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Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

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Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized

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

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

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Chinese Navy Is Speeding Up Its Transformation in Preparation for a Future War

Xinhua reported that the Chinese Navy is speeding up its transformation in preparation for a future war. On December 6, 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao met the delegate attending the 11th Naval CCP Congress and stressed speeding up the transformation of the Navy, expanding the Navy’s preparation for military actions, and promoting the modernization of the Chinese Navy. The article pointed out that “for a big country like China, it’s very unlikely to have a war in the air or on the land in its own territory. If China will ever encounter an exterior military conflict, the mostly likely place for it to happen will be on the sea surrounding China, in the Asian-Pacific region.”

The article further emphasized that [China] is confident it will win a regional war on the sea. Over the last decade, the Chinese Navy has been improving its comprehensive power in various ways. Each step of its development has been aimed at a very clear target, that is, to win a future regional war on the sea.

Source: Xinhua, December 19, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2011-12/19/c_131308460.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Why Do Multinational Companies Become Corrupt in China?

Study Times published an article, on December 19, 2011, titled “Why Do Multinational Companies Become Corrupt in China?” Based on the analysis in the article, the reasons why multinational companies openly cheat Chinese consumers are 1) Incomplete laws; 2) Rampant corruption in China’s own business sector, including a variety means of unethical competition, dishonesty everywhere, product innovation not being respected and protected, and no one taking social responsibility; 3) Local governments tolerate multinational companies’ evil dongs in order to attract more foreign investments and be assured of a higher GDP; 4) Consumers feel helpless since they cannot find better products in domestic companies and they have difficulty taking group action against those corrupt multinational companies.

Source: Study Times, December 19, 2011
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2011/12/19/04/04_34.htm

Briefings | | |   Grapevine

Study Times: The Foundation for China’s Revival Is Socialist Ideology

On December 19, 2011, Study Times, the publication of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CCP, published an article affirming that “the foundation for China’s revival is socialist ideology.” According to the article, capitalist countries use the principle of "human rights above sovereignty" as an excuse to plunder global resources. Different from “free capitalism,” the core principle of socialism is “fairness.” Socialist ideology is what justifies the ruling status of the Chinese Communist Party. The article proudly concludes that the successful practice of socialism in China for over 30 years proves that socialist ideology is becoming the trend for the development of human civilization.

Source: Study Times, December 19, 2011
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2011/12/19/03/03_37.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

How Should China Deal with TPP?

Study Times, the publication of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CCP, published an article on December 19, 2011, titled “How Should China Deal with TPP?” According to the article, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is incomplete without China’s accession. Currently, China has difficulty meeting certain TPP’ requirements, such as on government procurement, state-owned enterprises having a limited role in the national economy, an assurance of market-driven innovation, a high demand for labor, and environmental standards. However, TPP’s rules give China an opportunity to open up and promote reform. “Following the principle of seeking  what is most beneficial for China’s maximum interest, China should actively and steadily negotiate with TPP.”  

Source: Study Times, December 19, 2011
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2011/12/19/02/02_31.htm

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

CRN: Central Government Plans to Speed up Affordable Housing Construction

China Review News (CRN) recently reported on the central government’s new real estate development policies. The primary message on housing policies that came out of the recently held Central Government Economic Conference was to speed up the construction of affordable stock housing projects. The Conference confirmed that the current strategy on controlling the housing market will remain unchanged and that the government is sticking to the goal of restraining housing costs so they are kept down to a reasonably low level. All members of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Political Bureau attended the Conference.

Source: China Review News, December 14, 2011
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1019/3/9/3/101939365.html?coluid=151&kindid=0&docid=101939365&mdate=1214160743

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Xinhua: Canada’s Betrayal is Sign of a More Chaotic World

Xinhua recently published an editorial commenting on the Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol. The article expressed the belief that the sole motivation for Canada’s “betrayal” was to avoid a fine of CAN$14 billion due to the fact that Canada did not meet the requirements to which it had committed. The United States was referenced as another example of “Western selfishness” since the U.S. refused to even join the Protocol. Japan and Australia are considering the same action, following Canada’s move. The author of the editorial suggested that China should “pay close attention” to the “new signals in international relations” that appeared before and after the Climate Conference in Durban, and China should improve its readiness to face new strategic challenges in defending its national interests. The editorial concluded that moral standards no longer constrain some countries’ behavior, and the West will play more games showing a “loss of patience.”

Source: Xinhua, December 14, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-12/14/c_122418663.htm 

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: United States Should Stop Pointing Fingers

On December 13, Xinhua reported that Liu Weimin, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave a briefing to the media on the subject of human rights. Liu suggested that the United States should stop pointing fingers at China and should do some introspection. Liu’s comment was in response to U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s recent speech about human rights and Internet freedom. The U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Faye Locke made similar comments not long ago as well. Liu also pointed out that the Chinese government protects the people’s basic human rights according to the law. He said that China’s human rights related efforts have achieved major accomplishments and that China is a country that exercises the rule of law. The U.S. cannot interfere with China’s internal affairs and judicial sovereignty. He also insisted that China manages the Internet according to Chinese law.

Source: Xinhua, December 13, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2011-12/13/c_111239921.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

State Council Set Employment Target for 2011-2015

People’s Daily reported that Premier Wen Jiabao chaired a State Council Executive Meeting Work Conference on December 16, 2011, during which the Council established the “Employment Plan for 2011 to 2015.” 

The Council predicted that the eligible labor force will grow one million each year during the twelfth five year plan (2011-2015) compared to the eleventh five year plan (2006-2011). There will be increased friction because labor skills will not always be consistent with job requirements, with labor supply and demand, as well as with the ever increasing employment pressure.

The Council set the employment target for the twelfth five year period. It will include the growth of 45 million new jobs in urban and rural regions, reallocate 40 million from the surplus labor force in the countryside, keep the unemployment rate below 5%, enable social security benefits to cover the entire labor force, and improve the stability of the employment environment.

The meeting listed plans on how to meet the target: increase economic development, implement a favorable employment policy, better coordinate the job market for the urban and rural regions, implement training plans for the technically skilled and high tech labor force, and improve the flexibility of the labor market.

The Council also discussed the topic of improving fire prevention work.

Source: People’s Daily, December 16, 2011
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1024/16633304.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability