quality and influential think tanks. As to the question of what it means for a think tank to have "Chinese characteristics," one answer was that the think tank should participate in forming public policy. It needs to be more diversified while also maintaining its independence. Another answer was that a think tank with Chinese characteristics should reference but not copy the experience from the Western world. It should be clear that the “Party can manage the think tank,” which must use the “Marxism-Leninism, Mao’s Theory, and Socialist Theory with Chinese characteristics” as its guiding ideology. According to the article, it should provide service on strategic issues and public policy, stay diversified, and provide macroeconomic regulation and control.

Source: China Review News Agency, May 14, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1037/4/4/4/103744402.html?coluid=151&kindid=11515&docid=103744402&mdate=0514083805