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Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

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Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

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Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

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The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.

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Chinese Scholar on the China-Burma Relations amid the Political Reform in Burma

Iin a recent article, Du Jifeng, a scholar at the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, discussed China-Burma relations amid Burma’s political reform. Du expressed the belief that, although Burma is re-balancing the three-way relationship between China, the U.S., and Burma, China’s strategic importance to Burma in geopolitics, energy supply, and border security has not changed substantially. 

In the article Du said, “Since March 2011, Burma’s new government has completed the power transfer and has been working on political reform. At the same time, the government of Burma began to adjust its foreign policy. The bilateral relations between Burma and the U.S.-led Western countries has been warming up; high-level leaders have repeatedly visited each other. Western countries have canceled or loosened the 20 years of economic sanctions on Burma. Burma has also changed its once one-sided foreign policy toward China and rebalanced the triangular relationship with China and the United States.” 
“While Burma gradually becomes closer to the US-led Western countries, the bilateral relations between China and Burma have gone up and down on some specific matters. … Burma’s worry about the rapid rise of China is an important consideration in Burma’s adjustment of its diplomatic focus. Actually, in the history of their relations, Burma has always remained guarded toward China. The growth of China’s economic strength only resulted in Myanmar having more worries.” 
Regarding China-Burma relations under Burma’s new diplomatic policy, Du said, “The main purpose for Burma’s adjustment of its diplomatic focus is to implement a diverse diplomacy and avoid over-reliance on the Chinese economy. However, the strategic importance of China to Myanmar in geopolitics, border, and energy security has not changed substantively. At the same time, China has significant economic interests in Burma and therefore will not easily give Burma up.” 

Source: Sohu, April 2, 2013 
http://news.sohu.com/20130402/n371469340.shtml

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

The Zhu Ling Case: Beijing Police Cannot Remain Silent

Nanfang Dushi Bao (Southern Metropolis Daily) issued a commentary on the Zhu Ling case. In 1995 in Beijing, Zhu Ling was the victim of thallium poisoning and suffered serious neurological damage and permanent physical impairment. It is believed that the suspect’s family had a special relationship with Jiang Zeming and, as a result, the case remains unsolved.

The Nanfang commentary said that, as the Zhu Ling case has gone viral. Many people have sympathized with the victim, feeling both anger and sympathy: Zhu Ling’s case has now become the case of the century. “One cannot forgive the prolonged silence of the Beijing police. Obviously, silence is not golden, especially in the administration of justice.” By now, the Zhu Ling case is no longer is a simple poisoning case, forgotten in a drawer; it has become the case of the century. All people question what happened and even other countries support its resolution. The impact that it has generated is enough to swallow the suspect’s daily life, but China’s scarred judiciary has also been hit hard.”

[Editor’s note: A White House Petition on the whitehouse.gov website was created on May 3, 2013, demanding an investigation into the suspect, who is believed to be living in the U.S. under a different name. The number of signatures on the petition reached the 100,000 goal three days after it was created.]

Source: Nanfang Dushi Bao (Southern Metropolis Daily), May 7, 2013
http://epaper.oeeee.com/A/html/2013-05/07/content_1852417.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s Economy May Decline in the Fourth Quarter

Economic Information, a publication under Xinhua, published an article about the economic trends in 2013 by Li Zuojun, who is from the Resources and Environment Policy Institute at the State Council’s Development Research Center. Li predicted that, after the weak growth in the first three quarters, China would face a probable economic decline.

According to Li, some growth was the result of the following: the residual effect of the 2012 economic rebound, an increase of investors’ confidence as a result of the installation of new leadership, the new urbanization strategy, and the improvement of the international environment where the economic recovery of the United States, the stabilization of Europe, and the improvement of Japanese economy stimulated China’s exports.

The probable decline in the fourth quarter of 2012 will be caused by two factors. One, in May of last year, China adopted policies and measures aimed toward steady growth. Policies of this nature tend to bring growth for about one year. After October 2012, China’s economy rebounded. This will last no more than one year at the maximum. Two, there may be new macro adjustment policies implemented in the second or third quarters to contain the rebound of Gross Domestic Product, the Consumer Price Index, and the housing market. The economy will slide as a result.

