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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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Record High Chinese Investment in the U.S. in 2013

According to Jennifer Zimdahl Galt, the U.S. Consul General in Guangzhou, China has become the world’s fastest growing investor in the U.S. In 2013, Chinese investments in the U.S. hit a record of more than US$14 billion; double that of the 2012 level.
Starting in 2014, the U.S. stepped up its efforts to entice Chinese to invest. Between April 15 and April 18, "Select America," a U.S. Commerce Department program, for the first time reached out to four cities in China’s Pearl River Delta region: Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shunde, and Guangzhou.
Source: China News Service, April 18, 2014
http://finance.chinanews.com/cj/2014/04-18/6082319.shtml
Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

High Ranking Military Officials Collectively Vow Loyalty to Xi Jinping

On April 18, in a rare move, the PLA Daily dedicated a special page to the publication of a list of articles authored by a group of high ranking military officials. The main theme of the articles was "Conduct of an In-depth Study and Implementation of Chairman Xi’s Important Exposition on National Defense and the Buildup of the Military; Advance the  Great Practice of Building a Stronger Army from a New Starting Point."
The officials included:
Cheng Tongyi, Deputy Political Commissar and Chairman of the Political Department of the Beijing Military Region 
Wang Xixin, Deputy Commander of the Shenyang Military Region
Wang Jun, Deputy Commander of the Jinan Military Region
Miao Hua, Deputy Political Commissar of the Lanzhou Military Region
Zheng Qin, Deputy Commander of the Guangzhou Military Region
Xiong Andong, Commander of the Fujian Provincial Military Region
Ceng Xu, Assistant to the Chairman of the General Political Department
Chen Yong, Assistant to the General Chief of Staff
Lu Fuen, Deputy Commander of the Second Artillery Corps
Zhang Jianping, Deputy Commander of the PLA Air Force
Su Zhiqian, Commander of the East China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy
Chen Pinghua, Deputy Political Commissar of the Chengdu Military Region
Wu Jieming, Deputy Political Commissar of National Defense University
Lang Youliang, Deputy Political Commissar of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences
Wang Jingzhong, Political Commissar of a base of the General Armament Department
Liu Shengjie, Deputy Political Commissar of the General Logistic Department
Dai Sujun, Deputy Commander of the People’s Armed Police
Source: PLA Daily, April 18, 2014
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/jfjbmap/content/2014-04/18/node_7.htm
Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Beijing Cancelled the Human Rights Dialogue with Britain

On May 15, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the following complaint: "Britain recently published a so-called ‘2013 Human Rights and Democracy Report,’ irresponsibly discussing China’s political system, and groundlessly slandering and making accusations about the human rights situation in China. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the report."

At the last minute, Beijing cancelled the human rights dialogue with Britain. 

Sources: Xinhua and People’s Daily, April 15, 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-04/15/c_126393809.htm
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2014/0416/c1002-24900442.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi: Have a Clear Understanding of Western Cultural Exports

Qiushi recently published a commentary in which it called for having a clear understanding of how the West uses its cultural exports to change the countries it targets. 

It observed, “Take the United States for example. It manipulates its culture to influence the cultural values of the people in other countries, especially the decision-making elite, so that these countries adopt systems and development strategies in line with U.S. interests.” Specifically, such cultural exports have three characteristics: First, the U.S. positions itself as the advocate of freedom and democracy against autocracy. Once accepted, the West, as led by the U.S., is viewed as the defender of human rights and the symbol of freedom. Countries with different political systems are labeled as totalitarian or autocratic. Thus, the United States easily overcomes the [hurdle of] national sovereignty. The pursuit of its interests then becomes an effort to maintain fairness and justice. Second, [the United States] influences the elite in developing countries to adopt the U.S. political and economic systems [and to weaken their control over the government of their countries]. Once the elite are brainwashed into achieving American style prosperity by following the U.S. systems, these counties’ independence are severely weakened. Unknowingly, they allow the United States to lead them. Third, if the United States encounters strong resistance, it launches a "color revolution" using "freedom and democracy" as weapons to subvert the existing government and achieve its own geopolitical interests. 
Source: Qiushi, April 16, 2014 
http://www.qstheory.cn/wz/shp/201404/t20140416_340630.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

On Ukraine: China Should Lean Towards Russia

China.com.cn, a key State news website under China’s State Council Information Office and the National Internet Information Office, published a commentary stating that as the crisis in Ukraine unfolds, China should gradually lean towards Russian. 

