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Chinese Scholar: China Needs Quasi-Alliances to Break the U.S. Encirclement

Xinhua published an article written by Wang Haiyun, Deputy Director of the Chinese Association on the History of Sino-Russian Relations. The article discussed how to break the U.S. encirclement of China. It stressed the need to form international alliances to counter how the U.S. encircles China and hinders its rise. The article stated, “The structural conflicts between China and the U.S. have determined that the U.S. strategy to prevent China’s rise will not undergo any fundamental change. … Although the U.S. still mouths many words about developing a cooperative relationship with China, what it does is totally the opposite. This is the serious reality China must face. … [China] cannot continue to maintain the unrealistic illusion of ‘developing a strategic relationship’ with the U.S.”

“Therefore, China must adjust its international strategy as soon as possible. While trying to maintain the stability of the relationship with the U.S. and avoid turning a localized conflict into a large-scale conflict, [China] must actively explore the strategy and means to break the U.S.’ encirclement. One important thought is to change [China’s] ‘non-alliance’ to a ‘quasi-alliance.’ The U.S. targets China in many different ways. We [China] cannot just fight alone.”

“The main points of the ‘quasi-alliance’ strategy include: 1) Continue to state the ‘three-no’-policy of ‘non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting a third country,’ and, in addition, not publicly forming a military alliance for a certain period of time. 2) Strive to create ‘neighboring friendship areas, strategic stability areas, and economic cooperation areas,’ turning them into our neighboring geographic and strategic allies. 3). Form the image of a ‘dependable but unprovokable’ big country, while enhancing our soft power in the neighboring countries.”

Source: Xinhua, March 11, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-03/11/c_122815157.htm

What Does China Want in the South China Sea?

Xinhua published a rebuttal to Western comments that China may have softened its stance on the South China Sea issue, which they made in the light of China’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hong Lei’s statement that “no countries, including China, have laid claim to the entire South China Sea.” The article holds, “China has never laid claim to the entire South China Sea. Instead China has maintained that it has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the islands in the South China Sea as well as their adjacent waters. This position is consistent and clear. … In fact, [Hong Lei’s] statement is a strong rebuttal to those who, with the ulterior motive to cause confusion, have distorted China’s position on the issue of sovereignty over the South China Sea.” Even countries that have made no claim to sovereignty have taken turns holding joint military exercises or submitting bids for oil and gas in the South China Sea region, thus creating instability.

Source: Xinhua, March 12, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2012-03/12/c_131454775.htm

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

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

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

Police Use Tear Gas to Suppress Protesters in Hainan

According to Hong Kong’s Apple Daily, tens of thousands of villagers from the town of Ying Ge Hai in Hainan Province marched on the streets on March 10, 2010, to stop the opening ceremony of a thermal power station. Ying Ge Hai is famous for its salt fields and its fishing industry. These are the major sources of income for at least 20,000 villagers. Fearing the environmental and air pollution to the area, the villagers have resisted the power plant proposal since last December. However, the authorities have still gone ahead with the plan. On Saturday March 10, the protesters marched to the village office building and demanded that the authorities cancel the opening ceremony. The police force was on the scene and used tear gas to stop the protesters from entering the building. The police besieged and blockaded the entire village, arresting at least 20 protesters. The related online postings were taken down almost as soon as they were posted.

Source: Wen Xue City, March 12, 2012
http://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2012/03/12/1675489.html

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

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