Chinascope – Page 848

Study Times: Standardize the Management of Internet Users and Guide Public Opinion

On June 10, 2013, Study Times, the publication of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CCP, published an article on Internet control. The article proposed to “standardize the management of Internet pubic opinion,” “cultivate mature Internet users,” and “develop platforms for dialogue between government officials and ordinary people.”

How to Handle Internet Management: 1) Filter out “negative” information. 2) Post the government authority’s information as much as possible and strengthen the journalists’ sense of self-discipline. 3) Train forum moderators, hosts, commentators, and public opinion managers to guide Internet discussions and to spread the government’s authoritative information at the appropriate times. 4) When accidents or tragedies occur, immediately express sympathy for the victims and report the details of the plans to help and the progress of those plans. Avoid using over-stimulating photos and words and get approval from the relevant officials before publishing anything. Train Internet Users: 1) Enhance Internet users’ ability to regulate themselves. 2) Strictly control the messages, enhance the self-regulation of the Internet media industry, and “purify the Internet communication channel." 3) Let Internet users realize that they should not focus on “swearing” at the government or at enterprises. Develop a Dialogue Between Government Officials and Ordinary People: 1) Reach a consensus by dispelling public anger. 2) Control the right to speak and guide public opinion. 3) Government officials should chat with the Internet users and improve their effectiveness in guiding public opinion. 4) Include Internet work in the system for evaluating government officials.

Source: Study Times, June 10, 2013
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2013/06/10/04/04_35.htm

Briefings | | June 12, 2013 | Information/Technology

Chinese Scholar in the U.K. Praises Xi Jinping’s 12-Word Strategy to Nail Down the U.S.

On June 10, 2013, China Gate and several other overseas Chinese websites in the U.S., Canada, and Australia published Shujie Yao’s article titled, “Xi Jinping’s Diplomatic Strategy to Deal with the U.S.: Using 12 Chinese Language Characters (3 four-character phrases) to ‘Nail down’ the United States.”

Shujie Yao, a Professor of Economics at the University of Nottingham in the UK, gave high praise to Xi Jingping for being smart in the way he obtained the 2-hour “intimate” meeting with U.S. President Obama on June 7, 2013. The 12 Words for the Diplomatic Strategy are: 1) Use the diplomacy of showing off his wife’s beauty; establish China’s first lady’s image. 2) Allow someone to be free so as to be successful in apprehending him later: ignore the U.S. in Xi’s first overseas trips for the purpose of winning U.S. attention. 3) Rescue the kingdom of Zhao by besieging the capital of the kingdom of Wei: To solve the problems in Asian Pacific areas, China must gain wide support from Africa, South Asia, Latin America, Russia, and other countries first. Then, China will have enough energy to negotiate effectively with the U.S. and with Eastern Asian countries.

[Editor’s note: The reference to Zhao is about a well-known Chinese stratagem to let the enemy fully commit himself against his prey, and then, instead of rushing to the rescue, attack the enemy’s dearest possessions.]

Source: China Gate, June 10, 2013
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2013/06/10/2446069.html
http://www.neixun.cn/sanshiliuji/sanshiliuji_yingwen_02.htm

Briefings | | June 12, 2013 | US-China Relations

China Prevents MasterCard from Handling RMB Transactions

Xinhua recently reported on a dispute between MasterCard and the Chinese authorities on the right to handle RMB transactions. The report is based on British media reports of a document that the Chinese central bank issued asking online payment platform EPayLinks to stop cooperating with MasterCard in conducting RMB business. About a year ago, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the Chinese government’s protection of the monopoly power of UnionPay, China’s bankcard association, in RMB credit card transactions broke the WTO agreement. Since that ruling, the Chinese central bank has not made any changes. It seems the Chinese authorities will continue to maintain a tough position on this matter. China is one of the fastest growing credit card markets in the world. China issued 46 million credit cards in 2012. According to MasterCard’s estimate, China will surpass the United States in 2020 to be the largest credit card market in the world. The Chinese RMB-based credit card monopoly, UnionPay, doubled its business volume over the past four years. EPayLinks argued in this new case that its business with MasterCard did not break any Chinese law since all operations are handled by the Hong Kong branch.

