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China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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

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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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Registration of Real Property Rights to Pave Way for Taxation

China Securities Journal under Xinhua reported that the authorities have started a pilot program in several cities to register real property rights. Nation-wide implementation may unfold next year. 

Real property rights that must be registered include usufructuary rights. The owner of a usufructuary right has the right to possess, utilize, and obtain the profits from the real property owned by others. Generally, land in China is owned by the State. The usufructuary rights include the right to use state-own land, the right to occupy buildings, as well as the right to use farm land, pastures, forests and seas. Earlier this year, it was announced that all real property rights must be registered within three years. 
Analysts observed that the registration is a fundamental component of China’s land reform. Further, completion of registration is a pre-requisite to legislation and implementation of real property tax. 
Source: China Securities Journal reprinted by Xinhua, December 2, 2014 http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2014-12/02/c_127267878.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

People’s Daily Accuses Britain of Having a “Colonialist Mentality”

China recently blocked a group of British MP’s from traveling to Hong Kong. While British Prime Minister David Cameron views China’s decision to block the politicians as “a mistaken one,” the Chinese Communist Party’s mouthpiece People’s Daily hurled back criticism, accusing the U.K. of having a "colonialist mentality."
"Whether it is a democracy or not is not for the British to say. The British are interfering with the Hong Kong issue using the excuse of ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom.’ When answering questions in parliament, British Prime Minister David Cameron said that the Sino-British Joint Declaration provides the Hong Kong people with freedom of speech and  publication, the freedoms of assembly, association, travel, and strikes, while claiming that Britain should support the rights of Hong Kong people. … The problem is that no one can use the excuse of democracy and freedom to break the law. ‘Occupying Central’ disturbs the social order and impairs the overall interests of Hong Kong, but Britain turns a blind eye to it. The British government is more concerned about its own interests, rather than the true interests of the Hong Kong people."
"Frequently interfering with the internal affairs of other countries, forcing the Western values and ideology upon others, and behaving irresponsibly in bilateral relations are all practices that reflect the legacy of a ‘colonialist mentality.’"
Source: People’s Daily, December 4, 2014
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2014/1204/c1002-26146739.html  
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Wang Xiangsui: The China-U.S. Relationship Is both Competitive and Symbiotic

Xinhua recently published an article in which Wang Xiangsui, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Beijing University, discussed the current situation of China-U.S. relations and China’s strategy for handling the situation. 

Wang said, “There are three major conflicts between China and the U.S.: the conflict between traditional and emerging powers; the contradiction between capitalist and socialist countries; and the contradiction between a financial nation with an industrial country. There are also two needs for cooperation between China and the U.S.: the need to maintain overall international security and the need to maintain global economic development.” 
“The source of instability in Sino-US relations comes from the fact that the U.S. always adheres to the principle of the ‘U.S. getting the maximum benefits’ and wanting to take all of the benefits. For China, only through fighting can it protect its interests and maintain the basic situation of cooperation. … The nature of Sino-U.S. relations is one of competition between big countries.” 
Wang believed that “the competitiveness of the U.S., including the American model, is in decline. The American Life cycle has entered the stage of decay.” 
“Given the situation that the American style of globalization is difficult to continue and the new global order has not been established, the tide of globalization will be receding. When the U.S. has become powerless in global affairs, the world will enter the ‘post-American’ stage, showing a multi-polarization of forces and a diversification of civilizations. According to the current situation, there may be three major economic circles, or three entities: one in Europe, one in North America, and one of East Asia.” 
As for China’s strategy, Wang said that China is on the path of revival, still climbing with a heavy weight, far from the stage of standing on the top and looking at all the hills from above.” 
“With a clear understanding of China, the United States, and the world’s trends, we can determine that our strategic goal is not, at the moment, to replace the United States in leading the world, to promote the ‘Chinese system,’ and to start a ‘China moment’ and ‘Chinese cycle.’ Instead, China should utilize the remaining heat of American globalization and generally stable environment of the American cycle. It should begin a modern Chinese-style road … implement the strategy of forming entities, consolidate the Asia-Pacific Circle – Eurasian continent circle, and form a major economic zone on par with the euro and the dollar zones. In a division into a 3-way world, it should be satisfactory for China to acquire and lead one.” 
Source: Xinhua, November 27, 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-11/27/c_127257806.htm
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

People’s Daily: Security Officers Are Not Simply for Decoration

On December 2, 1024, People’s Daily published a commentary titled, “Security Officers Are Not Simply for Decoration.” It questioned the competence of security officers on public transportation. 

The commentary stated that, in recent years, security incidents have increased on public transportation. The presence of security officers reassures the passengers. However, some security officers do nothing but repeat, “No inflammable materials allowed.” They even doze off while on the job. The commentary further stated that, in an article in 1984, security officers on the train did nothing but ask the passengers, “Comrade, do you have a bomb with you?” Thirty years later, with increased mobility, there are more security risks. If security officers do not do their job, their presence will simply be a matter of going through formalities. 
Source: People’s Daily, December 2, 2014 
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2014-12/02/nw.D110000renmrb_20141202_8-01.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China Completed the First Phase of Nigeria Railroad Using Chinese Standards

On December 3, China Daily published a report on railway construction in Nigeria stating that, on December 1, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) completed the first phase of a modern railroad project in Nigeria.

