Chinascope – Page 977

Study Times: Three Obstacles to Fighting Corruption in China

Study Times, the publication of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CCP, published an article listing three obstacles to fighting corruption in China. 1) The public accepts and tolerates some widespread corrupt practices since corruption has become habitual in social interactions. Most of time, it is hard for the public to realize the damage that corruption causes. Besides, the public does not have confidence in effors to fight corruption since those who have dared to oppose corruption were arrested. 2) Corruption is hidden from the public; the alliances between corrupt officials are too powerful for the public to fight. 3) It is difficult to fully protect the rights and interests of the people who fight against corruption. Nine out of ten of the people who were against corruption have suffered reprisals.

Source: Study Times, March 3, 2012
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2012/03/05/04/04_36.htm

Briefings | | March 7, 2012 | Government/Politics

China to Establish Coast Guard on the South China Sea?

On March 4, 2012, the Nanyang Post published an article titled “The PLA Proposes Placing the Coast Guard on the South China Sea.” In the article, Tian Fuzhou, a PLA civilian-level cadre and a member of the CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), expressed the belief that the South China Sea problems need to be solved by Armed Marine Guards (the Coast Guard). Tian said in a media interview that the key to solving the South China Sea problem is to establish China’s national prestige by using armed marine guards on the sea, similar to the armed police, rather than the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (the PLA).

Source: Nanyang Post, March 4, 2012
http://news.nanyangpost.com/2012/03/tian-fuzhou.html

Briefings | | March 7, 2012 | Defense/Military

Huanqiu: China Should Have Confidence in China-DPRK Ties

On March 3, 2012, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an article titled “Being in the Lead Position in Northeast Asian Affairs, China Should Not Be Anxious about Thorny Peninsula (North Korea) Issues.” The article commented on an agreement that the U.S. and North Korea announced on February 29, 2012, that “North Korea will temporarily halt its nuclear tests, long-range missile launches, and Yongbyon uranium enrichment activities in exchange for aid from the United States in the form of food.” The article said that China should not hesitate to continue its special friendship with North Korea, since China has more influence on North Korea than the United States, Russia, and other major powers. Though North Korea will not strictly follow China’s advice, it has much more strategic trust in China than it does in other countries.

The article repeated its emphasis on China’s confidence in China-DPRK relations. China should have confidence in itself because “no matter how close the US-DPRK relationship is, it cannot be closer than the Sino-DPRK relationship. No one can possibly ‘trick China’ in terms of Peninsula affairs.” “Once a crisis occurs, others will panic more than we will.”

Source: Huanqiu, March 3, 2012
http://mil.huanqiu.com/Observation/2012-03/2490580.html

Briefings | | March 7, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

East Day: Indian Report Called for Being Alert for Chinese Invasion

The Shanghai based news network East Day recently republished a report, originally from India’s TV news network IBNLive on work done by an independent Indian research institute. Research revealed that people believe there is a good possibility that China will make a “demand for territory,” and that a “massive military attack” is potentially likely, especially in the Arunachal Pradesh region, which the Chinese call “Southern Tibet.” There is a major difference in the understanding of the location of the “Line of Actual Control” between China and India. The research suggested a “hybrid strategy of defense plus offense” as a response to the potential invasion. The research concluded that, essentially, the best answer to an attack is to have an equivalent strategy.

Source: East Day, March 1, 2012
http://mil.eastday.com/m/20120301/u1a6396894.html

Briefings | | March 6, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

CPPCC: Two Security Concerns of Chinese Companies Doing Business Overseas

China News recently reported that the spokesman for the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC), Zhao Qizheng, commented in a media briefing on two major security concerns of Chinese companies doing business overseas. Zhao suggested that, though China’s “Go Out” strategy has been very successful, many Chinese companies still face challenges due to a lack of knowledge of the international market. One of the major security concerns is the personal safety of the Chinese company’s staff working overseas. Another major concern is the safety of the investment. On the second point, Zhao added that many failures were directly caused by not using effective public diplomacy, which, if used, would help eliminate the negative voices in the foreign government and the general public. Zhao revealed that, last year, public diplomacy associations were established in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou. These three cities do the most international business.

Source: China News, March 2, 2012
http://finance.chinanews.com/cj/2012/03-02/3715152.shtml

Briefings | | March 6, 2012 | Economy/Resources

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

Briefings | | March 6, 2012 | US-China Relations

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

Briefings | | March 5, 2012 | Government/Politics

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

Briefings | | March 5, 2012 | Government/Politics

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

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