Source: Xinhua, June 3, 2013

http://finance.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2013/0603/219334.shtml

Briefings | | June 11, 2013 | Economy/Resources

Beijing News: China Started Trade Investigation of EU Wines

Beijing News recently reported that the Chinese Ministry of Commerce held a press conference on June 5, at which it announced the beginning of an anti-dumping and countervailing investigation of wines imported from the European Union (EU). The EU made a decision on June 4 to charge anti-dumping duties for photovoltaic solar products imported from China. The EU decision had a major impact on a trade volume of over US$20 billion. Several EU member countries voted against the EU decision but could not change the final outcome. The China-EU wine trade volume is relatively low (around US$1.04 billion). However this sector has enjoyed a rapid growth in the past several years. The wine industry in the EU has a long supply chain across the entire Union. Its export profit margin is much higher than that of the photovoltaic solar products. The Chinese investigation is especially damaging to wines from France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. There is still room for negotiation. The Chinese Fair Import/Export Trade Bureau insisted that the Chinese investigation has nothing to do with the EU decision on photovoltaic products. It is based solely on the requests that the the Chinese wine industry filed.

Source: Beijing News, June 6, 2013

http://epaper.bjnews.com.cn/html/2013-06/06/content_437684.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | June 11, 2013 | Economy/Resources

Global Times: Chinese Delegation Assesses Su-35 Fighter Jet

On June 6, Global Times reported that a Chinese delegation recently visited Moscow for a discussion with Russian arms export officials on negotiating the purchase of the latest Su-35 (Russian: Су-35, NATO: Flanker-E) fighter jet. The Russians agreed to present a demonstration to the Chinese delegation on June 5. The primary mission of the visit was to determine and assess the technical capabilities of the new multifunctional fighter jet. Business discussions were also planned. The two sides refused to reveal the number of jets included in the deal, but one Russian official hinted that it would be a “very sizable” number. Rumors are that the deal included at least 24 fighter jets. Russian government officials also confirmed that this will be a supply contract, not a manufacturing license. According to Russian media reports, the Chinese delegation gave high praise to the new jet model. “The political decision has already been made.” The deal is at the stage of negotiating payment schedules.

Source: Global Times, June 6, 2013

http://mil.huanqiu.com/paper/2013-06/4005371.html

Briefings | | June 11, 2013 | Defense/Military

Liu Yunshan: Cultural System Reform Urgently Needed

On June 8, Liu Yunshan, first Secretary of the Central Secretariat of the Party, visited several cultural renovation bases in Beijing, including the Design Resource Cooperative, which hosts over 30 cultural entities, Zhongguancun Science Park, and the Beijing Gehua CATV Network Company. Liu praised the cultural renovation work that the the municipality of Beijing had accomplished and stressed that a new mission and requirements have been laid out for cultural entities. He also stated that the reform of the cultural system is urgently needed in order to accomplish the goal of the “China Dream” ideology that Xi Jinping raised.

Source: People’s Daily, June 9, 2013
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2013/0609/c1024-21796196.html

Briefings | | June 10, 2013 | Government/Politics

Qiushi Theory Commentary: MultiûParty System Will Not Fix Corruption Issues

Qiushi Theory recently published a commentary intended to counter the opinions that “China’s one party rule is the root cause of the corruption problem” and that “Only a multi-party system can make clean governance a possibility.” The commentary stated that these opinions lack the support of historical evidence and theory. It listed a number of arguments and examples to support this claim. One was that the role of the party system represents the interests of various political groups and the system itself does not contain the ability to curb corruption. A multi-party system will not prevent corruption and the corruption in that system could be worse at times. Corruption exists in countries that have a multi-party system, while, at the same time, a country with one party rule can also bring clean governance. the commentary held that China’s system of one party rule offers the best advantage to solve the corruption issues.

Source: Qiushi Theory, June 8, 2013
http://www.qstheory.cn/dj/ffcl/201306/t20130608_238501.htm

Briefings | | June 10, 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.