Chinascope – Page 984

Political Sarcasm on the Internet: What Chinese People Really Think and Feel

[Editor’s Note: Political jokes and sarcasm are a good resource for understanding a country’s political realities, public attitudes, and the nature of problems that affect that society’s stability. An article titled “An Outstanding Student’s Letter to Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao,” which was published on Weibo.com, combined many of the microblog posts published throughout 2011 that exhibited China’s particular affinity for political sarcasm. [1] Some of these postings can also be found on some official websites, such as the public forums for People’s Daily Online. This indicates that it is not just the public that understands the underlying issues; the government officials acknowledge them as well. [2] A translation of a major part of the article follows. The Chinascope editor has added some helpful information so that Western readers may better understand the specific issues, the references, and the subtlety (although sometimes not so subtle) of Chinese humor.]

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Reports | | February 12, 2012 | Report

Chinese Authorities Investigate Chongching Deputy Mayor and Former Police Chief

In a two sentence report, Xinhua said that the Chinese authorities were investigating why Wang Lijun, one of its top police chiefs spent a day at the U.S. Consulate in Chongqing. “In response to questions, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Wang Lijun, the Deputy Mayor of Chongqing entered into the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu on February 6. He stayed there overnight and left the following day. The relevant departments are investigating the incident.”

[Editor’s note: The U.S. State Department confirmed that Wang had visited the Consulate, fuelling speculation that he sought asylum. The 52-year-old deputy Mayor and former Police Chief of Chongqing is closely identified with Chongqing Communist Party chief Bo Xilai, so a potential defection might have serious political consequences. In recent years, Wang developed a reputation for being tough on “organized crime” and on defense lawyers. He is known for his participation in “organ harvesting” where Falun Gong practitioners were arrested and their organs harvested for transplant purposes. The apparent euphemism that Wang was receiving "vacation style treatment" inspired countless tweets and messages on China’s microblogs.]

Source: Xinhua, February 9, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-02/09/c_122681189.htm

Briefings | | February 10, 2012 | Government/Politics

China Will Determine Whether the U.S. Military Can Maintain Its Position

The International Herald Tribune published an article on the Xinhua website proposing a more hard-line stance on the U.S. military presence in the Western Pacific Region. The article stated, “There are a number of opinions about the U.S. intention in maintaining a military presence in the West Pacific region. … The fundamental question comes to whether it is indeed targeting China.”

“At the present, analyzing the strategic intention of the U.S.’s military adjustment in the Western Pacific is not the most important task. … To overturn the trend of the U.S. strengthening its military power, the U.S. might meet an invincible counter-threat, forcing it to make a choice between starting a large-scale military confrontation and admitting that the U.S. is not invincible.”

The article concluded, "The key that China must remember is that the way to avoid being threatened is by no means trying to meet the requirements of the threatener. The threatener’s intention always changes and its requirements increase.”

Source: Xinhua, February 6, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-02/06/c_122657115.htm

Briefings | | February 10, 2012 | US-China Relations

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

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