Chinascope – Page 949

Tourism Administration: Chinese Tourists in the Philippines are Returning Home

On May 13, 2012, China’s National Tourism Administration announced that, after the government released a travel safety advisory, Chinese tourist groups in the Philippines have been speeding up the process of returning home. According to the records of the Tourism Administration, there were 682 tourists in the Philippines on May 13, 2012, and there will be 211 people on May 14 and 15. Most of the Chinese travel agencies have stopped sending travel groups (to the Philippines) or have even stopped accepting applications. Tourist flights from major cities like Beijing and Shanghai to Boracay, Philippines have all been cancelled. Based on statistics, China is one of the Philippines major sources of tourism. It has more than 1 million Chinese visitors every year.

Source: Official Site of Chinese Central Government, May 13, 2012
http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2012-05/13/content_2136105.htm

Briefings | | May 15, 2012 | Defense/Military

Qiu Shi: The West Discredits Chinese State-Owned Enterprises

Qiu Shi, a magazine of the CCP Central Committee, published an article that accused the West of giving Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOE’s) a bad name. The article claimed that there has been a recent wave of propaganda in the West suggesting that the Chinese government subsidizes SOE’s. This practice introduces unfair competition into international trade and hurts China’s trading partners. However, the author attempted to justify the dominance of SOE’s in the key industries by referring to existence of SOE’s in the history of Western capitalism. The author expressed that the West just does not feel happy about the fact that some Chinese state-owned companies are too large and too successful for them to be able to compete. The article concluded that China should keep backing these companies.

Source: Qiu Shi, May 10, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/gj/gjsspl/201205/t20120510_156891.htm

Briefings | | May 15, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Beijing Daily: Raising High the Banner of Patriotism

Beijing has undergone great difficulty recently in the arena of morality as the Bo Xilai and Chen Guangcheng cases have publicly exposed both corruption and human rights violations. On May 11, 2012, Xinhua republished a Beijing Daily article, stating, “China’s development needs a ‘patriotic faction.’” It said that currently in China, patriotism has been criticized and ridiculed. China must form a common understanding at a high level that patriotism is a core value that all Chinese must defend.

The article expressed criticism because “some people are obsessed with ‘universal values’ and with being ‘world citizens,’ but they forget that, in the first place, they are Chinese. These people have sold their souls, forgotten their ancestors, and served as servants of the West.” “While these people are usually very corrupt inside, they promote moral standards. … On the Internet, they post many anti-China statements and cover it up with a high moral appeal. Some even use the format of cursing and spreading rumors, creating a very bad influence on others. … It has been proven that those who betray their country and sell out their country have no morals at all.”

Source: Xinhua, May 11, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-05/11/c_111928971_2.htm

Briefings | | May 14, 2012 | Government/Politics

Zhou Yongkang Attended the Xinjiang Electricity Delivery Project Opening Ceremony

Both Xinhua and People’s Daily reported that, on May 13, 2012, Zhou Yongkang attended the opening ceremony of the “Xinjiang Electricity Delivery” project at Bayinguoleng Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Zhou is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the head of the Political and Legal Committee. He is widely reported to have been closely connected with Bo Xilai.

The “Xinjiang Electricity Delivery” project starts from Hami, Xinjiang and ends at Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. When completed, it will deliver ten million kilowatts of electricity to Central China.

Source: Xinhua, May 13 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-05/13/c_123121768.htm
People’s Daily Online, May 14, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1024/17875535.html

Briefings | | May 14, 2012 | Government/Politics

Beijing Takes Tough Stance on Scarborough Shoal

After being enmeshed in the Bo Xilai incident and the Chen Guangcheng escape to the U.S. Embassy for a few months, last week, Beijing took a tougher stance against the Philippines on the issue of the sovereignty of Huangyan Island (known as the Scarborough Shoal internationally) in the South China Sea. Both China and the Philippines claim ownership of the area; in the past month, the tension between the two countries has been escalating, including the involvement of navy ships.

