Chinascope – Page 762

Singapore Scholar Advises China on New Silk Road Project

Zheng Yongnian, a professor at National University of Singapore offered some advice on China’s rise toward becoming an economic and investment super power through the use of the Silk Road Economic Belt. (For a description of the project, see The Diplomat at http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/chinas-new-silk-road-vision-revealed/).

Zheng advised China to learn from The Marshall Plan. "China … should not only study its successful experiences, but also go beyond its narrow geopolitical vision. During the process of reviving the European economy, the Marshall Plan made a great contribution, and also made the U.S. the leader of the European nations."

He suggested, "China can set up a very large ‘New Silk Road Development Fund’ or ‘New Silk Road Development Bank’ through massive financial mobilization to build a solid financial foundation for the project. … The New Silk Road Development Fund can integrate China’s policies in Asia, Africa, and even Latin America … to form a grand international development program."

"China’s New Silk Road actually offers an opportunity to set up an international development agency at the central government level to coordinate all overseas economic and trade activities. Under the current system, the power of international aid and development is scattered among different government agencies, such as the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local governments, and state-owned enterprises. … Other countries, before rising to the status of a great power, would set up similar organizations to make an effective contribution to the rise of its international image. It’s time for China to do so."

Zheng wrote, "From a strategic point of view, a more open Silk Road will help alleviate other countries’ geopolitical concerns. … China does not want to compete with other countries’ geopolitical interests, but wishes to promote economic development along the new Silk Road. This not only contributes to the sustainable economic development of China; it also contributes to the economic development of other countries and would not be perceived as a strategic threat."

"The openness should also be reflected in the implementation; that is, the development of the new Silk Road should be participatory. … First is the participation of local society, so that the community and the people can share the fruits of development. In earlier years, some of China’s practices in Africa and Latin America caused dissatisfaction and even protests. Examples include hiring Chinese workers rather than locals and paying little attention to environmental considerations. Second, the development should be open to other countries. China’s domination of the new Silk Road construction does not mean that China should have a monopoly on all of the projects. As a world power, China should carry a more open attitude, so that foreign companies can participate in this great program."

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, reprinted on Huanqiu, June 24, 2014 http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_world/2014-06/5032527.html

Briefings | | June 25, 2014 | Government/Politics

China Social Science Today: Western Countries’ Intervention Caused the Chaos in the Middle East

On June 20, the government think tank, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), in its publication China Social Science Today, reported on a forum held at Henan University. It was a "high-level forum on Israel and hot issues in the Middle East." The article quoted the points that a number of participants made.

"Tang Zhichao, a CASS researcher, believed that, although, since World War II, internal problems have not been lacking in the Middle East, the intervention of the U.S.-led Western countries has been the main reason behind the turmoil in the Middle East."

"’The resurgence of the war in Iraq is, in large part, the aftermath of the 2003 U.S. war in Iraq.’ Regarding the regime change that the U.S. forcibly pushed, Yu Jianhua, a scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, believed that the U.S. blindly implemented the Western model while neglecting the Middle East’s actual situation. It has thereby broken the political and strategic balance in the region."

"Yu Jianhua believed that the United States, with a utilitarian purpose, has been deliberately leading the changing situation in the Middle East. It has caused more instability, left a mess, and made it a disaster zone for the convergence of terrorism."

"According to Yu Jianhua, the U.S. has often taken advantage of local crises and pushed from behind with the help of local social forces in the form of non-governmental organizations. This so-called civil diplomacy serves as its own strategy. The practice, which has focused on infiltration using cultural influences and intentional guidance and support of the local culture, is one of the reasons behind the social unrest. Nowadays, many countries and regions have cautioned against the activities of U.S. NGOs and prohibited their illegal activities."

"An Huihou, a scholar with the China Institute of International Studies, pointed out that the root cause of the unrest in Egypt is not the so-called lack of democracy, but the difficulties with people’s livelihood and social injustice. Western democracy and freedom are not a panacea for developing countries. Western people often talk about free elections and street politics. Events in Egypt showed that free elections do not necessarily create an authoritative government that delivers what people expect. Street politics can overthrow a tyranny, but can also create anarchy, leading to a torn society and violent wars."

