Chinascope – Page 799

Social Security Benefits Becoming the Worst Gap between Urban and Rural

People’s Daily published an article on the gap between the urban and rural areas in China. The article said that the gap in income has always been considered the major gap between the urban and rural areas. In 2012, however, that gap was reduced to 3.10:1, the lowest in ten years. This was mainly due to the central administration having a policy that supported agriculture and to the urbanization that has brought surplus labor from rural to urban areas.

However, the article predicted that the gap in social security benefits will become the worst hidden gap. Taking pension funds as an example, according to the 2014 Blue Book of China’s Society, on that issue, the difference was as large as 24 times. For farmers, the social security benefits issue was never as sensitive as the income disparity issue because they used to own their land. According to the article, as urbanization has continued, farmers have been losing their land and have been moving to urban areas where the fair share of social benefits they have been able to gain has not matched that of the urban residents. The statistics from the Ministry of Statistics suggest that, in 2012, the urbanization rate was 52.57 percent while only 35 percent of the migrant workers have gained urban residential status or Hukou which would enable them to sign up for the same residential welfare benefits that urban residents are entitled to receive.

The article explained that, if 250 million farmers were to be included in the social security system, there would be a shortfall of 30.69 trillion yuan (US$5.07 trillion) in pension funds alone which neither the business enterprises nor the local government bodies would be able to cover. It concluded that, in order to close the social security gap, it will require the attention, active intervention, and responsive measures from the government.

Source: People’s Daily, January 26, 2014
http://finance.people.com.cn/money/n/2014/0126/c218900-24227557.html

Briefings | | January 27, 2014 | Social Stability

Yu Zhengsheng: Religious Groups to Play Active Roles in China’s Comprehensively Deepening Reform

On January 26, Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, held a Chinese New Year celebration conference and invited representatives from a number of religious groups to attend. Yu praised the religious groups’ efforts for being closely united with the Party and the government and for persistently demonstrating their patriotism. Yu hoped that the members of the religious organizations would become an important driving force in China’s development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He also wished that the religious organizations would strengthen their organization, ideology, behavior, and talent development and guide their religious members to “conduct religious activities that comply with the rules of law and with the government’s policies.”

The participants attending the conference included Liu Yandong, the Vice Premier; Ling Jihua, head of the United Front Work Department; and directors from the Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic, Catholic, and Christianity Associations of China as well as the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches.

Source: Xinhua, January 27, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-01/27/c_119142267.htm

Briefings | | January 27, 2014 | Government/Politics

PLA Daily: Military Incidents Have Been Politicalized to Damage the PLA’s Image

PLA Daily carried an article saying that there have been a number of cases in which military incidents or military family members involvement in illegal activities have been exaggerated on the Internet resulting in serious damage to the PLA’s image. The article stated that the parties behind it are the “Internet water army” or experts backed by western hostile forces who intend to win the battle of Internet public opinion.

According to the article, the PLA must learn to fight with such invisible enemies, give immediate responses to those damaging remarks, fight against wrongful ideology, and win the “war without smoke.” It said that the PLA should actively create microblogs and web chat platforms to broadcast positive messages online in order to gain the discourse right while patiently clarifying any misunderstandings, rectifying incorrect public opinions, and firmly cutting off any source that will cause damage to the PLA.

Source: PLA Daily, January 26, 2014
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/jfjbmap/content/2014-01/26/content_65230.htm

Briefings | | January 27, 2014 | Defense/Military

Huanqiu: The Possibility that Sino-Vietnamese Relations Will “Derail” Has Increased

Huanqiu (Global Times), which is under People’s Daily, published a commentary that discussed recent developments in Sino-Vietnamese relations. The following is a summary of the commentary. 　　

Starting on January 18, Vietnam organized a series of activities to commemorate "the 40th anniversary of the Paracel Islands maritime war" including photo exhibits of how the "Paracel Islands belong to Vietnam," "naval martyrs of the Paracel Islands maritime war," a candlelight vigil," and an international forum on the subject of how the "Paracel Islands belong to Vietnam." In addition to a handful of media directly under the central government, most domestic media reported on related activities. It is said that the Vietnamese side will host activities to commemorate "the 35th anniversary of the northern border Battle [against China]." The above facts show that the possibility that Sino-Vietnamese relations will "derail" has increased.

