Chinascope – Page 965

PLA Daily Editorial Rejects Nationalizing the Military

On March 19, 2012, People’s Liberation Army Daily published an editorial criticizing the idea of nationalizing the military. The editorial firmly rejected the ideas of “non-affiliation between the military and the CCP, depoliticizing the military, and the nationalization of the military.” “[We] must unswervingly uphold the principle of the absolute leadership of the Party over the military and ensure that the military follows the command of the Party and Hu Jintao, the President of our country and the Chairman of the Party’s Military Commission.”

The PLA editorial was published immediately after the abrupt removal of Bo Xilai, the former Party Secretary of Chongqing. His removal appears to have touched off fierce clashes among the Party’s leaders.

Source: People’s Liberation Army Daily reprinted by People’s Daily, March 19, 2012 http://wap.people.com.cn/newsView.php?sid=&cnid=1323815&chid=1_11&coid=1_11_3_1&wv=2&v=l&return=channel&fromid=&uc_param_str=dnup

Briefings | | March 22, 2012 | Government/Politics

Xinhua: Be Vigilant to the West’s Spread of New Interventionism

Xinhua published an editorial that was critical of Western countries’ intervention in countries ruled by authoritarian dictators. The article said that the Western countries’ military strike on Libya to overthrow the Gaddafi regime one year ago set a new “example" for how Western countries intervene in other countries’ internal affairs. The “New Interventionism” has become a cloud hanging over international relations.

The article described the “New Interventionism” as being very deceptive. Compared to traditional interventionism which included an explicit armed invasion and a military coup, "the ‘New Interventionism’ is under the guise of being legitimate.” “It is troubling that the West is showing a pattern of spreading the use of ‘New Interventionism.’ Western countries have already chosen Syria as another target following Libya; they aim to overthrow the Bashar government.”

“As a matter of fact, their so-called ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ are only excuses for the West’s ‘New Interventionism.’ There is no fundamental difference between ‘old interventionism’ and ‘New Interventionism.’ They are both authoritarian politics and hegemonism with the same goal of protecting the West’s strategic interests.“ “No matter how the West makes its point, it will not erase the disaster that the ‘New Interventionism’ brings to the affected country.”

The article concluded that "the ‘New interventionism’ is a violation of the principles of the ‘United Nations Charter’ and is an action against the tide of history. [We] should be vigilant against the spread of the ‘New Interventionism.’”

Source: Xinhua, March 18, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-03/18/c_111669360.htm

Briefings | | March 22, 2012 | Government/Politics

Income of State Owned Companies Grew 9.9 Percent in January and February

The Ministry of Finance published the January and February financial report on State Owned Enterprises (SOE). The report indicated that in the first two months of 2012, the SOE’s income was 7.5 trillion yuan, which was 9.9 percent higher than the same period last year. The SOE’s profits amounted to 363.5 billion yuan, which was down 10.9 percent from the previous year. Profits for SOEs for the full year of 2011 were 2.2 trillion yuan, which was up 12.8 percent from 2010. The industries that had the largest growth in profits were tobacco, posts & telecommunications, while steel, petroleum & petrochemical, real estate construction, and mechanical industries had the largest declines in profits.

The SOEs included State-controlled share-holding companies, 117 central enterprises, and those SOEs at the local levels. The report did not include the State Owned Finance Industry.

Source: Xinhua, March 20, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2012-03/20/c_122855448.htm

Briefings | | March 21, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Need Party Leaders Who Dare to Oppose Those Loyal to the Dalai Lama

Tibet Daily published a commentary on the talk that Hu Jintao gave during his visit to the Tibetan delegation at the Two Conferences. Hu encouraged the delegation to further promote the “old Tibetan Spirit.” The commentary stated that, in order for them to further promote the “old Tibetan Spirit,” it would be necessary to be firm on anti-secession and to maintain solidarity with the central administration that Hu heads. The commentary also called for recruiting and training Party leaders who are “politically reliable, capable of safeguarding national unity, firm on anti-secession, and who dare to oppose those loyal to the Dalai Lama.”

Source: Xinhua, March 20, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2012-03/20/c_122855073.htm

Briefings | | March 21, 2012 | Government/Politics

The Economic Observer: Housing Market Still Slipping

The Economic Observer recently reported on the current status of China’s real estate construction market, which has been the primary engine for the economy. The dramatic decline in investment in the housing industry is having a major impact on China’s economic growth. Even the largest company in this industry, Wan Ke, is lowering its sales projection to half of the planned level. According to China Index Research Institute, in November and December of 2011, national land sales declined 47 percent each month. Starting this year, residential new construction growth was 0 percent, and 90 percent of the housing companies downsized or stopped their land purchases. Most of these companies are prepared to lower their prices. However, it is expected that even lowering their prices will not improve their sales volume. No one is optimistic about the near future.

Source: The Economic Observer, March 17, 2012
http://www.eeo.com.cn/2012/0317/223026.shtml

Briefings | | March 20, 2012 | Economy/Resources

CRN: U.S. Reshaping Global Strategy Based on Energy Independence

China Review News (CRN) recently published a commentary on the impact of the improved U.S. energy independence. The commentary mentioned that the U.S. energy self-sufficiency rate reached 81% in the first 10 months of 2011. The U.S. has transformed itself from a daily importer of 2.5 million barrels of refined oil to a net exporter of refined oil. Only 17% of U.S. imported oil is from the Middle East. Meanwhile, it is estimated that, in 2013, China will rely on imported oil for nearly 60% of its oil consumption. Today, Iran alone supplies 10% of China’s oil imports. China’s energy suppliers are mostly from the Middle East and Africa. In 2010, China’s share of the world’s energy consumption reached 20.82%. The commentary concluded, based on these numbers, that the highly improved U.S. energy independence offered a great opportunity for the U.S. to reshape its global strategy to focus on the East and to build a U.S.-centered Asia-Pacific order.

Source: China Review News, March 12, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/2/4/7/102024759.html?coluid=148&kindid=7550&docid=102024759&mdate=0312000212

Briefings | | March 20, 2012 | US-China Relations

International Herald Leader: China Should Be Clear on Its Right to the Seas

The International Herald Leader, a subsidiary of Xinhua News, recently published a commentary on China’s position on its right to the sea. The commentary mentioned that, in the past two months, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially explained China’s position on the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The author said that China is taking steps to clarify its understanding of its rights to the nearby seas. This is to prevent any ambiguity in expressions, which might result in a strategic misjudgment. China’s traditional position was “putting aside disputes with joint development.” It seems the old fashioned position introduced uncertainty and openings that could be exploited. The commentary expressed the belief that China needs a peaceful international environment in which to grow. However, “a certain country” might find a few military conflicts between China and its neighbors to be just right. At least it would be much better (for that "certain country") than having to negotiate with China once China’s GDP surpasses US$10 trillion.

Source: Xinhua, March 12, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2012-03/12/c_131454815.htm

Briefings | | March 20, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

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.