Skip to content

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

Read More ...

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

Read More ...

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

Read More ...

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

Read More ...

China: Nuclear Test Had no Impact on China’s Environment and Public Health

China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said on February 14, 2013, that, as of February 13, 2013, at 10 a.m. and based on data it has collected, the radiation level was normal in Beijing, Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, and other cities in China.

The Ministry said, "North Korea’s third nuclear test has not had any impact on our nation’s environment and our people’s health. No artificial nuclear radiation from the nuclear test has been detected within our borders." According to the Ministry, data from 25 monitoring stations and 12 mobile locations in the northeastern border region (close to North Korea) showed that radiation levels were normal and within the daily average. The Ministry stated, “If any radiation had been released, it would have moved toward the southeast; as of today, it has not had any impact on China.”

Source: The Ministry of Environmental Protection, reprinted by Huanqiu, February 14, 2013 http://world.huanqiu.com/regions/2013-02/3639513.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Has Improved Its Ability to Handle Aircraft Emergencies

On February 11, 2013, China Review News reprinted an article from the People’s Liberation Army publication, PLA Daily, about the improved ability to handle aircraft emergencies.

Beijing Relay Transmission of the Spatial Information Technology Research Center has announced that its tracking and data relay satellite system has achieved global network operation. Compared to the last Chinese New Year, personnel on duty have been reduced from 22 to 7 persons, even though more satellites need to be monitored. With the use of the new “satellite fault diagnosis expert system” software and the comprehensive display software, the tracking and data relay satellite is under surveillance for 24 hours uninterrupted. The emergency response time has been reduced by 28 minutes.

Source: China Review News, February 11, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/3/6/6/102436685.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=102436685&mdate=0211184017

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

The Chinese Navy May Start Sea Mine Warfare in the East or South China Sea

On February 9, 2013, China Review News republished an article originally from the World Journal (www.worldjournal.com) titled “The PLA Lays Sea Mines Three-dimensionally in Four Approaches; Locking Japan in Is as Easy as Turning over the Palm.” According to the article, with the possible escalation of the confrontation over the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku Islands in Japan) and Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal in the Philippines), the Chinese navy may start sea mine warfare in the East China Sea or the South China Sea.

At the end of January, China Navy (http://navy.81.cn/), a PLA official website, revealed that a submarine detachment from the South China Sea fleet held a drill on placing sea mines to block water passages. Once a war breaks out, the Chinese Navy can lay sea mines quickly and secretly using submarines. The powerful “Sea Mines Field” would be able to surround American and Japanese warships within a certain area. The Chinese Navy will then severely attack American and Japanese warships with multiple anti-ship missiles from a shore base and an air base.

Source: China Review News, February 9, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/3/4/9/102434990.html?coluid=4&kindid=16&docid=102434990&mdate=0209010718

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Huanqiu: No Big War Will Break Out over the Diaoyu Islands Dispute

On February 8, 2013, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an editorial on the possibility of a war between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands dispute (known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan). According to the article, neither China nor Japan is willing to get involved in a major war, yet both countries want to display their strength and determination, hoping the other will retreat at a critical moment.

“It is almost certain that a full-scale war will not break out between China and Japan. However, no one can estimate to what level it may advance and what damage it may cause once the two countries start to fire at each other. The dispute over the Diaoyu Islands between China and Japan has actually become a contest of wills.”

Source: Huanqiu, February 8, 2013
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2013-02/3630648.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

CRN: Safety of Food Supply Calls for New Strategy

China Review News (CRN) recently published an article discussing the growing risk of managing the availability of food. China’s food self-sufficiency rate has been on a continuous decline. Chinese Customs has provided statistics which show that, in 2012, China’s food imports increased by 25 percent over the year 2011. Imported food now constitutes almost 14 percent of all of China’s food supply. In 2012, China’s food importing demands accounted for 20 percent of the global food exporting market. This means any fluctuation in the international food market will have a major impact on China’s food supply. China is currently the second largest food buyer in the world (after Japan). The article suggested that China must have a significant policy focus as well as implementation on domestic agricultural development. In the meantime, China should invest internationally to secure food supply sources on a nation-to-nation level. Lastly, the author called for serious action to be taken on activities that waste food, such as having no control over public funds spent on meals. 
Source: China Review News, February 8, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/3/3/9/102433990.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102433990&mdate=0208072923
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

CRN: Capital Market Firewall Required for RMB Internationalization

China Review News (CRN) recently published an article discussing risks and risk remediation of the internationalization of the Chinese currency, the RMB. The article expressed the belief that, if the RMB is to compete head-to-head against the US Dollar and the Euro, then opening up capital accounts for free exchange will be required. However, without proper protection, that openness may result in a major disastrous outcome. The article focused on three primary risk areas as well as their “firewall policies”: (1) A complete market based floating exchange rate is required for full internationalization and a corresponding rate fluctuation risk control must be in place. (2) Free capital inflow may cause a major domestic financial bubble in areas such as the housing market. Comprehensive administrative and tax policies can help. (3) A free currency market may allow a massive capital outflow like the one in the 1990s that triggered the Asian Financial Crisis. Action must be taken to increase the rate of return on investments. The article concluded by emphasizing the importance of firewall-building to improve the readiness for RMB internationalization. 
Source: China Review News, February 9, 2013
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1024/3/5/0/102435073.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102435073&mdate=0209074017
Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Japanese Embassy: Living in Beijing is Like Taking Part in an Experiment on Animals

People’s Daily recently reported that, on February 8, 2013, the Japanese Embassy held a discussion forum with the Japanese people who live in China. The forum focused on the topic of the recent widely discussed air pollution issue. The Embassy commented that people who currently live in Beijing feel as if they are part of an experiment on animals. Around 150 Japanese citizens attended the forum. Environmental specialists explained the negative impact of the PM2.5 pollution sources. They also conducted a demonstration of the use of masks. All attendees expressed deep concern regarding their own health. Many of them are seriously considering returning to Japan. Embassy medical officers at the forum provided medical advice. The Embassy also arranged display booths so that a number of air purifier vendors could provide information on their products.
Source: People’s Daily, February 8, 2013
http://gongyi.people.com.cn/n/2013/0208/c152509-20467590.html
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

An Estimated 80,000 Prayed at Yonghe Temple on the Chinese New Year

According to CCTV, an estimated 80,000 people went to Yonghe Temple, a Buddhist temple located in the northeastern part of Beijing, to burn incense and pray on Chinese New Year’s Day. According to People’s Daily, people have established a pattern of going to Yonghe to burn incense and say their prayers every Chinese New Year’s Day. Some of them even lined up overnight in front of the temple so they could be the first to burn the incense.

Due to the large number of incense-burners, the metro stop at the Yonghe Temple in Beijing was shut down. People had to walk an additional three kilometers to get to Yonghe Temple. By midnight on New Year’s eve, there were more than a thousand policemen on site. Each four of them stood hand in hand to form a “human wall divider” to cut the long lines of the crowd into small groups of about one hundred people each. There were about 10 meters distance between each of the “groups.”

Source: People’s Daily, February 11, 2013
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2013/0211/c70731-20478188.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability