Chinascope – Page 710

Xi Jinping’s Overall Strategy for the Communist Party to Rule China

On January 29, 2015, the Communist Party website published an article supporting Xi Jinping’s December 2014 speech and the 2015 New Year’s greetings on building a moderately prosperous society throughout China, comprehensively deepening reforms, comprehensively promoting the rule of law, and fully tightening the Party’s discipline. The article stated that this is the high-level overall strategy for the Communist Party to rule China.

According to the article, “building a moderately prosperous society” is the goal and “deepening reforms” is the driver to reach the goal. “Promoting the rule of law” provides the legal framework for reaching the goal. “Tightening the Party’s discipline” is the organizational measure and the control mechanism to ensure that the goal will be reached. The article stated that the history and the people in China have chosen the Communist Party as the ruling party in China, and that under the current circumstance in China, there is not a single political force that can replace the Communist Party.

Source: The Communist Party of China website, January 29, 2015 http://theory.people.com.cn/n/2015/0129/c40531-26474275.html

Briefings | | February 2, 2015 | Government/Politics

Three Goals of Beijing’s Military Diplomacy

Chinese leader Xi Jinping said on January 29th that, as part of its overall foreign diplomacy, China will pay more attention to its military diplomacy. Xi’s remarks were made at a meeting with the military attaché and other military diplomats.

China Review News (中国评论通讯社), a Hong Kong based and Beijing backed Chinese language news organization, lists three goals of China’s military diplomacy.

First, Beijing’s military diplomacy certainly includes deterrence. When Xi advocated the expansion of military diplomacy, he also called for military officers "to make new and greater contributions to the China dream and dream of a strong army." Instead of showcasing military might, it is perhaps more important for China to become a military leader – not only technically but also ideologically. In other words, Beijing’s military diplomacy is a natural consequence of the ever growing role of leadership it has been playing in the international arena.

In addition to showcasing its military strength, agenda setting is an equally important goal. For this reason, Beijing has been attempting to upgrade the Xiangshan Forum (香山论坛) to a channel equivalent to the Shangri-La Dialogue as the primary platform for regional security issues. The official media have listed the upgrading of the Xiangshan Forum as one of the top ten "breakthroughs" in military diplomacy.

A third goal is to eliminate the "China threat" theory and to dispel the outside suspicions of the People’s Liberation Army’s intentions and strategies. By letting its military communicate with the outside world, China’s ultimate hope is to convince its neighbors (and potential opponents) that its "peaceful rise" is sincere.

Source: China Review News, February 2, 2015

http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1036/0/2/2/103602217.html?

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

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 | | January 30, 2015 | 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 | | January 30, 2015 | 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 | | January 29, 2015 | 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 | | January 29, 2015 | 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 | | January 29, 2015 | 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 | | January 28, 2015 | Information/Technology

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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