On October 31, 2012, China’s second stealth jet fighter, the J-31, made its successful maiden flight. Commenting on the significance of the event, China’s aviation expert, Yongling Xu, said in an exclusive interview with a People’s Daily reporter, "China has narrowed the gap in the field of aviation technology between itself and foreign advanced countries to about 15 years. With the support of China’s strong national (financial) power, coupled with the ingenuity of the Chinese people, the day that China’s aviation industry catches up with the United States is just around the corner.”
China’s Fiscal Revenue Slows Down, with Non-tax Revenue Filling the Gap
The Ministry of Finance’s statistics show that the fiscal revenue for January-September was 9.1 trillion yuan (US$1.5 trillion), an increase of 892.5 billion (US$143 billion) or 10.9% over the same period last year and 18.6 percent points lower than the growth for the same period last year. The tax revenue was 7.7 trillion yuan (US$1.2 trillion), a year-over-year increase of 8.6 percent, down 18.8 percent from the same period last year.
According to an official from the Ministry, since the beginning of this year, due to the downward macroeconomic pressure, the local fiscal revenue growth turned weak. To compensate for the gap, non-tax revenues, or various types of fees, are becoming an increasing source of fiscal revenue.
For the first three quarters of 2012, the non-tax revenue in many provinces and cities has grown far more than the tax revenue. Tianjin saw an increase in non-tax revenue (54.75%) that was more than 40 percentage points higher than the increase in tax revenue (10.86%); Anhui’s non-tax revenue (52.1%) increased more than 30 percentage points more than tax revenue (15.3%); Guangdong had non-tax revenue (25.89%) growing higher than the tax revenue (8.15%) of nearly 18 percentage points. In some places, imposing fines has become an important part of the non-tax revenue.
Source: Nanfang Weekend, October 30, 2012
http://www.infzm.com/content/82459
China News Week: American Groups, in the China School Camp (Pro-China) or the Anti-China Camp?
China Newsweek published an article that categorized a handful of American organizations into one of two camps: the “China School (pro-China) camp” and the “anti-China camp.”
Wen Jiabao Requests Open Investigation on His Property and Assets to Prove His Innocence
On October 29, 2012, China Gate reprinted an article from Ming Pao (the original article cannot be found) titled “Wen Jiabao Sent a Letter to the CCP Central Committee Requesting an Open Investigation of His Property and Assets to Prove His Innocence.” Wen asked for the “immediate establishment of a specialized agency … to carry out a full and open investigation of the rumors of my corruption … by inviting both Chinese and foreign media representatives to participate in the investigation.” Mr. Wen said that he and his family members would “unconditionally and absolutely cooperate with an open investigation.” Mr. Wen also said that if an open investigation is not allowed, an independent investigation is welcome; if no investigation is allowed, he asked permission from the top CCP leadership to allow him to publicize his personal property and assets. Wen Jiabao has suggested many times that all the CCP and government officials should be open with the public about their property and assets. He said he was willing to be the first one to publicize his assets.
This is the fifth time Wen Jiabao formally wrote letter to the CCP top leadership requesting an independent investigation of himself and his family members. Although the CCP top leadership has never openly accepted Wen Jiabao’s request, an agency led by a high official has conducted several very strict investigations of the so-called Wen Jiabao family corruption case. No evidence of any corruption has been found.
Source: China Gate, October 29, 2012
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2012/10/29/2054108.html
Apple Daily: Wen Jiabao May Publicize His Family’s Assets
On October 28, 2012, China Gate reprinted an article from Apple Daily (the original article is only available to Apply Daily subscribers) titled “It is Said that Wen Jiabao Will Publicize His Family’s Property and Assets.” Recently, a New York Times article alleged that Wen’s relatives had illegally accumulated a fortune amounting to US$2.7 billion. Two lawyers responded on behalf of Wen’s family members and denied the allegations.
If Wen does make information about his family members’ property and assets available to the public, he will be the first CCP national level leader, since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, to dare to let the public know about his family’s assets. Such an action may cause a chain of reaction among the CCP leadership community. It is not known at this time whether Wen will receive his colleague’s consent to move forward.
Source: Apple Daily, October 28, 2012
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2012/10/28/2052290.html
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/international/art/20121028/18050776
Xi Jinping Admits that the Legitimacy of the CCP Ruling Position Is in Danger
On October 28, 2012, China Gate reprinted an article from Hong Kong’s Trends Magazine titled “Xi Jinping Admits, in a Secret Meeting, that the Crumbling Legitimacy of the CCP’s Governance Has Set off Alarm Bells.”
According to Hong Kong’s Trends Magazine, at a secret meeting, incoming CCP Chairman Xi Jinping again admitted that the CCP faces a fatal crisis. On September 26, 2012, at the 41st enlarged meeting of the 17th CCP Politiburo Standing Committee, Xi Jinping gave preparatory comments about the 18th National Congress and its agenda, putting forward 5 key issues. Xi asked, "Why is there so much tension between the people and the CCP?" and "Why is the people’s distrust of the Party growing?” He also pointed out that the CCP’s legitimacy in governance is crumbling, setting off alarm bells to all. In May, Xi Jinping talked about the collapse of the CCP. At that time, the Chinese Communist Party’s own investigation showed that 90% of the family members of CCP Central Committee Officials have emigrated overseas.
Source: China Gate, October 28, 2012
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2012/10/28/2051895.html