CRN: China May Become the Largest Trade Country
122nd Tibetan Died from Self-Immolation
On September 29, one more Tibetan died after he self-immolated in Sichuan Province. According to RFA, he was protesting China’s policy of suppressing Tibetans. The victim was a 41 year old male Tibetan. He set himself on fire in front of his house and died on the scene. It was reported that he is the 122nd Tibetan who died as a result of self-immolation.
Source: RFA, September 28, 2013
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-09282013160548.html
Xi Jinping: Party Members Required to Engage in Criticism and Self-Criticism
Outlook Weekly published a commentary on September 30 discussing President Xi Jinping’s recent speech on engaging in “criticism” and “self-criticism” to improve the quality and heritage of the Party. Xi indicated that this would have a significant impact on the Party. The commentary said that if “criticism” and “self-criticism” are used frequently, the Party organization will grow stronger and more powerful. Otherwise, it will suffer losses or pay a costly price. The commentary listed examples of how “criticism” and “self-criticism” are seriously lacking among Party members. It asserted that this deficiency has resulted in an unhealthy tendency and signs of crisis within the party.
President Xi recently stressed that “‘criticism’ and ‘self-criticism’ are powerful weapons to use in solving the internal conflicts within the Party." Xi said that if all levels of Party members use these weapons frequently, it will help to “promote unity” and “improve the ability to identify and solve problems.”
Source: Xinhua, September 29, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-09/29/c_117551444.htm
RFA: China’s Attacks on Rumors Was Not Meant to Protect Freedom of Speech
According to RFA, China has recently attacked many of those who were alleged to be “spreading rumors on the Internet.” In the meantime, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) told Xinhua that “attacking Internet rumors helps to protect the freedom of ‘proper’ speech.” CNNIC said that they can’t allow the Internet to be full of rumors: “If we don’t stop rumors, it is no different from destroying the internet, which no other country in the world would allow.” According to RFA, a large number of microblog postings supporting CNNIC’s actions of attacking rumors have appeared repeatedly on a number of online news websites.
Many people believe that the action of attacking “online rumors” is in fact an attack on freedom of speech. "Why do they think that they have the authority to determine what is a rumor and what is not?" One Internet expert told RFA, "Many people were telling the truth, but they ended up being arrested. Where is freedom of speech when that happens?"
Source: Radio Free Asia, September 28, 2013
http://http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/sy-09282013132334.html
State Audit: Local Government Debt Almost Doubled in Two Years
According to Economic Information, a publication under Xinhua, China’s National Audit Office conducted an investigation into local government debt. It found that local government debt almost doubled since the 2011 audit. The nationwide investigation started in August and is nearing completion.
China’s State Media Welcome Merkel’s Reelection
China’s state media Huanqiu (Global Times) recently published an article about Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, commenting on her reelection. The article stated that she is pragmatic in dealing with China and that in China-German relations she can provide a positive model [for other E.U. countries].
Xinhua: The China Dream is not a Dream for Hegemony
On September 26, Xinhua published a commentary saying the China Dream is not a dream for hegemony. “Internationally, there are always some people who concoct and present different versions of the ‘China Threat Theory,’ to label the China Dream ‘neo-imperialism.’ Such remarks are completely without merit.”