Chinascope – Page 892

State Media: The U.S. Is Fanning the Flames in the South China Sea

The state media, the International Herald Leader, published a commentary in response to a statement that the U.S. State Department issued on August 3, 2012, regarding the South China Sea. The commentary accused the U.S. of attempting to sow discord in the region. “We are clear that the U.S. statement on the South China Sea sends out two messages: The first is to tell the Philippines and Vietnam that the U.S. is their back up and that they should not be afraid of confronting China; the second is to tell the ASEAN countries that, on the South China Sea issue, the U.S. has publicly come forward to speak out for them and that these countries should not hesitate; they should join together to face China without any fears or concerns about China."

The commentary further stated that the U.S. will very likely issue threats specific to those companies that may be interested in submitting bids to the state’s China National Petroleum Corporation for exploration in the South China Sea.

Source: International Herald Leader, August 17, 2012
http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2012/0816/79199.shtml

Briefings | | August 23, 2012 | US-China Relations

China’s Rural Resident Income Gap Is Approaching the International Warning Standard

People’s Daily published an article on the “Chinese Farmers’ Economic Status Report” that The Center for Chinese Rural Studies at Central China Normal University (CCRS) recently released. According to the report, the gini coefficient of China’s rural resident income gap is 0.3949, which is close to 0.4, the international warning standard. A major factor that caused the widening income gap among farmers is their wages, which account for 70% of their per capita income. “The income gap among rural residents represents the gap between workers and peasants and between urban and rural areas."

Source: People’s Daily, August 22, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/n/2012/0822/c1001-18798331.html

Briefings | | August 22, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Major General Luo Yuan: Make the Diaoyu Islands a Target Range and Launch a People’s War on the Sea

On August 21, 2012, Global Times published an article regarding the Diaoyu Islands dispute between China and Japan, titled “Luo Yuan: Make the Diaoyu Islands a Target Range and Launch a People’s War on the Sea.” Luo Yuan is deputy secretary general of the China Society of Military Science and one of the most "hawkish" generals in China.

In the article, Luo recommended, “China should make a big deal of the Diaoyu Islands issue. We should clarify our national maritime strategy; establish a National Oceanic Commission; fight a guerrilla war on the sea; launch a people’s war on the sea; engage in group collaboration to protect the Diaoyu Islands; and keep the Japanese exhausted.”

Source: Huanqiu, the Chinese version of Global Times, August 21, 2012
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2012-08/3048388.html

Briefings | | August 22, 2012 | Grapevine

Meng Jianzhu: Public Security Police Must Be Firm in Following the Correct Political Direction

On August 21, 2012, Meng Jianzhu, the State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, met with the delegates who attended a National Public Security Guards conference in Beijing. Meng stressed that all levels of the public security forces and the vast majority of officers and soldiers must always be firm in following the correct political direction. “Be guards forever loyal to the Party and the people and use solid work performance to greet the opening of the Chinese Communist Party’s (the CCP’s) 18th National Congress.

Source: China Review News, August 21, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1022/0/8/2/102208260.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=102208260&mdate=0821202323

Briefings | | August 22, 2012 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: U.S. Drought May Trigger Global Food Crisis

Xinhua recently reported the news that G20 is planning a conference on August 27, 2012, to discuss a potential global food crisis. The report mentioned that the U.S. drought this year covers twice the area of the 2008 drought. According to the U.S. Department of Agricultural, this year’s drought is the largest since 1956. Around 2000 counties in more than 30 states have suffered serious drought. This will have a major impact on U.S. corn exports, which represent 39% of the global trade volume in corn. In addition, the official U.S. food reserve level recorded a sharp decline. Since the United States is a large food exporter, this year’s drought may trigger a global food crisis. This has already been reflected in the Chicago futures market.

Source: Xinhua, August 19, 2012

http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-08/19/c_112769623.htm

Briefings | | August 21, 2012 | Economy/Resources

IHL: Chinese Global Firms Try Unusual PR Techniques

The International Herald Leader (IHL), a branch of Xinhua News, published an article discussing some recent public relations moves by a few of China’s global firms. These companies have been hiring former U.S. government officials to play key roles in their firms. One example is Huawei, a large communications equipment vendor. It is widely known for its Chinese military background. Huawei recently hired Donald Andy Purdy, a former Homeland Security Department official, as its chief security officer. Another example is a large Chinese online B2B vendor, Alibaba. It hired James Mendenhall, the former General Counsel to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Mr. Mendenhall will be representing Chinese companies in their intellectual property negotiations against the United States. The report also gave other “unusual” PR examples that happened in Australia and Chile. Although this type of approach is not popular among Chinese companies, more and more global Chinese firms are exploring the technique.

Source: International Herald Leader, August 2, 2012

http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2012/0802/69350.shtml

Briefings | | August 21, 2012 | US-China Relations

CRN: While State-Owned Companies Suffer Big Losses, Management Pay Remains the Same

China Review News (CRN) recently reported on the labor cost control issue in companies that the central government owns. Since the beginning of this year, these large companies have suffered major financial losses in the market. Meanwhile, between January and June, state-owned companies faced cost increases of 12.8%. The issue of the cost of labor has become a big headache. From central government officials to average workers, all are complaining about the fact that the management staff of these large companies still receives the same high pay, regardless of the performance of the business. Across the board labor cost control policies are being implemented in state-owned companies as an answer to the decline in sales that taking place everywhere.

Source: China Review News, August 17, 2012

http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1022/0/3/8/102203827.html?coluid=10&kindid=253&docid=102203827&mdate=0817093146

Briefings | | August 21, 2012 | Economy/Resources

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