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China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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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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Mingpao: The CCP Central Committee Points out Problems with Ideology in Seven Different Areas

According to Mainland media reports, the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee recently issued a circular called “About the Current Ideological Situation.” The circular pointed out seven areas in which problems exist in the field of ideology. It requested that local governments have meetings about applying the contents of the circular in practice. Reports seem to confirm the truth of existing “rumors” that “Talk about Seven Topics Is Forbidden” in universities and colleges. Teachers cannot discuss the following seven topics with students: universal values, freedom of the press, civil society, citizen’s rights, the Chinese Communist Party’s historical errors, the Bourgeois elite, and judicial independence.

Source: Mingpao, May 14, 2013
http://premium.mingpao.com/cfm/mem_Login1.cfm?SuccessUrl=%2Fcfm%2FContent_News.cfm%3FChannel%3Dca%26Path%3D100853875143%2Fcab1.cfm
http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20130514/-9-2968267/1.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China’s New Ambassador to the United States Comments on China-U.S. Relations

Recently, Cui Tiankai, China’s new ambassador to the United States, gave an exclusive interview to Foreign Affairs magazine on the subject of China-U.S. relations. The U.S. Foreign Affairs magazine published the article on May 15, 2013. Then on May 20, 2003, China.com published an article about the interview. The title was “Cui Tiankai Ambassador: China Welcomes a Third Party to Mediate the Sino-Japanese Territorial Dispute.”

Cui Tiankai suggested that the United States not shift its military presence to the Asia Pacific area, warning the United States not to intervene in the Diaoyu Islands issue. According to Cui, China would welcome a third party to resolve the dispute between China and Japan under certain conditions. He stated that China has no intention of changing the existing international order but supports necessary reform of the international system. As for cyber security, Cui suggested that both the U.S. and China sit down and engage in constructive dialogues so as to avoid a recurrence of similar cyber attacks.

Source: China.com, May 20, 2013
http://news.china.com/zh_cn/dydzd/gdxw/11127676/20130520/17842566.html  
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/world/asia/china-suggests-us-is-stirring-tensions-in-asia.html?_r=0
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/discussions/interviews/beijings-brand-ambassador

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Guangzhou Refused to Release Details on Rice with Excess Cadmium

Xinhua recently reported that the Food and Drug Administrative Bureau of the City of Guangzhou refused to release information on the newly discovered rice products that have excess Cadmium pollution (two times higher than the maximum level allowed by the National Standard), as well as Aflatoxin B1 and Staphylococcus Aureus. Although the Bureau announced that it had found the pollutants it did not follow the process of releasing the brand names of the products and the names of the manufacturers, as required by law. The Bureau also did not describe the level of damage that it found the pollutants to have caused. The report questioned the motivation behind hiding these “secrets.” After heavy pressure from the media, the Bureau later released the names of the products and the manufacturers. However, it did not included any details as to whom the products were sold. Excessive Cadmium can cause serious damage to the kidneys and can remain in the human body for fifteen to twenty years. 
Source: Xinhua, May 20, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-05/20/c_124732888.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Global Times: China Builds BDStar Ground Stations in Pakistan

Global Times recently reported that the Beijing BDStar Navigation Technology Company is building ground stations in Pakistan to better support the BDStar (also known as Beidou) Satellite Navigation System. BDStar is the Chinese satellite global positioning system, intended as a competitor to the U.S. GPS system. The BDStar system has been adopted by Thailand, Laos, Brunei, and Myanmar. Pakistan will be the fifth country in Asia to adopt it. Pakistani military experts expressed the belief that the Chinese system will play a significant role in improving military navigation capabilities and missile accuracy. Nuclear deterrent capability enhancements and the new submarine positioning service are also in the plan. The BDStar is also expected to be implemented in civilian functions such as agriculture, aviation, transportation, and mapping, as well as disaster prevention and mitigation. Agreements for the wide deployment of the BDStar system are expected to be signed when China’s Premier visits Pakistan on May 22 and 23.
Source: Global Times, May 20, 2013
http://mil.huanqiu.com/paper/2013-05/3948748.html
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Li Keqiang: China and India Are Creating the World’s New Economic Engine

China News recently reported that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stated at a press conference in New Delhi that the rapid development of China and India is creating the new growth engine of the world. Li made the comment after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on May 20. This is the first time Li has visited a foreign country as the Chinese Premier; India was his first stop. The two leaders issued a joint statement confirming a wide range of areas of cooperation as well as a strategic consensus and mutual trust. The two parties recognized that mutual economic growth is a major opportunity and that a peaceful China-India relationship will be a “new bright spot” in Asia. The two nations also signed cooperation agreements during Li’s visit. The main areas covered included trade, agriculture, environmental protection, and local cultural exchanges. 
Source: China News, May 20, 2013
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/05-20/4837472.shtml
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Military Officer Luo Yuan Discusses U.S. Intentions on China

[Editor’s Note: Huanqiu (Global Times), a division of the People’s Daily, recently invited Major-General Luo Yuan to have a live discussion on the Internet with Huanqiu’s web audience .Luo is well-known as one of China’s Military Hawks because of his provocative hypernationalism. The discussion dealt with a number of issues. Below are a few of the questions and answers that focused on the Diaoyu Islands, on how the United States was using that issue to contain China, and on the issue of Internet Security.] [1]

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Reports | | |   Report

Energy Audit Found Mishandling of Project Funding Totalling 270 Million Yuan

On May 17, the State Audit Office published the results of an audit conducted from May to September 2012 on 1,139 energy projects. The projects, launched in 2010 and 2011, had the purpose of reducing energy consumption. The audit results showed that, out of the 1,139 projects, 44 projects, involving expenditures of 1.587 billion yuan (US$258 million), did not reach their goal of reducing energy consumption. The study also found that 270 million yuan (US$44 million) of project funding had been mishandled.

Source: Xinhua, May 17, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-05/17/c_115811024.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Supreme Court Sets New Daily Compensation Rate

According to the Supreme Court, Chinese citizens will now be entitled to 182.35 yuan (US$29.69) per day, the new daily compensation rate, if an entity infringes on their lawful rights and interests. The new standard was set to be effective on May 17, 2013. The rate was based the Bureau of Statistics annual report on the average annual income, which was reported for 2012 as being 47,593 yuan (US$7,749.81) with the daily rate at 182.35. It is up 19.7 yuan (US$3.21) from the rate in 2011.

According to the State Compensation Law, "If a state organ or a member of its personnel, when exercising functions and powers in violation of the law, infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of a citizen, legal person, or other organization and causes damage, the aggrieved person shall have the right to recover damages from the state in accordance with this Law."

Source: Xinhua, May 17, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2013-05/17/c_115813372.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics