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

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

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Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

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The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.

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Qiushi: Improve How Mainstream Media Guide Public Opinion

The September 11 issue of Qiushi Journal, a bi-weekly magazine published by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, included an article that discussed how state-controlled mainstream media can enhance their ability to manipulate public opinion. The background of the discussion is that unexpected social emergency situations are popping up more frequently across the country. The author offered his ideas on three areas for improvement: (1) The media need to improve their ability to predict upcoming potential problems. (2) The media need to improve coordination among news agencies and coordination with the involved government branches. (3) In an emergency, the media should not only communicate the government’s opinion to the general public; whenever the people express opinions that can help ease the situation, they should reflect those opinions as well. The author expressed the belief that state-owned mainstream media should play a better role in guiding public opinion.
Source: Qiushi Journal, September 11, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/wz/cmyl/201209/t20120911_180742.htm
Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China’s Gini Coefficient Reached 0.438 in 2010

Last Friday, September 14, 2012, the International Institute for Urban Development released the “Blue Book on China’s Social Management.” According to the Blue Book, the income disparity between the rich and poor in China continues to widen. China’s Gini coefficient hit 0.438, which is above the 0.4 United Nations warning level. (The UN usually draws the line for alarm at 0.4. Above that number indicates a high potential for social instability.) The figure went from 0.275 in the 1980s to 0.438 at the end of 2010 and will likely rise further.

The Blue Book cited statistics showing that urban residents’ income is three times that of rural residents. Within the same industry, the highest salary is 15 times that of the lowest salary. The income of senior management at companies whose stock is listed on stock exchanges is 18 times that of frontline employees. The salary of senior management at state-owned enterprises is 128 times that of the average salary of people in society. In 2007, the top 10 percent of the population received incomes that were 23 times those of the lowest 10 percent, an increase from the 7.3 times that was reported in 1988.

(Editor’s note: Radio Free Asia reported in January 2012 that the National Bureau of Statistics stated China’s Gini Coefficient for the year 2010 was “a little higher than it was for the year 2000.”)

Sources: Beijing News reprinted at sina.com, September 15, 2012
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2012-09-15/021925177383.shtml
RFA, January 9, 2012
http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/4218/109/

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Blue Book on the Priority of China’s Reforms

According to the “Blue Book on China’s Social Management,” which the International Institute for Urban Development released on Friday, September 14, 2012, the priority of China’s reform should be to develop five elements that are missing in Chinese society.

First, to develop the missing middle class. “The direction of social and even political reform” should be to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. 

Second, to develop the non-government sector of society. Currently without a sector of society that is outside of the government, every reform and innovation has resulted in the expansion of government agencies, which in turn has led to growth in the power of the government. Thus there is no buffer against social unrest.

Third, to develop mechanisms that are missing in the system. Mismanagement is rooted in a lack of appropriate mechanisms, including an effective mechanism that allows people to seek relief from government abuse.

Fourth, to develop the faith that is missing in society. What is prevalent is that people have lost their values, have low or little morality, and lack self-discipline. “When one does not believe in the government, law, faith and moral values, the only thing left in his spiritual pillar is violence. This is the primary root cause of the frequent violence in the current society.”

Fifth, to develop the missing authority. The traditional governance structure is disintegrating and the new one has yet to be established. One innovation needed in social management is to push the government from being a “development-oriented government” to a “service-oriented government.”

Source: China News Service reprinted by People’s Daily, September 14, 2012 
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2012/0914/c70731-19013702.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xu Caihou: Strengthen the PLA’s Ideology Education and Always Maintain Military Readiness

On September 13, 2012, Xu Caihou, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, spoke to the PLA stationed in Shan Xi Province. Xu reiterated the importance of strengthening the PLA’s political ideology education and asked the PLA to further study the key messages from Hu Jintao’s speech delivered on July 23, 2012, and to carry through on a number of on-going educational campaigns in order to maintain the army’s firm political stance and unity as well as the ability to complete its assigned missions.

Xu also emphasized that the PLA should firmly follow the Party’s direction, maintain absolute loyalty to the Party, and closely monitor the current political environment. He advised that the PLA should constantly improve its combat ability with the assistance of modern technology and information while always maintaining military readiness.

Source: Xinhua, September 13, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-09/13/c_113071694.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

The Dark Side of China’s State-Run Sports Engine

[Editor’s Note: China put on a great show and won many medals at the London Olympics. What may not be well known to Westerners, or even to many Chinese is that a large number of Chinese athletes have experienced or are likely to experience dark endings. The tragedies we know about may just be the tip of the iceberg in the Chinese state-run sports engine. An article by Internet author Zhao Zhongkang, published by Radio France International (RFI), relates the experiences of many of China’s most successful athletes. The following is a translation of an excerpt from that article.] [1]

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Reports | | |   Report

Top Ten Challenges the Communist Party Faces

The State’s Xinhua Wenzhai published an article that discussed the internal and external challenges that the Communist Party faces as the ruling party in China. The top 10 challenges are in the following areas: wavering on the basic Party line; diluting the party’s ideology; an incomplete democratic system within the Party; an excessive concentration of power; slackness and a lack of will; complacency and incompetence; deviating from the Party’s mission and rampant bureaucracy; ignoring social justice and shaking the foundation of the Party’s governance; corruption and abuse; the formation of vested interest groups within the Party; and Westernization and ignoring the Western hostile forces efforts.

Source: Xinhua Wenzhai, reprinted at People’s Daily, August 30, 2012
http://theory.people.com.cn/n/2012/0830/c40531-18872226.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Military Professor Discusses Chinese Army’s Stance on Japan’s “Purchase of Diaoyu Islands

Through Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng, the Chinese army expressed its opposition to and protest against Japan’s "purchase" of the Diaoyu (Senkaku) islands. Geng stated, “The Chinese military is watching the developments closely and reserves the right to take corresponding measures.”

How to interpret the stance of the Chinese military? Where are Sino-Japanese relations headed? Rear Admiral Zhang Zhaozhong, a Professor from National Defense University, answered these questions in an interview with a Xinhua reporter.

Zhang said that the spokesman’s statement made two points: “One is that the Chinese PLA has the ability to defend China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The second is that China reserves the right to use this ability.” As for the military drills, Zhang explained, “They are routine drills planned from the previous year, but because they are conducted at this special time, they can have the effect of causing fear.”

Source: Xinhua, September 12, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2012-09/12/c_123707856.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

People’s Daily: China Must Use a Firm Hand in Dealing with Japan

People’s Daily (overseas edition) published an article titled, "China Must Use a Firm Hand in Dealing with Japan." The article was a commentary on Japan’s purchase of the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands in order to nationalize the islands. It said that by doing so, Japan made two fatal mistakes: The first was misjudging the determination and resolve of China to safeguard its sovereignty and territory. “(China will not maintain peace) at the cost of losing its sovereignty and territory. On this issue, we will not give in even an inch.” The second was assuming that the United States will sacrifice its own interests just to benefit Japan. “Japan believes that it is an important foothold for the U.S. to return to Asia and has the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan in its hand as an imperial sword. It is attempting to kidnap the United States on the issue of the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands.”

The commentary concluded, “The dispute about sovereignty over the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands is a long-term contest of national will, and cannot be resolved overnight. However, if we cannot smash Japan now, the East Asian region will suffer very serious consequences.”

Source: People’s Daily (overseas edition) reprinted by Xinhua, September 12, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/comments/2012-09/12/c_113045028.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend