Xinhua published a commentary expressing concern about an increase in the level of "negative social mentality" among the Chinese people. The commentary stated that the Chinese have become a group of people who seek material gain without any spiritual pursuit. It observed that, if the Chinese people do not pay attention to spiritual transformation, the ongoing social changes and the transformation going on in China will only contribute to GDP growth with no values added to mankind’s spiritual enrichment. The article listed the negative mentalities that Chinese people have. These include being impulsive and loud, deceiving others, speculating, showing off their wealth, feigning poverty, committing violent acts, and being apathetic.

[Editor’s note: In 2012, Chinascope published its series, Moral Crisis in China. See Part I; Part II; and Part III for a more complete description of this crisis.]  

Source: Xinhua, September 14, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-09/14/c_1112473487.htm

Xinhua carried an article that Beijing Times had originally published on the wave of Party cadres who have withdrawn from enrollment in executive MBA programs. This phenomenon was due to the fact that, on July 31, the Ministry of Organization issued a notice that prevents Party cadres from participating in high cost training programs, including the EMBA (Executive MBA), without the approval of the human resources department. The notice also required that the participants should be responsible for all training expenses themselves and can’t accept any form of scholarship from any organization. According to the article, the tuition expense for EMBA programs varies. Some can cost as much as US$100,000 a year. Previously, not only could the cadres enrolled in the program have the government cover their expenses; they could also take the opportunity to promote themselves and build their personal network with other participants. The article said that the notice is part of a series of anti-corruption measures that have recently been introduced.

Source: Xinhua, September 15, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-09/15/c_126984460.htm

According to Xinhua, on September 14, Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department, formally known as the Propaganda Department, attended and spoke at a national conference on international communication work. Liu pointed out that the international communication work conveys China’s “global strategic” mission. The key points of Liu’s talk included the following guidelines. The international communication work should follow Xi Jinping’s directions. It should “create a good image of the country and safeguard the fundamental interests of the country, spread Chinese culture, serve the Party and the country’s international strategy, present good information about China and spread China’s voice, provide a good interpretation of Chinese characteristics, and create an international public opinion environment that is favorable to China.”

Source: Xinhua, September 14, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-09/14/c_1112473487.htm

State media, Huanqiu, published a commentary titled “In China, Patriotism and Love for the Party Are the Same Thing.”