Chinascope – Page 836

Xinhua: Chinese Netizens Must Adhere to Seven Essential Guidelines

Xinhua published a commentary suggesting that Internet users should comply with certain standards. On August 10, People’s Daily had reported that a group of well-known Internet bloggers proposed that, when they blog online, they should adhere to seven essential guidelines.

The Xinhua commentary stated that in addition to the group referred to in the article, all Internet users should follow suit. The first guideline is the law and regulations, the second is the socialist system, third is the national interest, forth is citizen’s legitimate interests, the fifth is the social order, the sixth is morality, and lastly, the accuracy of information. The commentary recommended that the authorities should make rules based on these seven essential guidelines.

Source: Xinhua, August 14, 2013

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-08/14/c_116945101.htm

Briefings | | August 15, 2013 | Government/Politics

“Multiple Provinces Foresee Revenue Shortages; Next Year Will Be the Most Difficult Year”

On August 7, 2013, National Business Daily published an article titled, “Multiple Provinces Foresee Revenue Shortages; Next Year Will Be the Most Difficult Year.” Recently, several local governments held their 2013 first half-year financial work conferences. Local governments found that their revenue growth has decreased to varying degrees, especially in the Mid-West provinces. It is now time for local governments to pay back their debts. According to the National Audit Office of the People’s Republic of China, about 53 percent of local governments’ debts will be due by the end of 2013. Once their debts are due, local governments will have to take out new loans to pay back the old ones.

Source: National Business Daily, August 7, 2013
http://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2013-08-07/764217.html
http://epaper.nbd.com.cn/shtml/mrjjxw/20130807/153301.shtml

Briefings | | August 14, 2013 | Economy/Resources

People’s Daily: In China, the Popular Constitutionalism Concept is a Psychological Weapon

On August 7, 2013, People’s Daily Overseas Edition published an article titled, “Using So-called Constitutionalism in China Is Like Climbing Trees to Catch Fish.” The article asserted, “Constitutionalism, which is currently very popular in China, is essentially an informational and psychological weapon, similar to the ‘democratic Socialist’ theory that collapsed the Soviet Union." According to the article, the “socialist constitutionalism” theory is even more perplexing than liberal constitutionalism because it’s most crucial and core contents are the “provisions to guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights.” Further, “socialist constitutionalism” advocates elimination of the class struggle theory and gives no space for the provision of the “people’s democratic dictatorship.”

According to the article, to implement China’s Socialist Constitution well, it is very critical to build the Chinese Communist Party well. “As long as the Chinese Communist Party is built into a party that truly serves the people, the Socialist Constitution and the laws that guarantee the people’s fundamental interests can be thoroughly implemented and realized. Using so-called constitutionalism is like climbing trees to catch fish.”

Source: People’s Daily Overseas Edition, August 7, 2013
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2013-08/07/content_1279445.htm

Briefings | | August 14, 2013 | Government/Politics

Qiushi Criticizes the U.S. Human Rights Values: American Values Cause Corruption in China

On August, 7, 2013, Qiushi, a journal of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, published an article titled, “An Interpretation of United States Human Rights Concepts and Practices.” The article asserted, “In its social practices, absolute human rights in the United States do not exist.” For example, protesters are requested to submit an application for a permit to demonstrate; all employees of the federal government must take an oath of loyalty to the government. Besides, the fact that 40 million poor people in the U.S. do not have the right of free expression demonstrates that “the American human rights practices do not represent any universal values.” However, the United States takes advantage of human rights issues to attack socialist countries, especially China, and many developing countries in order to obtain political, economic, and security interests.

According to the article, “The major cause of the rampant corruption in China is the invasion of American style self-centered values. American values have successfully invaded Chinese Communist Party members’ ideological and spiritual system, broken down their faith (in Communism) and thus induced their corrupt deeds.” The article concludes that China must strongly fight back against the human rights evolution conducted by the Unites States by “educating” the Chinese people with Communist and Socialist ideals and values and tightening control over the media and the Internet, as well as literary and art works.

Source: Qiushi, August 7, 2013
http://www.qstheory.cn/hqwg/2013/201315/201308/t20130807_257140.htm

Briefings | | August 14, 2013 | US-China Relations

China News: Never Allow External Forces in the South China Sea Talks

China News recently reported that Wang Yi, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced at a press conference that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to begin discussions on the South China Sea Code of Conduct. In addition to emphasizing the point of eliminating “external interference,” Wang expressed the belief that four principles are required: (1) All parties must establish a reasonable expectation of how soon an agreement can be reached; (2) All parties should work hard on the widest common ground for an agreement that will fall within most countries’ comfort zones; (3) The process of the talks should eliminate interference; (4) The talks should take a step-by-step approach for continuous improvements under the framework established in the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea.

Source: China News, August 5, 2013

http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/08-05/5125577.shtml

Briefings | | August 13, 2013 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Nine Cities’ Assets Not Enough to Pay All Their Debts

Xinhua recently reported on the comments that a high ranking official of the National Audit Office made anonymously regarding local government debts. The official suggested that nine provinces’ capital cities suffered a debt level that exceeded 100 percent of their assets, which indicated a technical bankruptcy. However there has been no word from the National Audit Office on the names of these cities. Starting August 1, the Office conducted a sudden nationwide audit campaign on local governments’ debts. It has been a long term challenge for the central government to understand the size of the local governments’ debts due to the significant lack of transparency about local loans. Some professional firms identified the top 10 most likely cities based on available data: Nanjing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hefei, Kunming, Changsha, Wuhan, Haerbin, Xi’an, and Lanzhou. However the State Council Information Office stated, “China will never have the kind of bankruptcy Detroit just had.”

Source: Xinhua, August 6, 2013

http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-08/06/d_125122362.htm

Briefings | | August 13, 2013 | Economy/Resources

Shanghai High Court Cracks Down on Unlawful Behavior after High Court Judges’ Prostitution Scandal

Following the publication of information that, on August 1, a video about four Shanghai high court judges being involved in a prostitution scandal had been posted on Internet, the Shanghai Municipal Committee announced the disciplinary actions of removing them from their posts and giving them 10 days of administrative detention to start the following day.

On August 8, Cui Yadong, party secretary of Shanghai High Court held a video conference to announce the directions that Han Zhen, the Party chief of Shanghai, gave on having “zero tolerance and cracking down on any unlawful activities.” Han also stated that “the incident has caused huge damage to the Party’s image and to the legal system. It also gave both domestic and international hostile forces an opportunity to attack the Party, the government, our socialist legal system, and Party and government cadres.” Han called for an effort to “learn from the lesson and to rectify and improve future actions.”

A report stated that 6,000 staff members participated in the conference.

Source: Xinhua, August 9, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2013-08/09/c_125144873.htm

Briefings | | August 12, 2013 | Government/Politics

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.