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

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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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Huanqiu: China Should Not Be Bullied by Small Countries

On August 27, 2013, Major General Wang Haiyu, a senior advisor at the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, published a commentary on Huanqiu on establishing strategic buffer zones around China. 

On North Korea, Wang stated that, compared to the time of the Korean War, North Korea’s military value to China has greatly decreased, while its geo-strategic value remains. China should “not only strive to maintain stability in the peninsula … and urge North Korea to completely abandon its nuclear program. … It should also firmly stop any attempt by external forces to create chaos on the peninsula.” 
In addition to North Korea, China should establish a strategic buffer zone to the west of China. When its dignity is challenged, China should “dare to impose necessary ‘discipline’ and should not continue to tolerate the ‘small country bullying a large country’ phenomenon. Otherwise, China cannot successfully build strategic buffer zones needed for safeguarding its national geopolitical security.” 
Source: Huanqiu, August 27, 2013 
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_world/2013-08/4288662.html
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Real Name Registration to Become Mandatory for Chinese Phone Users

According to Nanfang Daily, a newspaper based in Guangdong Province, major Chinese telecommunication companies including China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom have issued internal documents requiring that, starting on September 1 of this year, local branches must implement the "requirement of real identity registration for telephone users," which the PRC’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued in June of this year. The internal documents demand that phone users provide their real identities. China Mobile even published a "notice on its official website on the comprehensive implementation of real identity registration for phone users."

According to the "requirement" issued by MIIT, real identity registration for phone users refers to the fact that when operators of telecommunication services process the registration of land line and mobile phone (including wireless broadband card) users, they need to be truthful in providing the real identity of the user while processing the user agreement or confirming the services. In other words, starting from September 1, not only the new users, but existing users who process a transfer, relocation, or other business need to provide their real identities.

As early as 2010, MIIT announced the implementation of real name registration for mobile phone users, but it was not carried out successfully. This time, it is applied to all phone users instead of just mobile users. For the first time, the "requirement" also penalizes the operators who do not comply. All operators of telecommunications are now obliged to run an annual self-checkup of the implementation of real identity registration. Those who fail to do so are subject to fines between 10,000 yuan (US$1,634) and 30,000 yuan (US$4,902).

Source: Nanfang Daily, reposted by Xinhua, August 29, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2013-08/29/c_125271765.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

PLA Daily: U.S.’s Unmanned ‘rial Vehicles Cross Border Actions Are a “License to Kill”

China’s military newspaper PLA Daily published an article commenting on the U.S.’s use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in its anti-terrorist actions. The following are excerpts from the article: 

“In recent years, the U.S. has frequently been using UAVs for cross-border anti-terrorist actions. … It is concerning that the U.S.’s use of UAVs is ‘out of control,’ posing a great threat to the international order and the security of the people of other countries.” 

“UAVs have become an important American tool to fight terrorism. However, the abuse of the UAV has also been trampling on the sovereignty of other counties. Although Pakistan and other countries repeatedly protest to the United States, the United States still insists on acting according to its own will. Once the U.S. finds suspected terrorists appearing in other countries, the U.S. will send UAVs to hunt down the terrorists without asking for permission from those countries. This hegemonic act is a reckless trampling of the international order and of international law.” 
“Although the use of UAVs avoids the American military sustaining casualties, it brings disaster to a large number of innocent civilians in other countries. … According to statistics, since 2004, the U.S. UAVs have launched 360 attacks in Pakistan alone, resulting in 3,000 deaths, of which 70 percent were women and children. However, the U.S. does not feel any guilt at all.” 
“The U.S.’s use of UAVs is almost out of control. It has caused the relevant nations to lodge strong protests. … However, the United States, accustomed to finding other countries at fault, has just ignored these voices of protest. On May 23, 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that UAVs can only be used under certain conditions. … However, the rule is very ambiguous and difficult to determine during the actual implementation. Obviously, Obama’s new regulations are the ostrich moves or [we can] even say that he has issued a ‘legitimate’ ‘license to kill’ for UAVs.” 

