Chinascope – Page 846

Outlook: The China Dream Depends on the Strong Leadership of the Party

Outlook Newsweek, an official Chinese Communist Party publication, published an interview with Li Jie, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences regarding the “China Dream.”

When asked what the critical factors are in realizing the "China Dream," Li stated, “Achieving the ‘China Dream’ depends on the strong leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. For making things happen in China, the key is the Party. It is particularly important that we always maintain the Party’s advanced nature and purity, always maintain the Party’s spirit of reform and innovation, always maintain the Party’s close ties with the masses, and always maintain the Party’s integrity.”

“The realization the the ‘China Dream’ depends unswervingly on taking the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. … At present, [we] must be firmly confident in our path, theory, and system and continue to develop the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, the theoretical system, and the institutional system creatively, with confidence, and with persistence.”

Source: Outlook Newsweek reprinted by the Chinese Communist Party website, June 18, 2013 http://theory.people.com.cn/n/2013/0618/c40531-21877753.html

Briefings | | June 20, 2013 | Government/Politics

Xi Jinping: The CCP’s Survival or Death Relies on the Public Attitude for or against the Party

On June 18, 2013, Xi Jinping, the CCP Central Committee General Secretary and State Chairman, delivered a speech at the working meeting on the Party’s Mass Line Educational Practice. Xi said, “The CCP’s survival or death depends on the Public’s Attitude for or against the Party.”

To secure the Chinese Communist Party’s power, the Party must solve serious problems that the people report and let them feel satisfied. As many Party officials are separated from the masses, the CCP Central Committee will launch a large number of investigations, corrections, and cleaning within the Party. Called “Educational Practice Activities,” these activities will focus on self-cleaning, self-improvement, and self-innovation. It will be just like “looking into the mirror, straightening up one’s hat and clothing, taking a bath, and treating ones illness.” Those who have serious problems will be specially investigated and punished.

Source: Xinhua, June 18, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-06/18/c_116194026.htm

Briefings | | June 19, 2013 | Government/Politics

Huanqiu Suggests Chinese Media Publicize the Secrets Snowden Has in His Hand

On June 18, 2013, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an editorial responding to U.S. former vice president Dick Cheney’s hint that Edward Snowden, the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations, is a possible Chinese spy. According to the article, the Chinese government should not hand Snowden over to the United States because it fears trouble. The U.S. does not have any evidence to prove that Snowden is a Chinaese spy. If the Hong Kong government does not extradite Snowden, it will not lose any points on the moral level. Except for the extradition treaty with Hong Kong, the opinions that the U.S. releases cannot hurt China. The editorial suggested that Chinese reporters contact Snowden more and publicize the information in his hands around the world so as to put Snowden himself at the center of public opinion and lead public attention away from the American politicians’ accusations. The U.S. government will thus be discouraged in demanding Snowden’s extradition in the face of surging discussions of the secrets he released.

It is very practical for the U.S. government to drag the Chinese government into Snowden’s case so as to turn the public’s anger toward the U.S. government into dissatisfaction with the Chinese government. China will feel pressured but does not need to be too nervous. So far, the United States has not openly pressured the Chinese government publicly on the case, which, according to the editorial, is good enough for the Chinese government.

Source: Huanqiu, June 18, 2013
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2013-06/4035403.html

Briefings | | June 19, 2013 | US-China Relations

Global Times: China Accused of Having a Political Motivation for Helping Nicaragua Build Canal

Global Times recently reported that the Congress of Nicaragua passed a proposal to allow the government to award an exclusive commercial contract to the Hong Kong headquartered HKND Group to construct the Nicaragua Canal. The Nicaragua Canal Project is to build the world’s largest and deepest inter-oceanic canal. It will compete head to head against the Panama Canal. Western media, such as Time Magazine, questioned whether China’s motivation behind the bid had geo-political considerations. The US$40 billion agreement with the Chinese company included fifty years of special operational rights which can be extended for another fifty years. Spanish media also suggested that the lack of transparency in the congressional vote as well as the impact of environmental damage are all issues that may require further discussion. The chairman of the 10-month-old HKND Group claimed the company had "rich experience" in developing and managing large infrastructure-building projects. Reuters suggested that China has a "strong enough economy" to invest into modernized ocean based transportation opportunities and that it’s about time. Time Magazine also commented that China has been expanding its influence in the U.S. backyard for some time now. However, Nicaragua is still one of the very few countries that maintains an official relationship with Taiwan.

Source: Global Times, June 15, 2013

http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2013-06/4028674.html

Briefings | | June 18, 2013 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Established Office of Internet Affairs

Xinhua reported that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially announced at a recent press conference that the Ministry had created a new organizational unit called the Office of Internet Affairs. The new unit will be responsible for Internet-related foreign relations developments. At the press conference, the spokeswoman was asked about the latest evidence that demonstrated that the U.S. has been attacking the Chinese networks for many years. She suggested that China was one of the most attacked countries in the world and the Internet space does not need war and hegemony. The Ministry set up the new office to work with various parties to cooperate under the UN international framework and rules for Internet related matters. The spokeswoman also suggested that there is a working group under the China-U.S. Strategic Security Dialog Framework. China will continue to use that channel to work with the United States.

Source: Xinhua, June 15, 2013

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-06/15/c_116153301.htm

Briefings | | June 18, 2013 | Government/Politics

Blue Book of China Audio-Visual New Media: The New Media Are Taking Control

The research center of the State Administration of Radio Film and Television recently published the 2013 Annual Report on the Development of China’s Audio Visual New Media. According to the report, the new media have had a significant impact. Personal computers, flat panel computers, and smart phones have brought the number of households living in Beijing who watch TV down to 30 percent from 70 percent three years ago. The report said that the audience for traditional media has shifted towards the senior population. A majority of the audience that watches television is age 40 years and older. In the meantime, the number of online television and video users has gone up. The Internet has become a major venue for watching popular TV movie series.

The report also suggested that, as the traditional media are losing their young audiences, their advertising market is shrinking as well. From 2007 to 2012, online advertising grew 120 percent for three straight years, significantly surpassing the increase in the television market.

It was reported that the annual income of the online video industry was 3.14 billion yuan (US$0.51 billion) in 2010, 6.27 billion (US$1.02 billion) in 2011 and 9.25 billion (US$1.51 billion) in 2012. The public opinion monitoring room of People’s Daily disclosed that the official media had 80 percent of the discourse rights in the 1980’s while non-official media gained 75 percent of the discourse rights on the top 20 popular social events in 2012.

Source: Xinhua, June 16, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/info/2013-06/16/c_132458593_8.htm

Briefings | | June 17, 2013 | Information/Technology

Li Keqiang Introduced Ten Air Pollution Prevention Measures and Promoted Photovoltaic Industry

On June 14, China’s new Premier, Li Keqiang, hosted the State Council meeting where he introduced plans for ten air pollution prevention measures and promoted the development of the photovoltaic industry.

The ten measures for preventing air pollution included, but were not limited to: limiting air pollution emissions; limiting production and growth of industries that consume high energy and create pollution; actively promoting “clean” manufacturing while reducing pollution emissions for key industries by 30 percent or more; increasing the usage of natural gas and coal methanol in order to speed up adjustments in the energy structure; strictly enforcing clean energy guidelines; and promoting incentives on projects to save energy. … The Council also stated that the photovoltaic industry is an important field for new energy development, although it is suffering from weak demand in both the domestic and international markets. The council called for efforts to strengthen the photovoltaic industry and promote product innovation and development to regain the photovoltaic market.

Source: Xinhua, June 14, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-06/14/c_116152393.htm

Briefings | | June 17, 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.