Chinascope – Page 719

Over 40 Percent of Listed Companies Are Found to Have Environmental Violations.

On December 9, the Beijing based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) and two other environmental organizations published a report that listed the publicly traded companies in China that had environmental violations.

According to the IPE report, as of December 5, 2014, 1069 listed companies, which is over 40 percent of all listed companies, were in violation of environmental standards. For example, over 200 companies had instances of noncompliance with emission standards.

The IPE statistics showed that the largest companies that pollute the environment are power plants, cement companies, non-ferrous metal smelting plants, steel mills, and chemical manufacturers. They account for between 83 to 93 percent of pollutant emissions. Of the 36 listed steel mills, 34 were in violation of environmental standards. Further, the 63 power plants, which account for 80 percent of the listed power plants, have been cited for violations of environmental regulations a total of 738 times.

Source: Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, December 9, 2014 http://www.ipe.org.cn/about/notice_de_1.aspx?id=11832

Briefings | | December 11, 2014 | Economy/Resources

Young Chinese Scholars on Sino-U.S. Relations

The International Strategy Institute of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Party School held its Second Young Scholar Forum in Beijing on December 6. Two hot topics were the U.S. strategy of rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific and the new type of Sino-U.S. major country relationship. People’s Daily reported the scholars’ views on these topics:

"Observing Obama’s actions in the past couple of years, the U.S.’strategy of returning to the Asia-Pacific’ is a true strategic adjustment. It increases the U.S. presence in Asia."

"The U.S.’ rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific strategy presents four challenges to China. It impacts the status of the security around China; it impacts the Sino-U.S. military security relationship; it impacts China’s regional influence; and it impacts China’s anti-terrorism situation."

"In its strategy of rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific, the U.S. also exports its ideology. In the battle of the ideology field, we can see that the U.S. wants to broadcast its ideology to the world. … The battle in the ideology field, though, does not use gun powder; it is more brutal."

"As for future U.S.’ China policy, the key issue is whether the U.S. is willing to give up some of its interests to China."

"In the past, when the U.S. raised the ‘China threat’ issue, China would rebut it immediately. However, no matter how China rebutted, it was using another’s system of terminology. Now China has introduced the concept of a ‘new type of major country relationship’ and led the U.S. to change. This is a major achievement."

Source: People’s Daily Online, December 9, 2014
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2014/1209/c1002-26174514.html

Briefings | | December 10, 2014 | US-China Relations

CCP Hackers Attacked the Epoch Times before the Announcement of Zhou Yongkang’s Arrest

From December 1 to December 6 or 7, 2014, Chinese Communist Party hackers attacked the Epoch Times website. On December 6, 2014, the CCP announced that it would expel the former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang from the Party and arrest him on criminal charges. At critical times in the past, the CCP hackers have launched similar attacks. An Epoch Times article on December 10, 2014, made a list recording these past attacks. The list started in March of 2012, after the Epoch Times reported on the Wang Lijun incident.

After Wang Lijun sought refuge in the US Consulate in Chengdu on February 6, 2012, the Epoch Times accurately predicted the fall of Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang.

Source: Epoch Times, December 10, 2014
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/14/12/10/n4314994.htm

Briefings | | December 10, 2014 | Grapevine

Huanqiu: How Large Should China’s Nuclear Arsenal Be in Order to Protect Its National Security?

On November 29, 2014, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an article titled, “How Large Should china’s Nuclear Arsenal Be in Order to Protect Its National Security?” According to Huanqiu, this is a question that concerns Chinese netizens because other countries tend to speculate about ‘the quality and quantity’ of China’s nuclear weapons. On November 19, 2014, the U.S. Congresses’ US-China Economic and Security Review Commission stated in its 2014 Annual Congressional Report, “In 2013, the Pentagon estimated that Beijing’s nuclear arsenal was comprised of roughly 50 to 75 nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that could reach the U.S. Within the next 15 years, China will likely have an arsenal of over 100 ICBMs.”

In an interview, a Chinese national security expert, who did not want to release his name, told the Huanqiu reporter, “To ensure its national security in the future, China should not have a smaller nuclear arsenal or should have a little larger nuclear arsenal than the countries that have a medium size nuclear arsenal (for example, Britain, France and Russia).”

Sources: Huanqiu, November 29, 2014
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2014-11/5221131.html

Briefings | | December 10, 2014 | Defense/Military

A Showdown and a Face-off

By Dr. Shizhong Chen

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Many who have been holding their breath over the intense showdown in Hong Kong probably missed a leisure moment of entertainment in Beijing.

They should not, for the event in Beijing gave clues to discern the forces that are trying to direct the outcome of the Umbrella Movement.
Continue reading →

Analyses | | December 9, 2014 | Opinion

Xinhua: Politburo Meeting Sent Important Economic Signals

Xinhua recently reported that the Chinese Communist Party Politburo met on December 5 to discuss focal economic development plans for 2015. The meeting sent significant signals on next year’s roadmap: China must face “the new norm” of economic development focusing more on quality and profitability; the economy must cut a new balance between growth and structural adjustments; strategic new industries and the services industry should become the two new economic engines; the agricultural development model should improve and modernize; regional economic developments should be more balanced across the country; special attention should be given to unemployment and to helping the poor; economic reforms now must to go deeper; international trade should reach a stable balance.

Source: Xinhua, December 5, 2014

http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2014-12/05/c_1113541805.htm

Briefings | | December 9, 2014 | Economy/Resources

BBC Chinese: Kenyan Authorities Arrested 77 Chinese Suspects

BBC Chinese recently reported from Nairobi, Kenya that the police arrested 77 Chinese citizens for online criminal activities. The police expressed the belief that this criminal group hacked into bank accounts, mobile banking networks, and ATM equipment and networks. They also accused the group of attempting to break into Kenya’s national communications system. The suspects have admitted wrongdoing and turned in the plan they had to attack the national communications system. The prosecutors have sued the members of the group for illegal residence and illegal use of radio equipment without a permit. The Kenyan government contacted the Chinese Embassy to see if the Ambassador was aware of the group’s activities or not. The Chinese government promised to send investigators to assist in the Kenyan investigation. The Chinese Embassy in Kenya proposed that the Chinese government help find out the identities of these suspects. Based on the local reports, the criminal group was producing bank card chips and ran a “command center.”

Source: BBC Chinese, December 4, 2014

http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/12/141204_kenya_chinese_crime

Briefings | | December 9, 2014 | Geo-Strategic Trend

US Retailers Warned of Alibaba’s Impact on Local Businesses

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that a U.S. business union named Alliance for Main Street Fairness has asked the U.S. Congress to eliminate the special tax benefits afforded to online retailers such as the Chinese vendor Alibaba. In September, Alibaba drew the attention of the U.S. public when it had the largest IPO in U.S. history. The Alliance has the backing of many famous U.S. retailers who are members such as Best Buy, Target, and JC Penny. They are currently running a TV and radio campaign against obvious targets such as Alibaba. Alibaba’s annual online retail sales volume is larger than the two top U.S. market leaders, Amazon and eBay, combined. The large U.S. retailers in the Alliance warned that if Congress does not “plug the hole” in online taxation, Alibaba and company may pretty soon “end” all U.S. local retailers. Alibaba’s core market is Mainland China. It is currently selling products to U.S. consumers via its Aliexpress website. Alibaba pointed out some time back that its focal point is still the Chinese domestic market. As of now Alibaba has not responded to the advertising campaign that its U.S. competitors have launched.

Source: Sina, December 2, 2014

http://finance.sina.com/bg/juhengwang/20141202/00401170031.html

Briefings | | December 9, 2014 | US-China Relations

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.