10 Clears Commentary: Party's Leads All & Xi's Core Status a 'Magic Weapon' - Green Consumption Plan - Report on Biden-Putin Call
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Monday, February 14, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: Once again today, there’s no report about engagements by the Party’s top leadership. It’s been quite a lull since the engagements at the beginning of the Olympics. The only report of an activity by Xi Jinping is this message congratulating Frank-Walter Steinmeier on his re-election as German president.
There’s a report about Chongqing’s focus on scientific and technological innovation. The report informs that the city is focussed on addressing shortcomings related to core technologies, and is investing in projects related to new display, integrated circuits and intelligent terminals. The piece talks about a company called Yulong Optoelectronics, a specialised new ‘little giant’ enterprise, that’s making LCD control panels. This is an example of the thriving new display industry in the city.
The piece then talks about China Resources Microelectronics establishing a 12-inch advanced power semiconductor wafer production line project in Xiyong Microelectronics Park. In 2021, the added value of the city’s electronic information industry increased by 17.3%, and more than 1,000 big data intelligent enterprises have set up shop there. There are other examples of different industries given later. But this is the broad point to note.
In 2021, the added value of industrial enterprises above designated size in Chongqing increased by 10.7%, and the high-tech manufacturing industry and strategic emerging industries increased by 18.1% and 18.2% respectively. The R&D investment intensity of industrial enterprises above designated size in the city has reached 1.61%, ranking among the best in the country, and their innovation ability has been continuously improved. 2021年，重庆规模以上工业增加值增长10.7%，高技术制造业和战略性新兴产业分别增长18.1%、18.2%。全市规模以上工业企业研发投入强度已达1.61%，在全国名列前茅，创新能力持续提升.
The big piece on the page, however, is the first in a series of commentaries on the 10 clears/clarifications 十个明确, which were highlighted in the history resolution passed in November 2021. The first line of the piece is a note from the editor. It says that:
“Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is contemporary Chinese Marxism, 21st century Marxism, the essence of Chinese culture and Chinese spirit of the times, and it has achieved a new leap in the sinicization of Marxism.” 编者按：习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，是中华文化和中国精神的时代精华，实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃.
Today’s commentary focuses on the first of the 10 clarifications, i.e., east, west, north, south, the Party leads everything. It emphasises the Party must strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’ and the ‘four self-confidences’, to achieve the ‘two safeguards’.” It talks about the Politburo Standing Committee hearing work reports of key state institutions on January 6. This is an example of the Party’s leadership, which the piece says must never be weakened, made ineffective, diluted, or marginalized.
Going into the past, the piece says:
On November 17, 2012, when Xi Jinping, who had just been elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the first collective study of the Politburo, he made clear requirements for upholding the Party’s leadership, emphasising that the “party, government, military, civilian and learning — east, west, south, north and center — the party is leader of all.” The piece praises Xi Jinping for being a Marxist leader with foresight.
The next bit tells us that after the 19th Party Congress, the text: “the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics” was included in the party constitution. Also, “the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics” was added into the country’s constitution in 2018.
The commentary further states that upholding the leadership of the Party is not only about “persistence”, but also “strengthening”; and it’s not just the “leadership” of the party that must be strengthened, but rather the “overall/comprehensive leadership” of the Party. 不仅“坚持”，还要“加强”；不仅是党的“领导”，更是党的“全面领导”。
After this, the piece provides some data points of the work done in this direction over the past 9 years.
The decision adopted at the fourth plenary of the 19th Party Congress adopted “clearly defined the Party’s leadership system as the fundamental leadership system of the country.”
Comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively governing the country according to law, finance and economics, foreign affairs, national security, network security and informatization...General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally served as the head of a series of top-level central institutions and comprehensively strengthened the Party’s leadership over major work.
It says that the Plan for Deepening the Reform of Party and State Institutions sought to further institutionalise the Party status and role as the highest political leadership force, adjust, reorganise and optimise dozens of departments, and achieve a systematic and holistic reconstruction of the Party and state organisational structure and management system
There’s some more praise for Xi for having led the Party since 2012, and then the article says that “the original ideas, transformative practices, breakthroughs and landmark achievements over the past nine years have provided a more perfect institutional guarantee, a more solid material foundation and more active spiritual power to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The key to China's success lies in the Party. The system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has many obvious advantages, of which the leadership of the CPC is the greatest. It is the fundamental guarantee for the existence and functioning of other advantages.” 9年多来的原创性思想、变革性实践、突破性进展、标志性成果，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供了更为完善的制度保证、更为坚实的物质基础、更为主动的精神力量. 办好中国的事情，关键在党。中国特色社会主义制度具有多方面显著优势，其中中国共产党领导是最大优势，是其他方面优势得以存在和发挥作用的根本保证.
For instance, “only under the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics can we achieve a comprehensive victory in poverty alleviation; only under the leadership of the Communist Party of China can we create a miracle on earth that is impossible for any political force in the world to create!” 只有在中国特色社会主义制度下，脱贫攻坚才能取得全面胜利；只有在中国共产党领导下，我们才能创造出世界上任何政治力量都不可能创造的人间奇迹！
After poverty alleviation, the next big success talked about is COVID containment. We are told that Xi “personally commanded and made arrangements” to deal with the pandemic; “guided by the philosophy of putting the people and life first, he presided over the overall situation and made strategic decisions, leading the Chinese people to promptly launch a people’s war…”
“In this heroic struggle, the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has fully embodied the role of the 定海神针 ‘needle of the sea’, and the truth of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era has been fully demonstrated.” 在这场气壮山河的斗争中，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导的“定海神针”作用充分体现，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的真理伟力充分彰显。
Other examples of the leadership given are the fight against corruption, the “decisive decisions to achieve a major transition from chaos to governance” in Hong Kong, coordinating “the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with major changes unseen in the world in a century” and responding “to the challenges from external forces in a rational, beneficial and prudent manner, and resolutely safeguard our own interests.” 应对尖锐复杂的“四大考验”“四种危险”，以前所未有的勇气和定力推进党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争，管党治党宽松软状况得到根本扭转；面对香港局势一度出现的严峻局面，审时度势果断决策，推动实现由乱到治的重大转折；统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，有理有利有节应对外部势力挑战，坚决维护自身利益…
Towards the end of the article, it emphasises the importance of the Party’s leadership, adding that:
“the Party Central Committee must have one position as the highest authority, making the final decisions…”The establishment of Xi Jinping as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the core of the whole party, and the establishment of the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era reflect the common aspiration of the whole party, the whole army and the people of all ethnic groups in the country. This is of decisive significance to the development of the cause of the party and the state in the new era and the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” “党中央必须有定于一尊、一锤定音的权威” “党确立习近平同志党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，确立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的指导地位，反映了全党全军全国各族人民共同心愿，对新时代党和国家事业发展、对推进中华民族伟大复兴历史进程具有决定性意义.”
After this, there’s a whole chunk that talks about the importance of establishing and maintaining the core of the Party. In this effort, Marx, Engels and Lenin are roped in. Then the piece says:
When the red flame was ignited in China, the people realised more and more clearly from the bright oil lamp in the small building in Zunyi, Guizhou, and from the spring breeze of reform and opening up that having a core is the magic weapon to lead one from victory to victory; when we defend the core, we are defending the advantages of Marxist political parties. Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping with a sense of loyalty evident in ‘I will be selfless and live up to the people’, has led the great ship called China to wade past dangerous shoals and navigated through rough waves, and promoted the historic achievements and changes in the cause of the Party and the country, becoming the well-deserved core of the Party, the leader of the people and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. At present, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered a critical period. The closer the goal is, the more arduous the task is, and the more important it is to regard ‘two safeguards’ as the highest political principle and fundamental political rule of the Party. To support and defend the core, we must constantly strengthen the party's political construction. 当红色火种在华夏大地点燃，人们从贵州遵义小楼明亮的油灯中、从改革开放的春风里愈发清晰地认识到，拥有了核心，就拥有了从胜利走向胜利的法宝；捍卫了核心，就捍卫了马克思主义政党的优势所在。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记以“我将无我，不负人民”的赤胆忠心，引领中国号巨轮涉险滩、战恶浪，推动党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，成为众望所归、当之无愧的党的核心、人民领袖、军队统帅。当前，中华民族伟大复兴进入关键时期。越是接近目标，越是任务艰巨，越要把“两个维护”作为党的最高政治原则和根本政治规矩。——拥护核心、捍卫核心，就要不断加强党的政治建设.
Also:
As we engage in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, all Party members have come to a deeper understanding that to safeguard General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position means to safeguard the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee; to uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, we must, above all, safeguard General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position. 置身新时代中国特色社会主义伟大实践，全党上下更加深刻认识到：维护习近平总书记核心地位，就是维护党中央权威和集中统一领导；维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，首先要维护习近平总书记核心地位.
So how does one do this:
First, “to support and defend the core, one must be a firm believer and faithful practitioner of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.” 拥护核心、捍卫核心，就要自觉做习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的坚定信仰者、忠实实践者. Doing this involves listening to speeches, studying documents, discussing and exchanging views. In doing so, one thoroughly arms themselves with the Party’s “innovative theory,” “constantly consolidating the ideological foundation” to achieve the two safeguards.
Second, “resolutely implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and requirements as well as the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee in all work.” 拥护核心、捍卫核心，就要在各项工作中坚决贯彻落实习近平总书记重要指示要求和党中央决策部署.
