Chinascope – Page 694

Xinhua: Minimum Wage Increased in 11 Provinces and Cities

According to an article published on Xinhua, 11 provinces and cities announced a minimum wage increase starting in April. The provinces and cities are Guangdong, Hunan, Hainan, Tibet, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Shandong, Shanxi, Beijing, Shanghai, and Gansu. Among the cities, the monthly minimum wage (in yuan) in Beijing went from 1,560 (US$254) to 1,720 (US$280); 1,820 (US$296) to 2,020 (US$329) in Shanghai; 1,680 (US$273) to 1,850 (US$301) in Tianjin; and in Gansu Province it went from 1,350 (US$220) to 1,470 (US$239). The article said that Shenzhen has the highest monthly minimum wage at 2,030 (US$330) yuan while Beijing has the highest hourly minimum wage at 18.7 yuan (US$3.04). In addition the statistics that the National Trade Union released showed that the rate of increase decreased in the period from 2011 to 2014. The increases were 22 percent, 20 percent, 17 percent, and 14 percent respectively in those years. The rate of increase is expected to be around 10 percent in 2015.

Source: Xinhua, April 3, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2015-04/03/c_127653903.htm

Briefings | | April 6, 2015 | Economy/Resources

China: Rule of Law or Rule by the Party?

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Since becoming the new leader of China in late 2012, Xi Jinping has publically advocated “依法治国,” which Chinese and Western media have often translated as the “rule of law.” However, many legal scholars and professionals, as well as observers familiar with Chinese political history, are skeptical that the country will be successful in reforming its legal system. The reason is simple: for a country controlled by the Communist Party, it is the Party, not the law, that rules the country.

Then, why does Xi Jinping, such a savvy and ambitious politician, keep talking about the rule of law?

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Analyses | | April 5, 2015 | Opinion

People’s Daily: U.S. Speculation on China’s ASAT Missile Exposed U.S. Combat System’s Fatal Flaw

People’s Daily reported on a CCTV interview of Chinese military experts who commented on U.S. officials’ public statements on China’s anti-satellite missiles.

The report said, “On March 25, U.S. media stated that there are two Chinese anti-satellite missiles that can hit satellites that are in high orbits. Cecil Haney, the Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, said that, in future conflicts, the United States needs to be prepared for satellite attacks. The U.S. media also pointed out that with 12 Chinese anti-satellite missiles, there could be a severe limit to the U.S. military’s long-range operations, such as its defense of Taiwan, Japan, and Korea.”

“Military expert Du Wenlong responded, during an interview with CCTV, that the U.S. amplifies the China threat, [in order to] find excuses to finance more funds to develop its strategic advantage in space. At the same time, the U.S.’ remarks also exposed a fatal flaw in the American combat system. If the U.S. military reconnaissance and early warning system fails completely, its combat capabilities may return to the ‘Stone Age.’"

Source: People’s Daily, March, 27, 2015

http://military.people.com.cn/n/2015/0327/c1011-26760351.html

Briefings | | April 3, 2015 | US-China Relations

Outlook Weekly: Four Groups That Resist Reform

Outlook Weekly published a commentary stating that Xi Jinping views four groups as being resistant to reform.

The first resistance group consists of strong special interests that interfere with or "misread" the top-level design of reform.

The second resistance group consists of departments and local governments that, in the implementation of the reforms, selectively implement the decisions of the central government that support their own local interests.

The third group is the grassroots cadres who “grab feathers from a flying goose.” They seize any opportunity for private gain and harbor fear and resentment. This “last mile” often becomes the bottleneck that breeds more “flies.”

The fourth group of resistance is public opinion. Any major government initiative is a social hot topic that gathers public opinion that supports opposition to it.

Source: Outlook Weekly reprinted by China Review News, April 2, 2015

http://hk.crntt.com/crn-webapp/touch/detail.jsp?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=103693340

Briefings | | April 3, 2015 | Government/Politics

Big Fight May Be Going on between Zeng Qinghong and Wang Qishan

As the dispute between Guo Wengui and Hu Shuli continues [as discussed in recent briefings], analysts are discussing who is the back-up behind each of them. Ma Jian, former vice minister of state security, used to be a back-up who supported Guo Wengui. Ma Jian’s top leader was Zeng Qinghong, who is former top leader Jiang Zemin’s top advisor. Hu Shuli has been close to Wang Qishan, who is in charge of the CCP Central Commission for Discipline. Hu’s Caixin media outlet has been viewed as a media outlet that is assisting current top leader Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign. Does this mean that a big fight may be going on between Zeng Qinghong and Wang Qishan?

Sources: Duowei, China Gate and Epoch Times, March 30 – April 1, 2015
http://china.dwnews.com/news/2015-04-01/59644856.html
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2015/03/30/4146179.html
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/15/4/1/n4401839.htm

Briefings | | April 2, 2015 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: The Belt and Road Initiatives

On March 28, China unveiled its vision for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road Initiatives (the Belt and Road Initiatives).

The National Development and Reform Commission along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce released the initiatives jointly. The information released shows that the Belt and Road initiatives route runs through Asia, Europe, and Africa, connecting the East Asia economic circle at one end with the developed European economic region at the other.

In the past year or so, Chinese leaders visited over 20 countries to build a consensus on the impact of the Belt and Road Initiatives. China has since signed an MOU and other agreements with neighboring countries on cooperation to build the Belt and Road. A few joint projects have been established.

Domestically, the authorities have adopted policies to raise the financial resources needed to fund the initiatives; they have also promoted banks in funding cross-border settlement and payment transactions. A number of forums, summits, and expos have been held to deepen the understanding of the significance of the Belt and Road Initiatives.

Source: Xinhua, March 28, 2015

http://news.xinhuanet.com/2015-03/28/c_1114793986_2.htm

Briefings | | April 2, 2015 | Economy/Resources

Caixin Sues Guo Wengui and Hong Kong Media for Defamation

Although a number of Chinese media outlets exposed Guo Wengui’s “power play” that enabled him to accumulate a fortune, when Guo decided to fight back, he just chose Caixin’s editor-in-chief, Hu Shuli, as the sole target. On March 29, 2015, Guo Wengui published an open letter to Hu Shuli on his own company website denying all accusations related to a plot. He then stated that, according to Boxun, Hu has an illegitimate child. According to Global Times, Guo’s letter, which had been posted Sunday on Guo’s company Pangu Plaza’s official Weibo, had been taken down by Monday. In response, Caixin’s legal team decided to file lawsuits in Hong Kong against Guo Wengui, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Apple Daily, and the media outlets involved in disseminating Guo’s slander.

According to the Epoch Times on October 22, 2013, Hu Shuli has played a key supportive role in Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign since the beginning of 2013. “The liberal magazine that she founded, Caixin, has acted as a weather vane on the political direction of the top leadership. It has posted lengthy and detailed investigative reports regularly presaging the Party authorities’ vigorous action against officials and factions caught in the crosshairs of the new campaign.”

Source: Caixin, Boxun, Global Times, the Epoch Times
http://www.caixin.com/2015-03-31/100796597.html
http://www.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2015/03/201503300910.shtml#.VRyoi2dgi3M
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/914712.shtml
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/325285-chinas-most-dangerous-woman-knows-which-way-the-wind-blows/

Briefings | | April 2, 2015 | Government/Politics

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.