Source: Economic Information, April 18, 2013
http://www.jjckb.cn/opinion/2013-04/18/content_440102.htm

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

BBC Chinese: EU Planning Punitive Tariffs against Chinese Photovoltaic Products

BBC Chinese recently reported that the European Union is preparing to impose punitive tariffs on photovoltaic products imported from China that are worth billions of dollars. It is widely expected that these trade protections will anger China. The EU is trying to protect key European vendors such as the German company SolarWorld. The Chinese government has already said that China will not remain quiet and have no reaction. The output of Chinese photovoltaic products quadrupled between 2009 and 2011. Products made in China currently occupy 80 percent of the EU market. The EU market is half the size of the global market, which is worth $77 billion. The EU Trade Commission is getting ready to implement the anti-dumping measures; it claims there is sufficient evidence to support this action. 
Source: BBC Chinese, May 3, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/world_outlook/2013/05/130503_eu_china_solar.shtml
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

RFA: Canada Attacked at UN Human Rights Forum

Radio Free Asia (RFA) recently reported that, at the United Nations Human Rights Forum, China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia attacked Canada’s human rights situation. North Korea expressed its “deep concern” about Canada’s continued violation of freedom of speech, torture, and racism. Iran accused the Canadian government of trafficking in children, of depriving children of their right to food, and of discriminating against Muslim, Arabic and African communities. The Chinese delegation was offended by Canada’s “widespread racism.” The Russian representative said that he was surprised by the violence that the Canadian police demonstrated. The Cuban government insisted that Canada suffers from serious xenophobia and racism. The Geneva-headquartered independent organization, UN Watch, described the UN Human Rights Forum as becoming a “wonder scene” of “hypocrisy and farce.” The Canadian government has already allowed the entry of three UN inspectors to check on Canada’s human rights record. 
Source: Radio Free Asia, May 2, 2013
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/to-05022013140905.html
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi:Sources of Risk for Internet-Based Public Opinion Emergency Events

Qiushi Journal, a bi-weekly magazine published by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, recently published an article discussing how to control online public opinion. Since 2012, China has had over 300 million users, making it the largest online microblogging country in the world. At the same time, the number of public opinion “emergency events” has increased significantly. The article suggested that control should be applied to the sources of the risk. The author summarized eight primary sources: (1) Events related to government official’s misconduct; (2) Events triggered by wealth gaps in society; (3) Events inflamed by abuse of police power; (4) Corruption; (5) Sex scandals; (6) Events involving violence; (7) Widespread counterfeiting; (8) Unfairness against vulnerable social groups. The article called for closer government monitoring of these sources in addition to technical methods such as keyword filtering.
Source: Qiushi Journal, May 2, 2013
http://www.qstheory.cn/sh/shjs/201305/t20130502_227206.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

RFA: Chinese Officials Collect Information on Religious Beliefs of Minorities in Xinjiang

The officials from Xinjiang Province sent a group of “stability work teams” to the villages in Xinjiang Province to collect information on the religious beliefs of minority families. According to an online Uighur website, the data collected in the town of Ke Shi Shu Fu suggested that people who hold religious beliefs were divided into various categories. Information was even collected about those who do not have religious beliefs but are knowledgeable about religion. The teams collected comprehensive documentation on the resident’s families and social circles.

The official statistics suggested that, by the end of 2009, there were 9.87 million people of the Uighur minority living in Xinjiang Province; a majority of them are of the Islam religion. There are many people from other minority groups, including Kazakstan, Hui People, Uzbek, Kirghiz, Tajikistan, and Tatar, who also follow the Islam religion.

Source: Radio Free Asia, May 2, 2013
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql1-05022013100025.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

BBC Chinese: Party Is Split Internally over Media Report on Labor Camp Torture Cases

BBC Chinese carried an analysis of the recent media reports about the disclosure of the incidents of torture at Masajia Labor Camp. The article suggested that there was an internal split among the party leadership about the labor camp system and about Falun Gong issues and that the differences among the leadership will cause this forbidden topic to become known to the outside world.

According to the analysis, after Len’s Magazine‘s breakthrough in reporting on this sensitive subject, a few media and reporters openly challenged the notice banning the topic. The analysis stated, “All of those facts suggest that the views among the party’s senior leadership are split about both the labor camp system and about Falun Gong issues.” “Even though the article did not mention Falun Gong, a sensitive topic in China, many media, including Associated Press and the South China Morning Post, have noticed that the details about the torture revealed in the article were identical to the claims that Falun Gong adherents made 10 years ago.” The article concluded that torture cases have existed in China for at least a dozen years, but China’s media system has covered them up.

Len’s Magazine published the article “Stepping Out of Masanjia” on April 6. On April 9, the Central Propaganda Department issued a notice to quash the article. However China Woman Daily and Legal Daily continued to cover the topic including interviews of the main characters. On April 19, Liaoning Province made an official statement claiming that “distorted facts were found in ‘Stepping Out of Masanjia.’" Xinhua and Legal Daily followed up with the same type of articles. Yuan Ling, the author of “Stepping Out of Masanjia” issued a statement on his micro blog in Sina stating the article was written on a factual basis and requested an apology. Guangming Daily published a commentary calling for the application of legal measures to dig out the truth. It also noted that the article by Xinhua did not have an author. In Hong Kong on April 27, Du Bing, an independent filmmaker released a documentary movie called, Above the Ghosts’ Heads: The Women of Masanjia Labor Camp. Du told Apple Daily that the truth of the torture should be made known to people around the world.

Source: BBC Chinese, May 2, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/05/130502_ana_liaoning_masanjia.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics