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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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Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

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Xinhua: China’s Four Largest Banks Suffered a Big Decline in Savings Deposits

Xinhua recently reported that, during the month of July, the four largest Chinese commercial banks saw a significant decline in the amount of RMB 1.5 trillion (around US$244 billion) in savings deposits. Based on an analysis of the inter-bank market, the flow of money was found to be growing tighter during the month of July. Experts said they have noticed a trend. The general public’s savings rate has been dropping and banks have been facing tougher and tougher competition for customers. Since the central bank expressed the concern that the market already consumed the excessive credit volume from the second quarter, all financial organizations are expecting a tighter situation in the third quarter. 
Source: Xinhua, August 5, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2014-08/05/c_126832187.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

The Battle at Zhongnanhai

(Revised)

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Since early 2012, when then Chongqing police Chief Wang Lijun, attempted to defect to the U.S., an intense political drama has been on display in China. This drama, titled “The Battle at Zhongnanhai,” has included multiple episodes, including the downfall of Bo Xilai, the smashing of “flies,” and the “tiger hunt” of Zhou Yongkang and Xu Caihou. Many people are expecting the next episode to be the capture of the “spider” (Jiang Zemin). [1]

Don’t underestimate the drama. It is a battle between China’s current top leader Xi Jinping and a former top leader, Jiang Zemin, with the full support of Jiang’s faction. Also, it breaks the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) long tradition of confining their operations and in-fighting to a closed circle. It is the first time that the CCP has openly displayed its internal struggle on the world stage and it even uses the world stage to conduct its campaign.

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Analyses | | |   Opinion

Qiushi Theory: Comments on China’s Spokesperson Policy

Qiushi Theory published an article in which it commented on the current policy regarding spokespersons. The policy was developed in 1983. The article said that guidelines are needed that will provide a better definition of what information the spokespersons can share and the process they should follow. It pointed out that the abilities and qualifications of the spokespersons are also important. In addition to solid professional capabilities, they should hold a firm political stance and recognize political trends with political sensitivity. The article also suggested that the spokespersons should form a team to provide assistance. That team should: collect, study, and analyze different social information; be capable of making friends with the media; build a channel that will disseminate the information while collecting feedback from the public; build a network of teams that will act as messengers and who will circulate policies within their network; and collect information and voice opinions when needed.

Source: Qiushi Theory, August 8, 2014
http://www.qstheory.cn/zhuanqu/zywz/2014-08/08/c_1111986175.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

People’s Daily: Foreign Companies Received Yellow Card for Seeking Monopoly Advantage

People’s Daily published an article about the recent anti-monopoly measures imposed on foreign companies doing businesses in China, including Microsoft, Qualcomm, Benz, and BMW. The article said that these companies were given favorable treatment during the initial period of China’s economic open door policy and gained an advantage in their respective markets but now they are using that advantage to exercise anti-competition practices. The article quoted the spokesperson from the Ministry of Commerce, who stated that the anti-monopoly measures were to promote fair competition and all companies, whether they are domestic or foreign, should be subject to punishment under this policy.

Source: People’s Daily, August 11, 2014
http://finance.people.com.cn/n/2014/0811/c1004-25440476.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi Theory Published a Research Paper on Think Tank Development in China

Qiushi Theory published a research paper on think tank development in China. The Counsellor’s office of the state council put together a research team following the recent directions that Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang gave on think tank development. The paper stated that think tanks are a part of a country’s soft power. The role that Chinese think tanks are capable of playing, however, does not match the country’s growing economic status in the world. The project team studied the development of think tanks in China, how they compare with the renowned think tanks in the world, and the problems they face. The team provided recommendations for the future outlook of the think tanks’ development, how they can “increase their involvement in the development of public policy, as well their role in making the government policy process more scientific and democratic.”

As to the challenges that the paper highlighted, in 2012, there were 429 think tanks in China compared to 6,600 in the world. Of the top 50 think tanks in the world, only 3 of them were in China. While close to 90 percent of the think tanks in China are government sponsored, the rest of the think tanks, which are private, have barely any influence. Meanwhile the quality of the research of the think tanks in China is generally poor. They lack mechanisms for evaluation and recognition. In addition they lack a fair, competitive, and tolerant environment in which to work.

