Chinascope – Page 901

Xinhua: Non-Party Organizations Applaud Key Messages from Hu’s Recent Speech

On July 23, 2012, Hu Jintao gave a speech at an event held for provincial department level leaders. Xinhua carried an article reporting on the feedback that the democratic parties and members of non-party organizations in China gave after studying the key messages in the speech. The article asserted that those organizations put their trust in Hu’s leadership in leading the Chinese people to overcome both the serious challenges they face and the complicated and ever changing international environment. The article also reported that these organizations applauded Hu’s direction on walking the socialist development path with Chinese characteristics and the scientific development concept and vowed to be united around the leadership head of the Chinese Communist Party.

Source: Xinhua, July 28, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-07/28/c_112557822.htm

Briefings | | July 30, 2012 | Government/Politics

RFA: Communist Party Branches in Foreign Enterprises – A New Trend

China Economic Weekly carried an article that was originally from a People’s Daily news report. The report stated that it has become a trend for Communist Party branches to establish themselves in foreign investment enterprises in China. It started with the establishment of a Party branch in Wal-Mart in 2006. After that, more and more foreign enterprises have embraced the trend. Radio Free Asia interviewed Tang Jitian, a lawyer in Beijing on his reaction to the article.

According to Tang Jitian, on the one hand, this is a natural reaction for the Party; it is trying to exercise a tighter grip as it is losing control of society. On the other hand, for foreign companies to allow the establishment of Party branches within the company shows that they have chosen to compromise and give in to the hidden rules because they want to survive in China. “… once these foreign companies get deeply involved in doing business in China, they soon realize that, on the surface, they are dealing with some administrative or legal entities. However, the entity that has the real power and is in control is the Party, especially key personnel as well as different Party organizations.”

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 17, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/sd-07172012182534.html

Briefings | | July 30, 2012 | Government/Politics

Hu Jintao: the Party Faces Unprecedented Challenges

On July 23, 2012, Hu Jintao spoke at the opening of a special symposium held for provincial Party leaders. The entire Politburo, including all nine members, attended the opening. In his remarks, Hu stated, “We face unprecedented opportunities as well as unprecedented challenges.” He further indicated that there have been great changes within the Party. “The external risks are unprecedented.” There are many urgent problems that need to be solved.

Source: Xinhua, July 23, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2012-07/23/c_123457270.htm

Briefings | | July 27, 2012 | Government/Politics

Wife of Bo Xilai Charged with Heywood Murder

On July 26, 2012, Xinhua reported that the Hefei Municipal Procuratorate (the state prosecutor’s office) in Anhui Province charged Gu Kailai, the wife of Politburo member Bo Xilai, along with a family aide named Zhang, with intentional homicide in the case of the deceased British businessman, Neil Heywood. The two were charged at the Hefei Intermediate People’s Court after “prosecutors interrogated them and spoke to their defense team.” Xinhua stated that the investigation showed that Gu and Zhang poisoned Heywood due to a business conflict between Gu and Heywood that also involved Gu’s son. Gu believed Heywood was threatening her son. "The facts of the two defendants’ crime are clear and the evidence is irrefutable and substantial. Therefore, the two defendants should be charged with intentional homicide and held accountable for their criminal liability."

Source: Xinhua, July 26, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2012-07/26/c_112544655.htm

Briefings | | July 27, 2012 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: Sansha City Is Not a Flower Trellis on Show for the Philippines and Vietnam

Huanqiu, a publication under Xinhua, published a commentary on the Philippines and Vietnam’s protests following the inaugural ceremony for Sansha City, Hainan Province. The commentary observed that Chinese media essentially ignored the two countries’ protests. The Chinese mentality, in general, is "I will enjoy going my own way no matter what you do or feel.”

The commentary stated, “[China as] a big country should act as such. There is no need to practice verbal sparring with the Philippines and Vietnam. Action is our real language. What China’s position on the South China Sea means and how the Philippines and Vietnam should deal with China in the South China Sea should all be understood from our actions, in addition to what we tell them.”

“The Philippines and Vietnam’s responses are not worthy of our real-time tracking. If they have a general knowledge of what’s going on, that is sufficient. Sansha City should seek its own development, becoming a real prefectural city, not a flower trellis that is on show for the Philippines and Vietnam."

“Regarding the friction and conflict in East Asia as well as in the world, China should also gradually change from asking others what to do to actively taking the initiative on our own. That way, we would not have much of a burden and would be much more relaxed.”

Source: Huanqiu, July 25, 2012.
http://world.huanqiu.com/observation/2012-07/2947155.html

Briefings | | July 27, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Beijing Police Chief: Strike Hard against Online Political Rumors and Attacks on the Current Regime

Between the end of July and August 31, 2012, Beijing City will launch a summer Internet environment remediation campaign. According to Fu Zhenghua, the head of Beijing’s Public Security Bureau, actions involving use of the Internet to traffic prohibited goods, to manufacture and spread political rumors, and to attack the Party and government leaders as well as the current regime will be subject to a harsh crackdown.

The police force has set up Internet law enforcement accounts at 239 major Beijing based websites. Reportedly, 3,916 web related violations have been uncovered and 5,007 suspects have been arrested. Fu also emphasized that websites that regularly disseminate harmful information will be put on a “black list,” and that 110 reporting icons (phone numbers for reporting to the police) should be set up on major microblogging sites,

Source: Jinghua Daily, reprinted on Xinhua, July 26, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2012-07/26/c_123469957.htm

Briefings | | July 26, 2012 | Information/Technology

China Formally Establishes Sansha City on Yongxing Island of Xisha, Hainan Province

On July 24, 2012, an inaugural ceremony was held for the opening of Sansha City. The ceremony took place on the Island of Yongxing, one of the Xisha Islands (called the Paracel Islands in Vietnam), Hainan Province. Sansha officially became China’s 285th prefectural level city, the southernmost tip prefectural city with the least population, the least land area, and the largest total area under its jurisdiction.

Hainan Provincial Party Secretary Luo Baoming spoke at the ceremony, saying that the CPC Central Committee and State Council’s decision to establish Shansha City was to carry out the administration, development, and protection of the Xisha Islands, the Dongsha Islands (also called the Pratas Islands in Taiwan), and the Nansha Islands (also called the Spratly Islands); and strive to make Sansha City an important base for maintaining South China Sea sovereignty and resource development services.

Source: People’s Daily, July 25, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/n/2012/0725/c1001-18590367.html

Briefings | | July 26, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Huanqiu: What Has Obama Done in Asia?

Huanqiu published a commentary on Obama’s activities in Asia over the past four years. It stated that, in less than three years, the U.S. has completed the initial phase of the formulation, promotion, and implementation of transferring its strategic priority to Asia and the Pacific region. The commentary contends, however, that such a move has destabilized the region. “The Obama administration has implemented a two-faced policy of exchanges and cooperation, along with deterrence and containment.” It has carried out “frequent military moves in order to quickly restrain China. The U.S. politicians have politicized trade disputes and those pertaining to cultural exchanges. Political biases in the U.S. have entangled or destroyed potential opportunities for cooperation.” The commentary further cited examples of the U.S. activities that have had a destabilizing effect, such as “sowing discord and forming gangs” among Asian countries and increasing the U.S. military presence in Australia.

Source: Huanqiu, July 24, 2012
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/1152/2012-07/2944180.html

Briefings | | July 26, 2012 | US-China Relations

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