Chinascope – Page 917

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 | | September 17, 2012 | 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 | | September 16, 2012 | 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 | | September 14, 2012 | 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 | | September 14, 2012 | 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 | | September 14, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Senior Party Official Re-appeared after 10 Days of Absence

People’s Daily reported that, on September 12, 2012, He Guoxiang, a Member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee and Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, visited four media companies. While there, he made remarks, emphasizing the need to study and implement Hu Jintao’s speech made earlier at a forum attended by provincial level Party officials. He also called for further strengthening and improvement of the anti-corruption campaign and training with the goal of creating a favorable environment for the opening of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party.

[Editor’s note: This was the first time in 10 days that He Guoxiang made a public appearance. Since Xi Jinping had not been seen in public since September 1, one of many rumors was that the two had been injured in an automobile accident.]

Source: People’s Daily, September 13, 2012
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2012-09/13/nw.D110000renmrb_20120913_9-01.htm?div=-1

Briefings | | September 13, 2012 | Government/Politics

Dispute between China and Japan over Diaoyu Islands Continues

Following the Japanese government’s sealing a deal to purchase the Diaoyu (called Senkaku in Japan) Islands from their private Japanese owners, the Chinese government took a series of counteractions to fight for sovereignty over the islands.

On September 11, 2012, China sent two ocean surveillance ships (No.46 and No.49) to the waters around the Diaoyu Islands and claimed to have implemented an action plan in case they need to protect the island’s sovereignty. [1]

Also on September 11, 2012, the Central Meteorological Observatory started to include the Diaoyu Islands and the surrounding waters in its weather forecast for domestic cities. [2] At the same time, China Central Television (CCTV) started to air the weather forecast for the Diaoyu Islands following CCTV’s daily news program. [3]

Sources: People’s Daily, September 11-12, 2012

[1] http://pic.people.com.cn/n/2012/0911/c1016-18976887.html

[2] http://world.people.com.cn/n/2012/0912/c1002-18983562.html

[3] http://pic.people.com.cn/n/2012/0912/c1016-18987178.html

Briefings | | September 13, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Circulating on the Internet: Five Secret Rules to Get Promoted in China’s Officialdom

An article titled “Five Secret Rules to Get Promoted in China’s Officialdom” has recently circulated widely on the Internet. Here are the key points of the five secret rules:

1) Brag and lie;
2) Develop a network of relationships;
3) Commit fraud;
4) Give many gifts;
5) Flatter the right people.

Source: China Gate, September 6, 2012
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2012/09/06/gossip-76411.html

Briefings | | September 12, 2012 | Grapevine

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

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

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