Chinascope – Page 967

Wen Jiabao: Progress Has Been Made in the Wang Lijun Investigation

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao responded to questions about Wang Lijun, the former Changchun police chief who entered the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu and stayed there for one day. At a press conference after the conclusion of the Fifth Session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Wen stated, “I can tell you all that the Central Committee [of the Party] has taken this matter very seriously. It instructed the relevant departments to start an investigation immediately [as soon as this incident took place]. The investigation has already shown progress. Based on the facts and the law, the matter will be handled strictly in accordance to the law. An answer will be given to the people with respect to the results and handling of the investigation, which will stand the test of law and history."

Source: People’s Daily Website, March 14, 2012
http://lianghui.people.com.cn/2012npc/GB/239293/17385949.html

Briefings | | March 15, 2012 | Government/Politics

Bo Xilai Removed from Chongqing Leader Post

State news agency Xinhua reported that China has removed prominent politician Bo Xilai from his post as Chongqing’s Communist Party leader. Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang will replace Bo, said the Xinhua report.

This is another major development following last month’s scandal involving Bo’s former chief of police, Wang Lijun. It began when Wang, the police chief Bo had promoted, spent a day at the US Consulate in Chengdu. Chinese security forces from Beijing detained him when he came out. Although Bo was not formally linked to this case – and denied he was involved – many believed it would tarnish him.

China’s state-run Xinhua said only that Bo has been replaced as Party chief in Chongqing. The move came a day after the end of the country’s annual parliamentary session, the National People’s Congress (NPC), where Bo’s absence from a meeting sparked speculation about his future. After a long silence, he spoke last week about the incident with his ex-police chief, answering questions from journalists at a meeting on the sidelines of the NPC. He said he never imagined Wang would run off. Speaking at a meeting of Chongqing delegates, Bo said that it came suddenly. "I feel like I put my trust in the wrong person," he added.

Source: Xinhua, March 15, 2012

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-03/15/c_2111657329.htm

Briefings | | March 15, 2012 | Government/Politics

U.S. Looks Agitated while China Does Not Need to Show Its Weapons

In an interview with a China Review News reporter, Deputy Director of the Chinese Culture Exchange and Promotion Association, Xin Qi, commented that “The U.S., by attacking everywhere, looks agitated. This is mostly related to the U.S.’s notion that ‘Western civilization is the center [of the world].’ China does not need to directly confront the U.S. Rather, China should let the U.S. understand and accept China’s new path of peaceful rise.”

“The U.S. met with a stiff rebuff in Iran and North Korea. The U.S. army will also withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. may think that China’s ‘bone is not quite hardened, yet it has become quite big’ after 30 years of the open and reform policy. American’s thinking is absolutely wrong. By repeatedly using the ‘no’ vote in the U.N. on the Syria issue, China has made it clear to the U.S. that such thinking is an illusion.”

“In the current situation, it is unnecessary for China to show its weapons to the U.S. There is no need to confront an angry, drunken man who smells of alcoholic. Rather, one should quiet him down and make it clear to him that he should recognize the interests that China and the U.S. have in common. … At the same time, China should make it clear to the U.S. that it is impossible for one model of civilization to dominate the world forever. In addition to the ‘Washington Consensus,’ there is also the ‘Beijing Consensus.’ The U.S. has to learn to accept China’s path and experience…”

Source: China Review News, March 11, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/3/5/2/102035272.html?coluid=148&kindid=7550&docid=102035272&mdate=0311004955

Briefings | | March 15, 2012 | US-China Relations

China Accelerates the Growth of Its ‘rospace Industry

Zhang Jianhen, Vice President of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) disclosed that, during the 12th Five Year plan, China will launch 100 space shuttles and satellites averaging 20 launch missions each year. One of them is Shenzhou No. 9, which is scheduled for a June to August launch this year. The spacecraft will carry three astronauts and implement China’s first space rendezvous. China will also launch 6 BeiDou （COMPASS）Navigation Satellite dishes in 2012. Their launch will mark the completion of China’s navigation system, which will cover China and the nearby regions.

According to Zhang, CASC’s total revenue for 2011 was 100 trillion yuan and its total assets exceeded 200 trillion yuan. It plans to reach over 250 trillion yuan in revenue by the end of the period of the 12th Five Year plan.

Source: China News Review, March 12, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/3/7/5/102037591.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=102037591&mdate=0312085324

Briefings | | March 14, 2012 | Information/Technology

Chinese Companies Investments in Foreign Countries Increase

According to the Ministry of Commerce, by the end of 2011, Chinese companies had invested US$322 trillion in 18,000 businesses in over 178 foreign countries. There were close to 1.2 million expatriates stationed overseas and the cumulative capital investment exceeded US$1,500 trillion.

Of those regions where China invested, the investments in European and African countries grew 57.3% and 58.9% respectively, compared to the same period last year. China’s investment in EU countries grew by 94.1%. The areas in which China invested consisted mainly of coal mining, manufacturing, electricity production and supplies, transportation, and retail industries.

Source: China Economic Net, March 1, 2012
http://intl.ce.cn/specials/zxxx/201203/01/t20120301_23119212.shtml

Briefings | | March 14, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Global Times: China to Cancel the Purchase of 45 Airbus Jets

Global Times recently reported, based on news from the French newspaper the Tribune, that China has decided to cancel its plan to purchase 10 Airbus A380 super-jumbo jetliners and 35 Airbus A330 airplanes. Louis Gallois, Chief Executive of the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Company (EADS), confirmed the cancellation. EADS is the parent company of Airbus. Gallois explained that the decision was based on China’s position of opposing the EU Carbon Tax. He complained that this cancellation was a major setback for Airbus’ business. Airbus already made a request that the European Union cancel the tax. Twenty-six out of the 36 members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are against this tax, including China, the United States, and Russia. It is also damaging for Airbus because, according to a report by Bloomberg, Boeing’s commercial aircraft group is hoping to sell 200 737-MAX and a “certain number” of 747-8S airplanes to China this year.

Source: Global Times, March 9, 2012
http://firefox.huanqiu.com/mil/Exclusive/2012-03/2509889.html

Briefings | | March 13, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Ministry of Commerce: China to Purchase 48 Fighter Jets from Russia

China’s Ministry of Commerce recently published a piece on its official website quoting the Chinese Embassy in Russia, which revealed that negotiations between China and Russia on the purchase of 48 Su-35 fighter jets are close to being finalized. The contract will total US$4 billion. This is China’s largest single international military procurement contract in a decade. There is one key issue that still remains unresolved in the negotiations: intellectual property protection. The Russians are requiring a legally binding guarantee to ensure that China will not illegally copy Russian technology and use it to eat into Russia’s share of the international military aircraft market.

Source: Ministry of Commerce, March 10, 2012
http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/i/jyjl/m/201203/20120308007354.html

Briefings | | March 13, 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.