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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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China Red Cross Withheld Aid from Distribution Because TV Reporters Were Not There Yet

On April 23, 2013, an article titled, “China Red Cross Withheld Rescue Aid from Distribution While Waiting for TV Reporters” was circulated on several Chinese websites. On April 20, 2013, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Ya’an City in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. There were more than 2,000 aftershocks. According to the information released by the Chinese authorities on April 20, 2013, 192 had died, 23 were missing and 11,470 were injured.  Nearly 2.2 million people were affected.

According to the China Forbidden News Blog, one microblogger who used the name “Mr. Long – Crowded Crazy Nest” angrily complained that the Sichuan Red Cross Department Head named Wang asked his staff members not to distribute any aid to the victims because TV reporters had not arrived there yet. 

Source: China Forbidden News and China News, April 22, 2013
http://zhongguojinwen.blogspot.com/2013/04/blog-post_125.html
http://bbs.chinanews.com/web/65/2013/0422/64012.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Five Reasons Why Chinese People Lack Confidence in the Future

According to an article in China Review News on April 23, 2013, resentment in China is increasing, which reflects people’s lack of confidence in the future. Below are the five reasons listed in the article:

  1. The government is moving forward (getting richer) while the Chinese people are moving backward (getting poorer);
  2. Home prices are rising too fast;
  3. The income gap is huge;
  4. Corruption is rampant;
  5. Environmental Pollution, such as smog, is no longer bearable.

Source: China Review News, April 23, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1025/1/2/2/102512201.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102512201&mdate=0423075236

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Head of “610 Office” Praised Labor Camps for Forced Transformation of Falun Gong Practitioners

On April 6, an article in Lens Magazine, known for its photography, detailed torture implements with names like the "Tiger Bench" and the "Death Bed" that were used against prisoners in the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp. It immediately triggered an online outcry from hundreds of thousands, furious at the authorities for what the article depicted. The piece was quickly deleted from web portals. The article mentioned that the tortures were initially implemented upon "special groups," while not specifying the name of the group. It’s widely believed that the group refers to Falun Gong, a meditation practice suppressed by the authorities since 1999. The following is an excerpt from one of the documents obtained by Chinascope, showing that the Party was advocating labor camps to transform Falun Gong practitioners.

On August 23, 2000, Li Lanqing, former vice premier of the State Council and head of the "610 Office" (the department in charge of handling the suppression of Falun Gong), sent a personal letter to the “Experience Exchange and Commendation Meeting of The Ministry of Justice on Education and Transforming Work (i.e., Brainwashing),” complimenting the labor camps for their excellent work in transforming Falun Gong practitioners. 

In the letter, Li said, “In the past year, the labor camps have done a lot of work in the struggle against ‘Falun Gong.’ [These camps] have punished those violators in accordance with the law and, at the same time, have done a lot of work in transforming these people. …” 
Li also said in his letter, “Reeducation through labor departments [labor camps] have a unique advantage in the transformation of those diehard ‘Falun Gong’ members and have played an important role in the struggle against ‘Falun Gong.’” 

 Source: Chinascope

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua: Housing Market Heading Up Despite Increased Government Control

Xinhua recently reported that, according to data just released by the National Bureau of Statistics, sixty-eight out of seventy major cities recorded an increase in housing prices during the month of March. This was especially true of large cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Just two months ago, the central government came up with the new “Five National Rules” which were considered very tough and were expected to be very “damaging” to the housing market. Experts expressed the belief that “concentrated demand” was the cause of the situation; buyers fear that new rules will make it harder to buy any real estate. Some suggested that, in this case, executive orders are not the best way to regulate the market. Others said that the long overdue real estate tax could have helped. The report also mentioned that a comprehensive market approach that considers all key factors, including currency flow, land pricing, and the supply-demand relationship, should be taken. 
Source: Xinhua, April 20, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-04/20/c_124605494.htm
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

MIIT: Five Categories of Apps Banned from Smart Phones

Xinhua recently reported that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced on its official website that five categories of software are not allowed to be preinstalled on any smartphone sold in China or connected to China’s networks. The five categories are: (1) Apps that collect or modify users’ personal information without permission; (2) Apps that quietly make use of the communication capabilities of the device, causing unauthorized traffic; (3) Apps that block normal use of the smartphone functions or network functions; (4) Apps providing information banned by the government; (5) Apps causing other damage related to information security and network security. The new rules are set to take effect on November 1, 2013. In addition to rolling out new rules, it is widely expected that, between April and December, the MIIT will launch a campaign against “junk text messaging.” 
Source: Xinhua, April 20, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/info/2013-04/20/c_132324341.htm
Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

CRN: Local Government Debt May Be over RMB 20 Trillion

China Review News (CRN) recently reported the news that both Moody’s and Fitch downgraded Chinese currency and bond ratings. The news caused widespread concern in the international market, particularly about the scale of the debts accrued by China’s local governments. According to China’s former Treasurery Minister, Xiang Huaicheng, at present, local government’s debts are estimated to be over RMB 20 trillion. However, government officials are downplaying the risk level of this debt. Some have suggested that the debt is mostly domestic – it will not directly impact the global market. Some have expressed the belief that “the government has not yet seen any extremely damaging situations.” However, the central government has been paying significant attention to local government debt. The State Council had a meeting on April 17, focusing on the risk control of the local debt issue. New administrative rules are being designed. The general approach for future risk management is to stop bank loans to local governments. Instead, local government bonds will be the primary borrowing channel, which will require a market orientation. 
Source: China Review News, April 19, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1025/0/8/1/102508157.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=102508157&mdate=0419094137
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Close to 60 Percent of Underground Water in 198 Regions Rated Poor

On April 20, 2013, the Ministry of Land and Resources issued the 2012 China Land and Resource Communique. It disclosed that close to 60 percent of China’s underground water was rated poor. Of the sites tested, 16.8 percent were found to have extremely poor water quality. The study was conducted by checking the underground water quality at 4,929 testing sites in 198 regions.

Source: Xinhua, April 20, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2013-04/20/c_115468685.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xi Jinping: Learn from Historical Experiences and Lessons

Xinhua reported that, on April 19, 2013, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee held its fifth group study session on the topic of “combat corruption and build a clean government.” Xi Jinping hosted the meeting. According to Xinhua, Xi stressed that the party needs to “pay attention to historical experiences and learn from historical lessons,” while improving the leadership skills of Party members so that the Party can maintain a strong core leadership in the current socialist development with Chinese characteristics.

Source: Xinhua, April 21, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2013-04/20/c_115468016.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics