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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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People’s Daily: New Designer Xi Jinping

People’s Daily recently published a long commentary describing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s past, present, and future positions on “The Reform,” which is widely recognized as former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s legacy. Deng enjoyed the well-known title of the “Chief Designer” of “The Reform.” The article pointed out that the first thing Xi did outside Beijing after being elected President was to visit the City of Shen Zhen and plant a tree in front the famous bronze statue of Deng Xiaoping. The author also mentioned that Xi quoted Deng in a book that Xi wrote 22 years ago expressing his confidence in “The Reform.” The article listed a number of Xi’s accomplishments made during the first two years of his current term, including mainly anti-corruption and the simplification of numerous government bureaucratic processes. The commentator expressed the belief that Chinese reform is now in “deep water” and decisive leadership is required for its continued success. Xi is laying out the roadmap for China’s next 30 years. The author concluded that Xi should be titled the “New Designer.” 
Source: People’s Daily, November 13, 2014
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1113/c1001-26016780.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua: Li Keqiang Called for New China-ASEAN Cooperation

Xinhua recently reported on some comments that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made when he attended the Seventeenth China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Conference. Li suggested new means of cooperation. He called for building the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road,” which should reinforce cooperation between China and ASEAN. China suggested that the name next year be the “Year of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation.” China is looking forward to working with the ASEAN countries to make better use of the 2014 “Maritime Cooperation Fund” for projects in this year’s portfolio. At the Conference, Li encouraged the ASEAN countries to be more active in submitting their 2015 project applications for funding under the Maritime Cooperation Fund.
 
Source: Xinhua, November 13, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-11/13/c_1113239989.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China: Bad Debts Grew 72.5 Billion Yuan (US$11.83 billion)

Xinhua recently reported on the financial performance of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Based on the first three quarters of 2014, even though its net profit is growing, the amount of outstanding bad debts has reached 766.9 billion yuan (US$125 billion), an increase of 72.5 billion yuan (US$11.83 billion) since the end of the second quarter. Its bad loan ratio is 1.16 percent, up by 0.09 percent from the second quarter. The report also stated that the bank’s overall risk compensation ability is stronger as its loan loss provision grew 69.8 billion yuan (US$11.39 billion); its provision coverage ratio, an indicator of how protected a bank is against future losses, is at 247.15 percent, down 15.74 percent from the second quarter, while its loan provision ratio, the ratio of loan loss provision to outstanding loans, is at 2.88 percent up 0.04 percent from the second quarter.

Source: Xinhua, November 17, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2014-11/17/c_127217568.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

People’s Daily: New York Times’ Editorial Was Off Base, Inappropriate, and Dishonest

People’s Daily published an article commenting on a recent editorial that the New York Times published on China’s visa restrictions on foreign journalists. People’s Daily stated that the editorial was off base, inappropriate and dishonest. The article countered that foreign journalists are allowed in China including at the recent APEC Summit, the World Economic Forum in September, and the Youth Olympic events in August. It also declared that foreign media must follow the laws in China; otherwise they will receive a warning or have their licenses suspended. The article continued to list a number of incidents in which the New York Times was dishonest in its reporting. The article concluded with a warning that foreign media should learn how to respect the rights of other countries while also obeying the laws there.

Source: People’s Daily, November 17, 2014
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2014/1117/c1002-26035484.html

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Guangming Daily: Democracy is the Main Cause of the World’s Political Conflicts

Guangming Daily published an abstract from a research paper written by Yang Guangbin, head of Institute of Comparative Politics and Economics at Renmin University. In the abstract, Yang stated that the future of the world will consist of different forms of conflict between democratic countries. Yang pointed out that democracy is the main cause of the world’s political conflicts and such conflicts often involve fighting and bloodshed. Yang said that it is very important to take another look at the contents of democracy and its inner meaning.

Source: Guangming Daily, November 15, 2014
http://theory.gmw.cn/2014-11/15/content_13846454.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Chinese Academy of Engineering Academician: Cyber Security Is the “Fifth Territory”

Ni Guangnan, a computer expert and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said in a lecture that "Cyberspace has become the fifth territory after land, sea, air, and outer space. Like the other territories, cyberspace must also reflect the country’s sovereignty. To protecting cyber security is to protect national sovereignty."
In his view, both offensive and defensive sides to network security and information security exist. In this sense, independent ownership and control of core technology and equipment, information products, and services are a precondition to ensuring network and information security.
Source: Xinhua, November 11, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/tech/2014-11/11/c_1113196301.htm
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Ministry of Education: Engineering Graduates Lack Hands-on Ability

On November 13, 2014, China’s Ministry of Education released its 2013 report on engineering education, the first of its kind. The report was based on visits to six trade associations and societies, interviews of close to 30 experts, surveys of over 260 employers, and surveys conducted on over 40,000 students. 

The report concluded that over 80 percent of employers were able to recruit college graduates in the engineering field and that close to 70 percent of these graduates now work in areas relevant to their majors in college. The report also found that engineering graduates lack hands-on ability and that engineering graduates need to improve their international competitiveness, management skills, and cross-disciplinary ability. 

Source: Xinhua, November 13, 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2014-11/13/c_1113239452.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

A Reduction in Production Led to APEC Blue

On November 13, 2014, the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau stated that the measures taken during the APEC period to reduce air pollution brought blue skies to Beijing (APEC blue). According to its press release, during this period, PM2.5 particles were reduced by over 30 percent on a daily basis in Beijing and its neighboring regions. Since there were fewer cars on the road, the automobile speed in Beijing went up from 22 km per hour to 50 km per hour. 

Construction sites were shut down from November 3 to 12. Factories which released a high concentration of pollutants were temporarily closed. The use of privately owned automobiles was subject to daily restrictions based on whether the license numbers were odd or even. Lastly, Tianjin, Hebei, and other neighboring regions also cooperated temporary in helping to reduce pollution. 

Source: Xinhua, November 13, 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2014-11/13/c_1113239432.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources