Chinascope – Page 839

Jeju’s Immigration Policy Makes Chinese the Largest Land Buyers in South Korea

Chinese have become most generous buyers in South Korea’s land market. As of the first quarter of this year, the area of Chinese-owned Korean land reached 5.7 million square meters, far more than that held by Europeans and Americans. What the Chinese want most out of the purchase of a property in Korea’s Jeju Island is immigration.

With Jeju’s weak economy, the island launched a preferential immigration policy. Starting in February 2010, as long as foreigners invest 500 million won (about 2.7 million yuan, US$0.37 million) in Jeju’s resorts, hotels, and other "residential facilities for the purpose of holidays and rest," they will be qualified to live on Jeju Island for five years, after which they will be granted permanent residency in South Korea, enjoying the same education and health insurance benefits as Korean citizens. After the implementation of this policy, the number of Chinese buyers increased substantially. Chinese-owned land increased from 49,000 square meters at the end of 2010 to 485,000 square meters at the end of March 2013, almost 10 fold in two years.

Chinese buyers of Jeju land come mainly from three areas. The first is northeast cities such as Shenyang; the second is from Beijing; and the third is the Yangtze River Delta cities, including Shanghai and Nanjing. All these three areas are within a two hour direct flight from Jeju.

Source: Beijing Youth Daily, reposted on Xinhua, August 8, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2013-08/08/c_125133562.htm

Briefings | | August 8, 2013 | Economy/Resources

For the First Time, Chinese Maritime Police Expel Japanese Ships from the Diaoyu Islands

On August 7, Chinese Maritime Police Surveillance Ships 2350, 1126, 2102, and 2166 expelled Japanese patrol ships from the waters of the Diaoyu Islands. This is the first time that Chinese maritime police have expelled the Japanese patrol ships since the conflict started. [1]

Regarding Japan’s "quasi-carrier" 22DDH helicopter destroyer, "the cloud’s," launching ceremony on August 6, Chinese Military expert Li Jie stated that the Diaoyu Islands are within the coverage of China’s military missiles and that Japan’s quasi-carrier service will not have a decisive impact on the regional situation or pose any serious threat. [2]

Sources:
[1] CRI online, August 7, 2013

http://gb.cri.cn/42071/2013/08/07/3245s4210109.htm

[2] People’s Daily, August 7, 2013

http://military.people.com.cn/n/2013/0807/c1011-22476669.html

Briefings | | August 8, 2013 | Defense/Military

Qiushi: The Chinese Communist Party Must Guide the Public in Literary and Art Productions

On July 24, 2013, Qiushi, a journal of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, published an article on how to establish a complete “guidance mechanism” to further “guide” the production of literary and art works. According to the article, “It is very common for different countries, different classes, and different political parties to use literary and art works to disseminate their values and to state their point of view and intent.” The Chinese Communist Party’s guiding ideology is Chinese style Marxism and socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.

The article proposed to adhere to value-oriented control mechanisms to guide literary and artistic productions, telling the public directly what the Party advocates and using legal regulations and government policies to control all literary and art production fields.

Source: Qiushi, July 24, 2013
http://www.qstheory.cn/hqwg/2013/201314/201307/t20130724_252620.htm

Briefings | | August 7, 2013 | Government/Politics

Huanqiu: China Is Determined to Develop as a Maritime Power

On August 2, 2013, Huanqiu, the Chinese edition of Global Times, published an editorial affirming China’s determination to develop as a maritime power. It stated that the only way for China to develop further is for it to become a maritime power. Recently, at a study session with members of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, China’s top leader Xi Jinping championed the effort to develop China into a maritime power.

“What has happened in the past two years tells us that, no matter how much we exercise restraint, some troubles will still find us.” The article listed territories that are involved in a dispute, such as with the Philippines (Huangyan Island, also called Scarborough Shoal) and with Japan (the Diaoyu Islands, also called the Senkaku Islands) as examples of the troubles. The article concluded, “To become a sea power, an indispensable specified procedure, is essential to China’s rise.”

Source: Huanqiu, August 2, 2013
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2013-08/4199965.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-07/31/c_132591246.htm

Briefings | | August 7, 2013 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: Key National Banks Suffered Savings Account Money Reduction of One Trillion

Xinhua recently reported that the four largest state-owned banks had a decline of RMB one trillion (around US$163 billion) in customers’ savings accounts in the first three weeks of July alone. The speed at which these four banks approved loans also slowed significantly. These four largest banks are the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China, the Bank of China, and China Construction Bank. Their savings account losses are (in RMB) 346 billion, 234 billion, 180 billion, and 250 billion, respectively. Experts expressed the belief that, due to the fact that customers are not putting their money into these banks, the pressure is high on the interest rate side. It will be more expensive to obtain loans.

Source: Xinhua, July 25, 2013

http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2013-07/25/c_125062433.htm

Briefings | | August 6, 2013 | Economy/Resources

People’s Daily: Thirty Provinces Released GDP Growth Rates Higher than the National Average

People’s Daily recently reported that all but one province (Qinghai Province) had released their official GDP growth rates for the first half of 2013. All of these 30 provinces recorded a growth rate higher than the national GDP growth rate of 7.6 percent. Most of the provinces suffered a slower rate than last year’s. Among the 30 provinces, Guangdong Province had the highest GDP level and Jiangsu Province and Shandong Province followed as the second and the third, respectively. These three provinces accounted for one third of the national GDP. The report suggested that, in addition to the possibility that numbers were forged, statistical calculation differences could have resulted in incorrect financial reports as well. Experts expressed the belief that, despite the questionable accuracy, the numbers still showed a clear slowdown in the Chinese economy; nor has there been any sign of a rebound occurring anytime soon. It is important to promote structural reform and to encourage consumer spending and private sector investments.

Source: People’s Daily, July 29, 2013

http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2013/0729/c1001-22355973.html

Briefings | | August 6, 2013 | Government/Politics

Qiushi: Internet Should Not Be a New Tool for U.S. Hegemony

Qiushi Journal, a bi-weekly magazine published by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, recently published an article commenting on “Prism Gate.” The article focused on how the United States has been maintaining a “double standard” on the matter of Internet monitoring. The author accused the United States of lecturing other countries on privacy and human rights issues while violating all these principles itself. The article quoted comments from various U.S. allies such as Britain, Germany, and France, as well as other countries like Brazil. These comments all used words like “shocking” and “unacceptable” to describe the reactions from these countries. The article suggested that the Prism project is only the tip of the iceberg. The U.S. government has at least three more projects of this kind to cover areas such as phone communications. The author also expressed the belief that the U.S. has the same mentality in the global financial market and in industrial internationalization, as well as in technology standards. The article concluded by calling for “fair international internet rules,” “respecting a country’s Internet sovereignty,” and the U.S. giving up technical control over the Internet.

Source: Qiushi Journal, August 1, 2013

http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2013/201315/201307/t20130729_253893.htm

Briefings | | August 6, 2013 | US-China Relations

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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