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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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Internet Society of China: Resisting Internet Rumors

On April 8, 2012, the Internet Society of China published an open statement calling for the Internet industry to resist the spread of rumors on the Internet and create a civilized Internet environment that would abide by the law. The statement asserted that Internet rumors had become a public threat and had caused serious harm to the public interest, national security, and social stability. It asked for the industry to exercise measures to resist the rumors and create a healthy and civilized Internet environment.

Xinhua also followed up with another article titled “Crack Down on Internet Rumors; the Public Actively Supports and Vows to Uphold a Clean Internet Environment.” It described the dissatisfaction that the general public has towards the rumors and quoted a number of people who use the Internet as supporting the statement that the Internet Society of China issued.

Source: Xinhua, April 8, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-04/08/c_122944865.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-04/08/c_111750277.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Locke: Social Media Are Helping Chinese Learn What is Happening in the World

U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke met with the senior management of Tianya, a top Internet forum in China, which currently has 66 million registered users. Locke stated that the U.S. Embassy would like to work with Tianya to establish an official Embassy space with updates on the latest news, policies, and events, and to engage directly with extremely dynamic Tianya users. To Tianya users, Ambassador Locke said,“I believe that new technologies and social media are changing the entire world. They are transforming the globe. … [One] can even learn about events that take place anywhere in the world. This is what Tianya is doing every day."

Source: Nainan.net, April 6, 2012
http://news.hainan.net/newshtml08/2012w4r6/858377f0.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Wen Jiabao: Communist Leaders Have Agreed to Break the Banking Monopoly

During his trip to southern China, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stated that the top national banks in China have too much power and have made too much money, and that their monopoly must be broken. “As for financing costs, actually let me speak frankly here. Our banks make a profit too easily. Why? It is because a few large banks are in a monopoly position. People can only obtain loans from these banks. It is very difficult to obtain loans from other sources. Now private capital has entered into the financial market. Fundamentally speaking, [we] have to break the monopoly. The Communist Party’s Central Committee has reached a unanimous agreement to carry out a pilot project in Wenzhou. A successful Wenzhou pilot project should be promoted across the country. Some (features of the project) can be implemented immediately throughout the country. "

Source: Beijing News, April 4, 2012
http://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/20120404/034011744163.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Understanding Politics: Who Cannot Become a Communist Official?

A posting on the blog for the People’s Daily website spoke directly, tongue in the cheek, to the media’s readers and provided them with descriptions of those who cannot become Communist officials. First are those who are talented. Such people are so outstanding that they dwarf almost everyone else. The writer pointed out that, even if you do not step on others’ toes, people will be jealous of you regardless. If you have a wealth of true knowledge, you tend to have independent thinking, which is the biggest taboo for a politician. To be a Communist official, you must forget about your conscience, justice, and principles and must be opportunistic, slick and treacherous. Second are those who are shy and are not willing to spend money. If you do not have much money and rely on your salary to support your family, you are advised to stay at home. Politics can be secretive, unpredictable, and brutally competitive. You will not survive unless you use sinister means and have the courage to face death. Finally, if you lose sight of the ultimate goal, which is personal gain, you will not be far from failure.

Source: People’s Daily website, March 27, 2012
http://bbs1.people.com.cn/postDetail.do?id=117780951&bid=1

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Red Flag Manuscript: Confidently Make State-owned Enterprises Bigger and Stronger

A high profile article titled “Confidently Make State-owned Enterprises Bigger and Stronger” recently appeared on Red Flag Manuscript, a core publication of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee.

The author, a director at the policy making State Development and Reform Committee, refuted voices in favor of privatization. “Some people want the state-owned sector, as a percentage of GDP, to fall to 10%, the U.S. standard, and ‘exit the competitive sector.’ Some have asked the state-owned enterprises to exit the basic industries and the service sector, in the name of ‘antitrust.’ Some advocate that the state only control the land and financial sectors and completely retreat from the business world.” The article argued, “The experiences of Eastern Europe and Latin America have shown that a market oriented toward privatization will leave the national economy unprotected; its property rights and even its economic lifeline will then be controlled by foreign capital.”

