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China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

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Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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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: Ceremony to Sign the Military Agreement between Japan and South Korea Cancelled

On June 29, 2012, Xinhua reported that the Japanese government approved an intelligence-sharing agreement with South Korea. This is the first military agreement between these two countries since World War II. However, the South Korean government cancelled the ceremony scheduled for the same afternoon due to high pressure from both the ruling party and the opposition parties. Pressure also came from the United States, who already had a similar agreement with Japan. Earlier, the word “military” in the name of the agreement had been removed to ease the pressure. Apparently the wording change was not enough to alleviate the doubts in the minds of South Korean voters who have a strong opinion about territorial disputes with Japan. Also, a large number of South Korean citizens still remember Japan’s past occupation of Korea.
Source: Xinhua, June 29, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-06/30/c_123351185.htm
Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Xinhua: Guangzhou Limits the Number of New Car Registrations

On June 30, 2012, Xinhua reported that the government of the city of Guangzhou (the capital of Guangdong Province) initiated new limits on the number of cars that could be registered. The city government announced at around 9:00 pm that the new policy would become effective in just 3 hours. The policy imposed a monthly quota on new car registrations. The purpose of the new policy is to control the city’s growing problems of traffic jams and air pollution. The quota is expected to have a significant impact on car sales in the local market. That same night, people formed long lines outside of many car dealerships waiting to buy cars before the new policy took effect. The government has not yet decided on the actual numbers for the quotas for the coming months. All car dealers immediately cancelled all promotions and discounts. Many local residents expressed concern about how the city government implemented this new policy. Most people who the media interviewed said hearings should be held before important decisions like this are made. Other large cities in China such as Beijing and Shanghai already have similar government imposed limitations for car registrations.
Source: Xinhua, June 30, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-07/02/c_123355140.htm
Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Retirement Age May Get Extended to 65

A forum was held in Beijing on the issues that China is facing regarding its aging population. Experts from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security suggested that the retirement age should be raised to 65. They recommended, in the meantime, to increase training and education so that seniors are prepared for the upcoming extension of the retirement age.

According to the second national census results, there are over 178 million people in China who are more than 60 years old, which equals 23.6 percent of the aging population of the world. However the working class population is expected to decrease from 970 million in 2010 to 870 million in 2050. It is also expected that, by 2030, there will be a labor shortage.

[Ed. Currently, the retirement age is 60 for men, 55 for female civil servants and 50 for other female workers.]

Source: Xinhua, July 2, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2012-07/02/c_123355141.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Xinhua: Maintain the Party’s Purity

Xinhua published a commentary on July 1, 2012, the 91st anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, calling for a sense of urgency in maintaining the Party’s purity at the current critical stage in order to sustain the Party’s leadership and authority as well as to gain support and trust from the people. It defined purity as "keeping the same level of understanding and actions as the Party; clean governance; as well as fighting against corruption.”

Source: Xinhua, July 1, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/comments/2012-07/01/c_112327382.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

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