Chinascope – Page 984

Ministry of Commerce: China’s Exports Face Grim Situation

According to Zhong Shan, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce, China’s international trade is facing a “complicated and grim” situation due to a lack of demand and intensified competition in the international market.

Zhong said that, on the one hand, China’s exports face competition from traditional exporting countries. On the other hand, with regard to labor intensive products, there is growing competition from developing countries due to rising labor costs in China. Statistics show that, since the third quarter of last year, the market share of Chinese exports to the United States, the European Union, and Japan decreased by 1.3%, 1% and 0.6%, respectively. Seven categories of labor-intensive exports, including textiles, clothing, footwear, luggage, furniture, toys, and plastic products saw a rapid decline.

Source: Xinhua, January 9, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-01/09/c_111401927.htm

Briefings | | January 12, 2012 | Economy/Resources

Dai Bingguo: China and Central Asian Countries Have Become Inseparable Friends

On January 10, 2012, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China Central Asia Friendship Association hosted a ceremony at the People’s Hall in Beijing. State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the reception. The purpose of the ceremony was to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of establishing bilateral diplomatic relations between China and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. In the speech that Dai gave at the ceremony, he said, “China and Central Asian countries have become inseparable good neighbors, good friends, and good partners. No matter what will happen in the international environment, China will unswervingly carry out the diplomatic policy of being friendly to its neighbors and being partners with its neighbors.

Source: People’s Daily, January 11, 2012
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/70731/16850441.html

Briefings | | January 12, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Government Think Tank: Developed Countries May Transfer Crises to Emerging Markets

Zhang Yansheng, head of the Research Institute of Foreign Economic Relations under the National Development and Reform Commission warned developing countries that developed countries may get out of the current crisis at the expense of emerging markets. Particularly, he wrote, “There are many ways for developed countries to transfer crises [to developing countries]. They can create bubbles and trade friction among developing countries. They can instigate financial instability through printing money and lowering interest rates, and they can use a variety of economic means to suppress emerging economies. When developed countries rise again, the bubbles in emerging economies will burst, which will plunge them into a prolonged recession. Historically, developed countries have invariably transferred and gotten out of crises at the expense of emerging economies.”

Source: Xinhua, January 9, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2012-01/09/c_131344120.htm

Briefings | | January 12, 2012 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Huanqiu: Out of Its Own Self Interest, China Should Prevent an Iranian War”

On January 10, 2012, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an article titled “Out of Its Own Self Interest, China Should Prevent an Iranian War.” China’s self-interest in Iran includes the huge amount of oil in Iran and Iran’s important role in containing the U.S. so as to, strategically, ease the pressure on China. Although “China cannot form an alliance with Iran and act as the enemy of the United States, China must do something to stop an ‘Iranian War’ while avoiding any fatal damage to Sino-US relations.”

The article lists the following suggestions of how to prevent the U.S. from starting a war against Iran: 1) Cooperate with Russia to oppose an Iranian War; 2) If the U.S. sanctions a Chinese company in Iran, China should carry out the same sanctions against the U.S.; 3) Help Iran diplomatically, maintaining high-level visits between Beijing and Tehran, so as to prevent Iran from being convicted in the court of global public opinion; 4) Make the war mentally and realistically more difficult for the U.S to start, as this is an election year and a new war may interfere with Obama’s re-election.

Source: Huanqiu, January 10, 2012
http://finance.huanqiu.com/data/2012-01/2342289.html

Briefings | | January 11, 2012 | US-China Relations

We do not fight a battle unprepared

On January 10, 2012, China Review News reprinted an article from Xinhua about China’s military preparedness. The article includes commentaries from Luo Yuan, the Vice Secretary-General of the China Military Science Research Association and from Ted Carpenter, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute in the United States.

Luo Yuan believes that the purpose of the U.S. returning to the Asia-Pacific area is to curb and contain China’s rise. He said that China must learn how to “dance with the wolf,” and while in the process of modernizing China’s defenses, be cooperative and defensive at the same time. “We do not fight a battle unprepared, an uncertain battle, or a battle not worthwhile. If we fight a battle, we will hurt you badly and beat you down convincingly.” Ted Carpenter believes that China’s military modernization is logical; but he suggested that China not release any irritating statements so as to avoid unfavorable responses from the U.S.

Source: China Review News, January 10, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/7/3/1/101973190.html?coluid=6&kindid=27&docid=101973190&mdate=0110125009

Briefings | | January 11, 2012 | Defense/Military

Scholar Calls for More Research on the U.S.

International Herald Leader, a newspaper under Xinhua News Agency, published an article on January 9, 2012, titled “More Researches Should Be Conducted on the Fatal Flaw of the United States.” The author of the article is Mr. Sun Zhe, a professor and director of the Center for US-China Relations, Tsinghua University. Sun suggested that the U.S. high-profile involvement in the South China Sea and President Obama’s criticism of China is normal. Having met many Americans including the U.S. vice president, former senior politicians, and think tank scholars, Sun concludes that the Americans are increasingly viewing China as a threat to the United States.

“The more China is viewed as a country that will surpass the U.S. in GDP, the more we must be modest and be aware of our shortcomings.” To outwit the U.S. diplomatically, Sun suggested doing more academic research exchanges so as to better understand the U.S. and China.

Source: International Herald Leader, January 9, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2012-01/09/c_131344109.htm

Briefings | | January 11, 2012 | US-China Relations

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

Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.