Chinascope – Page 953

Blind Dissident Chen Guangcheng Issues Statement through His Friend

Below is a latest statement that blind dissident Chen Guangcheng conveyed through his friend Guo Yushan. The statement was published through weibo.com in picture form and can be found on the overseas Chinese websites of epochtimes.com and boxun.com. The statement is based on the telephone conversation between the two which took place from 22:58 to 23:40 p.m. Beijing time on May 3. Guo Yushan rephrased the words and these are not Chen’s original words. Below is a translation of the statement.

1. Chen didn’t tell the media that he wanted to apply for political asylum in the United States. He only said that he wanted to go to the United States for a vacation for a couple of months (while the situation is dealt with). He received an invitation letter from New York University. As he is now free, he wants to travel to the U.S. for a period of time and then come back to China. Therefore, going to the U.S. has nothing to do with his changing his mind about seeking asylum. He appreciates the Sino-U.S. diplomatic efforts and understands the seriousness of the diplomacy between these two big countries. Since they reached an agreement they must have treated the issue very seriously.

2. He has never, directly or indirectly, criticized the U.S. embassy for “forcing” him or inducing him to leave the embassy. It was his own decision to leave the embassy. He appreciates the embassy’s help over the past week. He appreciates Secretary Hillary, Gary Locke, and other diplomats who have cared about and helped him. He never complained (about them), directly or indirectly.

3. On the first day of his being admitted to the hospital, something unpleasant indeed happened, causing him and his family inconvenience and suffering. Because of this, he was somewhat worried and nervous. Among all, he was particularly worried when he learned that the officials from his home Shandong had threatened his wife. He hopes that, with all the media attention from the world, the Chinese government will truly deal, based on the law, with the Shandong local officials’ different incidents of illegal persecution of himself and his family.

4. He appreciates the attention and concern that the media of the whole world has given him. He also hopes that the media can understand how complicated and delicate his situation is and have a complete understanding of how it is reflected in his expression and corresponding emotions. He hopes he will not bring trouble to all the friends who have helped him and are now helping him and cause any misunderstandings. For example, regarding the help U.S. Embassy has provided him, he never had any criticism; on the contrary, he has always been grateful.

Source: Epochtimes.com and Boxun.com, May 3, 2012
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/12/5/4/n3580826.htm陈光诚委托郭玉闪发表的最新声明

Briefings | | May 4, 2012 | Social Stability

PLA: Incomplete Loyalty is Disloyalty

The People’s Liberation Army Daily recently published a commentary entitled “Communists’ Loyalty Cannot Be Incomplete.” It warns that Communist Party members must be on guard against “incomplete loyalty.” The commentary states, “The so-called ‘incompletel loyalty’ is the state between loyalty and disloyalty. For instance, a person may look loyal, but at the critical moment, be wavering; loyal when things are in line with his own preferences but complaining when his desires are not met; asking others to be loyal but treating himself differently; pledging loyalty at meetings but doing things his own way after the meetings; loyal when supervised but unable to discipline himself when alone. Instances like these are totally inconsistent with the requirements of loyalty to the Party.”

The commentary further pointed out that Communist Party members or cadres who are in the state of incomplete loyalty are doomed to be defeated. “In this sense, ‘incomplete loyalty’ is disloyalty.”

Source: People’s Liberation Army Daily reprinted at the Communist Party of China Website, April 26, 2012 http://theory.people.com.cn/GB/49150/17753358.html

Briefings | | May 4, 2012 | Defense/Military

Sina Weibo Removes U.S. Embassy Photos of Chen Guangcheng

According to a report by the Central News Agency (CNA) in Taiwan, the photos that the U.S. Embassy in Beijing posted showing Chen Guangcheng leaving the U.S. Embassy were removed shortly after they were posted on the Embassy’s official sina weibo (sina microblog), a popular Chinese blog website similar to twitter and facebook.

The U.S. Embassy released two photos on its official sina weibo at 11:30 pm Beijing time on May 2. One showed Chen leaving the Embassy with Ambassador Locke and State Department Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell. The other showed Chen in a wheelchair entering a Beijing Hospital with Ambassador Locke and State Department Legal Advisor Harold Koh. Within six minutes of the posting, sina weibo removed the two photos. The reason given on sina weibo was, “This photo is not appropriate for public display.”

The CNA report said that, on the U.S. State Department website, there are several photos that show Chen and his family at a Beijing hospital, “but one cannot view these photos from inside China.”

Source: Central News Agency, May 3, 2012
http://www.cna.com.tw/News/FirstNews/201205030059.aspx

Briefings | | May 4, 2012 | US-China Relations

Li Keqiang’s Visit to Russia

During his recent visit to Russia, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met separately with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and the Russian president-elect, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, in Moscow. According to the China News Service report, the originally scheduled 1 hour and 45 minutes meetings were extended to nearly three hours. Talks involved increased mutual support on issues concerning core interests, close strategic cooperation in international affairs, and cooperation on major bilateral strategic projects.

Chinese and Russian enterprises signed 26 cooperation agreements on projects amounting to US$15.2 billion. They involved infrastructure, energy, electrical and mechanical equipment, high-tech, finance, and other sectors. As progress in cooperation in energy projects, China and Russia signed energy contracts valued at US$6 billion. They involve the fields of oil and gas, electricity, coal, new energy, energy equipment and energy savings.

