Chinascope – Page 781

Huanqiu Editorial: Russia Really Turns the West into a Paper Tiger This Time

The People’s Daily’s subsidiary Huanqiu published an editorial regarding the “battle” between the West and Russia in the Crimean crisis. Below is an excerpt from the article:

Although on March 11, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution condemning Russia and called on the White House to expel Russia from the Group of Eight (G8) and implement visa and economic sanctions, the overall attitude of the U.S. and its European allies on the Crimean crisis is widely considered to be "weak."

This time, in front of Russia and Putin, the West really is a bit like a "paper tiger."

First, the West is afraid of Russia’s military forces. Western countries must exclude the option of war due to how super powerful Russia’s military force is while in conflict. As for other cards to play, the West also has to calculate carefully the possibility of whether it can overpower Moscow.　　

Economic sanctions are not easy either. Russia’s has everything; its export goods are energy and raw materials that are in short supply.

If the West could disrupt Russia politically, making Moscow start a "revolution," then that would be the most effective way, but Moscow’s "nationalism" (Russia believes that is patriotism) is very active. At the moment, "Democracy" is not going to win the battle.

Finally, Moscow has accumulated more odds to win in the Crimean showdown. Whether by military or with "Democratic rule," the West will be worried about losing the tug of war in Crimea.

Ukraine has become the frontline of conflict between the West and Russia, but it is too far away from the heart of the West and is too close to Russia’s core interests. Although Russia is much weaker than the West, when Russia really is prepared to "fight" at any price, the West exhibits fear. The West’s retreat this time is worth a global strategist’s serious study.

In the promotion of Western political values, the U.S. and European powers are willing to pick apart their weak opponents. Once they hit a hard one, the West is not going to sacrifice itself to help non-Western countries’ "democrats." The West is selfish and constantly calculating its own interests.

Source: Huanqiu, March 13, 2014

http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2014-03/4900117.html

Briefings | | March 14, 2014 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: What Would the Collapse of the Real Estate Market Look Like?

Xinhua published an article discussing what the situation of a collapsed real estate market in China would look like.

According the the article, “The so-called collapse of the real estate market refers to a sharp decline after a period of surging prices.” The article predicted that the housing market will decline by 30 to 50 percent. There will be far fewer buyers. Real estate will plunge into depression and even the national economy will stagnate. Banks will incur large amounts of bad debts. The article described a three stage collapse in the real estate market: housing prices will drop dramatically; after a huge rise, the stock market will plunge sharply; the number of real estate transactions will decline.

Source: Xinhua, March 11, 2014

http://news.xinhuanet.com/house/bj/2014-03-11/c_119701248.htm

Briefings | | March 14, 2014 | Economy/Resources

Major General: China Needs Spending Hike to Empower the Military and Face the Increase in Pressure

On March 6, 2014, a military reporter from China Broadcasting Network interviewed Chinese congressional delegate member Major General Chen Zhou. In the interview, Chen talked about the increase in China’s military budget.

Chen Zhou stated that China’s increase in defense spending is to make up for a serious past shortage. With the rapid development of our national economy, [China] has the strength to increase the investment in its military development.

Chen said that China’s security environment is changing; the surrounding environment is changing; the complexity and variability of the security problems we are facing are also increasing. We face challenges safeguarding China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity. Our surroundings are very turbulent. Some military powers conduct frequent actions in our surrounding areas. Strategic pressure is constantly increasing. In particular, our maritime security issues have become increasingly prominent. We need to increase defense spending to strengthen the development of our naval and air forces.

Source: People’s Daily, March 6, 2014

http://military.people.com.cn/n/2014/0306/c1011-24544144.html

Briefings | | March 13, 2014 | Defense/Military

China Youth Daily: Local Government’s Opium? They Have an Addiction to Debt

On March 12, 2013, China Youth Daily published an article on the serious local government debt problems in China. Currently, China’s local governments owe 18 trillion yuan in debt. In order to pursue a higher GDP, local governments blindly borrow money without considering at all how to pay it back. Some officials said that borrowing money has become local governments’ economic opium. They wish they could stop but they cannot help borrowing more and more. According to the article, in order to help local authorities get rid of this “addiction,” it may be necessary to integrate local government’s credit rating system into cadre’s evaluation system.

Source: China Youth Daily, March 12, 2014
http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2014-03/12/nw.D110000zgqnb_20140312_1-T01.htm?fina

Briefings | | March 13, 2014 | Economy/Resources

Huanqiu on Close Military Cooperation between China and Ukraine Since 1990s

On March12, 2014, Huanqiu republished an article originally from http://www.nnnews.net on the close military cooperation between China and Ukraine since the 1990s. However, the original article can no longer be found. For over the past 10 years, China has been at the top of the list for Ukrainian arms exports. In the 1990s, Ukraine sold China three large-scale ships. Among them was the former Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag. The Varyag has been rebuilt into today’s Liaoning aircraft carrier, China’s first aircraft carrier. Since 2006, Ukraine has also been training Chinese engineers, pilots, and navy technical experts in Ukraine. In 2009, Ukraine media admitted that Ukraine sold China four “European Bison” hovercraft.

A large number of first-class engineers in Ukraine lived in poverty after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Through personal friendship and shared ideology and thanks to the old Sino-Soviet friendship in the Bolshevik, Mao Zedong, and Stalin era, China invited many top experts in key military technology fields from Ukraine to come to China. In 10 years, China has recruited thousands of experts from Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States to engage in over 2000 technological projects. In 2006 alone, groups of Ukraine scientists visited China about 150 times to participate in scientific research and give lectures and there were over 2000 individual visits. Those experts were very eager to help and answer whatever questions the Chinese scholars asked because they cherished the old Sino-Soviet friendship. The current changing situation in Ukraine may affect China-Ukraine trade, especially military, cooperation. However, according to Ukraine local officials, those signed agreements have not been affected.

Source: Huanqiu, March 12, 2014
http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2014-03/4897708.html

Briefings | | March 13, 2014 | Defense/Military

BBC Chinese: China’s Defense Budget Increased Significantly

BBC Chinese recently reported that China’s defense budget submitted to the National People’s Congress increased by 12.2 percent to US$131.6 billion. In his speech to the Congress, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang explained that the defense budget increase was for research into new technology, high-tech weaponry enhancements, day-to-day military operations, as well as coastal and aero defense. Li emphasized the defense of China’s “marine interests” and China’s becoming a “marine power.” He also advised that China should defend “the fruits of the Second World War.” The Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary commented on the new Chinese defense budget, saying the world is concerned about China’s [lack of] transparency on defense spending. The Chinese media argued that China’s defense budget is still far below the level of the U.S. defense budget (US$ 633 billion).

Source: BBC Chinese, March 5, 2014

http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/03/140305_china_npc_military.shtml

Briefings | | March 11, 2014 | Defense/Military

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.