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People’s Daily Calls for Strict Compliance with Party Policies

Xinhua reprinted an article originally from People’s Daily that called for strict compliance with the Party’s policies and maintaining the Party’s advancement and purity. It said that only then will the Party be able to “fulfill its historic mission and gain the trust of the people."

The article asked Party members to follow and safeguard the Party’s rules and regulations, saying, “Today, the situations around the world, nation, and Party are going through drastic changes and the ‘four tests’ and ‘four dangers’ are clearly presented right in front of every Party member." "The more powerful and the higher the position one is in, the more necessary it is for one to discipline himself."

[Editor’s note: During his July 1, 2010, speech commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, Hu Jintao spoke of the "four tests" and "four dangers" that the Party is facing. The four tests are tests in governing the country, implementing the reform and opening-up policy, developing the market economy, and dealing with the external environment; the four dangers are the dangers of lost vitality, insufficient capacity, alienation from the people, and rampant corruption.]

Source: Xinhua, April 15, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-04/15/c_111780679.htm

Briefings | | April 16, 2012 | Government/Politics

Wen Jiabao Issued Directives for 2012 Anti-Corruption Work

Xinhua circulated an article that Premier Wen Jiabao originally wrote for Qiushi Journal. In the article, Wen wrote about the directives issued for 2012 on anti-corruption work. The article gave credit to the government for its achievements in reform and anti-corruption work. It stressed that 2012 will be the last year for this government and no government body should slack off in executing the anti-corruption plans and policies that the central administration has issued. Wen also asked all levels to take responsibility and to physically carry out the plans.

Source: Xinhua, April 15, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-04/15/c_111781693.htm

Briefings | | April 16, 2012 | Government/Politics

Will China’s Economy Face Trouble This Summer?

[Editor’s Note: Recently an Internet article titled “SOEs Are Asked to Clear Their Real Estate Inventories. Is a Wave of Unemployment around the Corner for China?” has been widely re-posted on China’s websites. [1] It quoted some unidentified sources and also many state media reports, questioning whether the problems in China’s economy will explode soon. Chinascope could not verify the source of the information. Nevertheless, due to the topic’s relevance, we translated the article so that our readers would be aware of the information and could evaluate it on their own.]

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Reports | | April 15, 2012 | Report

Qiushi: Widening Disparity of Income with a Very Small Middle Class

Qiushi published a commentary with an analysis of income distribution in China. This analysis showed that the wealth of local residents increased rapidly in a relatively short period of time as the result of economic development and the economic transformation. While relative to other countries, the inequality in the distribution of property of China’s residents is not very great, the inequality is growing very rapidly. … From the wealth distribution chart, [it is clear] the so-called middle class remains very small.”

Source: Qiushi, April 10, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/jj/xsdt/201204/t20120410_150235.htm

Briefings | | April 13, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Chongqing Daily: Will Bo Xilai Still Be a Comrade?

On April 12, 2012, the Chinese Communist Party website reprinted an article from the official Chongqing Daily newspaper, which reported on a Chongqing Municipal Council meeting. At the meeting, Zhang Dejiang, the Chongqing Party Secretary, who is also Vice Premier of the State Council and a member of the Party’s Politburo, urged political allegiance to Hu Jintao. The article stated, “The meeting attendees agreed that Bo’s action (his involvement in the death of Neil Heywood) seriously violated the Party’s discipline and severely damaged the image of our Party and the country. It is very shocking.” That they did not mention the word "comrade" has been viewed as an indication that disciplinary action is anticipated. A day earlier, when reporting the Party’s decision to remove Bo from the Politburo and to start an investigation, Xinhua repeatedly addressed Bo as Comrade Bo Xilai (indicating he had not yet been expelled from the Party).

Sources:
Chongqing Daily reprinted at the Communist Party website, April 12, 2012
http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64093/64094/17632810.html
Xinhua, April 11, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2012-04/11/c_122962106.htm

Briefings | | April 13, 2012 | Government/Politics

PLA Daily Editorial: Strictly Observe and Maintain the Party’s Discipline

On April 10, 2012, the People’s Liberation Army’s General Political Department and the PLA’s Academy of Military Sciences jointly published an editorial in the PLA Daily. The editorial called for heightened vigilance in following the Communist Party’s orders. “The standard of conduct that Party organizations at all levels and all Party members must abide by is the discipline of the Party. It is essential to the unity of will and action within the whole Party. As the military forces of the ruling party implement the political tasks of the Party, we [the People’s Liberation Army] must be highly conscious of observing and maintaining Party discipline.” The editorial urged the upper leadership to lead by example with respect to following the Party’s orders.

The editorial appears to be part of a series of State media articles to ensure the military’s allegiance to the Party’s leadership.

Source: People’s Liberation Army Daily reprinted on the Communist Party website, April 10, 2012 http://theory.people.com.cn/GB/49150/17613793.html

Briefings | | April 12, 2012 | Defense/Military

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.