The author emphasized that the state-owned enterprises should maintain an advantageous and dominant position in the following sectors: (1) strategic areas related to national security: defense and the science & technology industry (nuclear, aerospace, weapons, ships, and military electronics); national infrastructure (such as the communications and broadcasting, electricity, and railway networks and important transportation facilities); key urban infrastructures (water supply, drainage, electricity, gas, and roads); the financial sector; and bulk agricultural commodities. (2) important basic industries: such as power, telecommunications, energy, and key petrochemical and metallurgy industries. (3) non-renewable strategic resources: mining, oil and gas resources. (4) pillar industries and the high-tech industry: mining, metallurgy, petrochemical, machinery, and transportation equipment; and high-tech industries (new materials, new energy, electronic communications, aerospace, biomedical, etc.

Source: Red Flag Manuscript, March 26, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/hqwg/2012/201206/201203/t20120326_147755.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Say No to Rumors

Following the shutdown of websites in China and the arrest of Chinese Internet users for allegedly fabricating or disseminating online rumors, state media continue to publish commentaries that show the authorities have a deep apprehension about online postings pertaining to Communist Party leaders. For example, a People’s Daily commentary states, “If we allow ‘the rumors’ to run amok, it will seriously disrupt the social order and stability and endanger social integrity.” Xinhua’s  commentary, titled “Resolutely Say ‘No’ to Rumors and Their Followers,” states that those who fabricate or spread rumors are not law-abiding. “Making ‘jokes’ about important matters of social security and stability demonstrates a lack of responsibility toward society and toward themselves. It is very harmful.”

Sources:
People’s Daily, March 31, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-03/31/c_122911504.htm
Xinhua, April 1, 2012
http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-04/01/c_111731139.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

People’s Daily: The U.S. Prints Money As a Way to Default on Its Debts

People Daily (overseas edition) published an article to reflect Chinese scholars’ opinions on U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s recent hint that the U.S. may implement a third round of quantitative easing of monetary policy. Zhou Xiaochuan, Director of the Bank of China, asserted that the U.S. should shoulder more responsibilities and not just consider the economic needs of the U.S. [when it prints dollar bills]. The U.S. quantitative easing of monetary policy will result in capital moving into other emerging economic entities, making it more difficult for these nations to control inflation. The Vice President of Chengdu University, Zhang Qizuo, expressed the belief that the U.S. adopts the tactic of inflation and devaluing the dollar to covertly default on its debts so as to shift the risk of the U.S. debt crisis to others. This is the ultimate and biggest risk for global investors. Yu Yongding, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that China is the biggest creditor in the world. The biggest victims of U.S. currency devaluation are its creditors.

[Ed. Contrary to Chinese media reports, many Western media indicate QE3 is unlikely during an election year.]  

Source: People’s Daily, April, 4, 2012
http://world.people.com.cn/GB/14549/17571541.html
Reuters, April 3, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/03/us-markets-usa-bonds-idUSBRE8320UJ20120403

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Qiushi: The United Front Must Always Follow the Lead of the Chinese Communist Party

On April 1, 2012, Qiushi, a journal of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, published an article written by Du Qinglin, the head of the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party. The title was, “Vigorously Strengthen the Development of the United Front Culture.” According to the article, the United Front includes different political parties, ethnic groups, religions, classes, and different organizations in Hong Kong, Macao, and overseas. With the cooperative political Party culture, the United Front must always follow the lead of the Chinese Communist Party. It must always adhere to the socialist political development path with Chinese characteristics and demonstrate the characteristics and advantages of the political system and political Party system in China.

Source: Qiushi, April 1, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2012/201207/201203/t20120329_148684.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics