Chinascope – Page 875

Organ Harvesting in China: Supply and Demand

On October 24, 2012, Xinhua reprinted an article from another state media, China Youth Daily, which reported that the Guangzhou Military Command General Hospital has a computerized system that automatically matches and allocates organs to waiting patients. According to the article, “In this nationally connected system, a computer matches organs with patients waiting for a transplant without any human intervention.” The hospital is one of 160 involved in a pilot program for this system. On October 10, 2012, the Ministry of Health announced that it has formulated an interim guideline for obtaining and allocating organs, which will soon be released.

[Editor’s note: Such an effort by China’s Ministry of Health has been viewed as a response to mounting reports about forced organ harvesting in China in which the organs of prisoners of conscience, including Falun Gong practitioners, are placed on a list as being available on-demand for those waiting for a match. Two popular videos that have spread online about this matter can be found at http://youtu.be/P0GFXnco-LU; and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvAOOwvJMZs&feature=plcp]

Source: China Youth Daily reprinted by Xinhua, October 24, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/health/2012-10/24/c_123863531.htm

Briefings | | October 26, 2012 | Government/Politics

Ministry of Defense: Major Reshuffle of Military Leaders

On October 25, 2012, the Ministry of National Defense of China updated its official website with a significant reshuffle ahead of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party, which will be held on November 8, 2012. As part of the Central Military Commission, the leaders of all four major military organizations have changed as follows: Fang Fenghui, Chief of Staff of the General Staff Department; Zhang Yang, Director of the General Political Department; Zhao Keshi, Director of the General Logistics Department; and Zhang Youxia, Director of the General Armaments Department.

Source: Ministry of National Defense, October 25, 2012
http://www.mod.gov.cn/leader/index.htm

Briefings | | October 26, 2012 | Defense/Military

China Issued 2012 Energy Policy White Paper

On October 24, 2012, China’s State Council Information Office issued the “2012 Energy Policy White Paper.” The White Paper gave an overview of the current status of energy development, the challenges that China faces, and a road-map to develop a new type of energy, while promoting collaboration with other countries.

According to the White Paper, by 2015, China plans to increase non-fossil energy production to 11.4 percent of its total energy consumption. At the same time, it plans to reduce domestic energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 16 percent and 17 percent respectively compared to 2010. It will continue its energy reform by developing new energy and renewable energy sources. It also calls for collaboration from the countries around the world to promote sustainable energy and to protect the world energy market, while also ensuring price stability, safety, and a smooth supply chain system.

Source: Xinhua, October 24, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-10/24/c_113483986.htm

Briefings | | October 25, 2012 | Information/Technology

Xinhua: Over 83,000 Party Officials Return Illegally Obtained Money

On October 22, 2012, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), released information about officials who returned money they had previously obtained illegally. According to the release, the Party issued an anti-corruption guide in January 2010. Since that time, 83,195 Party officials voluntarily returned cash, securities, and bonds worth over 771 million yuan (about U.S.$123 million) to Party authorities. The release said that, in addition to the amount that was returned, the Party disciplinary commission also reported that it had confiscated 392 million yuan of illegal gains. During the same period of time, the Party’s disciplinary committee investigated and punished more than 3,500 Party officials in a bid to crack down on corruption inside the Party. Since January 2011, “more than 1 million government officials above division level reported their personal matters to higher authorities; of those, 100% of those at the mid-level of management reported personal matters.”

Source: Xinhua, October 23, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/yuqing/2012-10/23/c_123857808.htm

Briefings | | October 25, 2012 | Government/Politics

Three Gorges Dam Project Is an Unexploded Powder Keg

On October 19, 2012, China Gate reprinted an article from another source titled “The Truth is Getting Closer: The Three Gorges Dam Project Is an Unexploded Powder Keg.” The article gave a comprehensive description of the dangers related to the Three Gorges Dam Project. It also pointed out that the Three Gorges Project has not achieved flood control; nor has it produced the navigation benefits the State Council claimed it would. Its only achievement is power generation.

Source: China Gate, October 19, 2012
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2012/10/19/2040930.html

Briefings | | October 24, 2012 | Grapevine

Boxun: A CCP Official’s Story about Organ Harvesting in China

On July 27, 2012, Boxun published an article that a Discipline Inspection Cadre of the Chinese Communist Party had submitted. The CCP official wrote about how he had found out about the forced organ harvesting business in one small city in China. To his surprise, the entire court system in the city, including the court, prison, detention center and doctors were involved in harvesting organs from prisoners. In the end, the CCP Provincial Discipline Inspection Cadre decided to arrest the court president only, but let all the others who had been involved in the organ harvesting business go home without any punishment.

Source: Boxun, July 27, 2012
http://www.boxun.com/news/gb/yuanqing/2012/07/201207270511.shtml

Briefings | | October 24, 2012 | Government/Politics

The Chinese Communist Party to Amend Its Party Constitution at the 18th National Congress

On October 22, 2012, China Review News published an article saying that, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee held by Hu Jintao, the CCP plans to amend the Party Constitution at its 18th National Congress on Nov. 8, 2012.

The article did not say what the amendment to the Party Constitution will be. The issue of Mao Zedong’s thoughts was not mentioned in the article.

Source: China Review News, October 22, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1022/7/6/8/102276803.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=102276803&mdate=1022173247

Briefings | | October 24, 2012 | Government/Politics

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.

CCP, Master of Hostage Diplomacy