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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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Commentary: Maintain Courage and Confidence in Marxism When facing Major Challenges

Xinhua carried an article originally published by China Youth Daily calling for courage and confidence in Marxism when facing major challenges. According to the article, China is at a critical stage where it faces risks and challenges in its growth opportunities. Therefore courage and confidence in Marxism are the key factors that will determine whether China can succeed in the next ten years. The article suggested maintaining the state of being clearheaded and firm in Marxism as well as a need for a change in style by combining practical experience with Marxist theory. It stated that China can’t afford empty talk, surface changes, or delays on this issue.

Source: Xinhua, July 2, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-07/02/c_123355298.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Cancer Village in Shaoyang: Over 30 Died of Cancer in 10 Years

Yuxi is a small village from She-tian-qiao Town of Shaodong County. It used to be famous for the high quality of its chestnuts and radishes. Now no one wants the chestnuts and radishes from Yuxi. Since 2003 more than 30 people from Yuxi have died from cancer. Previously, cancer was very rare in the village. The villagers believe that this change started when the Xinlong glassworks factory moved to the village.

A reporter observed that the factory was near the village’s farmland. Almost everything within eyesight was contaminated by the pollution from waste water having a dark-black color. Villagers told reporters that, after Xinlong built the factories, highly polluted sewage water was discharged into the river almost every day.

Since 2007, the villagers have been collecting a lot of evidence that Xinlong glassworks illegally discharged sewage. They reported the discharge to the environmental protection department, but never got a reply.

Villagers went to the Shaodong EPA to appeal. Wang Xiran, head of Shaodong EPA, told them, “Xinlong glass factory does have pollution, but with the tens of millions they produce each year, it is not something we can close just because we want to."

Source: Xinhua, June 28, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-06/28/c_123342343.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

State Security Arrested Taiwan Resident

On June 18, Chinese State Security Authorities detained a Taiwan businessman, Mr. Zhong Dingbang, who was on a three day trip visiting relatives in southern China. Zhong was detained at the airport when returning to Taiwan. His family in Taiwan later learned that the Chinese authorities had taken him to "help with the investigation of Falun Gong." On June 27, citing state security sources, Xinhua reported that Zhong had been placed under residential surveillance on suspicion of disrupting the broadcast of state television, thus threatening state security.

While the details were unclear as to what Zhong allegedly did, New Tang Dynasty TV (NTD) reported that Zhong was a Falun Gong practitioner. "NTD has reported on successful attempts of Falun Gong practitioners in China tapping into state-run television signals to broadcast information about the CCP’s persecution of the spiritual practice. Those involved were usually hunted down. Many have since died from torture and abuse in prison."

Sources:
Radio Free Asia, June 27, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/al-06272012102321.html
Xinhua, June 26, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2012-06/26/c_112295175.htm
New Tang Dynasty TV, June 28, 2012
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/news_china/2012-06-27/faced-with-oppression-is-it-right-to-break-the-law-.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

China Academy of Science Found Misusing Rearch Funds

In 2011, the Institute of the state owned China Academy of Science (CAS) distributed morale and welfare benefits to employees using program funds in an amount totaling almost 100 million yuan. Liu Jiayi, Auditor General of the National Audit Office of China, indicated that, in 2011, nine CAS institutes were found to have engaged in such practices, including the following institutes:

The Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research: 25.68 million yuan
The Institute of Zoology: 20.06 million yuan
The National Space Science Center: 17.07 million yuan
The Institute of Biophysics: 12.78 million yuan (from 2009 to 2011)
The Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science: 8.4 million yuan
The Institute of Electronics: 7.3 million yuan
The Institute of Psychology: 1.8 million yuan

Source: China Business, June 28, 2012
http://www.cb.com.cn/1634427/20120628/390263.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Another Round of Training for New Grassroots Police Chiefs

Starting from June 26, 2012, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) launched a training session for the country’s 1,400 city and county level public security bureau chiefs, some some of whom are newly-appointed. According to the website of MPS, one of the goals of the training is to “accomplish the task of safeguarding the eighteenth National Congress of Chinese Communist Party.”

Since 2009, MPS has conducted trainings in Beijing for more than 3,000 county-level and 500 city-level public security bureau chiefs, nearly 1,000 of the CCP’s heads of Discipline Inspection and heads of Political Departments in provincial and city level public security authorities, 1,500 who are in leadership positions in charge of intelligence, law enforcement standardization, and community relations, and 6,000 grassroots policemen. The Ministry also made arrangements for provincial level public security authorities to train 70,000 grassroots police officials on a rotational basis.

Source: Website of the Ministry of Public Security, June 28, 2012
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1237/n1342/n803715/3312623.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Chinese Army Will Explore Maintaining a Military Presence in Sansha City in the South China Sea

On June 28, 2012, the Ministry of Defense held a press conference at which their spokesperson, Geng Yansheng, announced that the State Council approved the establishment of Sansha City, a prefectural level city in Hainan Province, as a location where the Chinese Army may place a local military command. [Editor’s note: Sansha City is located in the South China Sea and is the southernmost city in China’s geographic location. The territory under its jurisdiction includes the islands and sea areas of the Xisha Islands, the Dongsha Islands, and the Nansha Islands.]

Source: People’s Daily, June 28, 2012
http://military.people.com.cn/n/2012/0628/c115150-18403372.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Auditor General: Major Corruption Found among High-ranking Officials

On June 27, 2012, Liu Jiayi, Auditor General of the National Audit Office of China, delivered the 2011 audit report to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. According to Liu, as a result of the audit, his office referred 112 cases involving major violations of the law and economic crimes to the relevant departments for investigation and prosecution. These cases have implicated more than 300 people. Forty three (38%) of the cases referred involved heads of government departments who abused their official power for personal gain.

Xinhua reported the news stating the audit report indicated that corruption is rampant among high levels of government officials.

Source: Xinhua, June 27, 2012
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2012-06/27/c_112303856.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Why Don’t the Chinese People Feel Satisfied with Life?

On June 16, 2012, Capital University of Economics and Business and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences jointly released their report on the results of a survey conducted in 35 cities on Chinese people’s satisfaction with the quality of life. According to the survey, the (subjective) satisfaction index was 50.88, just having reached the minimum level of satisfaction.

“The loss of morality results in the family’s instability. The decline in social trust means no one will help a fallen senior or a child in danger. Corruption and bribery lead to poor quality buildings everywhere. Greed and a lack of supervision have contributed to food safety problems everywhere. Selfishness and blind short-sightedness have created a deteriorating environment. The lack of faith and the loss of any sense of community contribute to a feeling of anxiety across the whole country. More and more Chinese people feel worried. Facing such an aimless society, which we cannot rely on spiritually, a sense of security brought by the social and economic development has vanished. How can we talk about happiness?”

Source: China Review News, June 18, 2012
http://www.zhgpl.com/doc/1021/4/4/7/102144732.html?coluid=73&kindid=7151&docid=102144732

Briefings | | |   Grapevine