Source: PLA Daily, August, 18, 2013 
http://www.chinamil.com.cn/jfjbmap/content/2013-08/18/content_46825.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

Qiushi: China’s Internet Would Have No Future without Basic Requirements

Qiushi published a commentary which continued the theme of correctly handling China’s Internet. It reprinted an article, first published in China Youth Daily, which advocated that Chinese netizens must adhere to basic requirements [dixian] on China’s Internet. 

The commentary stated that Internet self-discipline has fallen far behind the expansion of the Internet. “For example, the authenticity of information should be a basic requirement. It should be a generally accepted rule that no one should fabricate and spread rumors. However, there is no consensus on this. Some people take pride in fabricating and spreading rumors rather than feeling ashamed. They even use excuses such as ‘rumors force the truth’ [to surface] in order to whitewash their disinformation. In this case, to advocate the ‘authenticity of information’ is highly necessary."
The commentary concluded, “Without a clear basic requirment [dixian], the Internet would have no future. The only result would be self-destruction amidst chaos.” China Youth Daily is an official newspaper of the Communist Youth League of China. 
Source: China Youth Daily reprinted by Qiushi, August 19, 2013 http://www.qstheory.cn/wz/hlw/201308/t20130819_261206.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Guangming Daily Promotes Bottom Line for Seven Areas of Self-discipline on the Internet

On August 19, 2013, Guangming Daily published a commentary promoting “Seven Bottom Lines” on the Internet innitiated by National Internet Information Office of the PRC. The new Internet policy requires all websites and Internet users stop spreading "rumors" and expressing "negative feelings" on the Internet and strengthen their "sense of self-discipline" and their "consciousness of the bottom lines." Netizens in China have the responsibility to protect China’s existing social system and national interests. According to the article, Internet users in China must adhere to the "seven bottom lines," which are: 1) the law and regulations; 2) the socialist system; 3) the national interest; 4) citizens’ legitimate rights and interests; 5) the social and public order; 6) morality; 7) the information’s authenticity.

Guangming Daily is an official newspaper of the PRC covering ideology, theory, and culture for intellectuals; it is under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.

Source: Guangming Daily, August 19, 2013
http://epaper.gmw.cn/gmrb/html/2013-08/19/nw.D110000gmrb_20130819_2-02.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

The CCP Will Hold the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee in November

The Chinese Communist Party’s General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a Politburo Meeting of the CCP Central Committee on August 27, 2013. The Politburo Meeting has decided to hold the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CCP Central Committee in Beijing in November of 2013. The Politburo Meeting on August 27 approved the following:

  1. a 2013-2017 work plan to establish and improve the system for punishing and preventing corruption;
  2. a document concerning local governments’ functional transformation and institutional reform;
  3. a pilot free trade zone in Shanghai.

All reforms must be done within the boundary of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Source: Xinhua, August 27, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-08/27/c_117116994.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Huanqiu: Obama Needs to Take Time and Think More before Taking Military Action against Syria

On August 25, 2013, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an editorial titled, “Military Strike against Syria? Obama Needs to Take Time and Think More before Taking Action.” The article stated, “Because of Russia and China’s objections, the UN Security Council cannot possibly pass a mandate authorizing military strikes against Syria. If the United States and NATO want to attack Bashar Assad’s regime, they may use the ‘Kosovo Model’ and air strike on Syria without a UN mandate.”

According to the article, even if Western countries can oust Bashar from his leadership position; it does not mean that a stable situation will arrive in Syria.

Source: Huanqiu, August 26, 2013
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2013-08/4284175.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

China News: Foreign Exchange Balance Declined Starting Two Months Ago

China News recently reported that, based on data released by the Chinese central bank, the Chinese foreign exchange reserve has been shrinking rapidly for two months now. In July alone, the total declined by RMB 24.5 billion (around US$4 billion). This could be one of the key causes of tight market liquidity. Experts expressed the belief that the foreign exchange balance decline could be the result of two forces: (1) the US Federal Reserve clearly intends to exit its QE (Quantitative Easing) strategy; (2) the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Exchange is requiring banks to increase their foreign exchange reserve. It is widely expected that international “hot money” will be leaving emerging markets and this trend will continue to impact the Chinese market where the expectation of depreciation in the Chinese currency is high.
Source: China News, August 21, 2013
http://finance.chinanews.com/cj/2013/08-21/5186110.shtml
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources