Chinascope – Page 910

Disposable Personal Income Lagged Behind GDP Growth

On October 31, 2012, Securities Times published a report on the National Bureau of Statistics of China’s recently released statistics on China’s revenues. According to the statistics, during the 10 years from 2002 to 2011, the personal disposable income of urban residents increased 1.8 times. In the same period, national fiscal revenue increased 4.5 times and domestic GDP went up 3.6 times. “This wide gap shows that during the past 10 years, most of the newly created wealth was distributed outside the reach of China’s residents. Considering the multiple of 4.5 times in the increase in fiscal revenue, it can be said that the government received a much larger share of the benefits than ordinary residents. In fact, on average, urban residents’ income increased by 10 percent per annum, while fiscal revenue went up by as much as 20 percent per annum.”

Source: Securities Times, October 31, 2012
http://news.stcn.com/content/2012-10/31/content_7280245.htm

Briefings | | November 9, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Hu Jintao: Corruption May Lead to Collapse of the Party

In his opening remarks at the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, Hu Jintao acknowledged that corruption presents a serious challenge to the Communist Party. He stated, “If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the Party and even lead to the collapse of the Party and the fall of the State.” He added that those who break the law will be brought to justice, "whoever they are and whatever power or official positions they have."

Hu emphasised, "[We] should ensure that the Party always remains a strong core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Source: Xinhua, November 8, 2012
http://china.huanqiu.com/politics/2012-11/3257281.html

Briefings | | November 9, 2012 | Government/Politics

China Radio International Launches Cairo Studio

On November 7, 2012, China Radio International (CRI), the PRC’s external propaganda broadcaster, held an inauguration ceremony for its Cairo studio in the Egyptian capital. The studio was set up in early October of 2012. It produces 16.5 hours of programming each week, broadcast by FM stations in Mauritania for the Arab countries. Its ten programs in the Arabic language consist mostly of interviews and discussions about cultural topics.

According to the director of CRI’s Middle East branch, all of the staff members at the studio are recruited locally. “By using the language style and means of communication that the audience in Arab countries can easily accept, they are introducing China’s history, culture, achievements, and ideologies to the Arab audience.”

As part of the task of producing programs tailored to local tastes, CRI has thus far commissioned the establishment of nearly 20 overseas program studios in major cities overseas.

Source: Xinhua, November 7, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-11/07/c_123927002.htm

Briefings | | November 8, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Bo Xilai Scandal – A Very Profound Lesson

Cai Mingzhao, the spokesman for the 18th National Communist Party Congress, said that the Chinese Communist Party has learned a “very profound lesson” from the Bo Xilai scandal. “What happened with regard to Bo Xilai, Liu Zhijun, and others involves serious cases of corruption among senior Party leaders. The lesson is very profound. … The Party Central Committee and the State Council attaches great importance to honest government and anti-corruption work. They have consistently stressed the point that, regardless of who the offenders are and how high their rank, as long as they engage in corruption, [they will] resolutely investigate and pull no punches. The handling of the Bo Xilai and Liu Zhijun investigations has fully demonstrated the strong determination and attitude of our Party with respect to building a clean government and combating corruption.”

[Editor’s Note: On October 26, China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced that Bo was placed under investigation for suspected crimes. Under Chinese law, China’s Supreme People’s Court will be the court that tries Bo Xilai, meaning there will be no appeal.]

Source: The Communist Party of China website, November 7, 2012
http://cpc.people.com.cn/18/n/2012/1107/c350840-19522246.html

Briefings | | November 8, 2012 | Government/Politics

Huanqiu Article Comments on the Real Intention of the U.S. over the Diaoyu Islands Conflict

Huanqiu (The Global Times), which is under the auspices of People’s Daily) published an opinion article that stated that the U.S. is using the conflict between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands in an attempt to control both countries. The article said, “The Japanese right-wing, the government of Japan, and the United States are playing a three-way game in the Diaoyu Islands crisis; each of them plays a different role. The purpose is to provoke China and disrupt China’s peaceful development. Currently, the Japanese right-wing and the Japanese government have both appeared on the stage. How is the United States going to play it? So far, the U.S.’s stated position is unexpected, but it reflects the real purpose of the United States. The U.S. will not act as the mediator of the Sino-Japanese dispute and will maintain a neutral stance. In fact, the United States hopes to see China and Japan maintain a certain level of confrontation, consume each other’s energy, and contain each other. If China and Japan were friendly to each other, the United States would be very unhappy. If China and Japan are in conflict, it will, apparently, be more favorable to the United States.”

Source: Huanqiu, November 5, 2011

http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2012-11/3245593.html

Briefings | | November 8, 2012 | US-China Relations

People’s Daily: China Must Increase Its Political Power

On October 20, 2012, People’s Daily published an article titled, “The Political Attraction of China’s Rise.” According to the article, “China’s ultimate goal is to rise as a world power, leading human civilization into a new realm. To reach this goal, however, the accumulation of economic power and military force is not enough. China must increase its political power.” The political power here refers to “democracy with Chinese characteristics,” which “has absorbed both Marxism and liberal democratic values.”

Source: People’s Daily, October 20, 2012
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmlt/html/2012-10/20/content_1131718.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | November 7, 2012 | Government/Politics

Mao Omitted from Hu Jintao’s Instructions on the Political Development of the Army’s Ideology

On November 1, 2012, Qiushi, a journal of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, published an article titled, “Scientific Guide to the Political Development of the Army’s Ideology in the New Situation.” The subtitle of the article is the statement, “Study Chairman Hu Jintao’s Important Instructions on the Political Development of the Army’s Ideology.” The majority of the content of the article is nearly the same as similar articles published in the past few years, such as “unswervingly adhere to the party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces.” The big difference, however, is the omission of Mao’s name, ideas, and teaching.

Source: Qiushi, November 1, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2012/201221/201210/t20121030_190237.htm

Briefings | | November 7, 2012 | Defense/Military

Beijing Mobilizes 1.4 Million Volunteers to Maintain Stability for the 18th Party Congress

On November 1, 2012, Oriental Daily published an article titled, “(Beijing) Mobilizes 1.4 Million Volunteers to Maintain Stability for the 18th Party Congress.” According to the article, 1.4 million volunteers have been placed in charge of checking IDs, Internet control, and other stability maintenance work. Police officers patrol Tiananmen Square and thoroughly examining people’s ID cards. Last Monday, the Beijing Armed Police Corps that is responsible for the 18th Party Congress had a swearing-in ceremony. It had armored vehicles and other heavy equipment on display.

Kitchen knives are being sold only to those who are willing to register with their real names. Some supermarkets even refuse to sell kitchen knives. The window handles of Beijing taxi vehicles have been removed to prevent passengers from opening the windows to distribute protest flyers. All travelers who take high-speed rail trains, regular trains, or long-distance buses must open their luggage for examination. The name on the ticket must be same as the name on the ticket holders’ ID.

Source: Oriental Daily, November 1, 2012
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/china_world/20121101/00178_001.html

Briefings | | November 7, 2012 | Government/Politics

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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

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