Source: China News Service, April 30, 2012
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/04-30/3856877.shtml

Briefings | | May 3, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Widespread Violence against Doctors Prompts Joint Action by Health and Public Secutiry Ministries

In recent years, conflicts between patients and doctors have been escalating. When patients are the victims of medical accidents, their families often resort to violence against the medical staff. They have been known to insult, threaten, attack, and even kill the doctors. On May 1, 2012, the Chinese Health Ministry and the Public Security Ministry issued a joint order to strike hard on violence against doctors. Thus public security departments are now required to get involved in maintaining order in normal medical practices.

Sources: People’s Daily, May 2, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1027/17784646.html

Briefings | | May 3, 2012 | Government/Politics

China Demands U.S. Apologize over Chen Guangcheng

On May 2, 2012, Xinhua issued a brief report saying that Chen Guangcheng “entered the U.S. Embassy in China in late April. He left the U.S. Embassy of his own volition after staying there for 6 days.” No other information was mentioned regarding how Chen’s escaped last week from his village home in Linyi in Shandong Province. Chen had been under house arrest since his release from prison in September 2010, after serving his full sentence of four years and three months. The authorities said he "damaged property and organized a mob to disturb traffic." Since 2005 Chen has been receiving increased international attention because of what he actually did. Chen organized a class-action lawsuit against Chinese authorities in Shandong for excessive enforcement of China’s one-child policy (including forced abortions and sterilizations).

In a separate report on May 2, 2012, Xinhua quoted Liu Weimin, China’s foreign affairs spokesperson, who told the U.S. that China demanded an apology. “I would like to emphasize that the U.S. Embassy in China has the obligation to comply with international law and Chinese law and cannot engage in activities inconsistent with its function. China absolutely will not accept this U.S. interference in China’s internal affairs, and demands that the U.S. apologize over this, conduct a thorough investigation of the incident, discipline the personnel involved, and ensure that no similar events will ever occur again.” According to Xinhua, Liu further stated, “What the U.S. should do now is to stop continuing to confuse and to try in every way to quibble and to cover up its own responsibility in this matter. Moreover, it should not continue to interfere in China’s domestic affairs. It should, instead, responsibly and seriously learn from this incident, truly reflect on its policies and approaches, and adopt measures to safeguard the Sino-U.S. relationship.“

On the same day, U.S. Secretary State Clinton issued a statement saying that she was pleased that the U.S. “was able to facilitate Chen Guangcheng’s stay and departure from the U.S. Embassy in a way that reflected his choices and our values.” Her statement further stated that “the United States government and the American people are committed to remaining engaged with Mr. Chen and his family in the days, weeks, and years ahead.”

Sources:
Xinhua, May 2, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2012-05/02/c_111873571.htm
Xinhua, May 2, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-05/02/c_111875347.htm
U.S. Department of State, May 2, 2012
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/05/189090.htm

Briefings | | May 3, 2012 | US-China Relations

China to Plans to Launch 30 Satellites by 2020 as Part of BeiDou Navigation System

At 4:50 a.m. Beijing time, on April 30, 2012, China launched two BeiDou Navigation satellites from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using the “Long March IIIB” carrier rocket. This is the first time that China has launched two Satellites using one rocket. These two satellites are the 12th and 13th satellites since the BeiDou Navigation System launched its service on December 27, 2011.

China will launch three more satellites this year and plans to have 30 satellites in orbit by 2020 so that it will provide global coverage of high resolution and reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services.

This was the 160th flight for the Long March series of carrier rockets.

Source: China News Review, May 1, 2012
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/05-01/3857191.shtml

Briefings | | May 2, 2012 | Information/Technology

People’s Daily Commentary: US Needs to Avoid Sending Wrong Messages to Certain Other Countries

Days before the 4th China US Strategic and Economic Dialog that was to be held on May 3 and 4 in Beijing, People’s Daily oversea’s edition published a commentary warning the U.S. not to send the wrong messages to certain other countries regarding the South China Sea dispute.

The article said that the timing of the dialog was important because it was coming before the upcoming presidential election and the Chinese Communist Party’s 18th National Congress. "China has been openly raising its concerns and making requests in certain areas: that the U.S. should stop its surveillance near China’s coasts; eliminate limitations on high tech exports to China; recognize China’s market economy; and provide a fair trade investment environment for China’s direct investments in the U.S." The article stated, "The U.S. has recently increased its involvement in the Asia Pacific region significantly. For example, the U.S. has been involved in military collaboration with the Philippians, Vietnam, and Australia; established a new military base; conducted military exercises that are growing in scale; has been selling weapons; and even plans to build a missile defense system."

The article said that the U.S. should put an end to its proclivity to challenge China in the South China Sea dispute, let the strategic and economic dialog minimize distrust between the two, and embrace the idea of “cooperation so both sides can benefit.”

Source: People’s Daily, May 2, 2012
http://opinion.people.com.cn/GB/40604/17784619.html

Briefings | | May 2, 2012 | US-China Relations

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.