Chinascope – Page 738

People’s Daily: France Should Not Flip-Flop on Russian Arms Sales

People’s Daily carried a commentary article questioning France’s decision to suspend the delivery of its first Mistral-class amphibious assault ship to Russia. The article said that the French authorities’ decision is rather surprising [disappointing].

The article stated, “On whether to carry out the contract to provide Russia the amphibious assault ship, the French authorities had been resisting pressure from the United States and some Western countries. … However, France recently made a 180-degree U-turn. This is primarily because of sustained pressure from the United States. Of course, it is also related to the Russia and Ukraine relations, which started deteriorating some time ago. As can be seen, the French authorities also wanted to use it to exert influence on the Kremlin’s decision makers.”

The article commented, “In the past, France has been implementing a "de Gaulle" independent foreign policy. Even when the leftist former President Francois Mitterrand was in power, this policy did not change. Now France has to play America’s tune, has become indecisive on major decisions, and has even backtracked. People cannot help but worry about the future of French Foreign Policy.”

Source: People’s Daily, September 9, 2014

http://world.people.com.cn/n/2014/0909/c1002-25627747.html

Briefings | | September 11, 2014 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Study Times on the Strategic Framework for China’s Rise

Study Times published a commentary on the strategy behind China’s peaceful rise. The framework of its rise includes the following components:

The first is its path. China must unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development.

Second, regarding breakthroughs, China should extend the Silk Road westward through continental central Asia. It can then extend its resources to Africa for access to Africa’s energy resources and markets and to Europe for its money. China should also extend the Silk Road eastward to the Pacific East Asian economic circle for economic cooperation and mutual trust in the political and security arena.

The third is related to countries. China should carefully balance the strategic triangular relationship with the United States and Russia with the understanding that in terms of comprehensive national strength, China, the United States, and Russia are the most powerful countries and the major international rules-makers with extensive interests throughout the world.

The Fourth is principles. China must keep a low profile; it must follow the current strategy with major powers as the key, neighboring countries as a priority, developing countries as the foundation, and multilateral diplomacy as an important platform.

Source: Study Times, September 8, 2014

http://www.studytimes.cn/shtml/xxsb/20140908/6494.shtml

Briefings | | September 11, 2014 | Government/Politics

Xi Jinping’s Speech on the People’s Congress System

Xinhua reported that Xi Jinping made an important speech at the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on September 5, 2014. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee and the Standing Committee of the NPC organized the event. All seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee were in attendance.

According to Xinhua, "Xi stressed that the People’s Congress system is a key component of the Socialist system with Chinese characteristics." "In China, to develop the socialist democratic system, …, the key is to adhere to the unity of the Party’s leadership, to the people being in charge, and to the rule of law."

"Xi stated that to adhere and improve the People’s Congress system, [China] should strengthen and improve legislative work to ensure that national development and major reform have a legal basis."

"Xi stated that to develop a socialist democracy, the key is to increase and expand, but not weaken or contract, [China’s] strengths and characteristics. [China] should adhere to the CCP’s leadership to set the overall direction and to coordinate all sources."

Source: Xinhua, September 5, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-09/05/c_1112384336.htm

Briefings | | September 10, 2014 | Government/Politics

China Review News: It Is Urgent for China to Develop an Aggressive Maritime Strategy

On September 4, 2014, China Review News published an editorial commentary titled, “It Is Urgent for China to Develop an Aggressive Maritime Strategy.” The commentary viewed the United States as the top obstructionist hindering China’s rise. “The purpose of the United States’ ‘Return to Asia’ strategy is to counterbalance China in order to ensure the Asia-Pacific security system. To do this, it takes advantage of the disputes between China and its surrounding countries and uses China’s neighboring countries’ forces (to act together to go against China).” The commentary asserted that the United States has constantly been making trouble so as to contain China’s rise and to let China’s neighboring countries rely on US protection. “America’s ‘Return to Asia’ strategy has undoubtedly encouraged China’s neighbors to challenge China more boldly in their maritime disputes and even take risky actions against China.”

The commentary suggested that China should be more aggressive. In the disputes in the South China Sea, “China should target Vietnam as a main breakthrough country. It should increase its efforts to crack down on Vietnam through economic, diplomatic, and other means. Scaring Vietnam can achieve the effect of “striking at the mountain to frighten the tiger.” As for the dispute with Japan on the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku Islands), the commentary suggests China should use the same aggressive strategy to crack down on Japan so as to scare the Philippines and Vietnam.

Source: China Review News, September 4, 2014
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1032/8/1/3/103281309.html?coluid=136&kindid=4710&docid=103281309&mdate=0904000620

Briefings | | September 10, 2014 | Geo-Strategic Trend

China Review News: The U.S. Sets Off and Puts Out War Fires around the World

On September 6, 2014, China Review News published an article accusing the United States of being an arsonist in global wars, titled, “The U.S. Sets off War Fires Globally and Has Planted Sino-Japanese Dispute War Seeds.” The article asserted that the United States has been the cause of all of the chaos in the Middle Eastern countries because it has “spread the democracy fire seeds” and supported the “Arab Spring” movement. According to the article, the United States is also responsible for the current “Ukraine crisis” because it has supported “color revolutions” including Ukraine’s “Orange Revolution.” In terms of the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands dispute between Japan and China and the South China Sea conflicts between China and Vietnam and the Philippines, “the United States appears to be putting out the fire but is actually fanning the flames.”

The article concluded, “Through setting off fires and putting out fires, the United States hopes to highlight its presence, display the superiority of its own values, realize its own strategic interests, and make some money from arms sales.”

Source: China Review News, September 6, 2014
http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1033/7/3/4/103373437.html?coluid=4&kindid=16&docid=103373437&mdate=0906075819

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

Xinhua: International Companies Threaten to Reduce Their Investments in China

Xinhua recently reported that the American Chamber of Commerce in China just released the results of a report showing that many international companies are considering reducing their investments in China. This new trend came about mainly because of the antitrust investigations and other legal attacks these companies have been facing in China. Greg Gilligan, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, pointed out that international companies were obviously singled out in this round of legal attacks. Of the member companies of the Chamber that were surveyed, half expressed the belief that the Chinese government is "selectively and subjectively” targeting them using law enforcement as the justification. The Chamber’s report suggested that China is moving closer and closer to the risk of losing its attractiveness as an investment destination. Sixty percent of the companies surveyed said they did not feel welcomed in China. The same number was 40 percent at the end of 2013. The EU Chamber of Commerce did research this year that drew a similar conclusion.

Source: Xinhua, September 3, 2014

http://finance.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2014/0903/483485.shtml

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

BBC Chinese: China Appreciates That South Africa Declined the Dalai Lama’s Visa Request

BBC Chinese recently reported that the spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave high praise to South Africa because of the fact that South Africa refused the Dalai Lama’s visa request. The Dalai Lama was planning to attend the Nobel Prize Winners’ Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. South Africa has had four Nobel Prize winners on the basis of human rights, including former South African President Nelson Mandela. The Dalai Lama’s representative stated that the South African government called him and told him that they could not issue the visa since it might “interfere” with the relationship between South Africa and China. China stated that South Africa “took the right position.” China is South Africa’s largest trade partner. In the year 2012, the trade volume between the two countries reached $21 billion.

Source: BBC Chinese, September 5, 2014

http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/09/140905_china_safrica.shtml

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

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.