Source: Qiushi Theory, August 8, 2014
http://www.qstheory.cn/zhuanqu/zywz/2014-08/08/c_1111986086.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Chinese Ambassador to Russia on Sino-Russian Cultural Engagement

On July 31, Li Hui, the Chinese Ambassador to Russia published an article on People’s Daily about the cultural exchanges between the two countries.
"Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, China and Russia have further deepened bilateral cultural exchanges. By setting up several working mechanisms and signing a series of cooperation documents, they have promoted and ensured Sino-Russian cultural relations at the political and legal level. There have been four main achievements."
"The China-Russia Committee on Humanities Cooperation. In 2000, this organization’s predecessor, the Sino-Russian Cooperation Committee on Education, Culture, Health, and Sports (SRCCECHS), was set up under a regular meeting mechanism between the Chinese premier and Russian Prime Minister. In 2007, with ever growing cooperation, SRCCECHS was renamed the China-Russia Committee on Humanities Cooperation."
"Cooperation packages between the Ministries of Culture in both countries. In December 1992 in Beijing, the leaders of both countries signed the "Agreement of Cultural Cooperation between the Governments of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation." This agreement became the guiding paper on the cultural exchanges between the two countries. Under this framework, the Cultural Ministries of the two countries signed 10 cultural cooperation plans. At present, the two ministries are implementing the "2014 – 2016 Cooperation Plan between the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation."
"The Reciprocal Establishment of Cultural Centers. In October 2009, the "Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Reciprocal Establishment of Cultural Centers" was signed in Beijing. The Russian Cultural Center was launched in Beijing in September 2010, and Chinese Cultural Center in Moscow opened in December 2012."
"Cultural activities as major diplomatic events. In 2006 and 2007, China and Russia held the reciprocal event, "Year of the Country." The leaders of both countries attended both the opening and closing ceremonies. Since then, China and Russia have launched large-scale cross-nation activities using the mechanism of mutual visits between the leaders of the two countries. In 2009 and 2010, both countries held reciprocal events, the "Year of Language" in 2012 and in 2013, the "Year of Tourism." 
Source: People’s Daily, July 31, 2014
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2014/0808/c1002-25430950.html
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua News Agency Signs Cooperation Agreement with a Spanish Think Tank

On August 7, Xinhua News Agency and the Observatory of Chinese politics (OPCh), an affiliate of the Spanish think tank the Galician Institute of Analysis and International Documentation (IGADI), signed a friendship and cooperation agreement. Under the agreement, "the two parties will cooperate in publishing analyses of China’s political and economic policy and social hot issues that concern foreign readers, offer in-depth interpretations, and thus enable the world to improve its understanding of China." Wang Chaowen, the European chief of Xinhua and Julio Rios, the Director of OPCh, signed the cooperation agreement. The Chinese Ambassador to Spain Zhu Bangzao attended the ceremony. "The Chinese policy observation center" and its website were established in 2000, for the purpose of studying and analyzing the Chinese legal system, political trends, national defense, ethnic minorities, human rights, and foreign policy.
Source: Xinhua, August 8, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2014-08/08/c_1112001469.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Over 70 Percent of Provinces Have Publicly Stated Support for the Decision on Zhou Yongkang

People’s Daily published a news report on its website regarding which provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions have expressed support for the central government’s decision to investigate [former politburo member] Zhou Yongkang [for his violations of "Party discipline"]. 

The report said, “Today [August 7], Beijing, Shanghai, Inner Mongolia, and the Ningxia autonomous regions publicly stated that they resolutely support the central government’s decision to investigate Zhou Yongkang. According to People’s Daily statistics, so far, 23 of the entire country’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities have publicly stated support for the decision.” “Among them, Shaanxi and Guizhou took the lead on July 31 and published the news on the front-page of their local Party newspapers, expressing firm support for the decision of the Central government.” 
The report listed the provinces and municipalities that have publicly expressed support for the decision. It said, “As early as the evening after July 29, when the message was sent out that Zhou Yongkang was being investigated, Beijing, Hubei, Hunan, and Yunnan immediately conveyed the spirit of the central government [among the Party leaders] in accordance with the requirements [of the central government].” 
“Shanghai, Tianjin, and Inner Mongolia held meetings on July 30. Eight days later, on August 7, Shanghai and Inner Mongolia published the news to express firm support for the central government’s decision. Tianjin published the news on its website for Northern News Online.” 
The report didn’t list the provinces or regions that have not expressed support for the decision. 

Source: People’s Daily, August 7, 2014 
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0807/c1001-25424974.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics