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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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Chinese Military Expert Proposes to Train Navy and Air Force Double-Category Military Officers

Li Dapeng, an associate professor at the Naval University of Engineering (Wuhan, China), published an article on China Youth Daily, which was then republished on the websites of People’s Daily and Xinhua, proposing to train Navy and Air Force double-category military officers in order to counter the U.S. "Air Sea Battle." Below is an excerpt from the article: 

"The “U.S. ‘Air Sea Battle’ concept was formed to deal with new political, economic, and technological situations. … The United States declared that the ‘Air Sea Battle’ is not directed against a specific opponent. However, the U.S. Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Center released a report called, ‘Why is there an air Sea Battle?’ The report said, ‘With the proliferation of advanced military technology and military use by other countries, particularly when it is being applied to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Iranian army, the ability of the U.S. military to enter the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf regions is being challenged.’" 
“Therefore, the purpose of the ‘Air Sea Battle’ concept is to ensure that the U.S. will be able to execute its military power in certain areas in the face of China and Iran’s military challenges.” 

“In recent years, the United States has continued to increase its investment in the Asia-Pacific strategy. Through joint military exercises, optimizing the systems of overseas military bases, troop redeployment, and strengthening strategic channel control, the U.S. has formed a strategic encirclement of China and has been preparing for the implementation of the ‘Air Sea Battle’ against China.”

“The U.S. military has been considering the training of military officers who fall within the ‘double military categories’ of both the navy and the air force. … Currently, the ‘Air Sea Battle’ has already transformed from the strategic planning phase into the implementation phase. Whether it is for responding to the ‘Air Sea Battle,’ or to adapt to the requirements of the development trend of the war, we should actively plan to train Navy and Air Force ‘double military categories’ personnel.” 

“To this end, we should, on the basis of an in-depth study of the ‘Air Sea Battle,’ implement the transition mechanism of naval and air force institutions and personnel training programs.” 

“Facing the current situation, we should boldly act to build more efficient and capable combat forces, train naval and air force double-category personnel, and accelerate and deepen the revolution in military affairs so as to take the driver’s seat in the possible future ‘Air Sea Battle,’ and win the war.” 
Source: China Youth Daily, August 22, 2014 
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2014-08/22/nw.D110000zgqnb_20140822_3-09.htm http://military.people.com.cn/n/2014/0822/c1011-25515926.html 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2014-08/22/c_126904004.htm?prolongation=1

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Five Economic Challenges that China Faces

Daily Economic News predicted five macro-economic challenges in 2015; these will come primarily from external pressure and from internal economic drivers losing steam. 

First, an increase in money supply may not be sufficient to help revive businesses. Second, exports continue to decline. Of the economic drivers, exports have been the first to lose power. Third, as banks tighten credit, the demand for credit will be difficult to satisfy. Thus the probability of default will increase. Fourth, real estate developers will not reap the high returns that they did before and will be very cautious. A high inventory in the housing market also de-incentivizes new starts. Fifth, the central government is tightening local governments’ programs so as to reduce local government’ debts. Without the endorsement of local governments, private investment in city infrastructure will not be able to obtain favorable extensions from the bank to handle their debt servicing, thus increasing the likelihood of default. 
Source: Daily Economic News reprinted by Study Times, January 26, 2015 http://www.studytimes.cn/shtml/xxsb/20150126/9265.shtml
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China.com Comments on the U.S. renaming of “Air Sea Battle” to JAM-GC

On January 8, the Director of the Joint Staff of the U.S. Department of Defense, Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, issued a memorandum, officially renaming the "Air Sea Battle" (ASB) operational concept to “Joint Concept for Access and Maneuver in the Global Commons" (JAM-GC). China.com published an article to interpret the implications of the name change. The article is also available on Xinhuanet.com. The article commented that the renaming of the "Air Sea Battle" concept is still new wine in an old bottle and that it has no benefit for the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The article said, “The U.S. has its internal needs to accelerate the ‘Air Sea Battle.’ The first is out of its defense strategy. Despite facing severe challenges in other areas, the United States has never relaxed its focus on the Asia-Pacific region. The second is the need to maintain hegemony. The third is out of political considerations. In recent years, the Obama administration has received heavy criticism for its ‘weakness’ and ‘lack of strategy’ in foreign policy. ‘Air Sea Battle,’ as a prominent highlight of its ‘Asia-Pacific rebalancing’ strategy, can be an important gimmick to shift the critics’ focus. At the same time, it can also, once again, tie the Asia-Pacific allies to the American military wagon.”

“In the current situation, such a U.S. action is obviously not appropriate. First, funding is very tight due to the weak economy and the fact that military spending will be substantially reduced over the next decade. Second, the U.S. is losing its power to be able to attack on all fronts. Third, allies’ responses are mostly lukewarm. Fourth, the negative impact is unpopular. The ‘Air Sea Battle’ that is highly aggressive can easily lead to a regional arms race and undermine regional peace and stability.”

Source: China.com, January 28, 2015                 http://mil.jschina.com.cn/system/2015/01/28/023516841.shtml                http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2015-01/28/c_127431258.htm               

 

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Anti-Corruption Rules Apply to Every Corner of China; No Safety Net Can Protect Corrupt Officials

On January 26, 2015, Beijing Times, a newspaper under People’s Daily, published an article stating the purpose of the rule of law, which is to unite the people. At the Fifth Plenary Session of the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection held in Beijing on January 12 -14, 2015, Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party General Secretary, repeatedly stressed tightening party discipline and regulations, political rules, political regulations, and government laws and regulations. According to the article, a few years ago, some Party members and officials, overtly or covertly, opposed the leadership of the CCP Central Committee. No decrees or policies could be sent out from behind the walls of Zhongnanhai, which is the central headquarters for the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council (Central government) of the People’s Republic of China. Corrupt officials organized gangs and cliques, including an “Oil Gang,” a “Secretary Gang,” and a “Shanxi Gang.” A big tiger was sitting behind the gangs. On many important occasions, Xi Jinping has condemned this phenomenon severely.

