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The U.S. Initiated a New Trade Investigation against China

Guangzhou Daily recently reported that the U.S. International Trade Commission started an investigation on February 29, 2012, involving two Chinese companies and one Canadian company that make tattoo equipment as well as permanent cosmetic ink and application equipment. The investigation is taking place "to ensure patent protection." The final ruling date will be determined within 45 days. An investigation typically takes one year to reach a final ruling. This is the latest round of investigations after an earlier round a month ago on laser printer toners, camera phones, tablets, and other handheld image capturing devices, as well as adjustable energy-saving fluorescent lamps. 13 Chinese companies were investigated. In the U.S. fiscal year 2011, over 70 investigations were initiated under the U.S. Tariff Act, Section 337.

Source: Guangzhou Daily, March 2, 2012
http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/html/2012-03/02/content_1628808.htm

China Launched the Nationwide Learn from Comrade Lei Feng Ideology Campaign

On March 2, the Central Guidance Commission for Building the Spiritual Civilization of the Chinese Communist Party held a forum in Beijing called “Learn from Comrade Lei Feng.” Li Changchun, the head of the Commission, spoke at the forum and stated that the campaign is an important subject that was raised at the Party’s Sixth Plenary Session of the CCP 17th Central Committee. The goal is to “open up a brand new Chinese socialist development era.”

According to Wikipedia, Lei Feng was a PLA soldier. After his death in 1962 at the age of 22, "Lei was characterized as a selfless and modest person who was devoted to the Communist Party, Chairman Mao Zedong, and the people of China." In the posthumous "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng" campaign, initiated by Mao in 1963, Lei became the symbol of nationwide propaganda; the youth of the country were encouraged to follow his example.

Source:
Xinhua, March 2, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-03/02/c_111596740.htm
WikiPedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lei_Feng

Party Organization Department: Follow the Party’s Rules; Resist Attacks from Wrong Ideology

In order to prepare for the upcoming selection of Party officials during the Party’s 18th Congress later this year, the Organization Department held a video conference on March 2, 2012. Departments of Organization from all levels participated.

The conference called for the Organization Departments at all levels to take the lead in launching campaigns that will further emphasize the importance of the Party spirit and the strengthening of Party members’ moral character. The goal is to “improve the public trust in the candidates and to develop an excellent atmosphere ahead of time.”

Li Yuanchao, the head of the Organization Department, spoke at the conference. Li stressed that the most important element of the party spirit is to be "firm on (China’s) political stance." It includes strictly following the Party’s political rules and regulations and resisting attacks from other wrong ideology. Li also requested the leaders of the Organization Department at different levels to visit the local work units, meet with Party leaders, establish communication channels, and assist Party leaders or the general public with any practical issues.

Source: Xinhua, March 3, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-03/03/c_122784703.htm

Xinhua: “Doing Our Own Things Well” Is the Key

Xinhua published a commentary article on March 3, the first day of “Liang Hui,” the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The article stated that, regardless of the changes in the international climate, China’s focus is to "do our own things well" by staying focused on the scientific development path and actively executing the 12th five year plan.

According to the article, in order to achieve the goal, China must be firm in following the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership and the socialist path with Chinese characteristics; properly handle those social conflicts that arise from the open door reforms in order to maintain social stability; and stick to the overall strategy of “advance while ensuring stability” laid out by the central administration.

Source: Xinhua, March 3, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012lh/2012-03/03/c_122786693_2.htm

Chinese Scholar: World Politics in the Web 2.0 Era

[Editor’s Note: Qiushi Online republished an article from Foreign Affairs Review analyzing the worldwide spread of “Web 2.0” and its impact on world politics. [1] The author argued that Web 2.0 technologies have dramatically amplified an individual’s ability to influence political, economic, and social changes. Web 2.0 is leading to World Politics 2.0. Big countries, especially the U.S., are adopting Web 2.0 in their political and diplomatic activities. The government of China should study the impact carefully and control the direction of the Internet and Web 2.0 world. The following are excerpts from the article.]

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Experts: Distribution of Income Is a Major Problem in China

At a press conference on February 29, 2012, Chi Fulin, the President of the China Institute for Reform and Development, stated that, in the near future, the government should introduce an income allocation plan that adjusts the allocation of capital  in order to improve public welfare. “At the present time, State-owned capital is invested in competitive markets. It pushes the private sector out and over-heats the investment market. More importantly, it cannot reflect the public ownership of the State’s capital and is not conducive to social fairness.”

Zhang Zhuoyuan, a research fellow at the Institute of Economics at China’s Academy of Social Science, expressed that China is probably the worst country when it comes to income distribution and is also the most confusing and chaotic. Recently, when he was looking at the breakdown on his pay statement, he discovered that his base salary accounts for less than 20% of his total income.

Source: Yangtse Evening Post reprinted at China Economic Net, February 29, 2012 http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/201202/29/t20120229_23114559.shtml

Peng Guangqian: The Persian Gulf May Mark the End of U.S. Hegemony

On February 26, 2012, China Review News interviewed Rear Admiral Peng Guangqian, a major general in the People’s Liberation Army and a strategist for China’s Academy of Military Science, about the situation in the Middle East. Peng pointed out that the West’s ultimate goal in attacking Syria is to target Iran, but there are many restrictions keeping the West from sending armed forces against Iran. Peng believes that if the U.S. were to launch a war against Iran, it would be the most difficult decision in U.S. history. Once such a war started, it would be the beginning of the real decline of American hegemonism; the Persian Gulf might well mark the end point of American hegemony. Peng suggested that it may be time for the ancient Persian and the modern American imperialists to come to an end together.

Source: China Review News, February 26, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/1/6/6/102016680.html?coluid=148&kindid=7550&docid=102016680&mdate=0226001256

Study Times: The U.S. Does Not Have the Final Say in Asia

Study Times published a commentary on the new U.S. strategy in Asia. The article’s author expressed the belief that the U.S. adjustment represents another post-Vietnam war contraction, rather than an expansion. It stated that the U.S. move is more a defensive one to safeguard what it has achieved, instead of an offensive one. In its strategy in Asia, the U.S. coordinates its military, political, and economic actions very well. “This strategic maneuver was carried all the way through and China felt real pressure.” However, the article continued, it is impossible to drive all Asian countries away from China and to isolate China completely. It appears that the U.S. may invite China to join the TPP at a later time so that China will have to play a passive role and simply follow the rules that have already been established. “But China will not accept such an invitation. The U.S. simply does not have the final say!”

Sourse: Study Times, February 27, 2012
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2012/02/27/07/07_33.htm