According to the report, the whole project will involve building a railroad that will span 1,315 km (821 miles) in Nigeria, from Lagos to Kano. The first phase is 186.5 km long with nine stations and a design speed of 150 km per hour. The total cost was US$850 million.

"The railroad design completely adopted China’s railroad standards. This is the first modern railroad in Africa that is based on China’s standards."

"Officials from the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria stated that, in May, when Premier Li Keqiang was attending the Summit of the World Economic Forum at Africa, he indicated that China will be willing to work with African countries to build a high-speed railroad network, a highway network, and a regional aviation network."

On November 19, CRCC signed another deal in the amount of US$12 billion with Nigeria to build a 1,402 km railway along Nigeria’s coast, linking Lagos and Calabar.

Sources:
[1] China Daily Online, December 3, 2014
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqcj/zxqxb/2014-12-03/content_12825693.html
[2] Business Insider, November 20, 2014
http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-china-firm-signs-12-bn-deal-to-build-nigerian-railway-2014-11

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Two Voices on Huanqiu: China Can’t Save North Korea vs. China Can’t Abandon North Korea

On December 1, 2014, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an article titled, “If North Korea Collapses, China Can’t Save it; China Will Not Go to War for North Korea.” The author of the article was Lieutenant General Wang Hongguang, former deputy commander of the Nanjing military region, People’s Liberation Army of China. Wang wrote the article in response to another article that Li Dunqiu, a research fellow at Zhejiang University, wrote and which Huanqiu published on November 27, 2014, titled, “(China) Can’t ‘Abandon’ North Korea, Its 65 Year Long Term Partner.” 

First, General Wang did not agree with Scholar Li that China and the DPRK are consistent in sharing fundamental interests. Second, Wang said that he does not think North Korean’s political system and ideology have anything to do with socialism or Marxism. China and North Korea are no longer comrades. Third, North Korea does not listen to China’s advice. If North Korea and South Korea (backed by the U.S.) get into a war, and China does not support it, it will not be because China has abandoned North Korea. Fourth, North Korea as China’s "strategic barrier" does not play a significant role in modern information warfare.

Finally, Wang concluded, “The collapse of a nation is not determined by external forces. If a government cannot get its people’s support, it will ‘collapse’ sooner or later.” He continued, "Now there is no more ‘socialist camp.’ It is not necessary for China’s younger generation to fight a war for another country,”  “China will neither court nor ‘abandon’ North Korea. This should be China’s basic attitude."

Source: Huanqiu, December 1, 2014 and November 27, 2014
http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2014-12/5221706.html 
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_world/2014-11/5217365.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Huanqiu: The U.S. and South Korea Can’t Wait to See China and North Korea Become Enemies

On December 2, 2014, Huanqiu published an article commenting on the heated discussions that have been taking place on the issue of “Abandoning North Korea.” According to the article, abandoning North Korea will only harm China’s national interests.

First of all, the fact that North Korea owns nuclear weapons cannot be a reason to “abandon the DPRK. Without even considering that North Korea would then turn to a third country for help and behave even worse, this approach (abandoning North Korea) is too emotional and lacks strategic thinking from the perspective of denuclearization.” Second, from the perspective of the geo-strategic value of North Korea, “the geopolitical concept has not become obsolete in today’s international political ‘field.’ Otherwise, why would the U.S. use the US-ROK and the US-Japan alliances as a ‘return to Asia’ strategic fulcrum; why wouldn’t the US troops withdraw to Guam or to the United States?” The importance of China’s strategic position established through the Korean War is immeasurable. This strategic asset must not be let go. Third, If China and North Korea were to become irreconcilable enemies, it would be a loss for both sides. “Some think tank personnel from the United States and South Korea promote a China-DPRK separation and view “China-DPRK separation” as an important strategy to solve the peninsula’s problems. This is worth attention.”

“These absurd arguments such as North Korea is “a white-eye wolf (Chinese slang referring to a person who treats kindness with ingratitude)” “deserves to be poor,” and “seeks to collapse” apparently are made by those who lack a broad mind and an awareness of the overall big picture. These have nothing in common with the basic strategy of China’s foreign diplomacy.

Source: Huanqiu, December 2, 2014
http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2014-12/5223275.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Investigations of Corrupt Officials Overseas Face Barriers

BBC Chinese recently reported that officials from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggested that the Chinese government is considering bringing an action in foreign courts against those corrupt government officials who fled overseas. Observers described this decision as “unusual.” It shows how bad the situation is for the Chinese government’s attempt to bring those fugitives home. The two largest destination countries for these corrupt officials are the United States and Canada. Neither has an extradition treaty with China. Chinese officials complained that these countries have a “bias” against the Chinese legal system. They do not allow the Chinese suspects to be sent back to China, citing a concern for the lack of protection for the suspects’ rights. Although Washington has expressed a willingness to cooperate with Beijing’s anti-corruption investigations, the United States has refused to make more promises related to handing over the suspects.
Source: BBC Chinese, November 26, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/11/141126_china_hunting_fugitives
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics