Chinascope – Page 844

Xi Jinping Seeks Unity and Discipline among Politburo Members

Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday, June 25, that, at a special meeting of the Politburo, the Chinese Communist Party’s chairman Xi Jinping said, "To see whether the Politburo is strong or not and whether the Politburo members are strong or not, one has to look first at whether they are politically strong or not. To strengthen the work of the Politburo, we must give top priority to ideological and political development."

Xi urged the Politburo to "strengthen the study of Marxist theory, in particular, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the thoughts of the ‘Three Represents,’ and the scientific concept of development, so as to grasp the scientific world view and methodology, be equipped with ideological weaponry, remain firm with the ideals and faith, and strengthen political sensitivity and discrimination," in order "to understand correctly and to firmly safeguard the bigger picture of the Party and the state, of reform, development, and stability, of the Party’s leadership and the security of the socialist regime, and of the unity of the Party and the whole nation."

He also asked the Politburo members to play an exemplary role in "strictly disciplining their relatives and staff members, refraining from abusing power, and not seeking personal privileges."

Source: BBC Chinese, June 25, 2013.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/06/130625_xijinping_speech.shtml

Briefings | | June 27, 2013 | Government/Politics

Xi Jinping Strips the Amnesty Privilege from Politburo Members in the Anti-Corruption Campaign

An article, originally published by a Hong Kong monthly magazine QianShao, is being spread widely on the Internet. The article speculates that former Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang might be the targeted “big tiger” in Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign. China’s State media reported that Zhou’s crony, former secretary Guo Yongxiang, is being investigated.

The article reports, “at an expanded meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee, Xi Jinping said that he drafted an anti-corruption proposal together with Premier Li Keqiang. The proposal requires that anti-corruption actions must target “Tigers” [high-level, heavy-weight officials]. Xi also defined "big tiger" and upgraded it to the level of a member of the Politburo Standing Committee.”

“Meanwhile, Xi proposed to abolish the internal rule that ‘no investigation should be initiated on a member of the Politburo Standing Committee.’ Instead, Politburo Standing Committee members, whether incumbent or retired, must accept a criminal investigation as long as the evidence is solid and it has had a negative influence at home and abroad.”

Source: Wenxuecity, June 25, 2013

http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2013/06/25/2476767.html

Briefings | | June 27, 2013 | Grapevine

China: U.S. Remarks about Snowden Leaving Hong Kong Are Unacceptable to China

At a briefing given by China’s Foreign Ministry on June 25, 2013, government spokesperson Hua Chunying said that the accusation that the United States made about China allowing Edward Snowden to depart from Hong Kong is groundless and not acceptable to China.

“The Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR) Government has handled this case entirely in accordance with applicable law, which is beyond reproach, and should be respected by all parties. For the United States to question whether the Hong Kong SAR Government is acting in accordance with the law does not make sense. The U.S. accusation about China’s central government is groundless and is unacceptable to China."

Hua stated, “Even today, the U.S. still makes these remarks, which really puzzles people. I’d like to advise these people to look at themselves in a mirror, reflect, and take care of their own situation first.” When asked about reports that the U.S. is investigating whether Snowden is a spy for China, Hua said, "[T]his is nonsense and extremely irresponsible."

Source: Xinhua, June 25, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-06/25/c_116286549.htm

Briefings | | June 27, 2013 | US-China Relations

Chinese Scholar: China Needs to Reform Its Entire Financial System Completely

On June 24, 2013, Securities Daily published an article titled “(China) Needs to Reform Its Entire Financial System Completely.” According to the article, in recent years, China’s capital assets reserve has been increasing too fast. China has become the country with the largest currency reserve in the world. As of late last year, China’s broad money (M2) balance was 97.42 trillion Chinese yuan, 1.5 times that of the United States’ M2 and close to a quarter of total global money supply. By the end of May 2013, China’s broad measure of money supply (M2) reached 104.21 trillion yuan. However, the effect of increasing loans to stimulate the economy is getting worse as domestic enterprises are facing high costs and a sluggish external demand from overseas.

China has separated its financial system from the real economy for years. A bubble has been growing in the virtual economy as China’s commercial banks have been loaning money to large enterprises that have the government’s backing. On the other hand, the private SMEs (small and medium enterprises) that do not no have such backing and collateral have to rely on the private lending market, a “shadow” lending market that charges high interest rates. Burdened with such high interest loans, the SMEs have a low return on investment and are thus declining.

Source: Securities Daily, June 24, 2013
http://zqrb.ccstock.cn/html/2013-06/24/content_362891.htm

Briefings | | June 26, 2013 | Economy/Resources

Tightened Measures against Fraud on the College Entrance Exam Sparked Riot in China

Students and parents besieged proctors at a high school in Zhongxiang City, Hubei Province on June 8, 2013, because of tightened anti-cheating measures on the College Entrance Exam. The parents were protesting unjust treatment on the national college entrance exam, “Why is it that official’s children are allowed to cheat, but our children cannot cheat?” The proctors confiscated cell phones, set up wireless jammers that blocked cell phone and other signals, and frisked the students. Some male teachers were said to have "groped the girls’ chests.” The strict regulations angered many students and parents, who stormed the school after the exam ended. Several hundred students and their parents surrounded the school in protest, beating teachers, smashing the principal’s car, and ripping the school’s doors off their hinges. After the exam, a student’s parent beat the proctor who had confiscated that student’s cell phone.

Fraud on the College Entrance Examination is rampant in Zhongxiang and many places in China. Many of the local school officials, teachers, parents, and students are all involved in the fraud. Therefore, proctors from other cities were sent to Zhongxiang this year to tighten measures against cheating.

Source: China Gate, The Epoch Times, Education News, June 10 and June 19, 2013
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2013/06/19/2465348.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/100661-college-entrance-exam-becomes-battleground-in-china/
http://www.educationnews.org/international-uk/anti-cheating-measures-on-college-entrance-exam-spark-riot-in-china/

Briefings | | June 26, 2013 | Grapevine

Xi Jinping Requires the PLA to Oppose Formalism, Bureaucracy, Hedonism, and Extravagance

On June 21, 2013, China Review News published a report on Xi Jingping’s recent instructions to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) regarding the Party’s mass line education practice activities. Xi stressed the requirement that the PLA must oppose formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance in the army. The PLA must be absolutely reliable and obey Xi’s commands.

Source: China Review News, June 21 & 22, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1025/9/3/2/102593285.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=102593285&mdate=0621225026
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1025/9/3/6/102593645.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=102593645&mdate=0622090053

Briefings | | June 26, 2013 | Government/Politics

Beijing News: State Council Considers Allowing Private Banks

Beijing News recently reported that the State Council announced a series of new policies at its latest executive meeting. One decision was the policy that the central government will no longer require approval for 32 counts of earlier restricted activities such as non-stop direct railway passenger and cargo transportation plans, or a change in the registration of publishing businesses. The goal is to promote fewer government regulations in market-based operations. One key focal point of the discussion at the meeting was the intent to allow the creation of private banks. The meeting recognized that the Chinese market has a significant lack of competition in the banking sector. Meanwhile, small businesses, private companies, as well as agricultural areas suffer a serious lack of lenders. The large state-owned banks are typically not interested in lending money to the businesses other than state-owned companies, which often enjoy fewer risks and a higher profit margin due to government endorsement.

Source: Beijing News, June 20, 2013

http://epaper.bjnews.com.cn/html/2013-06/20/content_441918.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | June 25, 2013 | Economy/Resources

Xi Jinping: The South China Sea Issue Should not Interfere with China-Vietnam Relations

On June 19, 2013, China News reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met with Vietnamese President Zhang Jin in Beijing. Xi suggested that the two nations should prevent the issues of the South China Sea from interfering in the relationship between the two neighbors. Xi said China is determined to solve the issues in a political manner such as bilateral negotiations and friendly discussions. China called for stopping any activity that would further complicate the situation and for avoiding the internationalization of the issues. President Zhang agreed to the friendly negotiation approach and suggested that Vietnam is willing to participate actively in the joint delimitation effort as well as the peaceful joint development plan. Vietnam also does not want the issues to be a threat to the relationship between the two countries. The China News report described the meeting as “friendly and frank.”

Source: China News, June 19, 2013

http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/06-19/4947354.shtml

Briefings | | June 25, 2013 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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.