Chinascope – Page 713

Xinhua: China Is Becoming or Has Become the World’s Largest Garbage Dump

On January 6, 2015, Xinhua reported that China is becoming or has already become the world’s largest “garbage dump.” The article stated, “This is not exaggerated to scare people.” According to "Shanghai Securities News" (http://www.cnstock.com/), China imported 125 times more plastic waste, 50 times more metal waste and 21 times more paper waste in 2003 than in 1990. Chinese buyers bought this waste for more than twice the price that other countries wanted to offer. After having been recycled, re-processed or re-furbished, it was then returned to the market.

Some experts have said, “The land and water polluted by garbage cannot be restored for 100 years." The article particularly mentioned plastic waste from the United States, medical waste from Britain, chemical waste from South Korea, household waste from Germany, and abandoned agricultural film from Japan.

Source: Xinhua, January 6, 2015
http://www.xinhuatone.com/detail.jsp?con_id=410164&class_id=53

Briefings | | January 7, 2015 | Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Lake Poyang, China’s Largest Freshwater Lake Almost Completely Dry

On January 7, 2015, Xinhua published a photo article titled, “Lake Poyang, China’s Largest Freshwater Lake, Approaches Being Dried Out.” In the brief news article, four photos displayed the dried-out bed of Lake Poyang.

The water level of Poyang Lake at its hydrological station was only 8.11 meters. When the water level is less than 8 meters, it means that the lake has entered its extreme drought season. Currently, Poyang Lake’s water area occupies only 310 square kilometers. In the past, when the water area of the lake was more abundant, it was over 3000 square kilometers.

Source: Xinhua, January 7, 2015
http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2015-01/07/c_127367345.htm

Briefings | | January 7, 2015 | Economy/Resources

China Youth Daily: The United States Does Not Want to See a Close Inter-Korean Relationship

On January 7, 2015 China Youth Daily published an article criticizing the United States for imposing additional sanctions against North Korea (DPRK) following North Korea’s cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment. According to the article, the relationship between North Korea and South Korean is getting closer thanks to Kim Jong-un’s warm New Year’s TV messages from the DPRK for two consecutive years. However, the US decision to impose unilateral sanctions against North Korea has “poured cold water” over the inter-Korean reconciliation atmosphere.

The article concluded that, from its strategic point of view, the United States does not want to see a close inter-Korean relationship. If the tension in Northeast Asia eases up, the United States will not have an excuse to ask South Korea to pay more military costs for US troops to reside there; the US will, in particular, lose its rationale for containing China. Through maintaining the tension on the Korean peninsula, the United States is able to maintain its influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Source: China Youth Daily, January 7, 2015
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2015-01/07/nw.D110000zgqnb_20150107_3-07.htm

Briefings | | January 7, 2015 | Geo-Strategic Trend

HSBC Chinese Manufacturing PMI Recorded a Seven Month Low

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that HSBC/Markit jointly released the final Chinese Manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) number for December, which is at a seven month low point at 49.6. According to Qu Hongbin, HSBC Chief Economist of the Grand China Region, domestic demand is on the decline, which has caused the number of new orders to shrink. This also confirms that the manufacturing industry is getting weaker. Qu suggested that the government may need to relax its currency policies again in the next few months. The unemployment sub-index showed an increase in unemployment, which may indicate that manufacturing companies are not hiring. PMI is an indicator of financial activity reflecting purchasing managers’ acquisition of goods and services. A PMI number below 50 typically reflects a decline.

Source: Sina, December 31, 2014

http://finance.sina.com.cn/stock/usstock/c/20141231/111321206181.shtml

Briefings | | January 6, 2015 | Economy/Resources

RFI: Head of Confucius Institute Admitted Exporting Communist Values

Radio Free International (RFI) recently reported that Xu Lin, the Chief Director of the Confucius Institute’s World Headquarters and Director of the Chinese Language Development Center of the Ministry of Education, admitted in a BBC interview that her organization’s mission is to export the values of the Chinese Communist Party to “international academic organizations, no matter whether it’s Columbia University, Stanford University, or a district primary school.” The Wall Street Journal also reported that Xu confirmed that Beijing clearly banned Falun Gong practitioners from overseas Confucius Institutes. Meanwhile, Confucius Institute teachers are required to submit reports on whether sensitive political topics were discussed in classes. The University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania both recently closed their Confucius Institutes. Canada’s Toronto school district also discontinued its contract. However many U.S. K-12 schools signed secret agreements with the Confucius Institute. [Editor’s note: New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith of the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC) has pledged to investigate Confucius Institute contracts and the extent to which U.S. institutions outsource academic control and faculty oversight to a foreign government.]

Source: RFI, December 29, 2014

http://rfi.my/1y0K97F

Briefings | | January 6, 2015 | Government/Politics

BBC Chinese: China to Adjust Salary Structure for State-Owned Company Management

BBC Chinese recently reported that, starting on January 1, 2014, 72 large central government owned companies started adjusting their management salary structure. These companies include PetroChina, Sinopec, China Mobile, and some banks and railway companies. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, after the reform, the salary level of these companies’ leadership teams will very likely decline. In China, the central government owned company management personnel are both corporate administrative professionals and government officials at the same time. The management personnel typically include the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and the Top Secretary of the Communist Party branch in the company. The new plan will set the ceiling on the management salaries to be around eight times the average salary of the company’s staff. The current level is around 12 times.

Source: BBC Chinese, January 3, 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/01/150103_china_stateowned_corporation_salary

Briefings | | January 6, 2015 | Economy/Resources

Xi Jinping: the Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics

In its No. 1 issue of 2015, Qiushi published Parts 2 and 3 of Xi Jinping’s speech given on October 23, 2014, at the 4th plenary session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Xi spoke about advancing the rule of law in China. According to the speech, the general objective is to form a system serving "the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics" and to build a country under "the socialist rule of law." In doing so, China must uphold the leadership of the Party and the dominant position of the people. Everyone must be equal before the law, with the rule of law and morality applying, all based on Chinese reality.

Source: Qiushi, January 5, 2015

http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2015-01/01/c_1113810966.htm

Briefings | | January 5, 2015 | Government/Politics

Over Five Thousand Party Officials Investigated for Corruption in December 2014

The Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) released information on January 5, 2015, describing its accomplishments. In December 2014, it handled 4,238 corruption cases; it dealt with 5,340 Party officials; and 2,280 had been placed under administrative adverse actions and the Party’s disciplinary actions.

Corruption cases involve violations of work discipline, the use of public funds for personal expenditures, the use of government vehicles for personal trips, extravagant weddings and funerals, giving and accepting gifts, and personal travel using public funds.

By of the end of 2014, CCDI had handled 77,606 corruption cases. It had dealt with 102,168 Party officials and 31,338 had been place under administrative adverse actions and the Party’s disciplinary actions.

Source: The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China, January 5, 2015

http://www.ccdi.gov.cn/xwtt/201501/t20150105_49683.html

Briefings | | January 5, 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.