From a grand perspective, the rules and regulations apply to every corner [of China] with full coverage. The Party will continue to investigate and punish corrupt officials seriously with no restrictions and zero tolerance. When Zhou Yongkang, Xu Caihou, Ling jihua, and Su Rong were arrested, the anti-corruption campaign broke through some old “bad rules,” such as that retired officials were not in danger of being investigated and members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee would not be punished. There were forbidden areas, special areas, and blind areas that the anti-corruption campaign had to avoid. The current righteous rules and regulations demonstrate that whoever gets involved in corruption will certainly be investigated and punished even when they think they have “umbrellas” or “safety nets” to protect them.  


The article concluded, “Those who do not follow the rules, break the rules, or do nothing because of their fear will be investigated. Those who follow the rules and are willing to do something will be used.” The purpose is to unite the people. 

Source: Beijing Times, January 26, 2015
http://epaper.jinghua.cn/html/2015-01/26/content_164499.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi: Establishing Think Tanks with Chinese Characteristics

The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council recently issued a joint directive (the Directive) on establishing think tanks with Chinese characteristics. 

Qiushi published a commentary about the Chinese characteristics of these think tanks. It stated that the Directive handles well the relationship between the development of think tanks and political sensitivity. For example, as a matter of basic principles, the Directive emphasized the leadership of the Party, thus laying the political and legal bottom line for the think tanks. The think tanks will be the research consulting entities that focus on strategic issues and public policy for the purpose of assisting the Party and the government in their decision-making process. The think tanks should make a priority of their social responsibility and ensure that they abide by the law and regulations. According to the commentary, the guidelines in the Directive promote the development of the think tanks and do not blindly follow some so-called "knowledge" and "judgment” about how to develop think tanks. 
Source: Qiushi, January 27, 2015 
http://www.qstheory.cn/tjyd/2015-01/27/c_1114138726.htm 
Full Text of the Directive 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/zgjx/2015-01/21/c_133934292.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Apple Accepted China’s Comprehensive Safety Inspection

According to Chinese media, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, agreed to a request that China’s State Internet Information Office (SIIO) made that Apple’s phone, tablets, and laptop be subject to security inspections. Although Apple’s products are manufactured in China, Apple hardware and software designs are from the United States. The Chinese government fears that Chinese citizens will be subjected to secret surveillance because of the use of Apple products.
The media reported that Lu Wei, the director of SIIO, told Tim Cook that China is one of Apple’s biggest markets, but Apple’s agreement to allow Chinese security checks matters for China’s national security. China has long raised questions on safety issues related to Apple products. Chinese media reported last July that Apple’s iPhone poses a threat to national security because it can record the user’s location. China’s state media have also criticized Apple, charging the company with providing users’ data to U.S. spy agencies. Chinese media have called for severe sanctions against Apple.
In addition, in the past several weeks, Google’s services in China have been subjected to interference and the Chinese government procurement authorities have prohibited government agencies from using computers that have the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system.
Source: BBC Chinese, January 23, 2015
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/01/150123_apple_china_security
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

Study Times: China Should Create State Enterprises

Study Times republished an article from Beijing Youth Daily arguing that China should create a number of state enterprises. According to the author, state enterprises are different from State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The latter are companies that the government owns, but state enterprises are companies, whether private or state-owned, that are a symbol of the country or that represent its country in certain industries.

For example, Samsung is the state enterprise of South Korea, Daimler AG is of Germany, and Apple and Google are of the U.S. The author suggested that Huawei (an IT industry) and the newly formed CRRC Corp. (in the railway industry) are the two best candidates to become state enterprises of China, as they are both strongly competitive in their fields. Huawei also needs the government’s backing to compete in the international market and to deal with other governments.

As a result of their monopoly positions, many large SOEs, such as those in the oil, electricity, and banking industries, have substantial revenues and a large market share in China. However, they do not have the ability to compete in global markets, and thus cannot become state enterprises in a real sense.

Source: Study Times, January 19, 2015
http://www.studytimes.cn/shtml/xxsb/20150119/9154.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Military Parade on the 70th Anniversary of Anti-Fascist War Shows the Knife to Corrupt Officials

On Sep 3, 2015, China will hold a military parade to observe the 70th anniversary of the Anti-Fascist War. It is the first military parade to be staged other than on China’s National Day (October 1) and the first since President Xi Jinping took office in 2012. It is the first time that China will invite foreign leaders to attend a grand military parade; Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend.

On January 27, 2015, China Review News published an article analyzing the political considerations behind the decision to hold such a grand parade as it breaks the convention of having a big military parade every 10 years on National Day. According to the article, there are four purposes in holding this parade. First, it displays China’s military might; second, it deters Japan; third, it enhances the Chinese people’s sense of pride and confidence by showing off the Chinese army’s morale and armaments; finally, it tells corrupt officials that the army, which is “the handle of a knife,” in addition to two other “handles of knives,” which are the Chinese Communist Party’s disciplinary inspections system and its political and legal system, is in the hands of the Party and the people.
On January 20, 2015, when Xi spoke to the Political and Legal Affairs Committee meeting, he said, “Nurture a legal corps loyal to the party, loyal to the country, loyal to the people, and loyal to the law. Ensure that the handle of the knife is firmly in the hands of the Party and the people.”

Source: China Review News, January 27, 2015
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1035/9/2/9/103592959.html?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=103592959&mdate=0127100910  

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics