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People’s Daily: What is the True Intent of Clinton’s Asian Visit?

People’s Daily published several articles on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Asian visit, that was due to take place from July 5 to 18, 2012, and cover 8 countries around China. “Looking at the itinerary, it appears that she will visit all of the countries that surround China. Such an itinerary is questionable. Is this a new trick for the United States to win over the small countries and to contain a large country?” On a follow-up commentary, People’s Daily stated that the United States should “exercise restraint over its impulse to preach democracy.” “The reality has demonstrated that it is precisely because some Asian countries copied the American democratic system that these countries now have serious problems, leading to slow development. Even today some of these countries have not yet recovered.”

Source: People’s Daily, July 12, 2012
http://world.people.com.cn/BIG5/n/2012/0712/c1002-18500638.html
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2012/0712/c1002-18498337.html

Sina.com Deleted Miniblog Account of the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai

Epoch Times reported that, in the morning on July 12, 2012, sina.com, a Chinese social media, removed the popular miniblog (weibo) account of the U.S. Consulate in Shangahi. A search by the Epoch Times staff of the weibo account at sina.com returned the following: “Search result cannot be displayed due to relevant law, regulations and policy.” Apparently the weibo account of the U.S. Consulate spokesperson was also deleted. Searches for “U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong,” “U.S. Embassy in China,” “Embassy in China,” and "Embassy” at sina weibo returned errors saying the search results could not be displayed.

Sources:
Epoch Times, July 12, 2012
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/12/7/12/n3634182.htm
http://t.qq.com/USConsulateShanghai

People’s Daily: Washington Should Restrain Its Impulse to Preach about Democracy

China’s state-run media hit back at U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the comments she made calling for greater democracy in Asia. The official People’s Daily ran an editorial, “Washington Should Restrain Its Impulse to Preach about Democracy.” The editorial stated:

“Who gave the Americans the position to comment on democracy in Asia in such an arrogant manner? Americans may not want to dwell on this issue and may even think that this is a question that should not be asked. It is precisely the illusion on this issue that may lead to the failure of the U.S. strategy of ‘returning to Asia.’”

“Some of the U.S.’s recent practices were apparently designed to prove the legitimacy of its dominant position in Asia. Engaging in military exercises and increasing its troops stationed in the region were to shape its role as security provider; holding the banner of ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’ was to maintain its so-called moral leadership.”

“However, the more the U.S. cannot wait to do this, the more it can be seen that the U.S. is worried about losing something in Asia. There are two issues that caused Washington not to understand the reason why the U.S. feels it has alienated Asia and needs to ‘return’: on the one hand, in a relative sense, the U.S. has reduced its investment in this region; on the other hand, the region’s political and economic structure has undergone significant changes, so the position of the U.S. will be different.”

“If the U.S. moves against the general trend of cooperation in Asia, if it always shows up acting the role of preacher, if it always condescends to find fault with democracy in Asia and even wants to form a ‘team’ to contain the development of China, it will ultimately become marginalized.”

Source: People’s Daily, July 12, 2012
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2012-07/12/nw.D110000renmrb_20120712_1-03.htm

China Faces an Irreversible Population Crisis

On July 10, 2012, Wang Feng, the Director of the Brookings-Tsinghua Center, spoke at the 2012 Future China Global Forum that was held in Singapore. At the forum, Wang stated that China is trapped in a severe, irreversible demographic crisis.

According to Wang, the current ratio between the number of working-age people (age 20 to 59) and older people (60 and over) is 5:1. Wang predicted that the ratio will fall to 2:1 by 2030. More and more elderly families will have only one child. This will not only impact the labor market; it also will also have a political impact. It will require institutional innovation. Wang observed that, although investment in large projects and in infrastructure may bring short term results, the more important and urgent need is for improvements in public health-care and the social security system and for pressing ahead with institutional reform.

Source: Caixin, July 10, 2012
http://economy.caixin.com/2012-07-10/100409420.html

Qiushi: Six Challenges to the Development of China’s Ideology

Qiushi published an article that discussed the importance of ideology in the international contest. The article stated, “Firmly controlling a nation’s ideological position is not only its core national interest, but is also an important bargaining chip in the international contest. Today’s world has left ‘the era of violence and money control’ and ‘nuclear bombs and rockets’ have moved to the back of the stage. Competing for ‘soft power,’ including the right to determine what language is spoken, controlling the Internet, issuing information, establishing the rules, and leading the cultural trend, have become the focus of competition for comprehensive national strength. In this ‘war without smoke,’ between all participating countries and based on international and domestic pressure, China has gained the forefront in the ideology struggle. China’s ideological development faces many challenges. The article listed the following challenges:

1. The culture infiltration of Western hostile forces threatens the security of China’s ideology. 2. Different thoughts interfere with the recognition of China’s mainstream ideology. 3. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc have weakened the belief in China’s mainstream ideology. 4. Development and modernization as the main theme and goal have diluted the confrontation among different ideologies. 5. Multi-value oriented development has impacted China’s mainstream ideology. 6. Information being networked is challenging the ability to control ideology.

Source: Qiushi, July issue, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/zz/zgtsshzyll/201207/t20120705_168290.htm

Newly Appointed Police Chiefs Receive Training on Maintaining Stability

Newly appointed police chiefs from county and city-level public security bureaus nationwide are receiving training in how to improve their law enforcement capabilities and how to maintaining stability locally.

The Ministry of Public Security is holding the training seminars in Beijing from June 26 until July 31, 2012. The seminars will train 1,400 local police chiefs who were appointed after 2010. This is the third year, the first and second being 2009 and 2010, that the ministry has run these seminars. More than 1,400 new grass-roots police chiefs were trained in the first two years.

Resource:  China Review News, July 9, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1021/6/2/3/102162338.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=102162338&mdate=0709085529

China Review News: After 30 Years of Rapid Growth, China Faces an Economic Correction

China’s rapid economic growth has relied on the low cost of capital, the low cost of labor, and low environmental costs. However, the “three low economic costs” no longer exist in China. It is difficult to manipulate the financial market to maintain the low cost of capital. Labor costs are increasing. Former Foxconn employees’ continuously committing suicide is an extreme reaction to employees long working hours and low pay. The demand for environmental protection is now high across the country. The protest in Shifang is the most recent example.

From 2007 to 2011, one quarter of China’s GDP came from net exportation, real estate development, and the automotive industry. However, in 2012, due to internal and external factors, net exportation, real estate development, and the automotive industry are all slowing down. After nearly 30 years of rapid growth, China has to face a period of economic correction with low economic growth and welfare.

Source: China Review News, July 9, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1021/6/2/2/102162285.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102162285&mdate=0709071414

China Bans the Dissemination of Uncensored Online Videos and Micro-Films on the Internet

China’s State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) has issued new rules to ban the dissemination of uncensored online videos and micro-films on the Internet. According to the new rules: 1) Webmasters must be responsible for censoring all online videos and micro films before broadcasting any of them; 2) Associations of Internet audio-visual programs must self-regulate their work; 3) Government administrative departments have the authority to manage all Internet entities, including issuing permits to them or closing them down .

Source: China Review News, July 9, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1021/6/3/2/102163256.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=102163256&mdate=0709220610