Government/Politics - 113. page

Known as China’s first space movie, The Wandering Earth had a smashing 4.5 billion (US$669 million) in box office revenue in mainland China but suffered a devastating flop in Hong Kong. The opening day box office revenue was only HK$320,000 (US$40,000). For the showing at 9:50 pm in a Broadway Cinema in Mong Kok, only 7 out of a total of 300 seats were sold. A Radio France Internationale article reported that, in order to improve the poor box office performance, some Hong Kong patriotic organizations and individuals launched a “rescue the Earth” campaign. Some schools, such as the New Territories School Head Association, even gave out free tickets saying it was “in the name of the upcoming 70th anniversary.”

According to the Radio France Internationale article, the official party media Global Times even reported the poor box office performance of The Wandering Earth in Hong Kong but attributed the cause to the economic gap and cultural differences between Hong Kong and the mainland. In the article that Radio France Internationale published, it reported that the Global Times seems to have forgotten the fact that, among movies made in Hong Kong in 2018, the top box hit was a low budget movie called Agent Mr. Chan, which took in revenue of 44.7 million Hong Kong dollars (US$5.69 million). As for the movie that achieved the highest box office revenue in Hong Kong last year, it was Hollywood’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” which had a box office revenue exceeding 150 million Hong Kong dollars (US$19.11 million). Another mainland movie, “Red Sea Action” had director Lin Chaoxian, who was from Hong Kong, but its box office revenue was only 8.7 million Hong Kong dollars (US$1.1 million), which was a lot lower than the mainland box office of 3.65 billion yuan (US$465 million). Therefore, it argues that citing poor economic performance in Hong Kong as the reason for the low box office performance of The Wandering Earth seems to be a bit untenable.

Source: Radio France Internationale, March 9, 2019
http://cn.rfi.fr/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20190309-%E6%B5%81%E6%B5%AA%E5%9C%B0%E7%90%83%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E7%A5%A8%E6%88%BF%E5%87%84%E6%83%A8%E7%88%B1%E5%9B%BD%E5%AD%A6%E6%A0%A1%E6%B4%BE%E7%A5%A8%E6%95%91%E5%9C%B0%E7%90%83

China’s Three Self Churches belong to the Chinese Communist Party-controlled Three Self Patriotic Movement. The three ‘Self’s are self-governance, self-support, self-propagation, and the rejection of foreigners’ influence on church leadership.

Rev. Xu Xiaohong, Chairman of the National Three Self Churches, gave a speech at a session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which started on March 5.

Xu said, “It must be recognized that the surname of Chinese churches is ‘China,’ not the ‘West.’ The anti-China forces in the West are trying to influence China’s social stability and even subvert China’s political power through (the use of) Christianity. They are doomed to fail. For individual black sheep that participate in the subversion of national security under the banner of Christianity, we firmly support that the state brings them to justice.”

Xu added that on this issue one needs “continuously to eliminate the ‘foreign imprints’ on China’s Christian churches,” and “continuously to carry forward and practice the core values of socialism.”

Estimates have been made that more than half of China’s 60 million Protestants worship in unregistered churches.

In response to Xu comments, Xu Yonghai, an elder of the Divine Love Fellowship of the Beijing Christian House Church, said that since the 1950’s, members of the Three Self Churches have been leading armed police to search for elders and pastors. “In 1995, the authorities arrested me. This was also due to the role of the Three Self Churches.”

Source: Central News Agency, March 12, 2019
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/201903120052.aspx

Social science and the works of art and culture relate to the theoretical foundation and propaganda vehicles of the Chinese Communist Party’s ideology. During the ongoing sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chinese president Xi Jinping told the conference attendees that social science and art should focus on socialism with “Chinese characteristics.”

According to Xinhua News Agency, Xi said that, without a soul, a country and a nation cannot stand. Works of culture and the arts, philosophy, and social science belong to the work of casting for souls. It plays an important role in the new era of developing socialism.

Xi Jinping advised that philosophy and social science research should be based on the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and should put forward creative and original theories.

Xi emphasized that this year is “the 70th anniversary of the founding of the New China.” It is necessary to present China’s historical achievements and the theoretical and cultural advantages of socialism with “Chinese characteristics”.

Source: Central News Agency, March 4, 2019
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/201903040320.aspx

According to an article Sohu published, starting this spring, all schools in Jiangxi Province will introduce “red culture” courses, and use the “red culture” textbooks that the Ministry of Education Development Research Center, the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee Education Working Committee, and the Provincial Department of Education developed jointly. This set of textbooks ranges from kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school and also including secondary vocational schools, to college including higher vocational colleges. This will be the first set of “red culture” textbooks in China.

Yu Weiyue, deputy director of the Department of Basic Education of the Ministry of Education, stated that the purpose of the preparation of “red culture” textbooks is to “plant the seeds of love for the party, patriotism, and the people in the hearts of children; to apply these sentiments to their daily behavior, and to have them become part of their lifelong values.”

Deputy Governor of the Jiangxi Provincial Government said that Jiangxi Province will take the lead in the country to promote the “red culture” in the campus and the classroom, and strive to spread the “red culture” education to the rest of the country.

Source: Sohu, March 2, 2019
https://www.sohu.com/a/298566425_267106?scm=1002.44003c.fd00fe.PC_ARTICLE_REC&spm=smpc.content.fd-d.16.1551398400023WRl5Apr

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has recently focused on ideology. Not long ago, at the Politburo’s “Democratic Life Meeting,” Politburo members were told to submit a written “performance report.” On February 28, the CCP released, “Opinions on strengthening the political construction of the Party.” On March 1, at the Central Party School’s opening ceremony of the “training session for young and middle-aged cadres, Xi Jinping gave a speech.

Xi said that it is “a big event” to train and select outstanding young cadres, which matters for the destiny of the party, the country, and the nation, as well as for the well-being of the people. The cadres, especially young cadres, must maintain “loyalty to the party, gratitude to the people, an enterprising spirit for their work, and a sense of respect for the law and for discipline.”

Xi added that being politically steadfast cannot be separated from “being firm on theory.” The ideals and beliefs of the Chinese Communists are based on a profound understanding of Marxism. With firm ideals and convictions, the cadres can adhere to the correct political direction. “Once you have set your mind on a faith, you have to believe it throughout your lifetime, otherwise there will be big problems.” He said that the key to measuring whether a cadre has ideals or not depends on “whether he is loyal to the party.” “Leading cadres must be loyal and clean.” “Loyalty is always of the foremost importance.”

Source: Central News Agency, March 1, 2019
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/201903010218.aspx