Page 2: Two stories to note briefly. First, there’s a report on the new plan to promote green consumption. The plan was made public in late January. Here’s what Xinhua English had reported then:
“The plan, jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and six other government organs, said that green consumption modes will prevail by 2025, calling for efforts to arouse people's awareness of green consumption, curb extravagance and waste, and enhance the market share of green and low-carbon products. It detailed measures in various major fields, ranging from food, clothing, housing to transport, tourism and electricity. To encourage green housing, the plan urged efforts to incorporate measures of energy saving and environmental protection while renovating old urban residential communities and rural houses. On green transport, efforts will be made to vigorously promote the use of new energy vehicles (NEVs), such as gradually lifting the NEV purchasing restrictions, enhancing supporting facilities like battery charging and swapping stations, and increasing the application of NEV in public service vehicles. As for shifting to green electricity consumption, the plan underlined that newly-added renewable energy and energy used as raw materials would be excluded from the cap on total energy consumption. The proportion of green electricity in residential power consumption will be raised.”
“In food consumption, restaurants and delivery platforms have been told to curb food waste and promote responsible consumer behaviour. It seeks to accelerate recycling of clothing materials and promote usage of low-carbon textiles in manufacturing. For the housing sector, the plan encourages the use of low-carbon building materials, promotes recycling of building materials, and seeks to upgrade and renovate old communities to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions. The plan also encourages the use of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and gradual removal of restrictions on their purchase. It calls for speeding up the construction of NEV charging stations, energy storage, hydrogen refilling stations and other relevant infrastructure. Shopping malls and e-commerce platforms should also shoulder the responsibility to promote the consumption of green products by setting up sales areas of low-carbon products, according to the plan. The policy urged local governments to streamline the distribution of green power distribution to guide users to consume more green power. Local governments have also been asked to promote smart photovoltaic systems in residential buildings to increase the proportion of green energy in power consumption.”
Second, there’s a report with data from SAFE that China’s current-account surplus was at $315.7 billion in 2021, accounting for 1.8 percent of its gross domestic product for the year. The trade in goods posted a surplus of 554.5 billion dollars, up 8 percent from the previous year. Both exports and imports maintained steady growth as the global economic recovery remained on track. The trade in services saw a deficit of 97.7 billion dollars, down 33 percent year on year.
Other Stories:
On Page 5, there’s a new series of commentaries on inheriting and learning from the Party’s history. After reading the piece above on the 10 clarifications, and its characterisation of having a strong core as a magic weapon, the comment in this piece that one should summarise and learn from Party history to identify and “extract the magic weapon to overcome the enemy” has a specific, new meaning for me.
On the international page, there’s a report about the Biden-Putin call. But the report only talks about the Russian readout of the call.
Here’s what the Russian readout said by the way:
“Coming back to the conversation between the presidents of Russia and the United States, it can be said that the tone was rather balanced and business-like. President Biden even talked about the experience of his predecessors who made every effort during the Cold War to avoid the catastrophe of a serious military conflict between our two nations. He said that our two great nations were still rivals but that we must take every effort to maintain stability and security in the world. He also stressed that every effort needs to be taken to avoid the worst scenario as concerns the current situation around Ukraine. He said he was a proponent of diplomacy and laid down a whole raft of proposals that he believes reflect many of Russia’s concerns and initiatives that we outlined and relayed to the US and NATO in the draft documents on security guarantees. I want to note straight away that the Russian President responded by saying that Russia was going to carefully study President Biden’s proposals and would certainly pay due consideration to them. He made clear, however, that these proposals did not really address the central, key elements of Russia’s initiatives either with regards to non-expansion of NATO, or non-deployment of strike weapons systems on Ukrainian territory, or NATO’s return to the positions that existed at the moment of signing the 1997 Russia-NATO Founding Act. To these items, we have received no meaningful response…”
This is the White House’s readout:
“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Vladimir Putin of Russia about Russia’s escalating military buildup on the borders of Ukraine. President Biden was clear that, if Russia undertakes a further invasion of Ukraine, the United States together with our Allies and partners will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia. President Biden reiterated that a further Russian invasion of Ukraine would produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russia’s standing. President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios.”
A background briefing by a senior official, meanwhile, said this:
“There was no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks, but we believe that we have put ideas on the table that would be in our and our allies’ interest to pursue, that would enhance European security, and that would also address some of Russia’s stated concerns, just as we have been clear that we are committed to upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the rights of states to choose their own security arrangements. But it remains unclear whether Russia is interested in pursuing its goals diplomatically as opposed to through the use of force…Whatever Russia decides, our assessment is that their efforts to improve their strategic position are already failing and that this will only be exacerbated should they decide to take military action. The transatlantic relationship is more closely aligned than it has been in quite some time. NATO is stronger and more purposeful. Russia is already finding itself increasingly isolated from the wider world and more dependent on China, having together revealed a fundamentally different worldview at odds with the principled, affirmative, international law-abiding worldview and values that we stand for. And Russia is finding itself on defense in the information space, given our own transparency about its intention.