Chinascope – Page 983

Radio Free Asia: China to Set up Party Organizations for Mainland Microblogging Sites

Quoting from the Taiwan based United Daily News, Radio Free Asia reported that, immediately after the Chinese New Year holidays, the Communist Party’s propaganda authorities ordered that Party organizations be established for all microblogging sites. The websites involved, including Sina, Tencent, Sohu, and Netease, have already received the relevant instructions. The report quoted sources as saying that, in the future, the Party organizations will be responsible for major microblogging policy guidlines and decision-making, and will resolutely implement the commands of the CCP’s Central Propaganda Department, the State Council, and the provincial and municipal network management offices. At the same time, starting from March 16, the above mentioned four major microblogging sites will implement real-name registration. Anonymous users can only view contents but will not be able to post or forward articles.

Source: Radio Free Asia, February 7, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/ql1-02072012094100.html

Briefings | | February 9, 2012 | Information/Technology

Coping with the New U.S. Military Strategy

Guangming Daily published a commentary about how to deal with the new U.S. military strategy that is targeting China. The article stated, “After having finished its mission in the anti-terrorism battlefield, the U.S. military has turned around to look for new opponents.“

“In opposing the new military strategy of the U.S., China should be realistic and calm. It cannot compete one on one in the areas of equipment and strategy. China should modernize militarily from a bigger view, develop aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, sea/land-based long-range ballistic missiles, and other equipment with strategic significance. First, (China should) turn around the weak military situation as a whole and ensure the protection of China’s security as soon as possible. Then we can deal with them one by one.”

“From a military comparison, ‘the U.S. is strong and we are still weak.’ … The Chinese army should take advantage of this valuable stable and opportunistic period and develop some “big items” that can fortify our military foundation. By then, the American’s little tricks will be no big deal.

Source: Guangming Daily Online, February 8, 2012
http://mil.gmw.cn/2012-02/08/content_3522290.htm

Briefings | | February 9, 2012 | US-China Relations

China’s Development Strategy after bin Laden’s Death

On February 7, 2012, China Review News published an article about China’s development strategy after the death of al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden. According to the article, since the success of the U.S. counter-terrorism strategy, China and the U.S. are no longer close. The theory of the "China threat" in some Western countries has changed into increased containment of China. How to break through the Unites States and the Western countries’ containment is a big challenge for China’s development. However, China’s huge foreign exchange reserves provide a solid backing for Chinese enterprises to go abroad. Internally, China should deepen its institutional reforms and provide a better life for the ordinary people.

Source: China Review News, February 7, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/0/2/3/102002391.html?coluid=53&kindid=0&docid=102002391&mdate=0207083644

Briefings | | February 8, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Huanqiu: China Should Vote Whatever Is on Our Mind

On February 6, 2012, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an article about China’s UN Veto on Syria titled, “China Should Vote Whatever Is on Our Mind.” According to the article, China has acted “tough” in the last two years because China, as a rising nation, has a sense of crisis. U.S. Senator John McCain recently said in Munich (on February 4, 2012, at the 48th Munich Security Conference, to Zhang Zhijun, China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs) that the Arab Spring will spread to China. China is now worried that the U.S. may adopt “Overthrowing the Chinese Regime” as America’s No. 1 goal and fundamental diplomatic policy. In the UN Council, as all parties were forcing China to speak out, and China did have something to say, China just voted according to what was on our mind. If China did not speak out what was on our mind, there might be more trouble.

Source: Huanqiu, February 6, 2012
http://blog.huanqiu.com/blog-89545-2385705.html

Briefings | | February 8, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Military Scholar Suggests Countering against the U.S. Mobile Military Presence

On February 3, 2012, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published a commentary written by Han Xudong, a professor from China’s National Defense University, titled, “The U.S. Forces that Move Rapidly around the Globe Are a Major Threat to China.” Han believes that the U.S. mobile military presence poses a long-term threat to China’s national security and suggested taking feasible measures to counter against the threat.

“Compared to the regular garrison during the Cold War, the U.S. mobile forces present a greater threat to our security. Now, it is not easy for us to judge what type of troops the U.S. will send out. The U.S. army may use any type of new weapon or equipment in China’s surrounding areas. The probability of friction or crises between the U.S. and the Chinese armies may increase. It is more and more likely that the U.S. military forces will take provocative action against us and it will be more and more difficult for our military forces to counter against the threat from the U.S. mobile forces. China is in the passive position of maintaining security while the United States has the option to take the initiative in terms of security.”

Source: Huanqiu, February 3, 2012
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2012-02/2403446.html

Briefings | | February 8, 2012 | US-China Relations

U.S. Intelligence Sees China as One of the Top Threats

Global Times, which is under the Chinese state’s daily news, People’s Daily, recently reported on the U.S. Senate’s “Global Threat Hearing.” The report was based mainly on an NBC report published on February 1. Multiple high ranking U.S. intelligence officials called China, Russia, and Iran “the top threats.” In the report, the belief was expressed that both China and Russia are countries “fond of” mounting Internet attacks against important U.S. industrial and government targets. The head of the FBI, Robert S. Mueller, III, suggested that Internet spying, computer based crimes, and network attacks against major infrastructures are replacing terrorism to become the top threats that the U.S. faces. According to the Washington Post, Iran was added to the “top threats” list this year, in addition to China and Russia.

Source: Global Times, February 2, 2012
http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2012-02/2398918.html

Briefings | | February 7, 2012 | US-China Relations

CRN: China Does Not Need to Take Obama’s Comments Too Seriously

China Review News (CRN) published a commentary after U.S. President Obama delivered his third State of the Union Address. The commentary briefly described the general content of Obama’s speech as well as Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romny’s reaction. The author then focused on the fact that Obama mentioned China five times in his speech. The commentary summarized that Obama repeatedly blamed China for “breaking the rules” and “acting unfairly in trade.” Obama also planned to establish a new federal agency to investigate “such trade behavior.” However, the author believed Obama’s accusations largely served his reelection campaign purposes and his attitude actually reflected his frustrations during this election year. The commentary therefore concluded that China should pay attention to President Obama’s comments but not take them too seriously.

Source: China Review News, January 29, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/9/2/3/101992389.html?coluid=1&kindid=0&docid=101992389&mdate=0129001107

Briefings | | February 7, 2012 | US-China Relations

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