Source: China Social Science Today, June 23, 2014
http://www.csstoday.net/xueshuzixun/guoneixinwen/90166.html

Briefings | | June 25, 2014 | Geo-Strategic Trend

BBC Chinese: U.S. Professors Jointly Challenged the Confucius Institute

BBC Chinese recently reported that the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) called for a cancellation or a renegotiation of the agreements between the Confucius Institute and around 100 U.S. universities. The AAUP expressed the belief that the agreements must abide by Western values. It suggested that the Confucius Institute “is a branch of the Chinese government” and “is allowed to ignore academic freedom.” AAUP was founded in 1915 to defend academic freedom. It currently has 47,000 members. The AAUP announcement urged the U.S. universities to stop cooperating with the Confucius Institute unless it undergoes major reform. The Confucius Institute is an organization funded by the Chinese Ministry of Education. By the end of 2013, it had established 440 institutes across 120 countries around the world. In May 2014, over 100 professors at the University of Chicago, including seven deans, jointly asked the university to discontinue its contract with the Confucius Institute, citing lack of freedom to discuss “sensitive issues” such as the Tiananmen Massacre and the issue of Tibet. The Confucius Institute also controls the hiring and training of its teachers.

Source: BBC Chinese, June 18, 2014

http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/world/2014/06/140618_confucius_institutes.shtml

Briefings | | June 24, 2014 | US-China Relations

Xinhua: China Strongly Opposes Using Rule of Law as an Excuse

Xinhua recently reported that Zhang Suiye, the Chinese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, commented on some of China’s key foreign policies. Zhang said that China is determined to take a new and peaceful road to being a rising power. There has been no reason for China to give up this proven approach. For some territorial and maritime disputes with China’s neighboring countries, China advocates direct negotiations and talks with the involved parties to seek a peaceful resolution. China is strongly opposed to violating other countries’ legitimate rights using the “rule of law” as an excuse. Zhang expressed the belief that the countries in the Asia-Pacific region share the same ultimate interest in improved national development. China would like to contribute to building a balanced and effective regional security framework.

Source: Xinhua, June 21, 2014

http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-06/21/c_1111252139.htm

Briefings | | June 24, 2014 | Government/Politics

RFA: It May Cost 300 Million Yuan to Demolish a 270 Million Yuan Project Built Three Years Ago

Radio Free Asia reported that an order was given to demolish a tourist project in Hekou County, Yunnan Province that cost 270 million yuan (US$43 million) to build just three years ago. The cost of the demolition may be as much as 300 million yuan (US$48 million), which is higher than the cost of construction. The total loss of 600 million yuan is around three times Hekou County’s annual fiscal income for 2013. The report stated that the tourist project sits on the Hong River that separates China from Vietnam. It is 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) long covering 16,000 square meters (3.95 acres) and includes 150 commercial stores that can be rented. Initially, many parties objected to the project, but somehow, it was later approved at several upper levels. Currently about two thirds of the commercial space remains vacant.

Many people believe that it has become a major problem that the district government shows off its political accomplishments while wasting resources. A businessman from Guangdong Province told RFA that this is common, especially in rural areas. Another professor from the University of South Carolina said that China lacks a system to allow a stable investment environment for businesses. The government took the lead on this project and then revoked its previous commitment, a phenomenon that may harm social development.

Source: Radio Free Asia, June 20, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/kejiaowen/xql-06202014133916.html

Briefings | | June 23, 2014 | Economy/Resources

Ministries to Allocate 100 Million Yuan to Support China’s Film Industry

People’s Daily reported that the Ministry of Finance, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, People’s Bank, the Ministry of Taxation, and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television jointly outlined several measures designed to establish financial support for the development of China’s domestic film industry. The measures include but are not limited to the following: allocating 100 million yuan (US$16 million) annually to support 5 to 10 key films; developing greater use of high-tech in film production; assisting domestic films to achieve a more substantial appearance in overseas markets; subsidizing theatre construction in the mid-west regions; providing favorable tax incentives from 2014 to 2018 to allow tax exemptions for certain incomes, including copyright transfers and box office revenue from the countryside.

Source: People’s Daily, June 20, 2014 http://culture.people.com.cn/n/2014/0620/c87423-25175418.html

Briefings | | June 23, 2014 | Government/Politics

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

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.”