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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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Study Times: What Caused the Collapse of the Former Soviet Union?

On November 28, 2011, Study Times, a journal of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, published an article analyzing what caused the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The writer, Prof. Zuo Fengrong of the Party School, responded to a question as to why neither the Soviet people nor the Soviet Communist Party members stood up to defend the Soviet Union. The professor stated, “The fundamental reason was that the Soviet Communist Party departed from Marxist principles and goals and failed to establish a political system that secured ordinary people’s (social) status.”

He concluded, “Since the people had no right to elect and monitor cadres, they were disconnected from state power. Cadres made all the decisions and the people were just cogs in the gigantic socialist machine. Although the USSR’s Constitution offered the right of citizenship to its citizens in the literal sense, the principle of the citizens’ rights was not implemented until Gorbachev began his reforms. However, the citizens of the Soviet Union did not have long-term training in democracy and did not know how to use their rights, so they became an important force in advancing the nation’s disintegration under Yeltsin’s propaganda.”

Source: Study Times, November 28, 2011
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2011/11/28/02/02_35.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

The U.S. Intention in Increasing Its Military Presence in the Asia-Pacific Region

On November 28, 2011, Xinhua News Agency’s Outlook Weekly published an article titled “The U.S. Intention in Increasing Its Military Presence in the Asia-Pacific Region.” According to the article, the U.S. intends to build political and economic partnerships favorable to U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region through strong military measures in order to ensure the stability of the U.S. hegemony.

The article stated, “Barack Obama is just like other U.S. presidential candidates in the past who, without exception, also dealt with China in a way calculated to win the votes of the domestic right-wing forces. …. The recent increase of the U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region can also be viewed as an integral part of Obama’s campaign for his presidential re-election.”

Source: Xinhua News Agency’s Outlook Weekly, November 28, 2011
http://lwgcw.net/NewsShow.aspx?newsId=24712

Briefings | | |   US-China Relations

State Council to Regulate Financial Exchange Markets

China Daily recently republished a report on the State Council’s decision to straighten out the financial and market exchanges that facilitate trade activities in stocks, futures, and other financial products without official approval. The State Council’s decision was distributed in the form of an official document which sets the goal of this campaign as the reduction of national financial risks. It was estimated that hundreds of such exchanges will be impacted or completely closed. In the “decision,” all financial institutes with the word “exchange” in the name will need the central government’s approval or at least government approval at the provincial level. In the past few years, more than 300 exchanges have been established across China, doing business in a number of categories such as precious metals and agricultural products. The government has not established laws to regulate these facilities, so no administrative procedures have been put in place to monitor them.

Source: China Daily, November 26, 2011
http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/hqcj/lc/2011-11-26/content_4492907.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

Zhou Yongkang: Xinjiang Government Work Should Focus on Religious Activities

China News Service recently reported that Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Central Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party, asked the officials from the central government and the Xinjiang Autonomous Region to focus their work on effectively suppressing illegal religious activities. The comment was made at a meeting to advance nine primary tasks in Xinjiang during the year 2012. The nine tasks include plans for starting new construction projects, creating new jobs, enhancing education, and maintaining social stability. The latter includes such tasks as suppressing illegal religious activities, preventing terrorism, and improving international propaganda. Zhou asked the central government branches to make sure coordination effectively insures the rapid implementation of the policies.

Source: China News Service, November 25, 2011
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2011/11-25/3487947.shtml

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

1.3 Million Take Entry Exam for 18,000 Central Government Positions

Jinghua Daily, a newspaper under People’s Daily, recently reported that the 2012 Entry Exam for Central Government Civil Officials started on November 26, 2011. The exam takes two days. There are around 1.3 million people registered nationally for the exam. The total number of job openings is around 18,000. In Beijing City alone, 2,940 exam sites were established. This year is the first year for all sites in Beijing to be equipped with radio shielding devices. Branches of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology also sent mobile radio activity monitoring vehicles to fight high-tech cheating techniques. Large construction sites have been closed temporarily during the exam.

Source: Jinghua Daily, November 26, 2011
http://edu.people.com.cn/GB/16399354.html

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

State Owned Culture and Art Entities to Complete System Reform during the First Half of 2012

The Ministry of Culture recently issued a notice, “On System Reform Actions that State Owned Culture and Art Entities Must Complete.” It required all levels of entities within the ministry to further understand the importance and urgency of the requirements given at the 6th Plenary Session of the 17th National Congress and completely implement the system reforms by the end of the first half of 2012. The notice requested all levels of each entity to lay out the plans, requirements, and timeline and to identify the person in charge; to establish the relocation, coordination, and inspection process; to strictly follow the related requirements; and to systematically complete the work. It also required the understanding and support of the Party organization and government at the district levels so they can assist in the process.

Source: Xinhua, November 21, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-11/21/c_111184330.htm

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

31 Provinces Adopt Two Child Policy

On November 25, 2011, Henan Province joined 31 other provinces in allowing the couples who were both the only child in their families to have a second child. The change in policy came about because the “one child policy” had a number of negative effects, including an aging population, the quality of the population, and the gender mix.

According to statistics from the 6th census, published on April 28, 2011, China’s population increased to 1.339 billion from 1.265 billion in 2000. The census revealed that 13.3 percent were 60 years and older which was 3 percent higher than in 2000, while 16.6 percent were  under the age of 14 compared to 27.69 percent in 1990. It was predicted that China’s population will have a net increase of 200 million over the next 30 years reaching 1.5 billion by 2033. Experts are calling for a conservative approach to opening up the “two child policy.”

Source: Xinhua, November 27, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2011-11/27/c_122340832.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

State Council Information Office Held Training Sessions on Handling Public Emergency Incidents

From November 23 to 25, 2011, the State Council Information Office held training sessions in Beijing on the proper handling of “Public Emergency Incidents." Those attending included the spokesperson from the central media as well as the key personnel in charge of broadcasting local news.

Wang Guoqing, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office spoke at the training. He said the improper handling of sudden public events in the past resulted in negative media reports and unfavorable consequences. He stressed that the goal of the training was to study and learn from past examples in order to improve the media’s ability to handle public emergency incidents.

Source: People’s Daily, November 27, 2011
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/16402017.html

Briefings | | |   Social Stability