On May 7, Fu Ying, China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs called a meeting with Alex Chua, Charge D’affaires of the Philippine Embassy in China. Fu made a serious representation over the current situation at Huangyan Island. She stated that the Chinese side has made all necessary preparations to respond in case the Philippine side caused the situation to escalate.

On May 8, People’s Daily published a commentary titled “When it is intolerable, there is no need for restraint. China does not mind creating a Huangyan Island Model.” It stated, “When others challenge us, especially on matters related to territorial integrity, national dignity, and social stability, we must take action to destroy this ‘unhealthy trend’ and win ourselves a harmonious and stable environment.” “There is a limit to how much generosity we can demonstrate. When it’s intolerable, then there is no need for restraint.” “Facing this opponent, we have enough wisdom and also enough means to make it surrender without a war.” Though the article used the words, "make it surrender without a war," the entire tone of the article hinted at a direct confrontation with the Philippines.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, May 8, 2012
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx/t929748.htm
Peoples’ Daily, May 8, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/17829343.html

Briefings | | May 14, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

China’s Relies on Imports for over 56 Percent of Its Oil and Iron Ore

On May 10, 2011, China’s Ministry of Land and Resources issued the “2011 China’s Land and Resources Report.” The report revealed that China relies on imports for over 56 percent of all of the oil and iron ore it uses. The report stated, “In 2011, the total foreign trade in mineral products amounted to US$957.1 billion, which was a 34.3 percent increase over the previous year; imports increased 34.5, while exports increased 33.9 percent.”

Source: People’s Daily, May 10, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1027/17859378.html

Briefings | | May 11, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Minister of Civil Affairs: Human Rights NGOs Receive Equal Treatment

China’s State Council Information Office recently held a press conference on non-governmental organizations (NGOs, also called social organizations in China). Li Liguo, China’s Minister of Civil Affairs, who spoke at the press conference, stated that, when NGOS register directly with the government to obtain legal status, the authorities treat them all equally. “Social organizations under the categories of politics and human rights are treated equally for the purpose of registration. They are then reviewed in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations in terms of the preconditions for their establishment, the need for their establishment, the mission for their activities, and their impact on economic and social development.” Currently, as a prerequisite, before a social organization can register with the government, it must find a governmental body to oversee its activities. According to Li, in the second half of last year in some cities, public social organizations started to register directly with the government without having a governmental body to oversee them.

Source: Xinhua, May 8, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-05/08/c_123091679.htm

Briefings | | May 11, 2012 | Government/Politics

Huanqiu: A signal that All Foreign Correspondents in China Can Understand

Huanqiu published a commentary on the Qatar Television (the Al Jazeera TV Channel) shut down of the Beijing office for its English channel. Recently the Chinese authorities did not extend the visa for its correspondent, a Chinese American female, or allow a replacement. The Huanqiu reporter learned from foreign correspondents in Beijing that this Chinese American correspondent held “radical political views.” “The denial of her visa extension sent a signal to foreign correspondents in Beijing that those who have been stationed in Beijing for a long time should be able to understand. … If a foreign correspondent cannot manage to stay in China, we can only guess that she has probably gone too far. … We know that Chinese officials are increasingly active in their cooperation with foreign media. It is the foreign media that should take a more objective and balanced manner when dealing with China.” Finally the commentary suggested that the Qatar correspondent should reflect on what she has done in China.

(Editor’s note: According to the New York Times, it is surmised that Melissa Chan, the correspondent for Al-Jazeera, angered the Chinese by publishing a documentary on re-education through labor camps).

Sources: Huanqiu, May 9, 2012
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/1152/2012-05/2703047.html
New York Times, China Expels Al Jazeera Channel
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/world/asia/china-expels-al-jazeera-english-language-channel.html
Al-Jazeera, Slavery: A 21st Centry Evil"
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/slaverya21stcenturyevil/2011/10/2011101091153782814.html

Briefings | | May 11, 2012 | Government/Politics

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.