A Xinhua article offered an interpretation of Japan’s aggressive actions on the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands issue, saying that Japan is acting in concert with the U.S. strategic plan to contain China. The article further explained, “From the perspective of the geo-military strategy, Japan is the most important partner in the United States’ return to Asia. The Diaoyu Islands issue is a chess piece in U.S. hands. Japan has an ulterior motive in its act to ‘nationalize’ the Diaoyu Islands. Its purpose is to test China’s reaction to Japan’s cooperation with the U.S. plan to return to Asia. For some time now, the United States, along with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and other countries has been holding frequent joint military exercises in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea, with the goal being to strengthen its strategic encirclement of China.”
BBC: China’s Economy Affects the Hurun Rich List
The Hurun Research Institute published China’s 1,000 Rich List for 2012. The shift in China’s economy has affected the list in that the super rich candidates from China showed a net decrease in assets.
In 2012, although 43 out of the top 100 candidates were from the real estate business, for the first time, the number of those who came from the manufacturing sector surpassed those in the real estate sector. Meanwhile, the threshold that delineated the top 1,000 was 1.8 billion yuan, down from 2 billion yuan the previous year. Of these, the number of candidates who held over 10 billion in asset totaled 120, down by seven from the prior year. Of the 1,000 candidates, the net assets of 469 of them decreased, with 37 of them showing a rate of decrease that was 50 percent or more. The professions that were most affected were in the solar energy, clothing, and retail sectors.
The list also showed that 157 or 15.3 percent of the candidates held political titles, including members of the National People’s Congress or the National Committee. Beijing is the city that had the most rich people, with Shanghai in second place and Shen Zheng in third place.
Source: BBC Chinese, September 25, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/chinese_news/2012/09/120925_china_richlist.shtml
Qiushi: Adhere to and Develop Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
On October 1, 2012, Qiushi, a journal of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, published an article titled, “Adhere to and Develop Socialism with Chinese Characteristics – Unswervingly Walk on the Right Path That the Party and the People Opened up in their Long-term Practice.” Using the economic growth over the past 30 years as evidence, the article said that the only correct path to achieve national prosperity and the people’s happiness and well-being is the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The article summarized Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao’s “achievements” in terms of the development of socialism. “It is the choice of history, the choice of the people, and the choice of the times for China to take the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
Source: Qiushi, October 1, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2012/201219/201209/t20120927_183958.htm
Military Professor: Corruption is the #1 Enemy of the People’s Liberation Army
On October 2, 2012, BBC Chinese published an article titled “Military Professor: Corruption is the #1 Enemy of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).” Professor Liu Mingfu of China’s National Defense University of the PLA, recently published his new book called “Why the PLA Will Win.” In the book, Liu pointed out, “The most dangerous and the #1 enemy of the PLA is corruption.” He said, “The anti-corruption forces are not as powerful as the forces of corruption. Those who are engaged in corruption have more energy than those who are against corruption. The corrupt officials have a greater chance of getting promoted.”
Source: BBC Chinese, October 2, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/chinese_news/2012/10/121002_china_army_corruption.shtml
Xinhua: Syria Accuses U.S. and Its Allies of Backing Terrorism
On October 2, 2012, Xinhua published an article titled “Syria Accuses the U.S. and Its Allies of Backing Terrorism.” According to the article, Walid Al-Moualem, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Syria, accused the United States, France, and their allies of clearly "using money, weapons, and foreign fighters to induce and support terrorism in Syria." Walid Al-Moualem made this statement on Monday, October 1, 2012, at the general debate during the 67th session of the UN General Assembly.
Walid Al-Moualem said, "Instead of seeking to contribute to the settlement of regional and international disputes by peaceful means, some well-known countries continue to deal with those crises by pursuing new colonial policies, based on political hypocrisy."
Source: Xinhua, October 2, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-10/02/c_123784213.htm