It is worth noting that nationalist sentiment in Vietnam is increasing. Sino-Vietnam relations are facing more and more severe challenges. In recent years, the differences between China and Vietnam have been increasingly focused on the South China Sea issue. On the South China Sea, Vietnam’s officials and the public’s views have been consistent: that it is "a matter of national survival." According to its maritime strategy planning, Vietnam expects to raise its maritime economic output to 53 to 55 percent of GDP by 2020. Therefore, advancing into the South China Sea is its inevitable choice. On the other hand, many Vietnamese worry that China will become an obstacle for Vietnam to achieve its goal. They believe a more powerful China will eventually endanger "the survival of the Vietnamese nation."

As long as China continues to defend its rights in the South China Sea and as long as the Vietnamese need to maintain their "national unity," it will be difficult for its [hostile] domestic sentiments towards China to subside.

Source: Huanqiu, January 21, 2014　

http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_world/2014-01/4773631.html

Briefings | | January 24, 2014 | Geo-Strategic Trend

True Identity Required When Posting Video Online

China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television issued a notice that requires anyone who posts a video online to use their real name and identity. The companies hosting the videos will be required to verify the identity of whoever uploads a video and can no longer hide the real identity of the uploader. This notice is supplemental to a July 2012 notice to deal with new issues that have emerged.

The notice stressed that the companies that host an online video must carry out the responsibility of video producer. These companies “can only forward [post] the drama, movies, and other micro-network audio-visual programs if the companies have verified the true identity of whoever posts the video and if the content is consistent with the content regulations. [The companies] cannot forward [post] similar programs made by anyone who does not use his true identity.”

The notice stated that online video programs not consistent with the relevant State regulations must be removed immediately.

Source: Xinhua, January 21, 2014

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2014-01/21/c_126038567.htm

Briefings | | January 24, 2014 | Government/Politics

Xi Jinping on Cleaning Out Political Dust

On January 20, Xi Jinping spoke at a Party conference on anti-corruption training. At the conference, Xi stated, “Criticism and self-criticism are powerful weapons to clean out the Party’s political dust and microorganisms. [We] must follow the spirit of rectification and be strict with the Party’s life. [We] must focus on improving the ability of the leaders to find and solve their own problems.”

Xi also pointed out that further anti-corruption training must adhere to the same theme, with the same focus, to implement the overall requirement of “look into the mirror, dress up, take a shower and treat the disease.”

Source: Xinhua, January 20, 2014

http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/c.m.news.cn/politics/2014-01/20/d_119051416.htm

Briefings | | January 24, 2014 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: China Can Only Choose to Fight Back When Faced with U.S. Military Deterrence

Xinhua republished a commentary article originally from China Review News, a pro-Beijing media located in Hong Kong, with the title “China Can Only Choose to Fight Back When Faced with U.S. Military Deterrence. “Below is an excerpt from the article:

“Following the United States’ strengthening of its military deployment in the Asia-Pacific region, China has strengthened its military presence in the region. The U.S. has accused China’s military action of being military coercion.

“As we all know, after proposing its rebalancing strategy in the Asia-Pacific in 2012, the United States adopted a series of measures to strengthen the U.S. military presence in the Asia Pacific region. The United States also enhanced its deterrence efforts against China by improving the military forces of countries that have maritime territorial disputes with China, such as Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The United States also gathered related countries in the South China Sea and the East China Sea to conduct ever expanding joint military exercises. These U.S. practices have been a serious threat to China’s homeland security. It is an indisputable fact.

“When faced with such U.S. military deterrence, China has no alternative but to choose to fight back. Whether China announces in high profile the establishment of maritime power, gradually increases its defense force in the South China Sea and the Diaoyu Islands, holds joint naval exercises with Russia, or establishes an air defense identification zone, China has to deal with the U.S. military deterrence using its own way. From this perspective, it is because of the U.S.’s military buildup in the Asia Pacific and engaging in an arms race with related countries that China has been forced to increase the strength of its military power.

“The U.S. accuses China of military coercion in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, but the intensification of the South China Sea and the East China Sea disputes are, to a large extent, all related to the United States’ fanning the flames [in the region]. Since implementing the strategy of returning to the Asia-Pacific, the U.S. has sharply increased military aid to the countries that have maritime territorial disputes with China. Also, regarding these disputes, the U.S. does not advise these countries to [resolve the dispute], but groundlessly accuses China of ‘displaying a tough stance.’ This attitude will only encourage the related countries to increase their determination against China and make the problem of territorial disputes more complicated. The security situation in the Asia-Pacific is getting worse.

"The United States’ approach, however, may bring another possibility: China will become more determined and stronger, increasingly deviating from the United States’ envisaged development track.”

Source: Xinhua, January 17, 2014

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2014-01/17/c_126021305.htm

Briefings | | January 23, 2014 | US-China Relations

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.”