According to the commentary, there are two reasons for China to be more active on the issue of Ukraine. First, China has been objective and impartial without taking sides, while showing moral sympathy toward Russia. This approach has won respect from the parties and expanded China’s influence on the issue of Ukraine. However, as the situation develops, it would be impossible to be “absolutely independent” or even “relatively independent.” Second, while the U.S. focuses on Ukraine, Obama does not forget China. The U.S. has been beating the drum on the issues of the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It equates Crimea with Taiwan and its recent remarks clearly show that whatever happens in Europe will not affect the U.S. adjustment in its Asian Pacific strategy, which deems China as its top adversary. 
“So should China make a corresponding policy move to lean towards Russia on the issue of Ukraine as retaliation against the United States?” The commentary predicted that during Putin’s visit to China in May, the two strategic partners will issue surprising announcements concerning further cooperation between the two, a natural response by China and Russia to the U.S. intrusion and containment. 
Source: China.com.cn, April 16, 2014 
http://news.china.com.cn/world/2014-04/16/content_32107518.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

440 Confucius Institutes and 646 Confucius Classrooms around the World

On April 17, Social Sciences Academic Press and Hubei University jointly issued the "Culture Blue Book, Chinese Culture Development Report." The Report states that although the Confucius Institute was launched not long ago, it already has had a huge effect and a far-reaching influence. Compared to other major international organizations that promote language and culture, the Confucius Institute is leading the league in terms of pace of expansion and magnitude of influence. According to the latest data from Hanban (the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language), by the end of 2013, 440 Confucius Institutes and 646 Confucius Classrooms had been established in 120 countries (regions) around the world. The United States has the largest number (97) of Confucius Institutes.

Pushed forward by the Confucius Institute, learning the Chinese language has become popular around the globe. In 2010 and 2011, Russia and France each organized the "Chinese Year" activities. According to the China culture media network, a website under the Ministry of Culture, in 2010, about 100 million foreigners were learning Chinese; that figure reached 150 million in 2013. The Confucius Institute has become the brand name for promoting the Chinese language and showcasing China’s "soft power."

Source: People’s Daily Online, April 17, 2014
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0417/c1001-24908823.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

What Is CIA Director Brennan Up to in His Visit to Kiev?

Hong Kong Wen Wei Po published a commentary on May 15 stating that the United States is second to none in inciting color revolutions. The article said, “During the Cold War, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) wantonly infiltrated non-Western countries to conduct subversive activities. Now CIA director Brennan is said to have had a private visit to Kiev. The West criticizes Russia for provoking a new Cold War, while, at the same time, it allows its ‘Cold War weapon,’ the CIA, to intervene in Ukraine. What the West is really trying to do is self evident.” 

The article then stated, “After the Cold War, the United States continued to guard against Russia, trying to win over the former Soviet countries to compress Russia’s living space." “In Ukraine’s 2004 ‘Orange Revolution,’ the United States fully supported the opposition, Viktor Yushchenko. The United States even provided its supporters’ food and tents during the sit-ins."

“In the development of Ukraine’s crisis over the past few months, the shadow of the ‘Orange Revolution’ is getting more and more apparent. After former President Viktor Yanukovych was forced to leave because of a coup, the Kiev authorities, with the backing of the West, immediately tried to abolish the status of the Russian language and started a series of provocative actions that incited the Russian-speaking population’s resentment.” 

The article said in its concluding paragraph, “From the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Nuland’s arrogant comment on the Ukrainian Cabinet candidates, to Brennan’s private trip to Kiev, and then to Vice President Joe Biden’s plan to visit Kiev at a sensitive time on the eve of the Ukraine presidential election, the United States’ invisible devil claws are gradually approaching its next prey.” 

Source: Xinhua, April 16, 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-04/16/c_126394838.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Study Times: State-owned Enterprises to Change Their Political Advantage to a Competitive Advantage

Study Times published a commentary on how State-owned enterprises (SOEs) can more effectively change their political advantage into a competitive advantage. 

According to the article, the central role of the Communist Party should reflect the leadership’s role in SOEs. “From an economic perspective, the SOEs are an important economic pillar of the country. From a political perspective, the Party’s organization in SOEs is an important foundation of the ruling Party organization.” The Party organizations in the SOEs fully play the central political role showing the Party’s capabilities in leading economic development, which is also mandated by the need to solidify the Party’s rule of the country. 
The article further stated that SOEs bear different responsibilities from other types of businesses. They bear both an economic responsibility and a political and social responsibility. “SOEs should remain highly consistent with the Party’s Central Committee, consciously instill the Party’s line, principles and policies into the action of cadres and workers, and transform these Party lines, principles and policies into products, economic efficiency, and the enterprise’s development practices.” 
Source: Study Times, April 14, 2014 
http://www.studytimes.cn/shtml/xxsb/20140414/4519.shtml
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics